Lexington, Ky., Jan., 1879.
DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - I cannot suppose that any of the people of our God are so bewitched as to conclude that the blood of the lamb of the Passover, sprinkling the lintel and side-posts of the door of the houses occupied by the children of Israel in Egypt, was more efficacious in protecting the inmates from the sword of the destroying angel than the blood of Jesus Christ is in protecting his redeemed from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. The law of sacrifices for atonement was made with Abraham and his seed, and was continued in their generations until the “bringing in of a better hope.” Hence it is said, that when one of the congregation of Israel had sinned against God, “Aaron [the high priest] shall make atonement for his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.” Again, when the whole congregation of Israel had sinned against God, Aaron the high priest shall take from the congregation of Israel two goats, one for the Lord, and the other for the scapegoat.” “And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness.” And it is expressly said that the scapegoat bore away all the transgressions of all the children of Israel. Hence it is seen that the priests under the law were confined to national Israel, in all the atonements made. As the High Priest of our profession is, in making atonement, alone for the children of God. Paul says, “But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of bulls and of goats, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” Again, “By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
Of what avail then is all the appliances that Arminians rear up for the purpose of evangelizing the world, combining protracted meetings, pathetic tales to work on the passions, anxious benches, and proselyting to their false systems, when brought in contact with the announcement from on high, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption?” “Who then can be saved?” “With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We know, as rational beings, that we have flesh and blood, that we are corrupt, or we could not die, and that all the agencies under heaven cannot transform our flesh and blood into the spirit, nor remove our corruption. Hence we are compelled to acknowledge the sovereignty of God in the salvation of his people.
As ever yours,
Thomas P. Dudley.
“Christ, for the sins of all his elect,
Hath a complete atonement made;
And justice never can expect,
That the same debt shall twice be paid.”
Of what avail then is all the appliances that Arminians rear up for the purpose of evangelizing the world, combining protracted meetings, pathetic tales to work on the passions, anxious benches, and proselyting to their false systems, when brought in contact with the announcement from on high, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption?” “Who then can be saved?” “With men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” We know, as rational beings, that we have flesh and blood, that we are corrupt, or we could not die, and that all the agencies under heaven cannot transform our flesh and blood into the spirit, nor remove our corruption. Hence we are compelled to acknowledge the sovereignty of God in the salvation of his people.
As ever yours,
Thomas P. Dudley.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for commenting. If an answer is needed, we will respond.