Suppose a will is made by a rich man bequeathing certain property to certain unknown persons, described only by the name of "the elect."
They are not described otherwise than by this term, and all agree that although the maker of the will had the individuals definitely in his mind, yet that he left no description of them, which neither the persons themselves, the courts, nor any living mortal can understand.
Now such a will is of necessity altogether null and void.
No living man can claim under such a will, and none the better though these elected were described as residents of Oberlin. Since it does not embrace all the residency of Oberlin, and does not dein which of them, all is lost. All having an equal claim and none any definite claim, none can inherit.
If the atonement were made in this way, no living man would have any valid reason for believing himself to be one of the elect, prior to his reception of the Gospel. Hence, he would have no authority to believe and receive its blessings by faith.
In fact, the atonement must be wholly void - on this supposition - unless a special revelation is made to the person for whom it is intended.
C.G. Finney, pages 21-22 in One Thousand Evangelistic Illustrations, edited by Webb, A. (1924). New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers
They are not described otherwise than by this term, and all agree that although the maker of the will had the individuals definitely in his mind, yet that he left no description of them, which neither the persons themselves, the courts, nor any living mortal can understand.
Now such a will is of necessity altogether null and void.
No living man can claim under such a will, and none the better though these elected were described as residents of Oberlin. Since it does not embrace all the residency of Oberlin, and does not dein which of them, all is lost. All having an equal claim and none any definite claim, none can inherit.
If the atonement were made in this way, no living man would have any valid reason for believing himself to be one of the elect, prior to his reception of the Gospel. Hence, he would have no authority to believe and receive its blessings by faith.
In fact, the atonement must be wholly void - on this supposition - unless a special revelation is made to the person for whom it is intended.
C.G. Finney, pages 21-22 in One Thousand Evangelistic Illustrations, edited by Webb, A. (1924). New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers
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