Johannes Marck’s Marrow of Christian Theology, Didactic-Elenctic XXVII
James Dodson
CHAPTER XXVII.
On Preservation.
I. The Fourth Benefit of the Covenant of Grace is Preservation; which is set forth by some among the adjuncts of Sanctification, and is often contained in the connection of the benefits
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of Grace with Glorification, Rom. 8:29, 30. “whom he called,” &c.; “these he also glorified,” &c.
II. Preservation, which elsewhere also comes under the names of Confirmation and Sealing, we here regard not as the Duty of man, 1 Tim. 5:22. σεαυτὸν ἁγνὸν τήρει [keep thyself pure], but as the Benefit of God; not Common, Ps. 36:6. “thou preservest man and beast, O Jehovah,” but Special, Ps. 37:28. “he forsakes not his gracious ones; they are preserved forever.” This is defined: A Benefit of the Covenant of Grace, by which God so inwardly fortifies elect men, called, justified, and sanctified by himself, through the grace of the Spirit, with the ministry of the Word and Sacraments intervening, and outwardly restrains the force of enemies, that they cannot totally and finally fall away from his grace and the consummation of glory, unto their salvation and his own glory.
III. The Triune God preserves us, 1 Pet. 1:5. τοὺς ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ φρουρουμένους [those who are kept by the power of God]. John 17:11. “Holy Father, keep them in thy name,” &c. John 10:28. “And they shall by no means perish forever, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” John 14:17. “the Spirit of truth,” &c. παρ’ ὑμῖν μένει καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσται [he abides with you and shall be in you], &c.; with the ministry of Angels intervening, Ps. 91:11. “for he shall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Heb. 1:14. οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶ λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν [are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth for ministry because of those who are about to inherit salvation?]; and of his Word, as the sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6:17; and of the Sacraments confirming faith, 1 Cor. 11:25, 26, &c. And this same work proceeds so from his Grace, Phil. 1:6. πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο [being confident of this very thing], &c., that it is restricted to the Covenant of Grace, compare Job 33:24. “Deliver him from descending into the pit;
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I have found a propitiation;” nor had it place in the Covenant of Works.
IV. The Elect are Preserved, they alone indeed, although the more common preservation pertains to all, 1 Tim. 4:10. “who is the Savior of all men, especially of the faithful;” but also All of them, even the weakest, John 6:39. “This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” John 17:12. “Those whom thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them perished.” 2 Cor. 12:9. ἀρκεῖ σοι ἡ χάρις μου· ἡ γὰρ δύναμίς μου ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελειοῦται [my grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness], &c.
V. These are now considered as Partakers of divine Grace, yet sought for destruction by enemies, Eph. 6:11. “that ye may be able to stand” πρὸς τὰς μεθοδείας τοῦ διαβόλου [against the wiles of the devil]. 1 Pet. 5:8. “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour,” &c. The Acts of God preserving will be Two: namely, the firm Corroboration of the elect, Eph. 3:16. “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man,” &c.; and the Repression of enemies.
VI. Hence flows their certain Perseverance, by which they plainly cannot fall away from Divine grace and salvation. This is taught by Descriptions of the Faithful, Ps. 125:1. “Those trusting in Jehovah are as Mount Zion, which is not moved, but abides forever.” Ps. 37:24. “When he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, because Jehovah supports his hand.” 2 Tim. 2:19. “The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal,” ἔγνω Κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ [the Lord knows those who are his]. 1 Pet. 1:5. τοὺς ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ φρουρουμένους διὰ πίστεως εἰς σωτηρίαν [who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation]; and by the promises of God, Isa. 54:10. “my lovingkindness shall not depart,
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from thee, and the covenant of my peace shall not be changed, says Jehovah who has mercy on thee.” Jer. 32:40. “And I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from after them, to do them good, and I will put my fear in their heart, so that they shall not depart from me.” John 10:28. “And I give to them eternal life, and they shall by no means perish forever, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand,” &c.; and by the immutability of the Fatherly Love, the Purchase and Intercession of the Son, and the Power of the indwelling Spirit, Jer. 31:3. “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 19. “knowing that ye were redeemed not with corruptible things, silver or gold,” &c., “but with precious blood, as of a blameless and spotless Lamb, Christ,” &c. Heb. 7:25. “whence also he is able to save completely those who approach God through him, ever living to intercede for them.” Eph. 4:30. “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption,” &c.; finally, by the force of Faith, Hope, Charity, Joy, and Glorying, 1 John 5:4. “because whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.” Rom. 5:2, 3. “through whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we glory in hope of the glory of God,” &c.; “and hope makes not ashamed,” &c. Rom. 8:35, 39. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” &c.; “but in all these things we are more than conquerors,” &c.; “for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,” &c., “nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
VII. On the other hand, Final Apostasy of the truly faithful is urged by the Pontiffs, Socinians, and others as possible; and Total Apostasy also by the Lutherans; and they
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object:
1. The examples of Saints sinning most grievously, among whom also is Solomon, 1 Kings 11:4.
Reply Grace in them, hidden for a time, was afterwards attested by repentance, compare 2 Sam. 7:14, 15. “When he does iniquity, I will rebuke him with the rod of men and with the strokes of the children of men; but my kindness shall not depart from him,” &c.
2. The example of Adam, who obtained greater grace, and nevertheless fell.
Reply Certainly he did not have a promise of Preservation in his integrity.
3. Various Conditional Propositions, Ezek. 18:26. Heb. 6:4, 5, 6.
Reply They posit nothing in actual being, nor do they treat of those who prove to be partakers of true grace; consider 2 Pet. 2:20, 22.
4. Fear and perpetual Watching are commended.
Reply These are the Means through which God preserves us certainly.
VIII. The End is Salvation, 1 Pet. 1:5. εἰς σωτηρίαν ἑτοίμην ἀποκαλυφθῆναι ἐν καιρῷ ἐσχάτῳ [unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time], and the Glory of God, here most especially demonstrated, and therefore to be acknowledged by the saints in mouth and work.