Free-will doctrine-what does it? It magnifies man into God. It declares God's purposes a nullity, since they cannot be carried out unless men are willing. It makes God's will a waiting servant to the will of man, and the whole covenant of grace dependent on human action. Denying election on the ground of injustice, it holds God to be a debtor to sinners.
Interpretation
The quote critiques the doctrine of free will, suggesting it elevates human choice to a divine level while undermining God's sovereignty.
Charles Spurgeon's quote critiques the concept of free will as it relates to divine sovereignty. He argues that by emphasizing free will, humanity is placed in a position of power over God, turning divine intentions into mere possibilities that depend on human choices. This perspective suggests that God's plans are contingent upon human action, thereby diminishing God's authority and grace by making Him subordinate to human willingness.
In practice
In a debate about the nature of free will and responsibility, this quote can highlight the theological implications of human choice.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
Everything that can be said, can be said clearly.
According to the most trustworthy statistics the number of adult Dullards in the United States is but little short of thirty millions, including the statisticians.
For the saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished freedom is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while there was still time.
The General was essentially a man of peace, except in his domestic life.
What I'm very concerned about is how do we bolster our self-awareness as humans, as biological organisms?
Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.
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