II Chronicles 34:27—“Because thine heart was tender …”

Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. (II Chron. 34:27 KJV).

COMMON GRACE ARGUMENT:

Advocates of so-called “preparationism” among the Puritans sometimes taught that the natural man is capable of having a “tender” heart and even the ability to humble themselves “in preparation” for regeneration and salvation.

(I)

Rev. Martyn McGeown

[Source: Protestant Reformed Theological Journal, vol. 41, no. 1 (Nov. 2007), p. 67.]

Sibbes [in support of his teaching on preparationism] appeals to the example of King Josiah who was commended for having a tender heart (II Chron. 34:27), but we must insist that Josiah was already a believer. God had already regenerated the king. That explains why he responded to the discovery of the law with heart-felt sorrow over his sins and the sins of the nation. This was no self-preparation of an unregenerate sinner but obedience by a child of God.

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(II)

More to come! (DV)