The Covenant Line: From Eden to Independence Hall

expansion of prior articles ^ | 3/25/02 | OP

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

This is no vain and empty eulogy of Calvinism. With the above facts and observations every enlightened and impartial reader of history will agree. Furthermore, the author would say of this book what Dr. E. W. Smith in his book, "The Creed of Presbyterians," said at the close of the chapter on, "The Creed Tested By Its Fruits," — namely that these facts and observations are "set forth, not to stimulate denominational vanity, but to fill us with gratitude to God for that past history and that present eminence which should be to every one of us 'A vantage-ground for nobleness'; and above all to kindle in our hearts a holy enthusiasm for that Divine system of truth, which, under God, has been the foremost factor in the making of America and the modern world."

In conclusion we would say that in this book the reader has found some very old-fashioned divinity — divinity as old as the Bible, as old and older than the world itself, since this plan of redemption was hidden in the eternal counsels of God. No attempt has been made to cloak the fact that the doctrines advocated and defended in these pages are really wonderful and startling. They are enough to electrify the sleepy sinner who has taken it for granted all his life long that he can square matters with God any time he pleases, and they are sufficient to horrify the sleepy "saint" who has been deluding himself in the deadening repose of a carnal religion. But why should they not cause astonishment ? Does not nature teem with wonders ? Why should not revelation ? One needs to read but little to become aware that Science brings to light many astonishing truths which an uneducated man finds it hard, if not impossible, to believe; and why should it not be so with the truths of Revelation and the spiritually uneducated ? If the Gospel does not startle and terrify and amaze a man when presented to him, it is not the true Gospel. But who was ever amazed at Arminianism with its doctrine that every man carves out his own destiny? It will not suffice merely to ignore or ridicule these doctrines as many are inclined to do. The question is, Are these doctrines true? If they are true, why ridicule them? If they are not true, disprove them.

We close with the statement that this great system of religious thought which bears Calvin's name is nothing more or less than the hope of the world.
(Boettner, ibid.)

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

As promised, my latest Church History thread.

RN, could I trouble you to generally flag this to our friends on the Calvinist list?
I expect it will be well-received by many of our compadres.

[irishtenor]

Wow!What a hand full. Will read later. Thanks for the ping.

[the_doc]

Here's a Baptist bump for you!

[RnMomof7]

A bump to the church

[JenB]

Very interesting! I've been fascinated by the early struggles of the Celtic church against Rome for some time now, so this article was right up my alley... I suppose it's a little odd to claim that there were Calvinists a thousand years before Calvin was born, but hey, the Baptists claim an honorable pre-Reformation pedigreed! Why shouldn't Presbyterians have the same privilege?

I don't really have anything to add, but I'll be watching the conversation... bump!

[Jerry_M]

BUMPED for later reading, and saved to my computer. (I know that there are going to be some who don't like what is presented here, and they will attempt to get it yanked.)

[CCWoody]

Bumped and saved for a later read.

[ppaul]

Click on the banner for the Daily Controversy:

:

[Jerry_M]

Wow, neat site. Edwards, Toplady, Dabney, Spurgeon, Baxter, Watson...

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Very interesting! I've been fascinated by the early struggles of the Celtic church against Rome for some time now, so this article was right up my alley... I suppose it's a little odd to claim that there were Calvinists a thousand years before Calvin was born, but hey, the Baptists claim an honorable pre-Reformation pedigreed! Why shouldn't Presbyterians have the same privilege? I don't really have anything to add, but I'll be watching the conversation... bump!

Actually, if you read the statements of the Culdee Presbyters carefully, you'll note that they are actually closer to Martin Luther's "strong" Predestinarian doctrine of total depravity, which holds that the Fall totally enslaved the human Free Will to sin.

"God is the author of all that is good in man; that is to say, both of good-nature and goodwill, which, unless God do work in him, man cannot do, because this good-will is prepared by the Lord in man, that, by the gift of God he may do that which by himself he could not do of his own free-will."

Likewise the Waldensian Independents and AnaBaptists:

"All those that have been, and shall be saved, have been elected of God, before the foundation of the world. It is impossible that those that are appointed to salvation, should not be saved. Whosoever upholds free-will denieth absolutely predestination, and the grace of God."

John Calvin's more nuanced "moderate" Predestinarian doctrine of total depravity, which affirms the Freedom of the Will while also affirming that All Natural Wants are depraved (thus man is free, but only wants to sin, and so sins freely), is essentially unknown to these pre-Reformation Christians.

Their doctrine of Total Depravity is the more simple doctrine of Luther: the Fall destroyed human Free Will, and now humans possess only a Sin-Enslaved Will.

For myself, I hold to the Calvinist view; but it is not exactly correct to call these Christians "Calvinists before Calvin". Their doctrines of Predestination ran more closely parallel to Luther's strong view of Predestination, than to Calvin's slightly more moderate view.

[Wrigley]

Yikes, as if I didn't have enough to read already.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Yikes, as if I didn't have enough to read already.

Quit whining. It's only about 72 pages in MS Word. ;-)

(When the General Religion forum opens up, I might have to post this as TWO separate articles... the Waldensian-Anabaptist line, and the Hibernian-Presbyteric line... just to make it easier to load for the 56k folks!!)

[Wrigley]

72? It looked to be 48 when I transfered it over. Just in case the thread enters the ether.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Ahh, mine is still in 12 point Unicode font, which I find to be the easiest font for proof-texting HTML. (in my opinion)

[Wrigley]

I'll take your word for it. From what I read so far, I can tell you spent some time on it. Did you have some spare time on your hands or did you have another reason to do the work?

[RnMomof7]

Good thought..saved to "Eve"

[RnMomof7]

Thanks for the link ppaul

[Revelation 911]

Wesleyan Arminian Free Methodist Bump for later read

[sola gracia]

BUMP