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ish have come forward and bestowed upon them some animadversions, to which their antagonist has replied.

Against the Arminians of the Church of England, Mr. Overton of York has defended the cause of Calvinism, in his True Churchman ascertained; a work which has been warmly attacked by the present Dean of Peterborough, and the Arch-deacon of Sarum. The Anti-Jacobin Reviewers have also taken the same side of the question; and, in their review of Mr. Overton's work, have appeared as able and strenuous advocates for the Anti-Calvinism of the Church of England.*

One of the most able defenders of the Calvinistical doctrine of predestination, both upon philosophical and Christian principles, is Mr. Jonathan Edwards, in his Enquiry into the Freedom of the Will, and his History of the Work of Redemption; and the same sentiments are contended for by Mr. Toplady, in his Doctrine of Absolute Predestination stated and asserted,-in his Letter to John Wesley,—in his More Work for Mr. J. Wesley, and in his Scheme of Christian and Philosophical Necessity. Sir Richard Hill, in his Review

*See Anti-Jacobin Review for 1804.-Mr. Overton is not the first who has maintained the Calvinism of the church, for Mr. Toplady published a work, entitled, An Historic Proof of the Calvinism of the Church of England.

↑ "The most formidable Calvinist of modern times I take to be Jonathan Edwards of New Jersey."-Dr. HEr's Nor. Lect. Vol. IV. p. 6.

of Mr. Wesley's Doctrines, in his Logica Wesleiensis, and in his Strictures on Mr. Fletcher, is another defender of Calvinism. And to these may be added Mr. T. Williams, in his Vindication of the Calvinistic Doctrines of Depravity, the Atonement, Divine Influence, &c.

See also a work entitled Examen du Livre, qui porte pour titre prejugees legitimes contre les Cal-vinistes. Haye, 12mo, 1683. This last work was written by Nicole, a Roman Catholic; and the author of the Examen was the famous Claude Pajon, a French Protestant, and a moderate divine, who leaned somewhat towards the Arminian System; a "propensity," says Dr. M'Laine, "that was not uncommon among the French Protestants."

On the other side, the Arminian tenets are vindicated by Mr. Wesley, in his Predestination calmly considered, and in other parts of his writings; and also by his friend Mr. Fletcher of Madeley, in his Checks to Antinomianism, and in several additional publications.

See also Dr. Jortin's Six Dissertations, No. 1. and 2., and Dr. Tower's Review of the Genuine Doctrines of Christianity; comprehending Remarks on several principal Calvinistic Doctrines, &c.

I conclude this article in the words of a pious and agreeable writer:-"It is usual with men, either to entertain ideas of divine goodness which are derogatory to perfect holiness and justice, or to

exalt these latter attributes, taken in conjunction with absolute sovereignty, to the prejudice of that mercy which is revealed in Scripture, and is also not obscurely indicated in nature and providence; a proceeding which tends, in the one case, to inspire the mind with presumption, and, in the other, to sink it in despondence; and nothing can be of more importance than to guard equally against both these extremes."*

* Bates' Rural Philosophy, Pref. p. 26.

ARMINIANISM,

AND

ARMINIANS.

NAMES Those who maintain the doctrines in regard to Predestination and Grace, that were embraced, and ably defended, by James Harmensen or Arminius, an eminent Protestant divine, and a native of Oude-Water, in Holland, who flourished at the beginning of the 17th century, have been, since that period, called by his name.

The term Arminian, however, like many others. in current use, is doubtless less appropriate; for though it, of course, did not exist at the Reformation, the doctrines were not then unknown, which were afterwards distinguished by it. Bolsec is said to have taught them even at Geneva in 1551; and they have no doubt many professors at this day, who will not scruple to assert that they are coeval with Christianity itself.

The same religionists have also been called Remonstrants, particularly on the continent, because,

in 1610, they presented an humble petition, entitled their Remonstrance, to the States of Holland, in which they state their grievances, and pray for relief.

RISE, PROGRESS, &c.—Arminius, from whom are derived the origin and the name, but not the doctrines of the sect, who was born in 1560, and died in 1609, first studied at Leyden, and then at Geneva. After visiting Italy, and spending some time at Padua, he was admitted to the exercise of the ministry at Amsterdam, and was called to the divinity chair at Leyden in 1603.

When at the university of Geneva, he studied under Beza, by whom he was instructed in the doctrines of Calvin: and having been judged by Martin Lydius, professor of divinity at Franeker, a fit person to refute a work, in which the Calvinistic doctrine of Predestination had been attacked by some ministers of Delft, he undertook the task: but, upon strict examination of the reasons on both sides, he became a convert to the opinions which he was employed to refute, and afterwards went still farther than the ministers of Delft had done. The result of his enquiries on this, and other subjects connected with it, was, that, thinking the doctrine of Calvin, with regard to freewill, predestination, and grace, too severe, he began to express his doubts respecting them in the year 1591, and at last adopted the religious system of those who extend the love of God, and the merits of his Son, to all mankind.

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