Lightly reformatted, edited and modernized
The Opening of the Controversies Lately Handled in the Low Countries, Concerning the Doctrine of Providence, of Predestination, of the Death of Christ, of Nature and Grace
"The Anatomy of Arminianism" is a theological work authored by Pierre Du Moulin, (1568 – 1658) a Huguenot minister in France who also resided in England for some years. The book engages with the theological positions of Arminianism, offering a critical analysis and detailed examination of its doctrines. The book explores various aspects of Arminianism, including predestination, election, and reprobation.
Du Moulin, drawing from the bible and a wide range of sources and prominent theologians, presents a comprehensive critique of Arminian beliefs. He addresses key theological concepts, such as the role of sin in predestination, the nature of God's election, and the basis for God's choosing of certain individuals for salvation.
Throughout the book, Du Moulin references the writings and teachings of influential figures like John Calvin, Philip Melanchthon, and Augustine to support his arguments. He also examines different perspectives on the doctrine of predestination, highlighting the contrast between Arminian views and those of Reformed theology.
Du Moulin's work aims to shed light on the theological differences between Arminianism and the Reformed tradition. It engages in theological discourse and presents a critical evaluation of Arminian doctrines, making it a valuable resource for scholars, theologians, and individuals interested in the theological debates of the era, which still resound in our time.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Sir Henry Mildmay
TO THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND MOST POTENT LORDS
Chapter 1: How soberly we are to deal with this argument.
Chapter 2: That we are not, therefore, to abstain from the doctrine of Providence and Predestination, although some abuse it to curiosity and impiety. And where it is profitable.
Chapter 3: What the providence of God is. How far it extends. That God is not the author of sin. What permission is, and what blinding and hardening is.
Chapter 4: Of the will of God.
Chapter 5: Of the Antecedent and Consequent will of God.
Chapter 6: Of the sin of Adam.
Chapter 7: That all mankind is infected with Original sin.
Chapter 8: What Original sin is, and whether it be truly and properly sin.
Chapter 9: How the sin of Adam may belong to his posterity, and how many ways it may pass to his offspring. And first of the imputation of it; and whether the sins of the Grandfather and great-Grandfathers are imputed to their posterity.
Chapter 10: Of the propagation of the sin of Adam to his posterity. Where also of the traduction both of the soul and of sin itself.
Chapter 11: Whether the power of believing the Gospel is lost by the sin of Adam.
Chapter 12: That God does save those whom of His mere grace He chose out of mankind, corrupted and obnoxious to the curse. What Predestination is; the parts of it. That Arminius did not understand what the decree of Predestination is, and that he has utterly taken away Election.
Chapter 13: Of the Object of Predestination, that is, whether God electing or reprobating, considers a man as fallen or not fallen.
Chapter 14: That the Apostle Saint Paul in the ninth to the Romans, by the word Mass; understood the corrupted Mass.
Chapter 15: That Arminius does willingly darken the words of the Apostle which are clear and express.
Chapter 16: The opinions of the parties, upon the doctrine of Predestination.
Chapter 17: That the Arminians make foreseen faith the cause of the election of particular persons.
Chapter 18: The decree of general Election is searched into, by which Arminius will have all men to be elected under the condition of faith.
Chapter 19: The election of particular persons, in respect of faith foreseen, is confuted by the authority of the Scripture. It is proved that men are not elected for faith, but to faith.
Chapter 20: Election for faith foreseen is confuted by places taken out of the Gospel of Saint John.
Chapter 21: The same is proved out of the eighth, ninth, and the eleventh Chapter to the Romans.
Chapter 22: The same Election, in respect of faith foreseen, is confuted by reason.
Chapter 23: The opinion of Saint Augustine concerning Election for faith foreseen.
Chapter 24: The arguments of the Arminians, by which they endeavor to establish Election for faith foreseen, are examined.
Chapter 25: Whether Christ be the cause and foundation of Election.
Chapter 26: Of Reprobation.
Chapter 27: How far, and in what sense, Christ died for all.
Chapter 28: That reconciliation, remission of sins, and salvation are not obtained nor purchased for all, and particular men, by the death of Christ.
Chapter 29: The objections of the Arminians are answered, by which they endeavor to maintain and confirm the obtaining of salvation for all men.
Chapter 30: That it was long ago disputed whether Christ died for all, but in a far other sense.
Chapter 31: Whether God loves all men equally, and does alike desire the salvation of all.
Chapter 32: Of free-will: the opinions of the parties.
Chapter 33: It is proved out of the holy Scripture, that an unregenerate man is altogether destitute of the power and liberty of free-will in those things which belong to salvation.
Chapter 34: The reasons of the Arminians are examined, by which they maintain free-will in an unregenerate man concerning things that are spiritual and belonging to salvation.
Chapter 35: The objections of the Arminians borrowed from the Pelagians, and Papists, are answered. Whether an unregenerate man does necessarily sin; and whether necessity excuses the sinner: Also whether God commands those things which cannot be performed by man.
Chapter 36: Of the outward and inward calling, and whether the one may be without the other.
Chapter 37: Of the distinction of Grace into sufficient and effectual Grace.
Chapter 38: The opinion of the Arminians concerning universal grace, which is also called sufficient grace.
Chapter 39: Universal sufficient grace is confuted by places of Scripture.
Chapter 40: The same sufficient grace is impugned by reasons.
Chapter 41: The arguments by which the Arminians maintain universal sufficient grace are confuted.
Chapter 42: The consent of the Arminians with the Semi-Pelagians is declared.
Chapter 43: The opinion of the Arminians concerning the manner of the operation of grace, and of that power which they call Irresistible. Of moral persuasion. And of the power and act of believing.
Chapter 44: The opinion of the Orthodox Church, concerning the conversion of man, and of the manner and certainty of conversion.
Chapter 45: The question of moral persuasion is sifted, and whether every persuasion may be resisted.
Chapter 46: The certainty of the conversion of the elect, and the final unconquerableness of grace is proved.
Chapter 47: The judgment of Saint Augustine concerning this controversy.
Chapter 48: That the Arminians do openly establish that unresistibleness which they impugn.
Chapter 49: The weak objections of the Arminians against Irresistibility (that is, infallible certainty of conversion) are answered.
Chapter 50: An addition to the thirteenth Chapter, containing some places taken out of the confession of the Church of France, and out of the special doctors of this age, concerning the object of Predestination, and the judgment of the Synod of Dordt.