Calvinism and Arminianism Compared in Their Principles and Tendency; Or, the Doctrines of General Redemption, As Held by the Members of the Church Of

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1824 edition. Excerpt: ... * understanding and a will, which are the organs of belief. It 'remains therefore solely with themselves whether they will 'believe or not.'--If this be not a mere trifling with words, what is? As though that man who has not the ability even to mill any thing, may do it if he mill! And if [ DEGREESaccording to Amyraut] it be impossible for him to mil any //ting, it is likewise out of his power to nill it; much less is it possible for him by an effort of unwillingness to implicate himself in some grievous crime, as they do who refuse to believe the gospel.' 'For 'he only has the power of nilling who also enjoys the power of 'Killing, ' as it is stated in Digest, de Reg. Juris.--leg. 3. If therefore the reprobates have not the ability of milling to believe in Christ, neither have they the ability of being unwilling; and on account of such unwillingness, [[which according to Amyraut is inevitable, ] they commit no offence. Their being endowed with an understanding and a will, is not of the least consequence: For since those faculties have been corrupted by the hereditary sin which they contract from Adam, and since they are not adapted to form that faith which is required from them, it cannot be imputed to them as a crime that they do not believe. 'But they excel greatly in other matters which ■ relate to the present life.' Of what avail is this, if they the understanding and will] be deficient and completely fettered in this the chief concern, in which they are most needed? For this circumstance was not unknown to God when he willed, that Christ should offer himself to death for them; nor was it unknown to Christ when he yielded obedience to the will of his Father. In vain therefore did both of them display such transcendent benevolence