Heresiography, Description of sect 7
Of ARMINIANS.
THE Armi…s are so called of Iames Armin…s, who was … Divinity at Leiden in the Low-countreys, in the … of our Lord God 1605. They are also called Remonstra…s.
Their Errors follow.
1. Concerning Gods Predestination.
THat the will of God to …ve such as shall believe and persevere in faith and obedience of …aith▪ is the whole and entire d…cree of the election to salvation, and that nothing else concerning that decree is revealed in the word of God.
These Teachers deceive the sim…er sort, and plainly gain-say the holy Scripture, which witnesseth that God not on…ly wil save such as shall believe, but also from eternity hat… chosen some certaine men, upon whom rather then upon others, he would bestow faith in Christ, and persev…a…ce, as it is written Ioh. 17. 6, I have declared thy name to the … which thou gavest … Like manner Acts 13. 48. As many as were ordained to eternall life believed And Eph. 1. 4. He hath chosen us before the foundat…on of the World.
2. They teach …thit the election of God to salvation is manifold, one generall and indetinite, and this again … incomplete, revocable, nor peremp…orie or conditionall; or …lse complete, …ocable, peremptory, or abs…lute: likewise that there is one election …nto faith, another to salvation, so th…t election unto just…ying aith may bee without peremptory election to salvation▪ This is a f…gment of mans braine, devised without any ground in the Scripture, corrupting the doctrine of election & breaking that golden chaine of salvation, Rom. 8. 30. Whom he hath predestinated, them also hath he called: and whom … hath called, them a… so he hath …ustified: and whom he hath justified also he hath glorified.
3. They teach that the good pleasure and purpose of God, whereof the Scripture maketh mention in the doctrine of election, doth not consist herein, that God did elect some certaine men rather then others: but in this, viz. That God from among all possible conditions (amongst which are the workes of the Law also) or out of the ranke of all things did chuse as condition to salvation, the act of faith (in it selfe ignoble) and imperfect obedience, & was graciously pleased to repute it for perfect obedience, and account it worthy of the reward of everlasting life. By this pernicious error, the good pleasure of God and merit of Christ is weakned, besides that by such unprofitable questions men are called from the truth to free justification, and from the single plaine of the Scriptures, and that of the Apostle is out…ced as untrue, 2 Tim. 1. 9. God hath called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace which was given to us through Christ …esu… before the world began.
4. They teach that in election unto faith, this condition is formerly required, viz. That a man may use the …ight of reason aright, that he be honest, lowly, and humble, and …posed unto eternall life, as though in some sort election d…pended on these things, for these Teachers have a strong …, and broadly enough tell the Apostle that he is … when he sayes Ephes. 2. 3. We had all our conversations in ti…s past in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the will of the flesh, … of the minde, and were by nature the children of wrath as well as others.
But God which is rich in mercy through his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and … raised us up together, and made us sit together in heave…y pl… ces in Iesus Christ, that he might shew in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindnesse tow…rds us in Iesus Christ: for by grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of your selves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any should …ast.
5. They teach that incompleat and not peremptory election of singular person is made by reason of fore-seen faith, repentance, sanctity, godlinesse, and that this is the gracious and Evangelicall worthinesse, by which he that is chosen becomes worthier then he that is not chosen: and therefore that faith, the …bedience of faith sanctity, godlinesse and perseveran ce are not the fruits or effects of the unchangeable electi…n unto glory, but conditions and causes sine quibus non, (that is to say, without which a thing is not brought to passe) before required and fore-seen as already performed by those who are compleatly to be chosen, a thing rep…gnant to the whole Scripture, which every wherebeats into our eares & hearts these and such like sayings, Rom 9. 11. Election is not of works, but of him that calleth, Acts 13, 48. As many as were ordained to everlasting life, beleeved, Joh. 15. 16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, Rom. 11. 6. If of grace not of works, 1 John 4. 10. Herein is love… not that we loved God but that he first loved us and sent his Son, &c.
6. That not all election to salvation is unchangeable, but that some which are elected, withstanding Gods decree, may perish, and for ever doe perish. By which gros…e error they hoth make God mutable, & overthrow the comfort of the godly concerning the certainty of their salvation, and contradict the holy Scriptures, teaching, Mat. 24. 24. That the Elect cannot he seduced, John 6. 39. That Christ doth not lose those are given to him by his father, Rom. 8. 30. That God whom he hath predestinated, called, justified, them he doth also glorifie.
7. They teach that in this life there is no fruit, no sence, no certainty of immutable election unto glory, but upon condition, contingent and mutable: for besides that, it is absurd to make an uncertaine certainty. These things contrary to the experience of the godly, who with the Apostle, triumph upon the sence of their election, and extoll this benefit of God, who rejoyce with the Disciples according to the admonition of Christ, Luke 10. 20. That their nam… are written in heaven. And lastly, who oppose the sense of their election against the fiery darts of divillish temptations, demanding, Rom. 8. 33. Why shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect.
8. They teach that God out of his meere just will hath not decreed to leave any man in the fall of Adam and common state of sin and damnation, or to passe over any in the communication of grac… necessary to faith and conversion, for that stands firme, Rom. 9. 18. He hath compassion upon whom he will and whom he will he hardn…th. And that Mat. 13. 11. To you is given to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven, but to them it is not given. In like manner, Mat. 11. 25, 26. I glorifie thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding men, and hast revealed them unto Babes: even so, O Father, because thy good pleasure was such.
9. They teach that the cause why God sends the Gospell rather to this nation than to another, is not the meere and onelyonly good pleasure of God, but because this nation is better and more worthy of it then that to which he hath not communicated the Gospell: …or Moses gain-sayes this speaking thus unto the people Israel, Deut. 10. 14, 15. Behold heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord thy Gods, and the earth with all that therein is: Notwithstanding the Lord set his delight in thy Fathers to love them, and did chuse their seed after them even you above all people▪ as appeareth this day. And Christ, Mat. 11. 21… W…e be to thee Corazin, woe be to thee Bethsaida, for if the great works which had been done in you, had been done … Ti…s and Sydon, they had repented long agoe in sacke … and ashes▪
2. Their Errors concerning Christs death, and the redemption of men by it.
1. THey teach that God the Father ordained his Son unto the death of the Crosse without any certaine and determinate counsell of saving any particular man expressely, so that its necessary, profit and dignity might have remained whole, sound, and perfect in every respect, compleat and entire in the impetration of Christs death, although they obtained redemption, had never actually been applyed to any particular person, for that assertion is reproachfull to the wisdome of God the Father, and the me…t of Jesus Christ, and contrary to the Scripture, where our Saviour Christ saith, Ioh. 10. 15. I lay down my life for my sheep, verse 27. And I know them The prophet speaketh thus of our Saviour, Isa. 53. 10. When he shal make his sons a sacrifice for sin he shal see his seed and prolong his dayes, and the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hands. Lastly, it overthroweth any Article of our faith, wherein we doe believe that there is a Church,
2. They reach that this was not the will of God, that hee might establish a new Covenant of Grace by his bloud, but that he might onelyonly procure unto his Father the bare right of making againe with men any Covenant whatsoever, whether of grace or of works: for this thwarteth the Scripture, which teacheth that Christ is made the surety & mediator of a better, that is, a new Covenant, Heb. 7. 22. and Heb. 9. 17. The Testament is confirmed when men are dead.
3. They teach that Christ by his satisfaction did not certainly merit for any mans salvation it selfe, and faith by which this satisfaction of Christ may be effectually applyed unto salvation, bu… onelyonly that he purchased his Fathers power or resolution to enter into a new match with man-kinde, and to prescribe them what new Covenant soever he pleased. The performance of which condition should depend upon mans free-will, and that therefore it might fall …ut that either no man or every man might fulfill them: for these esteem too … basely of Christ… death, in no wise acknowledging the chiefest … excellent fruit and benefit procured thereby, and will call up … Pelagian herisie from hell.
4. They teach that the new Covenant of grace with God the Father, by the mediation of Christs death made with men, doth not consist herein▪ viz. That we are justified before God, and saved by faith, insomuch as it apprehendeth the merit of Christ, but herein, viz. That God, the exaction of perfect legal obedience being abrogated, reputes faith it selfe and the imperfect obedience of faith for the perfect obedience of the Law, & graciously thinks it worthy of the reward of eternall life. Th… concludeth the Scripture. Rom. 5. 24, 25. All are justified freely by grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus, whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through saith in his bloud. And with wicked Socinus they bring in … and strange justification of man before God, … consent of the whole Church.
5. They teach that all men are received into the sta…e of reconciliation and grace of the Covenant, so that no … shal be condemned for Originall sin, nor in respect of it be … unto death or damnation: but are all acquitted and f…e…d from the guilt of that sin.
This opinion is contrary to the Scripture, which affi…es that by nature we are the Children of wrath. This the Arminiams learnt from the Anabaptists.
6. They imply the distinction of impetration and application, to the end that they may infuse this opinion unto unsk…full and unwary wits; namely, that God as much as concerne… …, would conferre upon all men eq…lly those benefits which are promised by Christs death. And whereas some rather then … thers are made partakers of forgivenesse of sins … life etern…ll… and this diversity depends upon their owne free-will, applying it selfe unto grace indifferently offered, but not upon the …gular gift of mercy effectually working in them … then others, that they may apply this grace unto thems…lves: … they while they bear the world in hand, that they pr…pound this destruction with a sound meaning, they goe about to make the people drink of the poysonous cup of Pelagianisme.
7. They teach that Christ neither could nor ought to dye, neither did dye for those whom God dearely loved, and chose unto eternall life, seeing such stood in no need of Christs death.
In this they contradict the Apostle, who saith, Gal. 2. 20. Christ loved me, and gave himselfe for me. In like manner, Rom. 8. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Christs chosen? It is God that justifieth, who shall condemne? it is Christ which it dead, to wit for them. And our Saviour averring Iohn 10. 15. I lay down my life for my sheep. And Iohn 15. 12. This is my Commandement that yee love one another as I have loved you, greater love then this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Thirdly, & Fourthly, Their Errors concerning mans corruption and conversion unto God.
1. THey teach, that it cannot be well objected, that Originall sin of it selfe is sufficient …or the con…en…ning of a…l mankinde, or for the deserving of any temporall and eternall punishment.
In this they goe against the Apostle, who saith Rom. 5. By one man sin entred into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned, and vea…. 16. The judgement was by one to condemnation, Rom. 6. 23. The …ages of sin is death.
2. They teach that spirituall gifts or good qualities or vertues, such as our goodnesse, holinesses, or righteousnesse, could not bee s…a…ed in the will of man in his first … and therefore in his fall the will could not bee bereft of them.
This is contrary to the Image of God laid downe by the Apostle, Eph. 4. 24. Where hee describeth it by righteousnesse and holinesse, which doubtlesse are placed in the will.
3. They teach that in spiritual death n… spirituall gifts were separated from the will of man, to … will it selfe … corrupted b…t onelyonly encombred by … darknesse of the understanding and unrulin… sse of the affections: which impe…iments being removed the will may be put into her owne inbred faculty of freedome, that is, of her selfe, will or …ill chuse or refuse any kind of good set before her.
Verily, this is a new feigned and erroneous piece of doctrine▪ bent on purpose for the enhansing of the forces of free-wil, contrary to that of the P…ophet, Jer. 17. 5. The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked. And that of the Apostle, Eph. 23. Among whom (namely the children of disobedience) All we had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the wills of the flesh and of the minde.
4. They teach that an unregenerate man is not properly nor totally dead in sins, nor destitute of all strength tending to spirituall good, but that he is able to hunger and thirst after righteousnes or everlasting life, and to offer the Sacrifice of an humble and contrite heart, even such as is acceptable to God.
These assertions march against the direct testimonies of Scriptures, Eph. 2. 1. 5. Yee were dead in trespasses and sinnes. Gen. 6. 7. 8. 21. Every imagination of the thoughts of mans heart is onelyonly evill continually. Moreover, the hungring and th…rsting for deliverance out of misery, and for life eternall, as also offering to God the sacrifice of a broken heart is proper to the Regenerate, and such as are called blessed, Psalme 519. Matth. 5. 6.
5. They teach, that a corrupt and naturall man can so rightly use common grace (by which they mean the light of nature, or, those gifts which are left him after the fall) that by the good use thereof he may obtaine to a greater; namely, Evangelicall, or saving grace, and by degrees at length salvation it selfe. And that God for his part sheweth himselfe ready in this manner to reveale Christ to all men, seeing he doth sufficiently and efficaciously afford to every man necessary meanes for the making Christ known, and for faith and repentance.
This is … to be false, as by the experiance of all ages in the world, so also by Scriptures, Psal. 147. 19, 20. He sheweth his word unto Jacob; his statutes and his judgements unto Israel: He hath not dealt so with any nation, and as for his judgements, they have not knowne them, Acts 14. 16. God in times past suffered all Nations to walke in their owne wayes, Acts 16. 6, 7. Paul and his company were forbidden to preach the Word in Asia; and after they were come to Mysia, they offered to goe into Byth…i…; but the spinit suffered them not.
6. They teach, that in true conversion of a man there cannot be in…used by God any new qualities, habits, or gifts into his will; and so by faith, by which we are first converted, and from which we are stiled faithfull, is not any gift or quality infused by God; but onelyonly an act of man that this faith cannot be called a gift otherwise then in regard of the power or meanes given us of attaining it.
These strange positions are contrary to holy Scriptures, which testifie unto us, that God doth infuse or shed downe into our hearts new qualities of faith, obedience, and some of his love towards us, Ier. 31. 33. I pu… my Law into their inner parts, and write it in their hearts, Isa. 44. 3. I will poure water upon him that is thirsty, and flouds upon the dry grounds; I will poure my spireit upon thy seed, Rom. 5. 5. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghost which is given unto us. They contradict also the continuall practice of the Church, which useth to pray after the manner prescribed by the Prophet, Convert me O Lord, and I shall be converted Jer, 31. 18.
7. They teach, that the grace wherewith we are converted unto God is nothing else but a gentle inducement, or (as others explain it) that the most noble kinde of working a mans conversion, and most …utable to our nature is performed by swaso…y motives or advice; and that no cause can be alledged …hy even such morall grace alone should not of naturall men make spirituall. Nay moreover, that God doth not produce the consent of our will otherwise then by way of morall counselling, and that the efficacy of Gods working, wherein he exceedeth the working of the devill, cons…steth in this, that the divell promiseth temporary things, but Gods things eternall.
This is downe-right Pelagianisme, and warreth against the whole course of Scriptures, which besides this swasory course of moving acknowledgeth in the conversion of man another manner of working of Gods spirit, and that more divine and of farre greater efficacy, Ezek. 36. 26. I will give you a new heart and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of yur flesh, and will give you an heart of flesh.
8. That God in regenerating a man doth not imply that omnipotent strength whereby he may powerfully and infallibly bow and bend his will unto faith and conversion; but that all the gracious operations which God useth for our conversion being accomplished, neverthelesse man may withstand God, and his holy Spirit intending that mans conversion; yea, and oftentimes doth make actuall resistance; so it lyeth in mans power to be, or not to be regenarate.
This amounteth to no lesse then the denying of all efficacy to Gods grace in our conversion, and to the subjecting of the worke of Almighty God unto the will of man, which is flat contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles, Eph. 1. 19. That we believe according to the working of his mighty power. And 2 Thes. 1. 11. That God fulfilleth all the pleasure of his goodnesse, and the worke of faith with power. And 2 Pet. 1. 3. That Gods power hath given to us all things that pertaine to life and godlinesse.
9. They teach, that grace and free-will are co-partening causes joyntly concurring to the beginning of conversion, and that grace doth not in the order of casuality goe before the action of the will. That is, that God doth effectually helpe mans will to conversion before the will of man moveth and determineth or setleth it selfe thereunto.
This doctrine was long since condemned by the ancient Church among the Pelagian Errors out of the Apostles Authority, Romans 9. 16. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. And 1 Cor. 4. 7. Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Item. Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you both …o will and to doe of his good pleasure.
5. Error concerning the perseverance of the Saints.
1. THey teach, that the perseverance of the faithfull is not an effect of election, nor any gift of God purchased by the death of Christ; but that it is a condition of the new Covenant which is to be performed by mans part by his owne free will before his (as they themselves speak) peremptorily election and justification: whereas the holy Scriptures testifie, that it followeth election, and is given to the Elect by vertue of Christ death resurrection, and intercession, Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his owne Sonne, but delivered him up for us, how shall not he with him give us freely all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that dyed, yea, or rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us: who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
2. They teach, that God indeed furnisheth the faithfull man with sufficient strength to persevere, and is ready to maint…i…e that strength in him if he himselfe be not wanting to his du…y: yet not withstanding, when as all abilities necessary unto perseverance, and all things which God is pleased to use for the preservation of Faith once granted, and set in readinesse, that it still remaineth in the choyce and pleasure of mans will to performe or not.
This opinion is easily discovered to be an impe of Pelagi… nisme; which whilst it strives to make man free, maketh him sacrilegious, contrary to the uniforme and pe…petuall consent of Evangelicall doctrine, which quite strippeth a man of matter of boasting and ascribeth the glory of his benefit to Gods grace, onelyonly and contrary to the Apostle, witnessing that it is God that shall confirme us unto the end, that we may be blamelesse in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. They teach that the regenerate and true beleevers, not only may totally and finally fall from justifying saith, as also from grace and salvation, but that frequently also they indeed do fall from all these, and perish everlastingly.
This opinion maketh the grace of justification and regeneration, and Christs continuall custody voyd and of none effect, contrary to the expresse words of St. Paul, Rom. 5. 8. While we were yet sinners, Christ dyed for us, much more then being justified by his bloud, we shall be saved from wrath through him. And contrary to the Apostle St. Iohn, 1 Joh. 3. 9. Whosoever is borne of God sinneth not, for his seed remaineth in him, neither can be sin because he is borne of God. And also contrary to the word of our Saviour, Iohn 10. 28, 29. I give eternall life to my sheep, and they shall never perish, neither shall any plucke them out of my hand: my Father which gave them me is greater then all, and none is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand.
4. They teach that the regenera…e and truely faithfull may sin the sin unto death, or against the holy Ghost.
St. Iohn in his first Epistle, Chapter 5. Verse 16. Having made mention of such as sinned unto death, and forbidden to pray for them presently, verse 16. addeth; We know that whosoever is borne of God sinneth not, to wit, that kinde of sin; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe, and that wicked one coucheth him not.
5. They teach that no certainty of future perseverance ca… he had in this life without speciall revelation.
By this Doctrine the solid comfort of true beleevers in this life is quite taken away, and the doctrine of doub…fulnesse (… …ouched, by the Papists) is brought againe into the Church, whereas the holy Scripture every whe…e draweth this assurance, not from special and extraordinary revelation, but from the proper markes and signes of Gods children, and from the infallible promises made by God himselfe, especially the Apostle, Rom. 8. 39. No creature is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Iesus Christ. 1 Joh, 3. 24. He that keepeth his Commadement dwelleth in him and he in him, and hereby we know that hee abideth in us, even by the spirit which hee hath given us.
6. They teach that the doctrine maintai…ing assurance and pers…verance, and of salvation, is of its own nature & gift, a soft pillow for the flesh, and hurtfull to good manners, godlinesse, praying and other holy exercises; and contrariwise that it is a true commendable thing to be doubtfull of such perseverance. The opposers of this assurance do evidētly shew that they know not the powerfulnesse of Gods grace, nor the operation of the holy Ghost dwelling in the heart, and spare not to outface the Apostle. Iohn affi…ming the contrary in expresse terms, 1 Ioh, 3. 2, 3. Beloved now are we the sonnes of God, and it doth not yet appeare what we shal be; but we know that when he shal appeare, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every man, that this hope in him purifieth himselfe even as he is pure. They are also refuted by the examples of holy men both in the old and new Testament: who though well assured of their own perseverance and salvation, yet gave not over prayers and othe… exercises of godlinesse.
7. They teach that the faith of those that beleeve but for a season differeth no: from justifying and saving faith, but onelyonly in respect of continuance: Christ himselfe manifestly puts, Mat. 13. 20. Luke 8. 13. a three-fold disparison between temporisors and true beleevers, saying that those receive the seed in a stony ground, these in a good ground, that is, an honest and good heart: these want root, these have a fast root, these are fruitlesse, these bring forth their fruit with diversity of yeeld, & that with patience, that is, with constancy and perseverance.
8. They teach that it is absurd that a man should lose his first regeneration, and be again new-borne spiritually.
They that reach this, do thereby deny the uncorruptiblenesse of that divine seed whereof we are borne anew, contrary to the testimony of the Apostle St. Peter, 1 Pet. 1. 23. Being born anew not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible.
9. They teach that Christ never prayed for the faithfulls infallible perseverance in faith, in which they contradict Christ his saying to Peter, Luke 22 32. I have prayed for thee that thy faith faile not▪ And also witnessing, John 17. 20. That himselfe prayed not onelyonly for his Apostles, but also for all that should believe by their word, when he said, verse 11. Holy Father keep thine owne, (namely) those whom thou hast given me, and ver. 15. I pray that thou shouldst not take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evill.
For your better satisfaction read the Synod held at Dort in the yeares of our Lord, 1618, 1619. where the Orthodoxe opinions of the Reformed Churches are set down, and the errors before named condemned. King James of blessed memory was a special means for the suppressing of these Sectaries▪ as appeareth by his writings against them.
Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby before the foundations of the world were lai…, he hath constantly decreed by his counsels secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ ou… of man-kinde and to bring them to Christ, to everlasting salvation, as Vessels made to honour: ther…fore they which bee endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit, working in due season; they through grace obey the calling, they be justified freely, they be made Sons of God by adoption, they bee made like the Image of his onelyonly Son Jesus Christ, they walke religio…sly in good works, and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting Felicity.
As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our election in Christ is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as fe…le in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members▪ and drawing up their minde to high and heavenly things, aswell because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God▪ so for curious and carnall persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods Predestination, is a most dangerous down-fall, whereby the devill doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlesnesse of most uncleane living, no lesse perilous then desparation. Furthermore, we must rece…ve Gods promises in such wise as they be generally set forth in holy Scripture, and in our doings that will of God is to be followed, which we have expressely declared unto us in the word of God. To conclude, sith wee cannot our selves think one good thought: let us not in the work of salvation attribute any thing to our selves, but to God let us give all the glory.