Trollope on Article XVII: Of Predestination and Election

Predestination is a Theological term, originating with the Scholastic Divines, and denoting the act by which God has determined his purpose res^ctin? man’s Salvation by Jesus Christ. This determination of purpose involves an enquiiy of deep and mysterious difficulty, arising princi- pally out of the adverse opinions, variously modified, of the CcUvinists and Armenians,

2. In what respect do the Calvinists and Ar- ndnians chiefly differ on the subject of Predestina- tion?

The main point of difference between the two contending sects tui*ns upon the question whether men are saved by absolute predestination and the irresistible influence of the Spirit, or whether each individual is free to accept or reject the offer of divine mercy.

3. Who are the Calvinists j and what were the tenets of their founder, more particularly with re- spect to the doctrine of this Article ?

Calvinists are the followers of John Calvin, who was bom at Noyon in Picardy, in lt509. His peculiar tenets, with respect both to doctrine and discipline, having forced him to quit France, he settled at Oeneva ; and hence his system was widely disseminated, and gained a vast number of adherents. He set up the Pi*esbyterian form of Ecclesi- astical government; and opposed the Romish doctrines of the Beal Presence, the Mass, the seven sacraments Pur gator Uy Indulgences Prayers for the dead, the worship qf the Virgin, and the adoration of Saints, On the subject of Predestination more particularly, he denied the free-agency of man, and the necessity of good works in order to Salva- tion ; aflirming that men are saved by an absolute, uncon- ditional, and irresistible determination of the divine will, by which a chosen few are predestinattd from all eternity to everlasting hapniness, and all beside to everlasting misery. Cdvin diea in 1564.

4. Quote the definition which Calvin himself has given of Predestination : and the term by which he describes it.

[…]

5. Into what two classes are Calvinists divided ; and what is the import of their distinctive appella- tions?

According to the different notions which they entertain of the effects of the divine decree, as having been deter- mined before or after the fisdl, supra vel sub k^)sum, Calvin- ists are distinguished into two classes, respectively deno- minated Supralapsarians and Sublapsarians.

6. What is the distinguishing opinion af the Supralapsarians ?

Adam’s transgression, as regarded by the Supralapsa- rians seems to have been an tnvoluntarif act or disobedi- ence. The maintain that Gkd, with a view to the mani- festation of his merc in the eternal salvation of a chosen few, and the vindication of his justice by tue everlasting damnation of all beside, decreed from all eternity that Adam should &11, and that his sin should involve in its &tal conseouenees all his posterity ; of whom ose only who should be endowed with his irresistible graoe would be arbitrarily elected to the happiness of heaven.

7. How do the Suhlapsarians modify this doc- trine?

Allowing that the fall of Adam was not an act of preor- dained necessity, the Suhlapsarians suppose that the decrees of God respecting the final destiny of the human race, were

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subsequent to iliat event ; but their scheme of Election and Reprobation is otherwise precisely the some as that of the Supralapsarians.

8. AVhat is the opposite doctrine of the Ar- minians ?

The Arminian system is directly opposed to that of the Calvinists on the subject of Predestination. It maintains that the divine decrees were framed in consequence of 6od*8 foreknowledge of the use which Adam and his posterity would make of their natural free-agency ; that redemption through Christ is offered indifferently to all men ; and that each individutd of the human race is free to accept or reject the means of grace, which are necessary to work out his salvation.

9. Who was the founder of this system; by what other title are his followers known ; and why were they so designated ?

James Armunsen, a native of Holland, strenuously ad- vocated these principles in the University of Leyden, at the commencement of tne 17th century j and his name, Latin- ised into ArminiuSy was applied to his system. His followers were denounced at the S^od of Dort, in 1618, and severe penalties attached to their rejection of the Calvinistic doc- trines. Against this sentence they presented a petition to the States general ; and from that circumstance they are sometimes distinguished by the title of Remonstrants,

10. Does the Church of England side with Calvin or Arminius; and how has she expressed herself in the Article on Predestination ?

In her views of the confessedly difficult subject of Pre- destination^ the Church of England is neither Calvinistic nor Arminian, but essentially Scriptural. The doctrine itself she simnly states in Scriptural lan^age ; points out the danger oi its abuse ; and adds a caution respecting the interpretation of the divine promises generally. She makes no mention of Beprohation whatsoever, inasmuch as, in the Scriptures, the term is altogether unconnected with Election, As to the controversy of Arminius, it was in fact subsequent to the compilation or our Articles \ and the promulgation of

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the Lambeth Articles, in order to force Calvinism upon our Church, affords a most striking proof that she is not Cal- vinistic.

11. What do you mean by the Lambeth Ar^ tides F

See above, p. 3. qu. 6.

12. Give the substance of them.

They were nine in number, and in substance as follows : — 1 . Grod has from etemi^ predestinated certain persons to life, and reprobated certain persons to death. 2. The effi- cient cause of Predestination is not the foresight of faith or good works in those predestinated; but only the will of uod’s good pleasure. 3. The predestinated are a predeter- mined and certain number, which can neither be diminished nor increased. 4. Those who are not predestinated will in- evitably be condemned on account of their sins. 5. The elect do not fall from grace either finally or totalljr. 6. A true believer is certified by the fvll assurance of fiuth that his sins are forgiven, and his salvation irresistible. 7. Saving ^^raoe is not granted to all men, so tiiat they majr be saved if they will. 8. No man is able to come to Christ, unless the Father draw him ; and all men are not drawn by the Father. 9. Every man has not the wiU or power to be saved.

13. Shew that the definition of Predestination^ in the 17th Article, is closely Scriptural.

It is concisely stated in this Article, in conformi^ with the express declaration of St. Paul (Rom. viii. 29. £ph. i. 4, 6. 2 Tim. i. 9.), that God, before the foundation qf the roorldf had predestinated the redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ; to which end he called them nnth a holy calling^ purposing, accordina to the good pleasure qf hts will, to save those, whom he did foreknow as vessels made to honour, and, b^ ready obedience to his invitation, fit to re- ceive the adoption qf children, and become inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.

14. By what marks are the predestinated said ta be distinguished ?

Tfiose who are endued with so excellent a bene^t qf God, or, in other words, those who embrace the conditions of the Oospel covenant, pass regularly through the gradations of that scheme of redemption, which the inscrutable wisdom of God has pre-ordaineo. * They are called according to his ’ pui’pose by his spirit working in due season ; they through ’ grace obey the calling ; they be justified freely ; they are

.g«* by God^s mercy attain to everlasting felicity. See Matt. xxy. 34. Rom. iii. 24. viii.29, 30. ix. 23. Gal. iv. 6, 7. Eph. i. 11. ii. 10. 1 Pet. i. 2. sqq.

15. Is then Predestination to life an arbitrary act, irrespective of human conduct ; or a divine pur- pose dependant on certain conditions ?

From the above declarations of Scripture, duly con- sidered in connexion with each other, it appears that Pre destination to Itfe is not the arbitrary election of a privileged few to everlasting happiness ; but the predeterminate counsel of God, of his free grace and mercy, to oiier salva tion to all men. Gentiles as well as Jews, through faith in his Son. Iis offer every one is capable of accepting or rejecting ; so that all who perish, pensh by their own fault. God’s decree is both general and eonditional. It does not relate exclusively to this or that individual, but universally to all mankind ; and so far a it relates to a future life, it is not absolute without regard to the conduct of men, but de- pendent upon their faith and obedience.

10. Upon what is the notion of personal election based ; and what is the true Scriptural doctrine X

The doctrine of Individual Election rests upon the ap-

Elication of certain texts to j?arficular peraons, which elong, in their original intention, to colUctive bodies of Christians, and to the Church at large. Thus St. Peter is writing to all the Christians in Pontus, Gkdatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia ; and St. Paul to the churches of Rome and Colosse in their corporate capacity. Neither as indi- viduals nor as a body did any of the party, so addressed, merit the vocation by which they were called ; the invita- tion was an act of free mercy and grace; and the final election of each or all would depend on their being clothed

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in the wedding gai*ment of Faith and Love ; and the pro- mised rewards were to be apportioned to all according to their works.

17. Who then are the Elect ?

The Elect are the whole body of Christians generally, who have been calUA to the knowledge of Christ by tne Gospel. Who among these will ’ make their calling and ’ election sure/ it is not for man to judge ; though Gt)a, who trieth the hearts, has a clear foreknowledge of those who will walk worthily of their vocation.

18. Who are the Reprobate; and what is the proper import of the original word ?

The Reprobate, in the true Scriptural sense, are those who, after due trial, are found to be unworthy of the privi- leges and promises of the Gospel, and therefore rejected. In the original sense, the words SoKifidKciv and ddoKifioi are applied to the assaying of metals ; fi’om which the dross is separated, as being unable to eadure the refiner’s test.

19. Is not St. Paul called a chosen vessels and consequently an instance of personal election?

Though St. Paul was a chosen vessel, selected by Christ as a fitting minister to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles | it does not rollow that he was personally elected to everlastmg salvation. This depended on his * fighting a good fight, and ’ keepins: the faith * (2 Tim. iv. 7.) ; and consequently he laboured earnestly * lest, when he had preached to otbersy * he himself should be a castaway’ (1 Cor. ix. 27.).

20. What are the advantages possessed by this view of the doctrines of Predestination and Election over the Calvinistic interpretation ?

This interpretation has at least the advantage of making Scripture consistent with itself. Its invitations, so under- stood, are merciful and intelligible; its promises are en- gaging ; its threatenings are alarming ; and its exhortations are powerful ; whereas the contrary doctrine of an arbitrai-y preaetermination of man’s eternal aestiny, without regard to nis actions, is subversive of the first principles of reason, as

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well as contradictory both to the letter and spirit of the New Testament. Christ, in this case, must have invited many to believe and obey him, whom he knew to be in- capable of so doing ; the glorious promises of the Gospel are but idle tales, the eloquence of St. Paul an empty sound, and the entire system of Christianity a visionary proposal, by which a man’s future prospects could be influenced neither for the better nor the worse.

21. Does not this interpretation, however, mili- tate against the foreknowledge of God ?

The foreknowledge qf God is no argument against this interpretation. It may be difficult, and even impossible to comprehend, how the divine prescience consists with the free-agency of man, so as to make those contingencies, which depend upon the human will, clearly ascertained to the mind of tue Deity : but, at the same time, this prescience would be as valid against the freedom of his own actions, as those of man. ’ Known unto God are all his works from the be- ’ ginning of the world ’ (Acts xv. 18.) ; and yet his free- agency will scarcely be disputed. By parity of reasoning, therefore, his knowledge of^the use which men will make of his offers of grace and mercy, ne more implies a necessary control upon their wills, than the knowledge of his own actions excludes a want of liberty in the performance of them.

22. To whom is the Scriptural view of the doctrine full of comfort ; and why ?

Christ, understood in accoraance with the scheme of uni- veradl redemption as set forth in the Scriptures and main- tamed in the litui^ of our Church, is necessarily fuU of unspeakable comfort. As partakers of the atonement, ’ they ‘rejoice in God through Christ’ (Rom. y. 11.) ; they * mor- ’ tify the deeds of the body through the power of the Spirit ’ that worketh in them’ (Rom. yiii. 13. Eph. iii. 20.) ; * hav- ’ ing their conversation in heaven, the^ set their affections ‘on things above’ (Phil. iii. 20. Col. iii. 2.) ; and their faith is established in the persuasion that ’ neither death nor life, ’ nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things pre- ’ sent, nor things to come, nof height, nor depth, nor any

‘other creature shall he ahle to seiiarate them from the love

• of God, which is in Christ Jesus’ (Rom. viii. 39.).

23. How is the danger attending an erroneous view of the doctrine described ?

In the Latin Article, the dangerous tendency of the doc- trine of absolute predestination is expressed by the term praeipitUun, * a precipice ;* over which curious and carnal persons may be driven by the devil either into * desperation’ or * wretchlessness of unclean living.’

24. Who are meant by curious and sensual

persons ; and what is the import of the word wretch”

lessness ?

By curious persons are meant those, who, by prying into those insoratable counsels of the divine mind which are be- yond tue reach of man’s understanding, are led to entertain unreasonable doubts of their abili^, by God’s ^race, to work out their Salvation, and consequently to despair of attaining it ; while the sensual are those, who, regarding their fate as arbitrarily fixed by an unalterable decree, are altogether imconcerned and reckless as to the means of grace, which their view of Election renders useless. This is implied in the term wretchlessness^ which the Latin Article expresses by securitas.

25. What is the nature and object of the cautiofij appended to this Article ?

In order to guard her members against erroneous views on the subject of this Article, the Church directs that God’s promises are to be received, not as made to particular indi- vidualsj but sie ut nobis in sacris Zt^^riff generaliter exposita sunt ; 1. e. with reference to the whole human raoe in gentraX. Scripture must not be made to contradict Scrip- ture; which is, in fact, to make God contradict himself: and consequently, ’ in our doings that will of God is to be

• followed, that rule of faith and conduct to be observed, ‘which we have expressly declared to us in the word of *God.’

26. Prove from the New Testament that the offer of Redemption is universal and conditional.

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The Scriptures of the New Testament expressly declare that * God so loved the world, that he gave his only b^otten Son, that whosoever believeth in him diould not perish, but have everlasting life* (John iii. 16.) ; that He * will have ’ all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of ’ the truth * (1 Tim. ii. 4.) : and that ’ him tiiat cometh unto ’ Christ, he will in no wise oast out’ (John vi. 37.)> -^ to the conditions of Salvation, they are plainly stated to be

• Hepentance toward God and I^aith in the Lord Jesus

• Chrsit;

27. Shew that the English Liturgy inculcates the same doctrine.

In the Communion Service, it is asserted that ’ Christ

• made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, for the sins qf

• the whole world ;’ and in the last collect for good Friday, we pray to God, ’ who made all fnen, and as eating nothing *that he has made, not willing the death qf a sinner, ’ but rather that he should be converted and live,’ for the salvation of all Jews, Turks, Ii^dels, and Heretioks. In- deed the Liturgy is composed throughout of the pervading conviction that Christ died for aU mankind.

28. Quote passages from the early Fathers, by which they are seen to have regparded Election in a collective and general sense.

Clement of Rome thus commences his Emstle to the Corinthians : — The Chwrch of God which is at jRome, to the Church at Corinth, eaUea and sanctified by the wiU qf Qod throuqh onr Lord Jesus Christ, Again in c. 58. May Ood, who has elected the Lord Jesus Christ, and us throfuqk ^im to he a peculiar people, grant to every sotd that calls upon his name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, temperance, holiness, and wisdom, Ignatius, ad Ephes. c. l. Ipnatius, to the Church qf JEphcsus, which is blessed in the Jnlness qf Qod the Famer, and predestinated brfore the world began unto eternal glory, See also Ignat. ad Trail, o. 1. Just. Mart. Apol. I. c. 46.