Mark 16:16 - William Button

It is high time to come to the Fifth Proposition, which is expressed thus: “God has threatened and inflicted the most awful punishments on men for their not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ” (p. 74).—The first passage brought in proof is Mark 16:16. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” I think the quotation Mr. F. makes from Mr. Brine, is indeed a sufficient answer to this text, viz. “As it is not inferable from that declaration, that the faith of believers is the procuring cause of their salvation, so it is not to be inferred from thence that the want of that special faith in unbelievers is the procuring cause of their damnation. That declaration contains in it the descriptive characters of those who are saved, and of those who are damned; but it assigns not special faith to be the procuring cause of the salvation of the former, nor the want of it to be the procuring cause of the damnation of the latter” (Motives to L. and U. p. 31, 32). Mr. F. however, says in answer, “If this mode of reasoning were admitted, should not we find it very difficult to prove anything being evil from the threatenings of God against it? Yea (saith he) it might in time be rendered doubtful whether sin itself is the procuring cause of men’s damnation” (p. 75). I am astonished at such a conclusion being drawn from what I think good argument.—Mr. F. here quotes a variety of passages of scripture, and then applying Mr. Brine’s reasoning, he imagines he has entirely set it aside: but I think he has utterly failed. Says Mr. F. “we are told Ps. 147:6, The Lord lifteth up the meek, he casteth the wicked down to the ground; but it might be said, as the meekness of the former is not the procuring cause of his being lifted up, so it cannot be from hence inferred that the wickedness of the latter is the procuring cause of his being cast down. Again in Ps. 145:20 we read, The Lord preserveth all that love him; but the wicked will he destroy. But it might be said, as the love of the one is not the procuring cause of his preservation, so it cannot be proved from hence that the wickedness of the other is the procuring cause of his destruction. That these declarations contain only the descriptive characters of those who are saved, and of those who perish” (p. 75 and 76). To which I answer, it is a fact, that these passages only contain the descriptive characters of the saved and lost, as the first cited does; but then shall we say it is difficult to prove wickedness evil, and sin the procuring cause of damnation? No; though these scriptures do not declare it, there are others which positively do, as Ps. 107:33, 34, “He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the water-springs into dry ground, a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.” Prov. 13:6, “Wickedness overthroweth the sinner.” Isa. 57:17, “For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him;” and the apostle says plainly, Rom. 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” From hence it appears clear, that it is Mr. F.’s reasoning, and not Mr. Brine’s, that falls to the ground. We have no occasion to go to those passages of scripture which contain only a descriptive character of those who are damned to prove sin is the cause of damnation, since there are plenty of scriptures which positively assert it; but where is the scripture which positively asserts a want of special faith to be the cause of damnation?—Where?