REMARKS ON THE REFUTATION OF CALVINISM, BY GEORGE TOMLINE, D.D. F. R. S. lord bishop OF LINCOLN, AND DEAN OF ST. PAUL'S, LONDON. BY THOMAS SCOTT, RECTOR OF ASTON SANDFORD, bucks. 66 "Be ready always to give an answer to every man, that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness, and fear." 1 Pet. iii. 15. 'Take special care, before you aim your shafts at Calvinism, that you 'know what is Calvinism, and what is not: that, in that mass of doctrine, which it is of late become the fashion to abuse under the name of Cal⚫ vinism; you can distinguish with certainty, between that part, which is ⚫ nothing better than Calvinism, and that which belongs to our common christianity, and the faith of the Reformed Churches.' Bp. Horseley. 'Accusatio crimen desiderat, rem ut definiat, hominem ut notet, argumento probet, teste confirmet.' Cicero. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. London: FRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY C. BALDWIN, NEW BRIDGE STREET; 1811. Price 11. 1s. it seems, they are become so numerous and successful, that, unless more decided measures be adopted, there is danger lest "all the world should 66 go after them." And " in this I do rejoice, yea, " and will rejoice." It may be questioned, how far it would be advisable, in present circumstances, for any of our party, to commence a controversy: yet there can hardly be a doubt, but that it is incumbent on us to say something, to the publick arraignment of our principles, which The Refutation' contains. Had that publication assailed those tenets exclusively, which are commonly called Calvinistick; these Remarks would, probably, not have been obtruded on the publick notice: but, as many doctrines which belong to our common christianity are deeply involved in the argument, the contest is no longer about unessential matters, but pro aris et focis. It is allowed, that the several doctrines, brought under consideration in the Refutation, have in reality a very intimate connexion or concatenation. Original sin, implying the total want, in fallen man, of what is good before God, makes way for the doctrine of special preventing grace, or regeneration by the Holy Spirit, in order to the true repentance, faith, and renewed acceptable obedience, of any of our fallen race. The remainder of this infection in the regenerate, rendering all which they do, imperfect or defiled; shews that justification must be of grace, in Christ, and by faith alone, not of works, from first to last: and that good works can, in this respect, do no more than evidence faith to be living and justifying for, the alloy of evil connected with them needing forgiveness, they can do nothing either towards justification, or continuing us in a justified state. Regeneration also, being a new creation by the omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit," dividing "to every one severally as he will," must be purposed and intended: and, considering the prescience and unchangeableness of God, "the eternal pur 66 pose which he has purposed in himself," can hardly be excluded; or the conclusion, that those, whom he thus regenerates, he will "keep by his power, "through faith unto salvation." Of this concatenation his Lordship is aware; and it would not have answered his design, to refute these latter doctrines, and leave the others unassailed. Numbers however do not allow or perceive this; and hold the grand outlines of the doctrine, here called Calvinistick, very decidedly and practically; either silently excluding personal election and final perseverance from their creed, or directly disavowing them. But, besides the attempt to refute several doctrines, which are not generally considered as Calvinistick, but rather as "the faith once delivered to the |