Arminianism at Home in Rome
But, however frivolous his cavils, the principles for which he contends are of the most pernicious nature and tendency. I must repeat, what already seems to have given him so much offence, that Arminianism “came from Rome, and leads thither again.” Julian, bishop of Eclana a contemporary and disciple of Pelagius, was one of those who endeavoured, with much art, to gild the doctrines of that heresiarch, in order to render them more sightly and palatable. The Pelagian system, thus varnished and paliated, soon began to acquire the softer name of Semipelagianism. Let us take a view of it, as drawn to our hands by the celebrated Mr. Bower, who himself, in the main, a professed Pelagian, and therefore less likely to present us with an unfavourable portrait of the system he generally approved. Among the principles of that sect, this learned writer enumerates the following:
“The notion of election and reprobation, independent of our merits or demerits, is maintaining a fatal necessity, is the bane of all virtue, and serves only to render good men remiss in working out their salvation, and to drive sinners to despair.
“The decrees of election and reprobation are posterior to, and in consequence of, our good or evil works, as foreseen by God from all eternity.”
Is not this too the very language of modern Arminianism? Do not the partizans of that scheme argue on the same identical terms? Should it be said, “True, this proves that Arminianism is Pelagianism revived; but it does not prove, that the doctrines of Arminianism are originally Popish:” a moment’s cool attention will make it plain that they are. Let us again hear Mr. Bower, who, after the passage just quoted, immediately adds, “on these two last propositions, the Jesuits found their whole system of grace and free-will; agreeing therein with the Semipelagians, against the Jansenists and St. Augustine.” The Jesuits were moulded into a regular body, towards the middle of the sixteenth century: toward the close of the same century, Arminius began to infest the Protestant churches. It needs therefore no great penetration, to discern from what source he drew his poison. His journey to Rome (though Monsicur Bayle affects to make light of the inferences which were at that very time deduced from it) was not for nothing. If, however, any are disposed to believe, that Arminius imbibed his doctrines from the Socinians in Poland, with whom, it is certain, he was on terms of intimate friendship, I have no objection to splitting the difference: he might import some of his tenets from the Racovian brethren, and yet be indebted, for others, to the disciples of Loyola.
by Augustus Toplady (HL http://media.sermonaudio.com/mediapdf/7200654949.pdf)
Some excellent links and sermons below to persue for our readers from Puritan Hard Drive.
Arminianism Agrees With Roman Catholicism, Calvinism Agrees With The Bible
By Richard Bennett, John Calvin, Dr. Matthew McMahon, Augustus Toplady, Greg Price, Martin Luther, Jerry Johnson et al. (Free Reformation Videos, MP3s, etc.)
A Jesuit: ”Now we have planted the Sovereign Drug Arminianism, OUR FOUNDATION IS ARMINIANISM.” - Arminianism Another Gospel (Free MP3 & PDF)
Summary for Richard Bennett’s testimony linked above: An amazing testimony from former Roman Catholic priest, Richard Bennett, chronicling his journey from the very belly of the Roman Catholic beast, to the marvelous light of God’s free and sovereign grace.
Knowledgeable in languages, history and theology, Richard Bennett, who is now a Calvinist, demonstrates how Arminianism is essentially Roman Catholic heresy — while showing how the errors inherent in Arminianism and Arminian preaching, especially concerning evangelism, greatly confused and hindered him as he was leaving the Roman Catholic Church. The decisional regeneration heresy of modern Arminianism is cited as being particularity potent in Satan’s hands. The section against Roman Catholicism and Arminianism starts about 17:38 into this testimony.
FREE REFORMATION RESOURCES REFUTING THE HERESY OF ARMINIANISM
“During the Arminian regime of Archbishop Laud, the persecutor of the Puritans and the Covenanters, zealous Arminians were promoted to the best bishoprics. A famous letter written by a Jesuit to the Rector of Brussels and endorsed by Laud himself was found in his study at Lambeth. A copy of this letter was found among the papers of a society of priests and Jesuits at Clerkenwell in 1627. The following is an extract: ‘Now we have planted the Sovereign Drug Arminianism which we hope will purge the Protestants from their heresy; and it flourisheth and beareth fruit in due season. I am at this time transported with joy to see how happily all instruments and means, as well as great or smaller, cooperate with our purposes. But to return to the main fabric: OUR FOUNDATION IS ARMINIANISM.’ (S.G.U. Publication No. 173, p. 142).”
“By those who dislike controversy, it is often alleged that Arminianism and Calvinism only differ in respect of the fact that while the former chiefly stresses man’s responsibility, the latter lays all the weight upon Divine Sovereignty. This is not a correct presentation of the facts. The Arminian does indeed stress man’s responsibility to the exclusion of the sovereignty of God, and this is a fruitful cause of more than one error. The man, on the other hand, who stresses the sovereignty of God to the exclusion of man’s responsibility is a hyper-calvinist and is in error on this aspect of truth just as surely as the Arminian. The true Calvinist lays stress on both doctrines as they are unfolded in the inspired and infallible Word of God. … Arminianism appears as the gospel of Christ, but in reality is ‘another gospel.’ It is a heresy, deadly and soul-ruining, and all the more so because subtle, plausible, and popular. “It is a scheme,” in the words of Dr. Cunningham, the renowned theologian, “for dividing or partitioning the salvation of sinners between God and sinners themselves, instead of ascribing it as the Bible does, to the sovereign grace of God, the perfect and all-sufficient work of Christ, and the efficacious and omnipotent operation of the Holy Spirit.”
Arminianism: The Road to Rome by Augustus Toplady (Reformation History Notes #1, text on the Web)
Arminianism: The Road to Rome! by Augustus Toplady
ARMINIANISM IS THE SOUL OF POPERY (Roman Catholicism, Arminian free-will, Transubstantiation, etc.)
The Counter Reformation: “Free” Will by James White (on YouTube)
More on the Jesuit/Roman Catholic connection to “free will” and Arminianism.
Roman Catholic Counter Reformation, Antichrist, Dispensationalism, Jesuits, Islam, etc. by Richard Bennett
