J. Gresham Machen (1881–1937) on Common Grace

The Bible does certainly teach that the good that is already in man ought to be fostered in order to check the evil. Whatsoever things are true and pure and of good report--we ought to think on those things. Certainly the principle of overcoming the world's evil by the good already in the world is a great principle. The old theologians recognized it to the full in their doctrine of "common grace." There is something in the world even apart from Christianity which restrains the worst manifestations of evil. And that something ought to be used. Without the use of it, this world could not be lived in for a day. The use of it is certainly a great principle; it will certainly accomplish man', useful things.

J. Gresham Machen, Christianity & Liberalism (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990), 138. The whole text of Christianity & Liberalism is available online here.

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HT: James Durham Thesis and Martin Downes