Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/86

* CALVINISM. of the created world. He "foreordains what- soever cometh to pass." Two schools have arisen as to the order of the divine decrees: one, the 'Suprala])sarian,' looking to the final result as the first thing coiilemplated in God's decree, and making their order, therefore, creation, election, and reprobation, the fall, redemption by Christ, and application of redemption by the Holy Spirit: the other, the 'Infralapsarian.' which seeks to avoid the impression gained from Su- pralapsarianism, that men are condemned be- fore they are guilty, by making the order of de- crees, creation, fall, election, rcdem])tion, etc. The latter has boen the prevailing view among Calvinists, though many regard the difference as merely logical. The decree of the fall is the decree that man shall sin : but Calvinists generally regard this as a permissive decree, and all understand that man sins in perfect freedom, and that sin is his own act, and not that of God. All the decrees equally preserve the freedom of man. This theological proposition is explained by various theories of the will and of the psychology' of moral action. None of these can be regarded as essential to the system, which is independent of its psychological explanation. The first sin, the sin of .dam. did not affect him alone, but involved the race in sin and guilt. Every member of the race is so connected with its first member (whether by divine constitution, by a realistic identity, or by federal representation) that all sin in and with him and are justly condemned for that sin. Thus Adam's sin is said to be 'imputed' to his descendants. Imputation is either 'mediate,' that is because of original depravity, or 'imme- diate,' by which original depravity is the penal result of original guilt directly imputed. Origi- nal sin, which is prenatal forfeiture of the in- dwelling of the Holy Spirit, with consequent de- fect and disorder of soul, and inclination to evil, results in actual and individual sin. The con- sequence of all this is>a total inability to be good and the absolute necessity of regenerating grace before any soul can repent and receive the di- vine forgiveness. Hence the electing grace of God cannot be conditioned upon the foreseen faith of the elect, because, apart from God's ac- tivity, and thus apart from His purpose to act in tlieir behalf, or apart from election, they have no faith and can have none. Grace is the favor of God shown to the unde- serving. It is the execution of the decrees of God. God, in forming the decree of election, is sovereign : that is, the motive which leads Him to set apart a certain and fixed nimiber of souls unto eternal salvation resides in Himself alone, and not in them. Grace is of three kinds: 'Common' grace is bestowed upon all men, tends to good, and results in the va- rious natural virtues, such as kindliness, honesty. 'Prevenient,' 'effectual,' or 'irresisti- ble' grace is that by which the soul is regenerated. It is sometimes said to be an ac- tivity beneath consciousness, or effected creative- ly, in the very nature of the soul. I$y it the will is moved to holy action, and repentance and faith are produced. 'Coiiperative' grace works with the will thus turned to God, and is the case of what degree of actual holiness the Chris- tian attains. Grace also includes the 'gift of 64 CAXVO. perseverance,' which secures the perseverance and final salvation of the soul. The Calvinistic doctrine of the Atonement de- pends upon the positions already rehearsed. It is an act of the infinite love of God finding a way whereby both His attributes of justice and mercy may be completely and consistently ex- ercised in the salvation of men. It provides a substitute for the sinner who, because of his hunuinity, can represent man, and because of His divinity, can offer a sufficient sacrifice for men's sins. The God-man bears the penalty of the sins of men as a true penal substitute, thus satisfying justice, and works out a perfect right- eousness for weak and imperfect men; and thus He provides for both the forgiveness and the justification of the believer. The adherents of Calvinism claim for it a great and decisive influence for good upon the history of the world. As the religion of the Frencli Huguenots, of the founders of the Dutch Republic, of Scotch Covenanters, and of English Puritans, it has its heroic period to point to, and its roll of martyrs second to none. Ban- croft, the historian of the T'nited States, him- self not a Calvinist. refers modern republican liberty to the influence of the little Re- public of Geneva, and to Calvinism. Its influence in promoting the indojicndence of the United States was indispuUibly great. It has proved one of the chief forces in I)romoting the education of the common |)eople, and in fostering higher education in the modern world. And its efforts in the de[)artment of for- eign missions during the last century led and surpassed those of other schools of thought. For the essential sources in the study of Cal- vinism, consult: Bright, fielect Anti-fclaffian Treatises of fiaint .iugusiine (London. 1880, for the Latin text, or Warfield's "Augustine's Anti-Pelagian Treatises," in Aiceiic and Post- Xicene Fathers. Vol. V. (Xew York, 1886-88) ; Calvin. Institutio Christianop Relipionis, edited by Tholuck (Berlin. 1846) ; English translation, The Institutes of the Christian Heligion (Phila- delphia). Best modern presentations: Charles Hodge; Si/stematic Thcoloi/ii (3 vols., Xew York, 1872): W. G. T. Shedd, Donmatic Theologt/ (3 vols., Xew York, 1888). Expositions, A. A. Hodge, .1 f'ommentari/ on the Westminster Con- fession of Faith (Philadelphia, 1869); A. Kuy- per, "Calvinism," The Ston^ Lectures (New York, ISiiS). See Arminiaxism. CALVINISTIC (or PAETicti..R) BAP- TISTS. Svc BAi-nsrs. CALVINISTIC METHODISTS. A body in Great Britain in three divisions: the Whitcficid Connection, 1741 ; Lady Huntingdon Connec- tion, 174S: an<l Welsh .Methodists, 1750. .Sec PllESBYTEKIAXISM. CALVO, k.-il'vA, Carlos (1824-9.3). An Ar- gent inian diplomat and writer on intern.ational law. He was born in Buenos Ayres and early entered upon a diplomatic career abroad. He was one of the founders of the Institut de Droit International, and later the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Erancc. Among his principal works are the following: Reciieil complet lies traitCs, conventions, etc., de /'.-I711C- ji(/»(' latine (11 vols., 1802-69); Annates his- toriijues de la revolution de I'Amirique latine