Arminianism: The "Sovereign Drug" of Satan
"a certain letter was found in the belongings of William Laud, the archbishop of Canterbury, after he passed away. It must be pointed out that Laud was a fervent Arminian and during his ministry the faithful were told to treat their church's communion table as an altar, and they were now forced whether they like it or not to kneel to receive the bread and wine at the communion rail... This letter that was in his possession was dated by his own hand: March 1628, and the design of this letter was to give the Superior of the Jesuits, then resident at Brussels, an account of the posture of civil and ecclesiastical affairs in England :"
"Father Rector,
Let not the damp of Astonishment reise upon your ardent and zealous soul in apprehending the sudden and unexpected Calling of a Parliament: We have not opposed, but rather furthered it ; So that we hope as much in this Parliament, as ever we feared any in Queen Elizabeth's days.
You must know the Council is engaged to assist the King by way of Prerogative, in case the Parliamentary way should fail. You shall see this Parliament will resemble the Pelican, which takes, a pleasure to dig out with ber beak her own bowels. The Election of Knights and Burgelles hath been in such confusion of apparent Faction, as that which we were wont to procure heretofore with much art and industry (when the Spanish Match was in Treaty) now breaks out naturally as a botch or boil, and spits and spies out its own rankor and venom.
You remember how that famous and immortal Statesman the Count of Gondomar fed King James his fancy, and rocked him asleep with the soft sweet found of Peace, to keep up the Spanish Treaty. Likewise we were much bound to Rome Statemen of our own Countrey, for gaining time by procuring those most advantagious Cessations of Arms in the Palatinate, and advancing the Honour and Integrity of the Spanish Nation, and vilifying the Hollanders ; remonftrating to King James, That that State was most ungrateful both to his Predecessor Queen Elizabeth, and his Sacred Majesty; That the States were more obnoxious than the Turk, and perpetually injured his Majesties loving Subjects in the East-Indies, and likewise they have usurped from his Majesty the Regality and unvaluable profit of the Narrow Seas in fishing upon the English Coast, &c.
This great States-man had but one principal means to further their great and good designs, which was to set on King James, that none but the Puritan Faction, which plotted nothing but Anarchy, and his Confusion were A averse to this most happy Union. We steered on the fame Course, and have made great use of this Anarchical Election, and have prejudicated and anticipated the Great one, that none but the King's Enemies, and his, are chosen of this Parliament, &c.
We have now many strings to our Bow, and have strongly fortified our Faction, and have added two Bulwarks more: For when King James lived (you know) he was very violent against Arminianism and interrupted (with his pestilent Wit and deep Learning) our strong Designs in Holland, and was a great Friend to that old Rebel and Heretick the Prince of Orange.
Now we have planted that Sovereign Drug Arminianism, which we hope will purge the Protestants from their Heresy ; and it flourisheth and bears fruit in due season.
The Materials which build up our Bulwark, are the Projectors and Beggers of all ranks and qualities : Howsoever both these Factions cooperate to destroy the Parliament, and to introduce a new species and form of Government, which is Oligarchy.
Those serve as direct Mediums and Instruments to our end, which is the Universal Catholick Monarchy. Our foundation must be Mutation, and Mutation will cause a Relaxation, which will serve as so many violent diseases, as the Stone, Gout, &c. to the speedy distraction of our perpetual and insufferable anguish of body, which is worse than death it self.
We proceed now by Counsel and mature deliberation, how and when to work upon the Duke's Jealousie and Revenge ; And in this we give the honour to those which merit it, which are the Church-Catholicks.
There is another matter of Consequence, which we take much into our consideration and tender care, which is to stave off Puritans, that they hang not in the Duke's ears, They are impudent subtil people.
And it is to be feared lest they should negotiate a Reconciliation between the Duke and the Parliament at Oxford, and Westminster; But now we asure ourselves we have so handled the matter, that both Duke and Parliament are irreconcileable.
For the better prevention of the Puritans, the Arminians have already lock'd up the Duke's ears ; And we have those of our own Religion which stand continually at the Duke's Chamber, to see who goes in and out : We cannot be too circumspect and careful in this regard.
I cannot choose but laugh to see how some of our own Coat have accounted themselves; you would scarce know them, if you saw them : And 'tis admirable, how in speech and gesture they act the Puritans. The Cambridge Scholars to their woeful Experience shall see we can act the Puritans a little better than they have done the Jesuits : They have abused our sacred Patron Saint Ignatius in jest, but we will make them smart for it in earnest. I hope you will excuse my merry digression ; for I confess unto you, I am at this time transported with joy to see how happily all Instruments and means as well great as less, cooperate unto our purposes.
But to return to the main Fabrick : Our foundation is Arminianism; The Arminians and Projectors, as it appears in the premisses, affect mutation. This we second, and enforce by probable Arguments. In the first place we take into consideration the King's Honour, and present necesity, and we shew how the King may free himself of his Ward, as Lewis the Eleventh did. And for his great Splendor and lustre, he may raise a vast Revenue, and not be beholden to his Subjects; which is by way of Imposition of Excise. Then our Church Catholicks proceed to sew the means A how to settle this Excise, which must be by a Mercenary Army of Horse and Foot. For the Horse, we have made that sure; They shall be Foreigners and Germans, who will eat up the King's Revenues, and spoil the Country wherefoever they come, though they would be well paid; What havock will they make there, when they get no Pay, or are not duly Paid? They will do more mischief, than we hope the Army will do.
We are provident and careful, that this Mercenary Army of Two thousand Horse, and twenty thousand Foot, shall be taken on and in pay before the Excise be settled. In forming the Excise, the Countrey is most likely to rise: If the Mercenary Army, subjugate the Country, then the Soldiers and Projectors shall be paidout of the Confiscations; If the Country be too hard for the Soldiers, then they must consequently mutiny, which is equally advantagious unto us. Our superlative design is, to work the Protestants as well as the Catholicks to welcome in a Conqueror and that is by this means: We hope instantly to dissolve Trades, and hinder the building of Shipping, in devising probable Designs, and putting on the State upon Expeditions, a as that of Cadiz, was in taking away the Merchant Ships, so that they may not easily catch and light upon the West India Fleet, &c." "Historical Collections of Private Passages of State, Weighty Matters in Law, Remarkable Proceedings in Five Parliaments. Beginning the Sixteenth Year of King James, Anno 1618, and Ending the Fifth Year of King Charls, Anno 1629, Pgs 474-576 "
If you believe that "Calvinism", or rather the gospel truths called under the (most often derogative) name of "Calvinism", is Err;
It must be warned: that belief is Arminian.
Arminianism is a Pagan teaching perfected in Rome; I.E. it is the Doctrine that the Natural, Fallen mind of men is inclined to believe as a result of Sin.
Pray for Grace to see the Truth!
"The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history."
All available ancient records, documents, and testimonies, both from Christian as well as Heathen sources, and from the available citations of the Jesuit Order, and the Superior General himself in the Secret Conference of 1824, as well as dozens of other times in which their views were exposed to the Light of day through the Grace of God.
Treatise still a Work in progress: Lord Willing, this lengthy work written for the defense of the Reformers, Puritans and Calvinists, and therein the KJV, shall be completed in the near future.
EDIT, 04/18/21: Due to coming lack of adequate time required to fully finish citing, and editing the article; the rough, unfinished draft shall hereafter be made available. Edits shall be periodically added, most generally regarding the addition of sources, as well as the addition of more in-depth, historic examples of Persecution which Reformed Christians faced at the hands of the Gnostic Curia's in Rome.
This Website is currently under maintenance to ensure there isnt any Theological Err;
The slightest err, ignorantly spread or not, can be eternally disastrous to souls, and cause the Lord to have to use means of extremely painful heart wrenching chastisement and correction to recover the said soul from such deadly heresy.
And,
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 KJV
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation." -Acts 2: 38-40KJV
The Shorter Westminster Catechism, 1647
"Ques. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
Ans. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
Q. 1. What is meant by the Godhead?
A. By the Godhead is meant the divine nature or essence.
Q. 2. Are there three divine natures or essences, or are there three Gods?
A. No; for though the three persons be God, the Father God, the Son God, and the Holy Ghost God, yet they are not three Gods, but one God. The essence of God is the same in all the three persons. "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word [that is, the Son], and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." --1John 5:7.
Q. 3 What is meant by the three persons in the Godhead?
A. By the three persons in the Godhead, we are to understand the same nature of God with three ways of subsisting, each person having its distinct personal properties.
Q. 4. What is the personal property of the Father?
A. The personal property of the Father is to beget the Son, and that from all eternity. "Unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever." --Hebrews 1:5,8.
Q. 5. What is the personal property of the Son?
A. The personal property of the Son is to be begotten of the Father. "We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only- begotten of the Father." --John 1:14.
Q. 6. What is the personal property of the Holy Ghost?
A. The personal property of the Holy Ghost is to proceed from the Father and the Son. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." --John 15:26.
Q. 7. How doth it appear that the Father is God?
A. Because the Father is the original of the other persons, and of every thing else, and because divine attributes and worship are ascribed to him.
Q. 8. How doth it appear that the Son is God?
A. 1. Because he is called God in the Scriptures. "And the Word was God." --John 1:1. "Of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever." --Romans 9:5.
2. Because the attributes of God are ascribed unto him. Eternity. "Before Abraham was, I am." --John 8:58. Omniscience. "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee." --John 21:17. Omnipresence. "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." --Matthew 18:20. Divine power. "He upholdeth all things by the word of his power." --Hebrews 1:3.
3. Because <40> the honour and worship which is due only to God, do belong to him. In him we must believe. "Believe also in me." --John 14:1. In his name we must be baptized. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." --Matthew 28:19. Upon his name we must call. "With all that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." --1Corinthians 1:2. Because if the Son were not God, he could not have been a fit Mediator.
Q. 9. How doth it appear that the Holy Ghost is God?
A. 1. Because the Holy Ghost is called God. "Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." --Acts 5:3-4.
2. Because the attributes of God are ascribed unto him. Omnipresence. "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit?" Psalm 139:7. Especially, he is present in the hearts of all believers. "He dwelleth in you, and shall be in you." John 14:17. Omniscience. "The Spirit searcheth all things." 1Corinthians 2:10.
3. Because of the powerful works of the Spirit, which none but God can effect: such as- Regeneration. "Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." --John 3:5. Guiding believers into all truth. "Howbeit, when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth."- John 16:13. Sanctification. "That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." --Romans 15:16. Comfort, called therefore the Comforter. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." John 15:26. Communion. "The communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all." --2Corinthians 13:14.
4. Because the honour and worship due only to God, do belong unto the Spirit, we must believe in him. This is an article of the creed (commonly called the Apostles' Creed), "I believe in the Holy Ghost." We must be baptized in his name. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19.
Q. 10. How doth it appear that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, being one God, are three distinct persons?
A. 1. The Father begetting, is called a person in the Scripture. --Hebrews 1:3. Christ is said to be the express image of his person; and by the same reason, the Son begotten of the Father, is a person, and the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son is a person.
2. That the Father and the Son are distinct persons, is evident from John 8:16-18. "I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."
3. That the Holy Ghost is a distinct person from the Father and the Son, appeareth from John 14:16-17. "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth," etc.
4. That the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three distinct persons, in one essence, may be gathered from 1John 5:7. "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." These three are either three substances, or three manifestations, or three persons, or something else besides persons; but-
(1.) They are not three substances, because in the same verse they are called one.
(2.) They are not three manifestations, because all the attributes of God are manifestations, and so there would be more than three or thirteen; and then one manifestation would be said to beget and send another, which is absurd.
(3.) They are not something else besides persons; therefore, they are three distinct persons, distinguished by their relations and distinct personal properties.
Q. 11. What should we judge of them that deny that there are three distinct persons in one Godhead?
A. 1. We ought to judge them to be blasphemers, because they speak against the ever-glorious God, who hath set forth himself in this distinction in the Scripture.
2. To be damnable heretics; this doctrine of the distinction of persons in the unity of essence being a fundamental truth, denied of old by the Sabellians, Arians, Photineans, and of late by the Socinians, who were against the Godhead of Christ the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; amongst whom the Quakers are also to be numbered, who deny this distinction."
The entirety of the Shorter Westminster Catechism, with added explanations from Thomas Vincent (Approved by John Owen, Thomas Watson along with 38 other signatories who declared their belief that it would 'be greatly useful to all Christians in general.') can be read here.
Westminster Confession of Faith, 1646.
Chapter 2 - Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
I. There is but one only,[1] living, and true God,[2] who is infinite in being and perfection,[3] a most pure spirit,[4] invisible,[5] without body, parts,[6] or passions;[7] immutable,[8] immense,[9] eternal,[10] incomprehensible,[11] almighty,[12] most wise,[13] most holy,[14] most free,[15] most absolute;[16] working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will,[17] for His own glory;[18] most loving,[19] gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;[20] the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him;[21] and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments,[22] hating all sin,[23] and who will by no means clear the guilty.[24]
II. God has all life,[25] glory,[26] goodness,[27] blessedness,[28] in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He has made,[29] nor deriving any glory from them,[30] but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things;[31] and has most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleases.[32] In His sight all things are open and manifest,[33] His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,[34] so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain.[35] He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands.[36] To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them.[37]
III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.[38] The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; [39] the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. [40]
Work in Progress: Chapters 3 through 14. Until they are on the website, the entirety can be read here.
Scriptural Proofs of chapters 2-14