It is evident that this is "election" pure and simple; it was planned before the children

were born, and took no account of their works, either good or evil. In the operation of

this purpose the Lord shows mercy or hardness entirely irrespective of the individual.

Pharaoh, and the hardening of his heart, is instanced as a further illustration, and the

figure of the potter and the clay makes the meaning of the apostle clear. References to a

similar purpose are to be found in Eph. 1: 1-14, where the election is said to have been

made in Christ before the overthrow of the world, and the sonship and the inheritance are

spoken of as being according to predestination, which predestination is in harmony with

the purpose of Him who is energizing all things according to the counsel of His own will.

Parallel with this is the reference in II Tim. 1: 9:--

This purpose and promise, related to that period spoken of as before aionian times, is,

like the purpose which is related to the period before the overthrow of the world,

connected with election, for Titus 1: 1, 2 links the faith of God's elect with the promise

that was made before aionian times. Now, here comes the danger of a false comparison

of things that differ. If we transfer the terms of this pre-aionian purpose to the purpose of

the ages, or to the purpose of God in general, we shall be found teaching that which if

taught wittingly would be quite erroneous.

Let us see what happens if we take the absolute principles of the purpose of election,

and teach that such is the character of God in the widest application. If this be true then

there is no such thing as sin, or human guilt; God is openly and unblushingly made

responsible for sin, and sin is robbed of its ugliness and criminal character, and becomes

but the handmaid of God. Satan is not really an enemy or an adversary, he is but one of

the many strange tools that God is employing under this purpose. It is idle to speak of

responsibility, of obedience or disobedience, of punishment and repentance; as well

punish a stone, because left unsupported it falls to the ground, as punish a man for

sinning. If God has willed and decreed from first to last the whole course of the ages

with all that ever will be done therein, He has of necessity made a machine, the wheels

and cogs of which move by mechanical power and not by moral forces. If any fault is to

be found it must be found in the Maker, for He willed all that has been and shall be down

to the last detail.

Possibly the reader will interpose with one of the many passages of Scripture where

man is addressed as a moral agent, urged to obey, believe, love, etc., threatened with

punishment or encouraged by reward. Deut. 28:, e.g., is so much mockery in the ears

of those whose every deed is fixed by predestination or electing purpose. It will be

sufficient for our purpose to consider the following passages in the nine chapters of

Genesis which we have now passed under review.