IV. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that it extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men;[14] and that not by a bare permission,[15] but such as has joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding,[16] and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to His own holy ends;[17] yet so, as the sinfulness thereof proceeds only from the creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.[18]

V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God does oftentimes leave, for a season, His own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled;[19] and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.

If Duguid is “hyper-decretal,” as Jones states, I don’t really see how the Confession has avoided the same charge…

http://www.meetthepuritans.com/2014/01/08/reviews-of-byrd-duguid/

I’m surprised Camden didn’t pick up on some of Barbara’s statements.

And with regard to your comment that you don’t believe God will require you to stay under the destructive bondage of sin, I totally agree. It is God’s revealed will that we do not sin. Nevertheless as a result of the fall of Adam, the whole creation has been submitted to futility by God himself. And our hope right now is in the resurrection of the body, where we will not be raised up with a corrupt body but an incorrupt one as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Romans 8:20 is very clear that God is not promising that we will not commit sin (even though christians sin unwillingly and God does not impute it) Romans 8:20 “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope”

I am sure that Barbara Duguid would never subscribe to the notion that it is ultimately God’s fault that we sin, but when carried out to its logical end this is the conclusion that is reached. Here I am, trying and trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to help me stand against temptation, but it may be God’s sovereign choice that I fall. May it never be. Where is the hope that one can be free from the sin that so easily entangles? Are the wonderful promises in Scripture concerning freedom from sin only applying to the eternal resurrected state? What about Romans chapters 6 and 7? What about all the warnings from Paul about falling into sin and the promises of the freedom from sin?

Before I am accused of legalism let me state that I fully lean on God’s wonderful grace. It is never about my performance as the best I can ever do is as filthy rags as Scripture tells me. Unfortunately, I do know what is in my heart and mind and at times, folks, it ain’t pretty. But I stand on the promises of Scripture that God always provides a way of escape for me and that I don’t ever have to willingly fall into sin. I have to believe those promises, no matter what my experience may be.

It is unbearable to me to believe that even though Christ died for me, and God’s very Word proclaims that I am no longer a slave to sin, that God might still require that I stay under its destructive bondage for some reason known only to Him and turn a deaf ear to real, sorrowful repentance.

Romans 8:20-23
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

So Thomas I disagree with what you wrote. Because when a Christian struggles against sin, this should be a cause of joy , when we see that Christ has atoned for this sin and now there is no condemnation. Romans 8:2 . Also we should glory in tribulation (our struggle with sin). So I totally agree with Barbara that God loves the state we are in our sanctification, even though we sin daily. The love of God is rooted in Christ’s work on the cross and not in our works. So there’s nothing I can do or not do to change the love of God for me. And a christian is a slave to righteousness, he always wants to obey, though he is seldom able to perform as Paul states in Romans 7. But God loves us unconditionally, regardless of the christian’s failure or victory. The christian life is one of repentance, we recognize our sin, confess it, and trust in Christ’s perfect obedience in his life and unto his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

Thomas that is a great follow up response to that section of the interview. That was an area that pricked my mind when she said it and I think that your response fits quite nicely. Thanks for taking the time to type that out!

I may have to add this book to my list as well as get into Newton when I have some free time

4. The sin of Christians cannot in this sense be for their good, that it should finally be best for them, that while they lived in this world, their restoration and recovery from the corruption to which they became subject by the fall, was no greater, that the mortification of sin, and spiritual vivification of the soul, was carried on to no higher degree, that they were so deficient in love to God, love to men, humility, and heavenly-mindedness, that they did so few good works, and consequently, that in general, they had so much sin, and so little holiness; for in proportion as one of these is more, the other will be less, as infallibly, as darkness is more or less, in proportion to the diminution or increase of light. It cannot finally be better for Christians, that in general, while they live, they had so much sin of heart and life, rather than more holiness of heart and life; because the reward of all at last will be according to their works. He that sowed sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he that sowed bountifully shall reap also bountifully; and he that builds wood, hay, and stubble, shall finally suffer loss, and have a less reward, than if he had built gold, silver, and precious stones, though he himself shall be saved. (3) There must always be an urgency in our sanctification. One cannot read John Owen’s Treatise on Indwelling Sin without realizing that we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Sue God works in us, but as we are working in such a way as the Scriptures call “buffeting the body” “running the race” and “plucking out right eyes,” or these words were most unfortunately included in Scripture. (4) Assurance of salvation is naturally – in God’s method of sanctification – withheld from a saint in a state of declension. Edwards says on signs of salvation, “No such signs are to be expected, that shall be sufficient to enable those saints certainly to discern their own good estate, who are very low in grace, or are such as have much departed from God, and are fallen into a dead, carnal, and unchristian frame. It is not agreeable to God’s design, (as already observed,) that such should know their good estate: nor is it desirable that they should; but on the contrary, it is every way best that
they should not. We have reason to bless God, that he has made no provision that such should certainly know the state they are in, any other way, than by first coming out of their ill frame and way.”
I know this will generate discussion, but that is a good thing.