Friday, December 5, 2014

The issue must be clarified

"By the time that the famous controversy with Arminus arose, it appears, that many were in readiness to take part with that learned oppose of the truth. And it would seem, there were but few who opposed him on the same footing with Gomarus, who was chiefly concerned about the ground of acceptance with God, as he understood it to be affected by that controversy. The greater part of disputants chose to make the controversy turn upon another hinge, contending about grace and fre...ewill, and what influence these had in the conversion of a sinner. It may be maintained by some, that conversion is carried on by grace assisting nature, and by others, that this matter is conducted wholly by irresistible grace; and yet both sides may be equally disaflected to that doctrine, which maintains the work finished by Christ on the cross, to be the only requisite to justification. The controversy about grace and freewill, as managed by many on both sides, has as little to do with the revealed ground of acceptance with God, as the philosophical dispute about liberty and necessity. And I may add, that while many Christian teachers maintain, that no man can be eminently virtuous without Divine energy, they say no more than heathen philosophers have said before them." - Robert Sandeman, Letters on Theron and Aspasio

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