Animadversions on Doctor Heylins Quinquarticular History, Part 28 – Part 29
Dr. H. page 44.
Finally, it is alledged, that this Doctrine of the Sublapsarians, is contrary to the ends by God proposed in the Word and Sacraments; to many of God's excellent gifts to the sons of men; to all endeavours unto holiness and godly living; and to those grounds of comfort by which a conscience in distress should be relieved.
Ans. All this is indeed alledged by Mr. Hoard, but it is denied also by all the Sublapsarians; and had the Doctor vouchsafed to bring Mr. Hoard's Reasons, they should have had their Answer: but where he counts it sufficient barely to affirm, there I count it enough to deny. But however, I shall take notice of two Stories; whereof the first is said to illustrate, the second to evince.
The illustrating History in concerning Tiberius Caesar, of whom Suetonius saith, Circa Deos & Religiones negligentior erat, quippe addictus Mathematicae, persuasionisque plenus, omnia fato agi.
The evincing Story is the miserable example of the Landgrave of Turing (related not by Heistibachius, but Heisterbachius,) who being admonished of his vitious conversation, and dangerous condition, made his Friends this Answer, Si praedestinatus, nulla peccata poterint mihi Regnum Coelorum auferre; si praescitus, nulla opera mihi illud valebunt conferre.
A man would almost think that this prophane Land-grave was a piece of an Arminian, because he opposeth praedestinatus & praescitus: whereas the Calvinists take Predestination in its latitude, and make Election and Reprobation to be contained under it. But however, this I am sure of, that a Monk in S. Austin's time, being reproved by his Friends for his wickedness, answered, Whatsoever I am now, I shall be such as God foreseeth I will be. Shall we deny God's Prescience, because a wretched Monk abused it? No more must we deny Predestination, because the Land-grave of Turing did turn it into wantonness and lasciviousness. Had either Supralapsarian, or Sublapsarian, been present when the Land-grave uttered these words, it would have been answered, That though he were Predestinated, yet should he never be saved if he continued in his sins; and That though he were Reprobate, yet he should not miss of Heaven, if he continued by patience in well-doing to seek for it. Salvation and Damnation are alway (if we speak of the adult) secundum bona, & mala opera.
Tiberius confuted himself; for though he pretended a full perswasion of a Mathematical fate or destiny, yet, as the same Historian observeth, he was out of measure afraid of Thunders, and when the Air was cloudy, he always did wear on his head a Crown of Laurel. We may pity his ignorance, in thinking that there was any virtue in the Laurel to keep him from Thunder; but cannot choose but detest his Hypocrisie, who in words maintained a Fate, and yet endeavoured to secure his life by as many means as were used by them that held no Fate. As much is their Hypocrisie to be abhorred, who take occasion from the irreversibleness of God's Decrees to neglect their Souls: and yet the irreversibleness of those Decrees notwithstanding, mind their Bodies as much or more, than any persons in the World besides.
To conclude; Would it not exasperate, I could instance in those, who whilst they were prophane, were Arminians to the full: but left their Arminianism as they left their loosness; their own experience in conversion convincing them, that Faith was the gift of God in another way than the Arminians ever thought of. He that questioneth this, may be in part satisfied by reading the History of the Life and Death of the executed Irish Bishop, published by Dr. Bernard. To my grief I observe, that there are multitudes of stupid and prophane wretches in the World: With some of them I have occasion to converse; and I find, that one main thing which keepeth them in their carnality is a perswasion, that there is an universal grace offered and tendered to all, by which they may repent and believe when they will: they therefore resolve, they will enjoy the pleasures of sin a little longer, and then they will receive and entertain the grace of God; and so get to Heaven as sure as the strictest and earliest Puritans. Yea, this was the refuge and foreign of that grand Propagator of Arminianism Mr. Thomson: If any one in a fit of intemperance, minded him of the wrath of God threatned against such courses, he would answer, I am a Child of the Devil to day; but I have Free-will, and to morrow I will make my self a Child of God.
So I come to the fifth Chapter of the Historian, in which we have some account given of the Remonstrants; Unto whom it will be found, that he hath discovered too much charity, though he could find in his heart to shew none at all to the Contraremonstrants.
Dr. H. Pag. 47.
His first Proposition is this, That the Remonstrants Opinion though accused of Novelty, is Ancienter than Calvinism in the Churches of the Belgick Provinces; which being originally Dutch, did first embrace Religion according to the Lutheran model, though afterwards they suffered the Calvinian platform to prevail upon them.
Answ. A Proposition, concerning which he hath reason to pray, that it may meet with very easie and credulous Readers, else he may well expect it will be queried, 1. How it appears that the Lutheran and Calvinian model were then, as to the points of Grace and the Decrees, any way opposite? 2. How it can be proved, that on supposition the Lutheran and Calvinian platform were distinct, the Belgick Churches did first embrace Religion according to the Lutheran, and not the Calvinian platform? To which second Question, it will in no wise be a satisfactory Answer to reply, That Hardingbergius, Clemens Martini, Henricus Antonides, had opinions about Predestination differing from Mr. Calvin: For granting this, yea, and granting further, that they had been through-paced Remonstrants, it need not be yielded, that the Belgick Churches were Lutheran; for there might be at the same time men every way as famous, and as likely to draw Disciples after them, that were Calvinistical. It is a truth known to all that are not altogether unacquainted with the Stories of the Low-Countries, that though in the dawning of Reformation, the Preachers were not all of a mind; yet as things grew to a settlement, the Pelagian Leaven was purged out, a Confession of Faith published, (which was afterwards called Belgica Confessio,) in which the Doctrine of Predestination is so explained as Mr. Calvin explained it at Geneva: this was in the year 1566, or 1567.