"So wonderful is His love toward mankind, that he would have them all to be saved, and is of his own self prepared to bestow salvation on the lost. But the order is to be noticed, that God is ready to receive all to repentance, so that none may perish; for in these words the way and manner of obtaining salvation is pointed out. Every one of us, therefore, who is desirous of salvation, must learn to enter in by this way.
But it may be asked, If God wishes none to perish, why is it that so many do perish? To this my answer is, that no mention is here made of the hidden purpose of God, according to which the reprobate are doomed to their own ruin, but only of His will as made known to us in the gospel. For there God stretches forth His hand without a difference to all, but lays hold only of those, to lead them to Himself, whom he has chosen before the foundation of the world."
- John Calvin (1509-1564), 16th century reformer, from his Commentary on 2 Peter 3:9, "Not willing that any should perish."
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