I prefer a view in harmony with Scripture. When you boil everything down its "what sayeth the Scriptures?" Is God in control and the one who governs our lives? I saw how He has worked in my life to call me to Him. Could the Satan have snatched me out of His hand and delivered me unto the pits of hell? No I was and am preserved in Him with my predestination and my election. Nothing in my life has happened by accident. Some might say that I have had three brushes with death but God's hand of providence was always upon me and I came through them all without even a scratch. Is the God who created the universe not able to preserve His elect until their appointed time of calling? The argument used to support infant salvation and the reasoning is similar to the arguments used to support paedobaptism. Its the majority view and we can list those who have supported it over the decades. Both are supported by the WCF but regardless where can it be found in the Bible? It can be rationalized and honestly I hope its correct but I have yet to see it. I do see God as in control and able to preserve His sheep for His purpose. Can anyone argue with Joseph Philpot and say he is wrong based upon Scripture? Harry Nancy Newcomb <nan_new39@...> wrote: I can't imagine anyone who would say that the majority view is ALWAYS correct! We can point to too many instances experientially where this just is not the case. I guess we could also note the other obvious that the majority view is not always wrong;) Nancy >From: H Dorrington >Reply-To: soundofgrace@... >To: soundofgrace@... >Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Are infants really "innocent?" >Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 21:23:02 -0800 (PST) > >I would agree with RC Sproul who said that the majority view is not always >correct. > > >Preserving grace before regeneration > >(Joseph Philpot,(1802 - 1869) "Daily Words for Zion's Wayfarers") > >"To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father > and preserved in Jesus Christ." Jude 1 > >What a mercy it is for God's people that before >they have a 'vital union' with Christ, before they >are grafted into Him experimentally; they have an >'eternal, immanent union' with Him before all worlds. >It is by virtue of this eternal union that they come >into the world . . . > at such a time, > at such a place, > from such parents, > under such circumstances, as God has appointed. > >It is by virtue of this eternal union that the circumstances >of their lives are ordained. By virtue of this eternal union >they are preserved in Christ before they are effectually >called. > >They cannot die until God has brought about a vital >union with Christ. > >Whatever sickness they may pass through, whatever >injuries they may be exposed to, whatever perils assault >them on sea or land; die they will not, die they cannot, >until God's purposes are executed in bringing them into >a vital union with the Son of His love. > >Thus, this eternal union watched over every circumstance >of their birth, watched over their childhood, watched over >their manhood, watched over them until the appointed >time and spot, when "the God of all grace," according to >His eternal purpose, was pleased to quicken their souls, >and thus bring about an experimental union with the Lord >of life and glory. > > >"James W. Allen" wrote: >Hello, Chad. You and I have had this discussion elsewhere, I know. I am >sorry to find so little charity in you toward great men of God with whom >you >disagree. > >On the substance of the issue, I will be happy to address matters privately >with folks who are interested. The subject is easy to research, a simple >Google search for "infant salvation" will bring you to Spurgeon, Boettner, >John Piper, Warfield, Hodge, and a multitude of other sources holding and >supporting the majority view. Anyone who is interested in learning from >those who have gone before and considering their thoughts in grace may >easily do so, whether or not they ultimately adopt the views of those >brethren. > >My reason for writing before is well illustrated in your post. I cannot >understand the spirit that drives you to insult and deride your brothers in >Christ, merely because of a disagreement over such a doctrine. > >I would not, for any purpose, insult a Warfield, a Spurgeon, a Piper, a >Hodge, by asserting that their theology was the result of a "sentimental >cramp." I see no reason to assume the worst of someone merely because I >disagree with them. To say that David's reference is the "only reference" >is >a mere conclusory thrust with which no one who has written on the matter >agrees. Many texts are relevant, although, as you know, I also do not see >any one text as determinative to any of the five views. > >This tendency to deride those with whom we disagree is the great curse of >discussion lists in general and, unfortunately, a common indictment of >Christians of all ages. To disagree reasonably and charitably, and to deem >others worthy of more honor than ourselves, is of the warp and woof of our >faith and duty. The fact that someone lived long ago does not make our duty >less, the fact that they disagree with us does not make our duty void. > > >James W. Allen >jallen@... > > >--------------------------------- >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! >-- >Read the Sound of Grace pages at >http://www.soundofgrace.com > >To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > >To view our online archive go to our web page at >http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > > > _________________________________________________________________ Check out the coupons and bargains on MSN Offers! http://shopping.msn.com/softcontent/softcontent.aspx?scmId=1418 -- Read the Sound of Grace pages at http://www.soundofgrace.com To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... To view our online archive go to our web page at http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! -- Read the Sound of Grace pages at http://www.soundofgrace.com To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... To view our online archive go to our web page at http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace