Page:Evan's (sic) sketch of all religions abridged.pdf/9

 professor of divinity at Leyden, who flourished about the year 1600. Thinking the doctrine of Calvin with regard to free-will, predestination, and grace, directly contrary to the mild and amiable perfections of the Deity, he adopted sentiments more nearly resembling those of the Lutherans than of the Calvinists.

His tenets include the five following propositions: 1st, That God has not fixed the future state of mankind by an absolute, unconditional decree, but determined from all eternity to bestow salvation on those whom he foresaw would believe faithfully in Jesus Christ, and to inflict punishment on those who should continue in their unbelief. 2d, That Christ by his death and sufferings, made atonement for the sins of all mankind, but that those only who believe in him shall be partakers of this divine benefit. 3d, That mankind are not totally depraved, and that mortality and natural evil only are the direct consequences to posterity of Adam's sin. 4th, That there is no such thing as irresistible grace. And, 5th, That those who are united to Christ by faith, may fall from their faith, and forfeit finally their state of grace.

This striking opposition to the doctrines of Calvin, caused Arminius and his followers to be much persecuted, and in 1611, they presented to the States General a Remonstrance, stating their grievances and praying for relief, since which time they have been known by the name of Remonstrants.

The Baxterian strikes into a middle path, between Arminianism and Calvinism, and thus endeavours to unite both schemes. With the Calvinist he professes to believe that a certain number, determined upon in the divine councils, will be infallibly saved; and with the Arminian he joins in rejecting the doctrine of reprobation; admits that Christ, in a certain sense, died for all, and supposes that such a portion of grace is allowed to every man, as renders it his own fault if he doth not attain to eternal life.

The name of this sect is derived from Richard Baxter, an eminent non-conformist divine of the seventeenth century, who espoused this doctrine, and defended it by his great learning and talents in controversy.

The favourite tenet of the Antinomian, as his name implies, is, that the law is not a rule of life to believers. This position seems to carry the doctrine of the imputed righteousness of Christ, and of salvation by faith without works, to