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Arminian Doctrine Exposed

by Ralph Erskine (1685-1752)

The following selections have been taken from The Beauties of Erskine, with additional supliments from the original source material as found in The Sermons and Practical Works of Ralph Erskine (vol. 10, 1778). The electronic edition of this article was scanned and edited by Shane Rosenthal for Reformation Ink. It may be freely copied and distributed.

Arminian doctrine, which aboundeth in our day, makes the efficacy of the gospel depend upon man's free will; but we have not so learned Chirst; he hath made surer work, and all the efficacy to depend upon his free grace. The Father's promise to the Son secures it; "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."

 

Let Arminians maintain at their peril their universal redemption, but we must maintain at our peril the universal offer. The Arminian doctrine is to be rejected as robbing Christ of the glory of his free grace, in electing from eternity, and effectually calling in time, ascribing so much to man's free will.

 

 

No wonder Paul the legal spirit curse,

Of fatal errors such a feeding nurse.

He, in JEHOVAH's great tremendous name,

Condemns perverters of the gospel-scheme.

He damn'd the sophist rude, the babbling priest

Would venture to corrupt it in the least;

Yea, curst the heav'nly angel down to hell,

That daring would another gospel tell.

Which crime is charg'd on these that dare dispense

The self-same gospel in another sense.

 

Christ is not preach'd in truth, but in disguise,

If his bright glory half absconded lies.

When gospel-soldiers, that divide the word,

Scarce brandish any but the legal sword.

While Christ the author of the law they press,

More than the end of it for righteousness;

Christ as a seeker of our service trace,

More than a giver of enabling grace.

The king commanding holiness they show,

More than the Prince exalted to bestow;

Yea, more on Christ the sin-revenger dwell,

Than Christ Redeemer both from sin and hell.

 

With legal spade the gospel-field he delves,

Who thus drives sinners in unto themselves;

Halving the truth that should be all reveal'd,

The sweetest part of Christ is oft conceal'd.

We bid men turn from sin, but seldom say,

Behold the Lamb that takes all sin away!

Christ, by the gospel rightly understood,

Not only treats a peace but makes it good.

Those suitors therefore of the bride, who hope

By force to drag her with the legal rope,

Nor use the drawing cord of conqu'ring grace,

Pursue with flaming zeal a fruitless chase;

In vain lame doings urge, with solemn awe,

To bribe the fury of the fiery law:

With equal success to the fool that aims

By paper walls to bound devouring flames.

The law's but mock'd by their most graceful deed,

That wed not first the law-fulfilling Head;

It values neither how they wrought nor wept,

That flight the ark wherein alone 'tis kept.

Yet legalists, DO, DO, with ardour press,

And with prepost'rous zeal and warm address,

Would seem the greatest friends to holiness:

But vainly (could such opposites accord)

Respect the law, and yet reject the Lord.

They shew not Jesus as the way to bliss,

But Judas-like betray him with a kiss

Of boasted works, or mere profession puft,

Law-boasters proving but law-breakers oft.

 

From A Legal Strain of Doctrine, found in Erskine's Gospel Sonnets

 

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The more proud nature bears a legal sway,

The more should preachers bend the gospel-way:

Oft in the church arise destructive schisms

From anti-evangelic aphorisms;

A legal spirit may be justly nam'd

The fertile womb of ev'ry error damn'd.

 

Hence dare Arminians too, with brazen face,

Give man's free-will the throne of God's free grace;

Whose self-exalting tenets clearly shew

Great ignorance of law and gospel too.

From: A Legal Spirit the Root of Damnable Errors, found in Erskine's Gospel Sonnets

 

 

 

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The following is a specimen of the Arminian's Address to Sinners, and the Answer to it:

 

 

The Arminian's Address
Arise, ye dead, Arminius cries,

Arise, ye dead in sin;

Unstop your ears, unclose your eyes,

And a new life begin.

 

Why will ye die, ye wretched souls?

Ye dead, why will ye die?

Quicken and make your spirits whole,

To life eternal fly.

 

The Answer

Deluded seer! but man will lie

Still senseless as a stone!

And you yourself stand fooling by,

Till both are quite undone:

 

Unless Almighty power be moved

By God's free will, not thine,

To quicken both and make his love

On both your hearts to shine.

From "The Beauties of Erskine" (1745).