relation of subordination in the Trinity. Some of his expressions, nevertheless, may very well coincide with the Catholic exposition of that doctrine; and in so far they place the Father above the Son, merely because the latter is rooted in the former, and subordinate the Holy Ghost to the two, because, in the two, He hath the source of His God-head, the expressions are perfectly identical. But Limborch teaches, besides, that, in the strict sense, the Father imparts commands to the Son, and both to the Holy Ghost; a doctrine which is utterly absurd, and subversive of the Trinity. By degrees Socinianism found its way into the Arminian sect—a way, which, it cannot be denied, had been long before prepared; so that, when the Gomarists, during the first controversies, constantly repeated the charge, that Socinian poison had crept in among the Remonstrants, we must not consider this accusation as the mere effect of party-hatred. Doubtless, this reproach was frequently unfounded; nay, as regards the earlier history of the Arminians, the charge, with the exception of some subordinate definitions, in the article of justification, can nowhere, perhaps, be fully established. But, nevertheless, many among them must even then have manifested a leaning to the hated system of Socinus; for, otherwise, the suspicion of the rigid Calvinists could not be at all accounted for, and the sequel has well justified that suspicion. Even from the very copious treatment which the doctrine of the Trinity has undergone, in the Confession of the Remonstrants, we might feel disposed to look for a confirmation of this suspicion; for, if no special grounds had existed, such detailed exposition would have been quite superfluous. Yet, on the other hand, it may be observed, that as the authors of the formulary, seem to have proposed for their object, to give an outline of all the more important doctrines of Christian faith and morality; an important place, without any peculiar or secondary views, was, of necessity, assigned to the dogma of the Trinity. The wellknown exegetical writer, Daniel Brenius, who was an immediate disciple of Episcopius, even at that early period, openly professed Socinian views in respect to the person of Christ, as Sand, in his book, enumerates him among the Antitrinitarians;* and in the subsequent time, such doctrines obtained, among the Remonstrants, very general diffusion. * Sand Biblioth. Antitrin. p. 135. FINIS. RICHARDS, 100, ST. MARTIN'S LANE. TABLE OF CONTENTS. DIFFERENCES IN RESPECT TO THE DOCTRINE ON THE CHURCH. § XXXVI. Notion of the Church. Combination of Divine and human elements XXXVII. More detailed exposition of the Catholic view of the Church XXXVIII. The Church as teacher and instructress. Tradition. The Church XXXIX. The Church as interpreter of Holy Writ, and the doctrine on XL. Formal distinction between scriptural and ecclesiastical doctrine XLI. Tradition in a more limited sense. The canon of the Scriptures XLII. On the relation of the ecclesiastical interpretation of Holy Writ to the learned and scientific exegesis. Patristic authority and XLIV. The Bible the only source and arbitress in matters of faith XLV. Continuation. Internal ordination. Every Christian a priest and teacher, and consequently independent of all ecclesiastical com- Rise of the visible Church according to Luther. Ultimate reasons for the truth of an article of faith XLVIII. Continuation. Divergences in the doctrine on the Church, shortly XLIX. The truth and the falsehood in Luther's doctrine on the Church L. Negative doctrines of the Lutherans in regard to the Church CHAPTER VI. THE CHURCH IN THE NEXT WORLD, AND ITS CONNEXION WITH THE CHURCH - 161 165 - 167 LVI. Initiation into the sect. Signs and confirmation of covenant Church LX. Hatred against all outward institutions for promoting edification. LXI. The Anabaptists in the form of Mennonites; their second period CHAPTER II. THE QUAKERS. The inward light LXIV. Some historical preliminary remarks LXVIII. Continuation of the same subject. 173 176 178 181 LXX. Peculiar manners and customs of the Quakers CHAPTER III. THE HERRNHUTTERS, OR THE COMMUNITY OF BROTHERS, AND THE METHODISTS. LXXIII. Continuation of the same subject. Spener and the Pietists 245 Pietists - 252 § LXXV. The Methodists. Religious state of England at the beginning of LXXVI. Peculiar doctrines of the Methodists. CHAPTER IV. - Marks of distinction be- PAGE 257 262 THE DOCTRINE OF SWEDENBORG. LXXVII. Some preliminary historical remarks LXXVIII. Practical tendency of Swedenborg. His judgment on the Re- 272 275 280 LXXX. Swedenborg denies the fall of man in Adam. Contradictions in 285 LXXXI. Incarnation of the Divinity. Objects of the incarnation. Relation LXXXII. Swedenborg's doctrine relative to the sacraments CHAPTER V. THE SOCINIANS. 288 Historical remarks LXXXVII. Relation of the Socinians to the Reformers. - LXXXIX. Doctrine of the Socinians respecting God, and the person of Christ 327 |