I N D E X
we may justly believe them both; and to say, with Simeon, that Calvinists
would wish Scripture to contain fewer Arminian likelihoods and Arminians
fewer Calvinistic ones.  There is a way of dwelling on the prescience of
God which obscures His moral attributes' (Grant).
Having said so much, it becomes necessary to say a little more.  The
problem we are facing can be at least presented with some measure of clearness
if we set out the two views represented by the two schools of thought
denominated Calvinism and Arminianism.
Calvinism
Arminianism
Absolute and unconditional
Predestination upon foreknowledge
predestination with predetermined
of the party's acceptance of the
preterition of the reprobate.
Gospel-covenant, and an assertion
that nothing is said in Scripture
concerning predestination to death.
(Preterition, first means a state
Again all the passages respecting
of being past, then the act by a
election, are written to, or
testator of passing over one of
concerning, communities.
the heirs.In theology, `the
passing over of the non-elect').
There are other features in which the Calvinistic doctrine appears truer
to the teaching of the Scriptures than does that of Arminianism, but these are
outside the present argument.
A long list of passages can be quoted from both the Old and the New
Testaments which will `prove' that God is sovereign, that whatever He wills must
come to pass, that He chose, He predestinated, He willed that certain men should
be saved, become members of an elect nation, or members of an elect church.  An
equally long list of passages can be quoted from both the Old and the New
Testaments which will `prove' that man has freedom of choice, that salvation is
to be preached without reservations, that God loved `the world' and not only
`the elect', that the word `whosoever' must not be shorn of its meaning to suit
a narrow decretive doctrine, and so on and so on.
The key to the resolution of the two divine doctrines, namely,
predestination and freedom of choice seems to be the word `foreknowledge'.
Predestination, according to Romans 8:29, flows from foreknowledge: `For whom
He did foreknow, He also did predestinate'.  Election, according to 1 Peter 1:2
flows from foreknowledge: `Elect according to the foreknowledge of God'.
Foreknowledge, when used of man, simply means `to know beforehand', but of
necessity, not to predetermine anything.
`My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own
nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me (proginosko
"foreknew") from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most
straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee' (Acts 26:4,5).
The same Paul, who had already written Romans 8:29, speaks here.  Does
anyone in his senses contend that Paul put the blame and responsibility for his
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