Thoughts On Predestination And Reprobation : Part I.

Flatter me not with your Predestination, Nor sink my spirits with your Reprobation. From all your high disputes I stand aloof, Your Pres and Res , your Destiny, and your Proof; And formal Calvinistical pretence, That contradicts all Gospel, and good sense. When God declares, so often, that he wills All sort of blessings, and no sort of ills; That his severest purpose never meant A sinner's death, but that he should repent: For the whole world, when his beloved Son Is said to do whatever he has done; To become man, to suffer, and to die, That all might live, as well as you, and I: Shall rigid Calvin, after this, or you, Pretend to tell me that it is not true? But that eternal, absolute decree Has damn'd before-hand either you, or me, Or any body else? That God design'd, When he created, not to save mankind; But only some ? The rest, this man maintain'd, Were so decreed, Damnation pre-ordain'd. No, Sir; not all your metaphysic skill Can prove the Doctrine, twist it as you will. I hate the man for Doctrine so accurst, In Book the third, and Chapter twenty-first; Section the fifth - a horrid, impious lore, That one would hope was never taught before; How it came after to prevail away, Let them who mince the damning matter say; And others judge, if any Christian fruit, Be like to spring from such a pagan root.