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The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 1

Jacobus Arminius · translated by James Nichols and William Nichols · translation 1825–1875

The Dutch theologian whose teaching on grace and predestination was answered by the Synod of Dort; the source of the Arminian tradition.

Edition: CCEL · www.ccel.org

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From the opening: The Object of Theology

To Almighty God alone belong the inherent and absolute right, will, and power of determining concerning us. Since, therefore, it has pleased him to call me, his unworthy servant, from the ecclesiastical functions which I have for some years discharged in the Church of his Son in the populous city of Amsterdam, and to give me the appointment of the Theological Professorship in this most celebrated University, I accounted it my duty, not to manifest too much reluctance to this vocation, although I was well acquainted with my incapacity for such an office, which with the greatest willingness and sincerity I then confessed and must still acknowledge. Indeed, the consciousness of my own insufficiency operated as a persuasive to me not to listen to this vocation; of which fact I can cite as a witness that God who is both the Inspector and the Judge of my conscience. Of this consciousness of my own insufficiency, several persons of great probity and learning are also witnesses; for they were the cause of my engaging in this office, provided it were offered to me in a legitimate order and manner. But as they suggested, and as experience itself had frequently taught me, that it is a dangerous thing to adhere to one's own judgment with pertinacity and to pay too much regard to the opinion which we entertain of ourselves, because almost all of us have little discernment in those matters which concern ourselves, I suffered myself to be induced by the authority of their judgment to enter upon this difficult and burdensome province, which may God enable me to commence with tokens of his Divine approbation and under his propitious auspices.

Although I am beyond measure cast down and almost shudder with fear, solely at the anticipation of this office and its duties, yet I can scarcely indulge in a doubt of Divine approval and support when my mind attentively considers, what are the causes on account of which this vocation was appointed, the manner in which it is committed to execution, and the means and plans by which it is brought to a conclusion. From all these considerations, I feel a persuasion that it has been Divinely instituted and brought to perfection.

For this cause I entertain an assured hope of the perpetual presence of Divine assistance; and, with due humility of mind, I venture in God's holy name to take this charge upon me and to enter upon its duties. I most…

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Contents (116 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. The Object of Theology
  3. The Object of Theology (continued)
  4. The Author and the End of Theology
  5. The End of Theology
  6. The Certainty of Sacred Theology
  7. 1. the Divinity of Scripture
  8. 2. the Agreement of This Doctrine in Its Parts
  9. 5. the Antiquity of the Doctrine
  10. 6. the Sanctity of Those by Whom It Has Been Administered
  11. 7. the Constancy of Its Professors and Martyrs
  12. 8. the Testimony of the Church
  13. 9. the Internal Witness of the Holy Spirit
  14. The Priesthood of Christ
  15. The Priesthood of Christ (continued)
  16. On Reconciling Religious Dissensions Among Christians
  17. On Reconciling Religious Dissensions Among Christians (continued)
  18. On Reconciling Religious Dissensions Among Christians (continued)
  19. Revision of the Dutch Confession & Heidelberg Catechism
  20. I. on Predestination
  21. 2. My Sentiments on the Preceding Scheme of Predestination
  22. 2. My Sentiments on the Preceding Scheme of Predestination (continued)
  23. 2. a Second Kind of Predestination
  24. 3. a Third Kind of Predestination
  25. 4. My Judgment Respecting the Two Last Described Schemes of Predestination
  26. 5. My Own Sentiments on Predestination
  27. II. the Providence of God
  28. III. the Free-Will of Man
  29. IV. the Grace of God
  30. V. the Perseverance of the Saints
  31. VI. the Assurance of Salvation
  32. VII. the Perfection of Believers in This Life
  33. VIII. the Divinity of the Son of God
  34. IX. the Justification of Man Before God
  35. X. the Revision of the Dutch Confession, and the Heidelberg Catechism
  36. Article III
  37. Article IV
  38. Article V
  39. Article VI
  40. Article VII
  41. Article VIII
  42. Article IX
  43. Article X
  44. Article XI
  45. Article XII
  46. Articles XIII and XIV
  47. Article XV
  48. Article XVI
  49. Article XVII
  50. Article XVIII
  51. Article XIX
  52. Article XX
  53. Article XXI (I.)
  54. Article XXII (II.)
  55. Article XXIII (III.)
  56. Article XXIV (IV.)
  57. Article XXV (V.)
  58. Article XXVI (VI.)
  59. Article XXVII (VII.)
  60. Article XXVIII (VIII.)
  61. Article XXIX (IX.)
  62. Article XXX (X.)
  63. Article XXXI (XI.)
  64. The Nine Questions...and Nine Opposite Questions
  65. Answer to This Question
  66. Answer to This Question (continued)
  67. Answer to This Question (continued)
  68. Answer to This Question (continued)
  69. Answer to This Question (continued)
  70. Answer to This Question (continued)
  71. Answer to This Question (continued)
  72. Answer to This Question (continued)
  73. Answer to This Question (continued)
  74. Remarks on the Preceding Questions, and on Those Opposed to Them
  75. Twenty-Five Public Disputations
  76. The First Sin Of The First Man
  77. Respondent: Bernard Vesukius
  78. Opposition to Traditions Respondent: Abraham Vliet
  79. Respondent: de Coignee
  80. Respondent: James Arminius — When He Stood for His Degree of D. D
  81. Let the Following Be Our Problems
  82. The Essence of God
  83. On the Life of God
  84. On the Understanding of God
  85. On the Will of God
  86. Let the Following Be Problems to Us
  87. On the Power of God
  88. On the Perfection of God
  89. On the Blessedness of God
  90. Respondent: Peter de la Fite
  91. On the Holy Spirit Respondent: James Mahot
  92. The Use of the Doctrine
  93. The Cause of This Sin
  94. The Heinousness of This Sin
  95. The Effects of This Sin
  96. Respondent, Casper Wiltens
  97. Respondent: Ralph de Zyll
  98. Respondent: Gerard Adrians
  99. Respondent: Paul Leonards
  100. Respondent: Dionysius Spranckhuysen
  101. Respondent: Peter Cunæus
  102. The Saints Under the Old Testament
  103. Respondent: Peter Faverius
  104. Respondent: William Bastingius
  105. Respondent: James Bontebal
  106. Respondent: Henry Nielluis
  107. Respondent: Gerard, the Son of Helmichius
  108. Respondent: Alard de Vries
  109. Respondent: Engelbert Sibelius
  110. Respondent: John Martinius
  111. Respondent: James Cusine
  112. Respondent: Japhet Vigerius
  113. Respondent: Japhet Vigerius (continued)
  114. Respondent: James a. Port
  115. Respondent: John Le Chantre
  116. End of the Public Disputations

How to cite it

Chicago
Jacobus Arminius. The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 1. Translated by James Nichols and William Nichols. CCEL, translation 1825–1875. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/arminius/works1
MLA
Jacobus Arminius. The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 1. Translated by James Nichols and William Nichols, CCEL, translation 1825–1875. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/arminius/works1
APA
Jacobus Arminius (translation 1825–1875). The Works of James Arminius, Vol. 1 (James Nichols and William Nichols, Trans.). CCEL. https://www.ccel.org/ccel/arminius/works1

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