Christ is an Impediment to Human Free-will, Human Merit, Human Pride

Jesus Christ will allow a preacher to be a worker together with himself, in dispensing the word of his grace, because the feet of the preacher carry the message, and the preacher's tongue delivers it. "We then are workers together with him," 2 Corinthians 6:1. But the Arminian wants to be a co-partner with him in the work of justification. God says, No. Jesus shall magnify the law, and make it honourable, Isaiah 42:21. "And by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many," Isaiah 53:11. The Arminian wants to be a co-worker with the Holy Ghost in the work of sanctification. The Lord of Hosts says, No. "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," Zechariah 4:6. The Arminian wants some ground to boast on, and to have the honour of coping the building with sinless perfection. The Lord God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ says, No. "He shall bring forth the head-stone with shoutings;" and sinners shall cry, "Grace, grace (not works), unto it," Zechariah 4:7. In short, they will not "enter by the door," and he will not let them "climb up any other way." They want to help him out in his work, that they may share in his glory; and he deems them "thieves and robbers;" and says, "He will not give his glory to another." This is the dreadful dispute that is going on between the Lord and them.

Thus Christ is an impediment in their way; they cannot submit to him, and he will not bow to them. His sovereignty is an impediment in the way of free-will; particular redemption lies in the way of natural affections; his imputed righteousness is an impediment in the way of human merit; and free grace is an impediment in the way of pride, because it cuts off boasting. Thus the Saviour becomes a stumbling-stone instead of a foundation, 1 Corinthians 3:11; and a rock of offence instead of a stone of help, 1 Samuel 7:12. He is called a rock of offence because of his stability, it being impossible for those offended at him ever to move him. Thus Christ is a rock in the way of self-righteous ones; cavilling at him, as an impediment in their way, is called stumbling; and being offended at him is like seeking revenge on a rock that has thrown us down, by kicking at it; at which labour we are sure to wound ourselves, but never to move or hurt the rock. But you will say, Is it not strange that people should oppose the glorious truths of God, that shine like a sun throughout the sacred scriptures? Not at all: they fight against sovereign love, because they know it never was shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost; therefore they preach up a universal love; that, as they have no assurance of an interest in the former, they may include themselves in the latter, being a doctrine of their own. So, if imputed righteousness had ever been applied to them, they would have boasted of it, as all poor saved sinners have done who were found in it; but, as they are strangers to the enjoyment of this robe, they hold fast their own web: so, if the atonement of Christ had ever been applied to their consciences, they would contend for the redemption of Christ's sheep only, as all the faithful ministers of Christ have done; but, as conscience tells them this never was their happy case, they preach up universal redemption, or else they would exclude themselves. Hence it is that they strengthen one another's hands with their lies, and so keep matters together as well as they can: for, if they give up their untempered mortar, and conscience stands to it that they never have mixed real faith with the truth, Hebrews 4:2, they would throw down their own wall. However, God has promised to throw it down for them. "Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar: and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it," Ezekiel 13:15.

- William Huntington, excerpt from The Fountain of Life: Collected Writings of William Huntington

 

Thank you, sir.