BTW, good comments by both of you.
You should know, however, that this discussion is not really about predestination.
It's about what Arminius actually believed as opposed to what his later-in-history opponents suggest that he believed.
This article is from an author who died in 1609.
Indeed not ... it's by the founder of the dreaded Arminianism....
I really do intend to read it fully, though. Thanks for posting it.
I understand the article isn't specifically about predestination. However, I always read any discussion that even remotely deals with the subject because I find the notion to be in contrast to what is taught in the scriptures.
There are many verses which speach of gaining and losing ones salvation which clearly do not reconcile with the many verses that speak of election and predestination.
For those who do not believe in election and predestination in the manner that Arminius or Calvin teach I am curious how they are able to reconcile the verses that speak of these things.
For me, I am able to reconcile them with a understanding or belief that the elect or those predestine that the Bible speaks of are those of the likes of people like John the Baptist or of Mary and Hoseph or the Apostiles.
Those who God specifically chose before the fondation of the world to carry out him plan/will.
I do not believe that one passage of scripture negates or cancels out another passage so predestination and election must be true as well as the notion that one can be saved or lost according to their freewill.
As I stated before, God's grace and mercy are unquestionable.