The apostle to the Romans, (Romans 1:28) hath this awful expression, "God gave them over to a reprobate mind," The doctrine of reprobation is of all others the most solemn. The expression of the apostle of God giving them over to it doth not convey that the Lord makes them reprobate, but leaves them in it. It is they that have gone on to harden their heart, and they are left in that hardness of heart; for God doth not give grace to bring them out of it, therefore they are given over, or given up, in being left alone to this state of reprobation.
It should seem that the word is equivalent to that of rejection; such as in the case of Cain, Genesis 4:5; such as Esau, Hebrews 12:16-17. Hence the prophet, speaking of all such, saith, "reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them." (Jeremiah 6:30) Awful doctrine! (See Jude 1:4-13; Titus 1:16. See Vagabond.)