But God our Savior will have all men to saved; and shall not that which he wills be effected? Can any thing contrary to his pleasure take place?
Much doth take place in this world, which, is not pleasing to God; which he doth not will, or approve. This may be predicated generally of sin. "Sin is the abominable thing which he hates.—He is angry with the wicked every day." Would he be angry, if all which is done was pleasing in his sight?
God is holy. Sin is opposition to his nature, forbidden by his law, and declared to be his abhorrence. To suppose that he should hate and forbid sin, yet approve of it and be pleased with it, is absurdity and folly.
God permits sin; but neither wills nor approves it. "Christ pleased not himself." [59] Much is permitted under his administration, which he doth not order, but forbids and abhors. Yea, God orders some things, as moral governor (in consequence of other things done contrary to his directions) which are not pleasing to him, considered in themselves. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men"—But finds it necessary to afflict. Grief and sorrow are known under the divine administration, and ordered out to mortals by providential dispensation. But these natural evils are always in consequence of moral evil, which is not the effect of divine influence, but ariseth from another source and hath another author. It ariseth from the abuse of powers which were given for better purposes. Where sin hath gone before, sorrows follow after; but they are not pleasing to the Supreme Governor.
The wickedness of the old world occasioned the deluge; but it is impossible to read the Mosaic account of those events, and suspect that they were pleasing to Deity.
We may make the same remark respecting the declensions of Israel and Judah and the judgments which followed. "O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, Thus ye speak, saying, if our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, as I live saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, 0 house of Israel?" [60] By another prophet we find God mourning over them —"How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah, and set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together."
That people continued in their sins and perished in them: But will any who read these messages, sent them of God, conceive their crimes, and the desolations which followed, when they had filled up the measure of their iniquity, to be pleasing to God, or the effect of divine order and influence?
Will those who read our Savior's lamentations over Jerusalem, and the destruction soon after brought upon that city and nation, because "they did not know the time of their visitation," consider those events as pleasing to him? His predictions were verified—"their enemies cast a trench about them, compassed them round and kept them in on every side—laid their city even with the ground, and her children within her; not leaving one stone upon another—Zion was ploughed like a field"—vast numbers perished in the siege—many were crucified after the city was taken—the residue scattered among all nations, and the sword drawn out after them! The compassionate Redeemer called those sinners to repentance—warned them of the evils which they would bring on themselves, by refusing the grace which he offered them, and wept over them when filling up the measure of their guilt! But when they had been tried the appointed time, and continued obstinate, till the divine patience was exhausted, he entered into judgment with them and gave them according to their works.
Similar will be the event of persevering obstinacy in others. Man is placed here for trial—endowed with powers sufficient to render him a probationer; which implies capacity to use, or abuse his powers. The abuse is sin. The way of duty is made known, needed assistance conferred, the reasonableness of obedience shewn, and the injunction, "occupy; till I come," subjoined, but no compulsion is used. Thus circumstanced, it is referred to man to choose for himself.
God operates indeed on man; but only as on a free moral agent. Divine influences coincide with human liberty. Those who are willing and obedient find mercy. Over such the Savior rejoices, and their faith and love are rewarded with the rewards of grace. But those who neglect so great salvation, are left to perish in their sins.