The Puritanboard Most of my readers will be familiar with the on-line web-site The Puritanboard. The site often carries good, general articles of instruction and edification. At times, however, the contributors seem to be very strict and particular in their ecclesiastical views and their narrow understanding of church and denominational history. I have striven from time to time to visit their site, to offer praise and encouragement for certain positions they represent and to suggest solutions to some of their ingrained problems caused mostly through lack of background knowledge. However, I found entrance into their discussions technically extremely difficult, so I gave up trying. A couple of years ago, I had another go and… Full Article
Posts Tagged Synod of Dort
Sir: The article Remembering Hampton Court (No. 55) though excellent in its appraisal of the Authorised version, suffers from amnesia concerning the so-called Conference which was rather an informal, summing-up chat in the King’s quarters after substantial reforms had been made in Convocation. Far from only one puritan being present, most of the clergy and politicians who took part were strong on the doctrines of grace. Who would reject Chaderton’s, Knewstub’s, Spark’s, Reynold’s and Field’s credentials? Whitgift and Bancroft were men of the Lambeth Articles. However, Reynolds and Spark, thought wrongly nowadays to have represented the ultra-puritan side, were certainly weak in displaying… Full Article
Review of Amyraut Affirmed
Sep 15
Review of Amyraut Affirmed: or ‘Owenism, a Caricature of Calvinism’ by Alan C. Clifford In this provocative booklet, Dr Allan C. Clifford’s responds to Ian Hamilton’s Amyraldianism – is it modified Calvinism? by presenting Amyraldianism as orthodox Calvinism and the Westminster Confession as a caricature of it. Clifford’s argument is that both John Calvin (1509-1564) and Moses Amyraut (1596-1664) believed that God had two conflicting wills in salvation. Clifford is so enamoured with his theory that he dispenses with objective textual proof. He merely quotes speculations he has made in former works “for the benefit of those who have been either unable or unwilling to consult” them, arguing that this is all that… Full Article
The Synod of Dort
Aug 17
The Synod of Dort (1618-9): Milestone of the Reformation The background The Dutch town of Dortrecht (Engl. Dort), may be unfamiliar to many an English-speaking Christian but it was the place where the churches of Holland, Britain, Germany and Switzerland held a great ecumenical conference which resulted in their unanimous agreement concerning the doctrines of grace reflected in the clear teaching of Scripture and the orthodox faith since New Testament times. From the start, Britain played a major role in this conference due to several factors, the most well-known being the influence of James I on the Continent. James had studied the works of Vorstius, one of the Continent’s Arch-Arminians and was alarmed that… Full Article
