Holiness Necessary For Salvation

Elder (Dr.) John McClaren Watson

1798-1866

In "The Correspondent" (Vol. II, June, 1839) Watson prints with hearty approval an article by Toplady titled "Holiness Of Life Absolutely Necessary To Salvation." It reads as follows (emphasis mine):

"The Holy Spirit, making the Apostle's pen the channel of unerring inspiration, thus inspired him to write: according as he (God the Father) hath chosen us in Him (in Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should (not "be saved do what we will;" but) be holy and without blame before him in love.--Eph. 1:4. Election is always followed by regeneration; when the Apostle adds in the very next chapter, v. 10. We (the elect) are His (subsequent) workmanship, created (anew) in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath fore-ordained that we should walk in them. Consequently it does not follow from the doctrine of absolute predestination that "the elect shall be saved do what they will." On the contrary, they are chosen as much to holiness as to heaven; and are fore-ordained to work in good works, by virtue of their election from eternity and of their conversion in time. Yet again: God hath from the beginning (i.e. from everlasting; see Prov. 8: 23. I John 1:1,2) chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: II Thess. 2:13. All therefore who are chosen to salvation are no less unalterably destined to holiness and faith in the mean while. And if so, it is giving God himself the lie to say that "the elect shall be saved do what they will." For the elect, like the blessed Person who redeemed them, come into the world not to do their own will, but the will of Him who sent them: and this is the will of God concerning them even their sanctification: I Thess. 4:3. Hence they are expressly said to be elect--unto obedience: not indeed chosen because of obedience, but chosen unto it: for works are not the fountain of grace, but streams flowing from it. Election does not depend upon holiness, but holiness depends upon election. So far therefore is predestination from being subversive of good works, that predestination is the primary cause of all good the works which have been done and shall be wrought from the beginning to the end of time. It is only the peculiar people that are truly zealous of good works. Tit. 2:11. The rest may profess that they know God, but even amidst all their noise about works, in their own works they deny Him; being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. Tit. 1:16. As I have elsewhere observed, they trust in good works, without doing them; while the peculiar people do good works without trusting in them."

Some side notes connected with this posting.

For the Sept. 1839 issue of the "Correspondent" we find this correspondence from Elder Gilbert Beebe and his paper the "Signs of the Times."

The "CORRESPONDENT."--The 2nd number of this paper published at Murfreesborough, Ten. and edited by our Brother John M. Watson, M.D. has just reached us. The first number we have not seen: but by the number now before us we learn that the Correspondent is a continuance of "The Old Baptist Banner." Of the orthodoxy and ability of Brother Watson, we have no doubt: some of his communications published in back numbers of the "Signs of the Times," will satisfy our readers that Brother W. is a thorough going Old School Baptist, and we wish him great success in setting forth truth and opposing error in the far west'.--Signs of the Times

In the same issue is a long letter of support from Elder James Osbourn. Also, Elder Daniel Jewett, editor of Monitor and Advocate, wrote to Watson bidding him Godspeed.