That all sinful actions fall under the divine decree. Though sin itself flows from transgressing the law, yet the futurition of it is from the decree of God. No such thing could ever have been in the world, if it had not been determined by the eternal counsel of Heaven for a holy and just end. This is plainly asserted by the apostle Peter, with respect to the greatest villainy that was ever committed on the earth, namely, the death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the hands of sinful men (Ac. 2:23; 4:27-28)… There was never such an atrocious crime or higher act of wickedness committed, than the murdering of the Lord of glory. And yet it appears from these texts of Scripture, that, in this bloody and horrid scene, wicked men did no more than God’s hand and counsel determined before to be done.

— Thomas Boston (1676–1732), Pastor

Related Bible passage: ACT.2.23

Topics: Guidance & God's Will, God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit

Occasions: For Reflection

Thomas Boston

Thomas Boston (1676–1732) war ein schottischer presbyterianischer Pfarrer und Theologe, der vor allem in der Gemeinde Ettrick wirkte. Bekanntheit erlangte er durch geistliche Schriften wie „Human Nature in Its Fourfold State“ sowie seinen Einsatz im Marrow-Streit für das unbedingte, freie Gnadenangebot des Evangeliums. Für heutige Bibelleser steht sein Werk für eine reformierte Bundestheologie und Seelsorge, die den Umgang mit persönlichen Lebensprüfungen eng mit dem Trost der göttlichen Gnade verknüpft.

All quotes by Thomas Boston (14)

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All quotes · lumen.bible