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But life is long and none of us knows where God intends anyone to be tomorrow, let alone 10 years from now. So we preach the Gospel to all men, confident those who are His will, at a moment in time and place chosen by God, know his salvation has been obtained for him by Jesus Christ, second person of the Triune God

Okay, but that wasn't the question. I also never claimed I knew whom God rejected. What I did say was, based on what AG wrote, that some people are saved because they were given the 'ears' and others are damned because God chose not to give them the spiritual ears.

I do understand that the Bible commands you to preach the Gospel, but it is not your preaching (which is works) that gives 'ears'; rather it is God who does. And he decided that before the foundation of the world and not as a result of your preaching. Because preaching is works of men, it can not be an instrument of salvation, lest one is saved by works.

This Scriptural perspective makes for a lot less anxiety.

Okay, so does chewing gum.

Anyone who seeks Christ with a repentant heart given by God will find Him

But God doesn't give a repentant heart to everyone, does he? Ergo, he rejects some, doesn't he?

Those who don't seek Him, do not want to find Him.

That's "soft Calvinism" in my opinion, Dr. E. Seeking is works, and seeking does not save. I think your fellow Calvinists would say that you are either saved or not, no matter what you do or think and that what you do with your repentant heart is not your will but God's.

In other words, I think Calvinists would say that if you don't seek it's not because you don't want to find him but because God doesn't want you to find him! Ultimately, who gets saved and who doesn't is God's decision and doing, not yours.

What I did say was, based on what AG wrote, that some people are saved because they were given the 'ears' and others are damned because God chose not to give them the spiritual ears.

You misrepresent what I said. The following is excerpted from my post 819 on this thread:

Again, it is not a matter of punishment. Man is condemned already as the Scriptures offered earlier explain. [Refers to post 775, excerpted below:]

God did not “owe” Adamic man anything. Our salvation is a gift.

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die [literally, muwth muwth or “death death”]. – Genesis 2:17

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. – John 3:18

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. – Matthew 10:28

So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit. – I Corinthians 15:42-45

However, there is a kind of man who will be punished for cause. And that cause is that he willfully chooses to reject the knowledge of God which is given to all men. God gives such a one over to a reprobate mind. (emphasis mine)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: - Romans 1:18-20

And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. - Romans 1:28-32

God's Name is I AM.

What I did say was, based on what AG wrote, that some people are saved because they were given the 'ears' and others are damned because God chose not to give them the spiritual ears.

That's what the Bible tells us.

Preaching the truth of the Gospel is not a work of men, but a work of the Holy Spirit through men.

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life." -- John 6:63

But God doesn't give a repentant heart to everyone, does he? Ergo, he rejects some, doesn't he?

Certainly we learn that in Romans 8 and 9. And here...

"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." -- Jude 1:4

That's "soft Calvinism" in my opinion, Dr. E. Seeking is works, and seeking does not save. I think your fellow Calvinists would say that you are either saved or not, no matter what you do or think and that what you do with your repentant heart is not your will but God's.

There's no "soft" or "hard" Calvinism. There's just the Bible which tells us that all men are fallen and none seeks God unless and until God first replaces their stony heart with a heart of flesh so that they can want to know the things of God.

The natural man does not want God. The spiritual man wants God. And who makes us to differ? God.

In other words, I think Calvinists would say that if you don't seek it's not because you don't want to find him but because God doesn't want you to find him! Ultimately, who gets saved and who doesn't is God's decision and doing, not yours.

Ultimately, that's true.

"Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." -- John 6:65

Now I'm aware you might very well respond that the Scripture I offer constitutes no real proof of anything. But that hasn't been my experience. The words of God tangibly and literally have changed my life and outlook and personality and family and habits and desires and productivity and on and on.

So I have evidence that satisfies me. And all I can offer you are the same words of Scripture along with the hope you respond in a similar manner.

But that's not up to me. It's not even up to the words. It's up to God who gives the Holy Spirit to whomever He wants in order to make His words meaningful and productive.

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." -- 1 Thess. 2:13