Stfassisi-There are common themes you find amongst the heretics such as valentinians,sethians,marcionites,bardaisans etc.. and Calvinism
D-Fendr-Yes, the Calvinism exhibited here does sound like heresy piled upon heresy - and then folded back on itself.
Take a look at what Tertullian wrote against the Valentinians and the striking similarities with calvin’s double predestination.Calvin changed a few thing but his basic theory is of the Valentinian heretics.
Tertullian Against the Valentinians Chapter 29
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0314.htm
The material nature, which had become reprobate for salvation, they assign to Cain; the animal nature, which was poised between divergent hopes, they find in Abel; the spiritual, preordained for certain salvation...
Men’s spiritual state they derive over and above the other conditions, from Seth adventitiously, not in the way of nature, but of grace, in such wise that Achamoth infuses it among superior beings like rain into good souls, that is, those who are enrolled in the animal class. Whereas the material class— in other words, those which are bad souls— they say, never receive the blessings of salvation; for that nature they have pronounced to be incapable of any change or reform in its natural condition. This grain, then, of spiritual seed is modest and very small when cast from her hand, but under her instruction increases and advances into full conviction, as we have already said; and the souls, on this very account, so much excelled all others, that the Demiurge, even then in his ignorance, held them in great esteem. For it was from their list that he had been accustomed to select men for kings and for priests; and these even now, if they have once attained to a full and complete knowledge of these foolish conceits of theirs, since they are already naturalized in the fraternal bond of the spiritual state, will obtain a sure salvation, nay, one which is on all accounts their due.-Tertullian
The Valentinians also believed that man cannot CHOOSE to do good like Calvin’s total depravity
Here we see Tertullian explaining the heresey of the valentinian again
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0314.htm
Chapter 30. The Lax and Dangerous Views of This Sect Respecting Good Works. That These are Unnecessary to the Spiritual Man
For this reason it is that they neither regard works as necessary for themselves, nor do they observe any of the calls of duty, eluding even the necessity of martyrdom on any pretence which may suit their pleasure. For this rule, (they say), is enjoined upon the animal seed, in order that the salvation, which we do not possess by any privilege of our state, we may work out by right of our conduct.
...And the “once saved always saved” heresey from the “P of tulip” (perseverance) in Calvin’s borrowed system from the valentinians..
Tertullian exposes the heresy here
Chapter 6
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0320.htm
But some think as if God were under a necessity of bestowing even on the unworthy, what He has engaged (to give); and they turn His liberality into slavery. But if it is of necessity that God grants us the symbol of death, then He does so unwillingly. But who permits a gift to be permanently retained which he has granted unwillingly? For do not many afterward fall out of (grace)? Is not this gift taken away from many? These, no doubt, are they who do steal a march upon (the treasure), who, after approaching to the faith of repentance, set up on the sands a house doomed to ruin. Let no one, then, flatter himself on the ground of being assigned to the “recruit-classes” of learners, as if on that account he have a licence even now to sin. As soon as you “know the Lord,” you should fear Him; as soon as you have gazed on Him, you should reverence Him. But what difference does your “knowing” Him make, while you rest in the same practises as in days bygone, when you knew Him not? What, moreover, is it which distinguishes you from a perfected servant of God? Is there one Christ for the baptized, another for the learners? Have they some different hope or reward? Some different dread of judgment? Some different necessity for repentance?