The Works Of James Arminius Vol 1

1 ORATION I The Object Of Theology 2 ORATION II The Author And The End Of Theology 3 THE END OF THEOLOGY 4 ORATION III The Certainty Of Sacred Theology 5 1. THE DIVINITY OF SCRIPTURE 6 2. THE AGREEMENT OF THIS DOCTRINE IN ITS PARTS 7 3. THE PROPHECIES 8 4. MIRACLES 9 5. THE ANTIQUITY OF THE DOCTRINE 10 6. THE SANCTITY OF THOSE BY WHOM IT HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED 11 7. THE CONSTANCY OF ITS PROFESSORS AND MARTYRS 12 8. THE TESTIMONY OF THE CHURCH 13 9. THE INTERNAL WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 14 ORATION IV The Priesthood Of Christ 15 ORATION V On Reconciling Religious Dissensions Among Christians 16 A Declaration Of The Sentiments Of Arminius On 17 REVISION OF THE DUTCH CONFESSION & HEIDELBERG CATECHISM 18 1. Account of a Conference proposed to me, but which I refused. 19 2. An offer on my part, of a conference with these Deputies, which they refused. 20 3. Another application is made to me. 21 4. The request of the Deputies of the Synod of South Holland to their Lordships, the ,visitors of the University, and the answer which they received. 22 5. A fourth request of the same kind. 23 6. The same request is privately repeated to me, and my answer to it. 24 7. What occurred relative to the same subject in the Preparatory Convention. 25 8. My reasons for refusing a Conference. 26 I. ON PREDESTINATION 27 1. The first opinion, which I reject, but which is espoused by those [Supralapsarians] who assume the very highest ground of this Predestination. 28 2. MY SENTIMENTS ON THE PRECEDING SCHEME OF PREDESTINATION. 29 3. I REJECT THIS PREDESTINATION FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 30 2. A SECOND KIND OF PREDESTINATION. 31 3. A THIRD KIND OF PREDESTINATION. 32 4. MY JUDGMENT RESPECTING THE TWO LAST DESCRIBED SCHEMES OF PREDESTINATION. 33 5. MY OWN SENTIMENTS ON PREDESTINATION. 34 II. THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD 35 III. THE FREE-WILL OF MAN 36 IV. THE GRACE OF GOD 37 V. THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS 38 VI. THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION 39 VII. THE PERFECTION OF BELIEVERS IN THIS LIFE 40 VIII. THE DIVINITY OF THE SON OF GOD 41 IX. THE JUSTIFICATION OF MAN BEFORE GOD 42 X. THE REVISION OF THE DUTCH CONFESSION, AND THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM 43 Vol I Section 3 44 ARTICLES I & II I. Faith, that is, justifying faith, is not peculiar to the elect. 45 ARTICLE III It is a matter of doubt, whether the faith by which Abraham is said to be justified, was a faith in Jesus Christ who was still to come. No proof can be adduced of his having understood the promises of God in any other manner, than that he shou 46 I. To the FIRST MEMBER I reply: 47 II. TO THE SECOND MEMBER OF THIS ARTICLE, I ANSWER: 48 ARTICLE IV Faith is not an effect of election, but is a necessary requisite foreseen by God in those who are to be elected. And the decree concerning the bestowing of faith precedes the decree of election. 49 ARTICLE V Naught among things contingent can be said to be NECESSARILY done in respect to the Divine decree. 50 ARTICLE VI All things are done contingently. 51 ARTICLE VII God has not by his eternal decree determined future and contingent things to the one part or the other. 52 ARTICLE VIII Sufficient grace of the Holy Spirit is bestowed on those to whom the gospel is preached, whosoever they may be; so that, if they will, they may believe: otherwise, God would only be mocking mankind. 53 ARTICLE IX The temporal afflictions of believers are not correctly termed |CHASTISEMENTS,| but are PUNISHMENTS for sins. For Christ has rendered satisfaction only for eternal punishments. 54 ARTICLE X It cannot be proved from Scripture, that believers under the Old Testament, before the ascension of Christ, were in Heaven. 55 ARTICLE XI It is a matter of doubt, whether believers under the Old Testament understood that the legal ceremonies were types of Christ and of his benefits. 56 ARTICLE XII Christ has died for all men and for every individual. 57 ARTICLES XIII AND XIV Original Sin will condemn no man. 58 ARTICLE XV If the Heathen, and those who are strangers to the true knowledge of God, do those things which by the powers of nature they are enabled to do, God will not condemn them, but will reward these their works by a more enlarged knowledge, by which 59 ARTICLE XVI The works of the unregenerate can be pleasing to God, and are (according to Borrius) the occasion, and (according to Arminius) the impulsive cause, by which God will be moved to communicate to them his saving grace. 60 ARTICLE XVII God will not deny his grace to any one who does what is in him. 61 ARTICLE XVIII God undoubtedly converts, without the external preaching of the Gospel, great numbers of persons to the saving knowledge of Christ, among those who have no outward preaching; and he effects such conversions either by the inward revelation of 62 ARTICLE XIX Before his fall, Adam had not the power to believe, because there was no necessity for faith; God, therefore, could not require faith from him after the fall. 63 ARTICLE XX It cannot possibly be proved from the Sacred Writings, that the angels are now confirmed in their estate. 64 ARTICLE XXII (II.) It is the summit of blasphemy to say, that God is freely good. 65 ARTICLE XXIII (III.) It frequently happens that a creature who is not entirely hardened in evil 66 ARTICLE XXIV (IV.) The Righteousness of Christ is not imputed to us for Righteousness; but to believe [or the act of believing] justifies us. 67 ARTICLE XXV (V.) The whole of that in which we appear before God, justifies us. But we appear before God, not only by Faith, but also by Works. Therefore, we are justified before God, not only by Faith, but likewise by Works. 68 ARTICLE XXVI (VI.) Faith is not the instrument of Justification. 69 ARTICLE XXVII (VII.) Faith is not the pure gift of God, but depends partly on the grace of God, and partly on the powers of Free Will; that, if a man will, he may believe or not believe. 70 ARTICLE XXVIII (VIII.) The grace sufficient for salvation is conferred on the Elect, and on the Non-elect; that, if they will, they may believe or not believe, may be saved or not saved. 71 ARTICLE XXIX (IX.) Believers can perfectly fulfill the Law, and live in the world without sin. 72 ARTICLE XXX (X.) It may admit of discussion, whether Semi-Pelagianism is not real Christianity. 73 ARTICLE XXXI (XI.) It is not correctly said in the Catechism, that |God is angry with us for birth-sins;| because original sin is a punishment. But whatever is a punishment is not properly a sin. 74 CONCLUSION 75 NINE QUESTIONS 76 I. Which is first, Election, or Faith Truly Foreseen, so that God elected his people according to faith foreseen? 77 QUESTION AND.. QUESTION REVERSED 78 QUESTION AND..QUESTION REVERSED 79 QUESTION AND..QUESTION REVERSED 80 QUESTION AND..QUESTION REVERSED 81 QUESTION AND..QUESTION REVERSED 82 QUESTION AND..QUESTION REVERSED 83 QUESTION AND..QUESTION REVERSED 84 QUESTION AND..QUESTION REVERSED 85 REMARKS ON THE PRECEDING QUESTIONS, AND ON THOSE OPPOSED TO THEM 86 Public Disputations James Arminius, D.D. 87 DEDICATION 88 DISPUTATION 1 ON THE AUTHORITY AND CERTAINTY OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES 89 DISPUTATION 2 ON THE SUFFICIENCY AND PERFECTION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES IN 90 DISPUTATION 3 ON THE SUFFICIENCY AND PERFECTION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES IN 91 DISPUTATION 4 ON THE NATURE OF GOD 92 DISPUTATION 5 ON THE PERSON OF THE FATHER AND THE SON 93 DISPUTATION 6 ON THE HOLY SPIRIT RESPONDENT: JAMES MAHOT 94 DISPUTATION 7 ON THE FIRST SIN OF THE FIRST MAN 95 DISPUTATION 8 ON ACTUAL SINS 96 DISPUTATION 9 ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND EFFICACY OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD CONCERNING EVIL 97 DISPUTATION 10 ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND EFFICACY OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD 98 DISPUTATION 11 ON THE FREE WILL OF MAN AND ITS POWERS 99 DISPUTATION 12 THE LAW OF GOD 100 DISPUTATION 13 ON THE COMPARISON OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL 101 DISPUTATION 14 ON THE OFFICES OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 102 DISPUTATION 15 ON DIVINE PREDESTINATION 103 DISPUTATION 16 ON THE VOCATION OF MEN TO SALVATION 104 DISPUTATION 17 ON REPENTANCE 105 DISPUTATION 18 ON THE CHURCH AND ITS HEAD 106 DISPUTATION 19 ON THE JUSTIFICATION OF MAN BEFORE GOD 107 DISPUTATION 20 ON CHRISTIAN LIBERTY 108 DISPUTATION 21 ON THE ROMAN PONTIFF, AND THE PRINCIPAL TITLES WHICH ARE 109 DISPUTATION 22 THE CASE OF ALL THE PROTESTANT OR REFORMED CHURCHES, WITH 110 DISPUTATION 23 ON IDOLATRY 111 DISPUTATION 24 ON THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS 112 DISPUTATION 25 ON MAGISTRACY