diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:37:37 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:37:37 -0700 |
| commit | c396bc3c342011b05bc7528468891da8d2eb5b05 (patch) | |
| tree | e62bd30c75fcdfd4f431bf42141077f6c165ad6c | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28172-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 25959 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28172-h/28172-h.htm | 1233 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28172.txt | 1119 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 28172.zip | bin | 0 -> 23908 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
7 files changed, 2368 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/28172-h.zip b/28172-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dac69bb --- /dev/null +++ b/28172-h.zip diff --git a/28172-h/28172-h.htm b/28172-h/28172-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3af8a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/28172-h/28172-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1233 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=utf-8"> +<title>A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns of +Calvinism.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + body {font-family:'Bookman Old Style', 'Book Antiqua', 'Garamond'; font-size:12pt; text-align:justify; margin-left:3em; margin-right:3em} + hr {text-align:center} + p.pnn {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.ps {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.pn {text-indent:1.5em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.pns {text-indent:1.5em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.pc {text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:0} + p.pch {text-align:center;font-size:10pt;margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p0 {padding-left:4em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.p0s {padding-left:4em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p1 {padding-left:5em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.p1s {padding-left:5em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p2 {padding-left:6em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.p2s {padding-left:6em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p3 {padding-left:7em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.p3s {padding-left:7em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + .ot {letter-spacing:0.2em} + .grk {font-family:'Times New Roman'} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + sup {color:green; font-size:75%; font-weight:900} + h1 { text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:19pt;font-weight:normal} + ol.uproman { list-style-type: upper-roman } +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns of +Calvinism, by Thomas Taylor + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns of Calvinism + +Author: Thomas Taylor + +Release Date: February 24, 2009 [EBook #28172] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLEMN CAUTION--CALVINISM *** + + + + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + + + + + +</pre> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#Title">Title Page</a></li> +<li><a href="#Wesley">To the Rev John Wesley</a></li> +<li><a href="#Text">Text</a> +<ol class="uproman"> +<li><a href="#I">If it is so, nothing can come to pass but what +he hath ordained.</a></li> +<li><a href="#II">This doctrine makes the day of judgment +past.</a></li> +<li><a href="#III">It contradicts the plain word of God.</a></li> +<li><a href="#IV">It has a tendency to render all means +useless.</a></li> +<li><a href="#V">It makes promises and threatenings +useless.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VI">It is contrary to every attribute in the +Deity.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VII">It contradicts common sense.</a></li> +<li><a href="#VIII">It has a tendency to licentiousness.</a></li> +<li><a href="#IX">It makes the God of all grace and goodness +worse than the devil.</a></li> +<li><a href="#X">If the unconditional decree be a true doctrine, +then there is no such thing as sin in the world.</a></li> +</ol> +</li> +<li><a href="#Footnotes">Footnotes.</a></li> +</ul> +<hr style="margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:3em"> +<p style="font-size:15pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:6em;"> +<a name="Title"></a></p> +<div style="text-align:center"> +<p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:10em; margin-bottom:3em;"> +A</p> +<p style= +"font-size:15pt;letter-spacing:0.3em;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:3em;"> +SOLEMN CAUTION</p> +<p style="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:2em;">AGAINST +THE</p> +<p style= +"font-size:19pt;letter-spacing:0.1em;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:4em;"> +TEN HORNS OF CALVINISM.</p> +<p style="font-size:13pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.8em;">BY +PHILALETHES,</p> +<p style="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:6em;">LATELY +ESCAPED.</p> +<p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:4em;">FOURTH +EDITION, CORRECTED.</p> +<p style= +"font-size:10pt;padding-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:4em;"> +And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rise up +out of the sea, having seven heads and T<span class= +"sc">en</span> H<span class="sc">orns</span>. Rev. xiii. 1.</p> +<hr style="width:30%;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:3em"> +<p style="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.2em;"> +LEEDS:</p> +<p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.7em;"> +PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, 36, BRIGGATE, AND SOLD BY OTHER +BOOKSELLERS.</p> +<p style="font-size:14pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:10em;"> +1819.</p> +<hr style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:3em"> +<p style="font-size:15pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:7em;"> +<a name="Wesley"></a></p> +<p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:2.5em;"> +TO</p> +<p style= +"font-size:15pt;letter-spacing:0.1em;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1.5em;"> +THE REV. JOHN WESLEY.</p> +</div> +<p class="pnn">R<span class="sc">everend</span> S<span class= +"sc">ir</span>,</p> +<p class="pn">THE author of the following strictures hopes your +candour will pardon his addressing you in this public manner. Who +he is, or what he is, signifies very little; only he begs leave +to intimate, that he hopes he is a follower of that Saviour who +“gave himself a ransom for all.” He was convinced when young in +years, in a great measure, by reading “Alleine’s Alarm;” and the +Calvinists being the only professing people near him, he soon got +acquainted with them, and was, for some time, in their connexion. +Being young in years, experience, and knowledge, he saw with +their eyes, and heard with their ears; yet not without many +scruples concerning the truth of several of their tenets. +Sometimes he proposed his doubts, yet seldom had much +satisfaction; but rather was a little brow-beaten for being +muddy-headed. He often paused, and pondered, and read, and rubbed +his head, and wondered what he ailed. Cole on “God’s Sovereignty” +was put into his hands to clear his dull head, and make him quite +orthodox; but still he could not see how God could be just in +condemning men for exactly doing what he had decreed them to do. +After many conflicts, your little piece, entitled, +“Predestination Calmly Considered” fell into his hands; he read +it over with that attention which both the doctrine and +performance deserve; and never had a doubt, from that day to +this, that God is loving to every man. You will, dear sir, excuse +the liberty which he has taken in recommending that little useful +piece, as well as some others, which are published in your +catalogue. But, perhaps, you will say, “Who hath required this +performance at your hands? Are there not already better books +written upon the subject than yours?” He answers, Yes; there are +books much better written: They are really written too well for +the generality of readers. He wanted to adapt something to the +genius and pockets of the people. The generality of such as +profess religion are poor, and have little time, little capacity, +little money. If they read and understand this, perhaps they may +be capable of relishing something better. However, the writer +throws in his mite, and hopes it will be acceptable. In the +meantime may you, who have much to cast into the divine treasury, +go on and abound until you finish your course with joy. I am, +Reverend Sir, your obedient and humble servant,</p> +<p style= +"font-size:13pt;margin-top:0.3em; margin-bottom:0;text-align:right;"> +THE AUTHOR. </p> +<p style= +"font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:10em;text-indent:1.7em"> +<i>December</i> 5<i>th</i>, 1779.</p> +<hr style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:3em"> +<p style="font-size:15pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:7em;"> +<a name="Text"></a></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:10pt;margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1.8em;"> +A</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:17pt;letter-spacing:0.2em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1.5em;"> +SOLEMN CAUTION,</p> +<p class="pc"><i>&c.</i></p> +<hr style="width:20%;margin-top:2.5em;margin-bottom:2.6em"> +<p class="pn">W<span class="sc">hen</span> the forerunner of our +blessed Lord came preaching his dispensation among men, it is +said, “the same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, +<span class="sc">that all men</span> through him might believe. +He was not the light, but was sent to bear witness of the light. +That was the true light which <span class="sc">lighteth every +man</span> which cometh into the world.” It is farther added, +“this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, but +men love darkness rather than light.”</p> +<p class="pn">One would think such express testimonies were +sufficient to convince any man who attentively considers what is +here spoken, and who spake these words, “that Christ tasted death +for every man;” and that he “would have all men to be saved, and +come to the knowledge of the truth.” Yet it is well known, men +have found the art of torturing these and many other scriptures +to death, so as to leave neither life nor meaning in them. For +many years I did not see the bad tendency which unconditional +predestination has; for though I was convinced that it was not a +scriptural doctrine, yet knowing some who held it to be gracious +souls, I was ready to conclude that all or the greater part were +thus happily inconsistent, and so, contrary to the genius and +tendency of their doctrine, were perfecting holiness in the fear +of the Lord. But latter years have convinced me to the contrary; +and though many are either afraid or ashamed to hold it forth in +its full extent, and have kept its chief features out of sight, +yet it is still like that second beast which is mentioned in the +Revelation,—its horns are like a lamb; but attend closely to it, +and it speaks like the true dragon, and with its ten horns is +pushing at the saints of the Most High; and, I fear, has cast +down many, and is still pushing every way to the great danger of +many more. Many who were simply going on their way, rejoicing in +a crucified Saviour, denying themselves, and taking up their +cross,—no sooner has this beast obstructed their way, but they +have unwarily been seduced from the path of life. Having now +their eyes opened, they are become wise in their own conceits, +and are no longer the same simple, patient followers of the Lamb; +but soon become positive, self-conceited, and gradually fall back +into the world again.</p> +<p class="pn">It is true, many excellent checks have been given +to this growing plague; several of which are mentioned in the +subsequent part of this little performance: Yet they are really +too well written, and too large, for the generality of readers. +Such arguments as Mr. Toplady and Mr. Hill have made use of, that +is, being pretty liberal in calling foul names, are far more +taking than rational scriptural reasoning. I could not prevail +upon myself to stoop so low; truth does not require it. Yet a few +plain strictures, just giving a concise view of some of the +principal features of this beast, is what is pretended to here. I +think I shall avoid all railing accusations, all personal abuse; +there being something so low and mean in scurrility, that it can +never help the cause of pure and undefiled religion. The +following positions, concerning absolute predestination, I hope +to make appear.</p> +<p class="pn">The sum of Calvinism is contained in that article +in “the Assembly’s Catechism,” viz., “that God, from all +eternity, hath ordained whatsoever comes to pass in time.” From +hence naturally follow the ensuing ten blasphemous +absurdities:—</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="I">I.</a> If it is so, that, God +has from all eternity ordained whatsoever comes to pass in time; +then it is certain, nothing can come to pass but what he hath +ordained or appointed.—But, we are sensible, the most shocking +things have come to pass; such is the rebellion and fall of the +angels, who kept not their stations, but are become the enemies +of God and man, and seeking to do all the mischief they can in +the world. But if God has, by an express decree, ordained +whatsoever shall come to pass, he has ordained that these angels +should sin, and fall, and become devils; they could not help it; +and all the mischief they do in the world is but fulfilling the +divine decree. Likewise it was ordained, that they should seduce +man, and that he should fall, and propagate a race of sinful +creatures like himself, and that all the shocking consequences +should follow; that Cain should murder his brother; that the old +world should be immersed in sin and sensuality, and then be +drowned; and, though Noah was a preacher of righteousness a +hundred and twenty years, that none should believe and be saved; +likewise the arriving of the Sodomites to such an enormous pitch +of wickedness, was ordained; and that they should burn in lust, +working that which was unseemly, and perish by fire; also that +the Israelites should murmur, tempt God, commit fornication in +the wilderness, and their carcases should then fall; in like +manner, after they were settled in the promised land, that they +should fall in with the various abominations, such as burning +their children to Moloch, use enchantments, witchcrafts, and +every other abomination which we find them charged with. Then was +not the cruelty exercised by Pagans, or Papists, or Mahometans +all ordained?—also all the massacres, treacheries, plundering, +burning of towns and cities, dashing poor infants to pieces, or +starving them to death, ripping up their mothers, together with +all the rapes, murders, and sacrileges which have ever come or +shall come to pass? I say, this doctrine charges the blessed, the +merciful God with it all, by ordaining from all eternity +whatsoever shall come to pass in time. Here is no overstraining, +no forcing things; it is the unavoidable consequence, as much as +a man charging, pointing, and firing a cannon at any one or +number of men is the cause of their death. The powder, cannon, +and ball only do what the men appoint them to do. Reader, is not +this shocking? Does not thy blood chill at reading all this +blasphemy? I am sure mine does at writing. I know, great care is +taken to hide their monstrous visage; but as it is there, I am +determined to drag it out to light.</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="II">II.</a> This doctrine makes +the day of judgment past;—a heresy which very early found its way +into the church of God, and thereby overthrew the faith of some. +If God from all eternity ordained whatsoever shall come to pass +in time, then he ordained who should, and who should not, be +damned.</p> +<p class="pn">Now if there be anything in the day of judgment +analogous to what is transacted in courts of justice here, then +causes are to be tried by the law or word, and such as have +voluntarily committed crimes are to be punished accordingly, and +every cause is to have a fair hearing, Rev. xx. 12. But, +according to the scheme of absolute predestination, all is +settled and fixed already; then there is no judging of every man +“according to his works,” but according to what is before +ordained concerning him. So that the clay of judgment is a solemn +farce, or rather we may call it <span class="sc">the day of +execution</span>, seeing it is only to execute what was long ago +determined. What a ridiculous idea does this give us of the +proceedings of that great and awful day! Should the king summon a +number of cannons to take their trial in Westminster-Hall for +blowing down some city, which cannon had been fired by his secret +orders, would not every one who knew the affair both despise, and +in their judgment condemn, such a foolery? But how does judging +men for doing that which He has before determined they should do, +reflect upon the wisdom and goodness of the Almighty? It is said +of Nero, that he secretly ordered Rome to be set on fire, and +then laid the blame upon the Christians, and ordered them to be +persecuted for the same. But is it not horrid beyond conception +to represent the God of wisdom, mercy, and goodness, even worse +and more ridiculous than Nero? Such is the consequence of +absolute predestination.</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="III">III.</a> It contradicts the +plain word of God.—To quote all the texts of Scripture which it +contradicts, would quite swell this little performance too large. +A few, however, shall be selected. “The Lord is good to all; and +his tender mercies are over all his works,” Psalm cxlv. 9. “As I +live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the +wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, +turn ye from your evil ways: For why will ye die, O house of +Israel?” Ezek. xxxiii. 11.</p> +<p class="pns">These two testimonies from the Old Testament cut +off all absolute predestination at a stroke. If God is good to +all, or if he is loving to every man, how can this consist with +his</p> +<div style="font-size:11pt"> +<p class="p1">“Consigning their unborn souls to hell,</p> +<p class="p1s">Or damning them from their mother’s womb?”</p> +</div> +<p class="pnn">If his tender mercies are over all his works, how +can this consist with fore-ordaining that the greatest part of +mankind should sin and be damned for ever? Now, what loving +tender heart can take any satisfaction in any such broad +blasphemies?</p> +<p class="pn">Again: if God takes no pleasure in the death of a +sinner, certainly he affords him proper means of living; but that +he takes no pleasure in the death of such, we have not only his +word, but his oath for it; and, as he could swear by no greater, +he has sworn by himself. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have +no pleasure in the death of the wicked,” &c. Now, must he not +have a large stock of impudence who can give the God of truth +here the lie? What kind of brass must his brow be cased with? For +me to see a poor creature hanging over a dreadful fiery furnace, +and have it in my power to help him with a word, and will not +help him, nay, order him secretly to be pushed in, and yet stand, +and in the most solemn manner cry, “As I live, I have no pleasure +in your death;” yea, passionately cry out, “Why will ye die? turn +ye, turn ye;”—now I say, where would be my sincerity all the +time? When I have pushed the contenders for reprobation in this +manner, the cry has been, “O, that is your carnal, human reason!” +Indeed I think the other is devilish, inhuman reason.</p> +<p class="pn">I shall now select a few witnesses from the New +Testament. Hear the lip of truth expostulating with the unhappy +Jerusalem, a little before it suffered: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, +which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto +thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a +hen gathereth her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” Luke +xiii. 34. “Of a truth I perceive, that God is no respecter of +persons; but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh +righteousness, is accepted with him,” Acts x. 34, 35. “For God +hath concluded <span class="sc">them all</span> in unbelief that +he might have mercy upon <span class="sc">all</span>,” Rom. xi. +32. “Who will have <span class="sc">all men to be saved</span>, +and come unto the knowledge of the truth,” 1 Tim. ii. 4. “Who +gave himself a ransom for <span class="sc">all</span>, to be +testified in due time,” 1 Tim. ii. 6. “For the grace of God, that +bringeth salvation, bath appeared to <span class="sc">all +men</span>,” Titus ii. 11. “He, by the grace of God, should taste +death for <span class="sc">every man</span>,” Heb. ii. 9.</p> +<p class="pn">I shall multiply no more quotations; these are +sufficient. Only I would ask, Is there any meaning in language? +Or are words intended to convey any fixed and determined meaning? +If that is the case, then absolute predestination manifestly +contradicts the plain testimony of Scripture, and therefore must +spring from the father of lies; and, as such, is to be +abhorred.</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="IV">IV.</a> It has a tendency to +render all means useless.—I know it is asserted, that He who has +ordained the end, has appointed the means thereunto: And this +observation, understood rightly, is a great truth. But has God so +ordained, that there is no liberty left for free agency? Has he +appointed that one must be a preacher, and another a curser and +swearer? that one must give his goods to feed the poor, and +another must steal and plunder, and so live upon spoil and +rapine? Or has the Lord given a power to every man either to +choose or refuse? This is what the Bible maintains, or otherwise +the many exhortations, reproofs, expostulations, and threatenings +are in vain. Now we are exhorted to pray: “To pray! for what?” +Such things as we are sensible we stand in need of. Yea, and it +is said, “Ye have not:” “And why had they not? Was it because God +had decreed to give them nothing?” No such thing; they have not, +because they did not ask. For if God had decreed to give them +nothing, then they had not been to blame; but they are charged +with neglect in not asking, and that is assigned as the reason of +their not receiving. This is perfectly consistent with what our +Lord has said, “Ask, and it shall be given; seek, and ye shall +find; knock, and it shall be opened.” Well, but all this asking, +knocking, seeking, is all lost labour, if there be any such +decree as is mentioned above. For can all this praying, and +asking, and seeking, alter what is irreversibly decreed to be +done? Indeed this borders upon deism; for the deists argue, “Do +you think that praying will make God change his mind?” Now if we +believe the Bible, we must ask God to give us the blessings we +stand in need of, and cannot warrantably expect to receive +without asking. The same holds good with regard to family prayer. +I ask eternal life for my wife, children, or friends. How vain is +all my labour! For if God has decreed to give them eternal life, +they shall have it in the way, time, place, and manner it is +decreed for them, whether I pray or not. And if God has not +decreed to give it unto them, all my praying can never change the +decree.</p> +<p class="pn">I find a love to poor perishing sinners in some +town or village, and I go to persuade them to be reconciled to +God: Many of them use me ill, not only with reviling language, +but even with sticks, or stones, or clods, or rotten eggs. Why, +what a fool was I to expose myself on any such account! If they +are decreed to be saved, they shall be saved; or lost, they shall +be lost: So that my suffering and preaching are entirely in +vain.—See that pert young man, he has just left his loom or his +plough, and he is going to hammer at a bit of Latin; by and by, +he becomes a mighty smatterer: With his little sense, little +grace, and next to no learning, he harangues famously about a +decree and a covenant, and puffs and parades, and shouts out +amain, “O the sweetness of God’s electing love!” Having by this +time acquired a pretty good stock of assurance, he looks out for +a shop, that is, in the quaint phrase, “he waits for a call;” by +and by the desired object appears, the bargain is struck, and the +stipend is settled, and now we have our pert youngster a Reverend +Sir!—“Well, but what is he to do?” Why, we should think, call +sinners to repentance, and comfort mourners, and establish +believers, and help their faith. But, alas! this is all in vain. +This Reverend Sir might as well have stayed at his loom or +plough, as take the poor people’s money for watching over their +souls, when all from first to last was settled by an unalterable +decree.</p> +<p class="pn">Such is the consistency of predestinarian teachers. +Poor simple souls, who are thus led, do not you see that if such +a decree is gone forth, you are supporting an idle man in +vain?<sup><a href="#r1" name="f1" title=" see footnote ">1</a></sup> +—What end is preaching to answer? Let him lecture +with ever such state and assurance, if the time, the place, the +manner be all fixed: I say he is an ignorant, lazy drone, who is +picking his poor people’s pockets; but, perhaps, it was decreed +that it should be so.<sup><a href="#r2" name="f2" title= +" see footnote ">2</a></sup></p> +<p class="pn"><a name="V">V.</a> It makes promises and +threatenings useless.—I apprehend promises are intended to +encourage the fainthearted, and such as are ready to be +discouraged in their way; and the Lord who has made them, no +doubt, designs to fulfil the same. They are not mere baubles, but +the firm and never-failing words of God. Yet they are +conditional. I know no promise made to us, in the way of +experience, but there is a condition either expressed or implied. +The only promises which can in any measure be said to be +unconditional, are such as respect Christ’s coming into the +world, the pouring out of the Spirit, or the preaching of the +Gospel. But as for such as respect the forgiveness of sins, +consolation, sanctification, or glorification, they are all +conditional, and, as such, are intended to encourage all who are +travelling to Mount Zion.</p> +<p class="pn">So with regard to the threatenings; they are +intended to warn the unruly, and put a check upon the +disobedient; so that no sinner may rush upon his own damnation, +without being duly apprised of the same. “And why is he apprised? +Barely to torment him before the time?” No, verily; but, like the +citizen’s hearing the sound of the trumpet, that he may take the +warning, and escape the danger. But if there is an irrevocable +decree, if all things are so ordered and fixed from eternity, +then are the threatenings mere scare-crows; they can answer no +valuable end at all, and might as well be given to stocks and +stones as to human beings, if they have no power to take the +awful warning. And does not this make the word of God of none +effect? Certainly; if promises have no power to allure and +encourage, that is, if the human race are not to be moved by +them, and if their power of obeying is wholly taken from them, it +is in vain for God to call out, “How long, ye simple ones, will +you love simplicity? Turn ye at my reproof. Unto you, O men, I +call! and my voice is unto the sons of men.” It is in vain for +him to say, “Come, let us reason together; though your sins be +like scarlet, they shall be white as wool: And though they be red +like crimson, they shall be as snow. Come, let us reason +together!” “Reason! with what?” Brutes, nay stocks and stones! +How absurd! Would a wise man make such a proposal? How does this +inconsistent scheme reflect upon the infinitely wise and gracious +God? Shall vain man throw such an odium upon his Maker? God +forbid! But such an odium does this decree throw upon unerring +wisdom; and all the quibbles in the world cannot clear it of the +same. Again: let God speak like thunder, “The wicked shall be +turned into hell, and all the people that forget God!” yet if the +sinner is incapable of taking the warning, what empty bombast +does it make of the awful threatening! But let God be true, and +every man a liar who can cast such vile reflections upon his +righteous proceedings.</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="VI">VI.</a> It is contrary to +every attribute in the Deity.—Now his justice is the severest +attribute of the blessed God; that is manifest when its sword +awaked against the Man who was his fellow, when the great +Mediator bled for human crimes. Yet even this attribute must be +consistent with mercy and goodness; nay, the very term itself +implies there is no wrong in it. But how can we clear the justice +of God, if he has ordained that man shall sin; nay, is made for +that very end, and then to be damned for it? There is nothing +equal to this in the whole compass of history. That which bears +the nearest resemblance is the well-known instance of Tiberius; +when determined to destroy a noble family root and branch, +finding a young virgin who could not, by the Roman laws, be put +to death, he ordered the hangman to ravish the poor innocent, +young and helpless creature, and then to strangle her. Such a +horrid picture do these low advocates draw of the justice of the +Supreme Being!—And what shall we say of his love? Nay, hear what +David said of it, namely, that “He is good to all, and his tender +mercies are over all his works.” Hear what the lip of truth +himself hath said, “God so loved the world, that he gave his +only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not +perish, but have everlasting life.” “God so loved the world;” +“that is,” say they, the “elect world.” And what proof do they +bring for such an interpretation? None; nay, that is a +circumstance which is often forgotten. But we need go no farther +than the text itself, to confute that rugged interpretation; only +let the grammatical sense of the words be attended unto,—“God so +loved the <i>elect</i> world, that whosoever of the <i>elect</i> +world believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” +Then what is become of the elect world which do not believe in +him? According to this scheme, there are some of the elect world +which will not believe in him, and so perish. See what +consequences follow such absurdities! St. John says, “Behold what +manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should +be called the sons of God.” But the poor reprobates may argue, +“Behold what manner of hate and destruction the Father hath +bestowed upon us, that we should thus by his decree be called +reprobates, children of darkness, enemies to God, strangers to +the commonwealth of Israel, and enemies to the cross of +Christ.”</p> +<p class="pn">And what can we say, upon such principles, for the +pity of Him whose bowels melt with tenderness? Who are the +objects of his pity? Are not poor miserable objects, who are +plunged into a hopeless, helpless situation through the fall, and +become offenders through the original transgression? The doctrine +under consideration is so far from representing any pity to such +unavoidable objects, that it really represents God, of his own +sovereign good-will and pleasure, bringing them into that +deplorable situation, and then leaving them to perish without +remedy, and taking a horrid pleasure in their everlasting +destruction. O thou pitiful anti compassionate Lord God, what a +picture of vindictive cruelty does this sad doctrine exhibit of +thy tenderness and pity to poor sinners!</p> +<p class="pn">And what plea is there for the goodness of God, +upon the same gloomy doctrine? I can see none. Now goodness does +not seem to be so much any one attribute, as a blessed assemblage +of them all put together. It seems a collection of all the +glorious and blessed qualities in the adorable Deity, shining out +in countless rays on every side; an image of which is the sun +which shines on the evil and good, and the innumerable drops of +rain which fall on the just and the unjust.</p> +<p class="pn">Some have asked me, “Do you not think that God +might have justly passed you by, and left you without his grace +or help at all?” I answered, No; I think he could not have done +any such thing. That I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin +conceived, I allow; its woeful effects I feel to this day. But +then that was not my fault. I could not help it; and certain I +am, that God never demands the taking up of that which he never +laid down, or reaping where he has not sown. That I have, times +without number, rejected that grace which brings salvation to +all, and abused it again and again, I do with shame and confusion +acknowledge; and that he might have taken away the abused +talents, and, from my so frequently turning a deaf ear to his +loving voice, have sworn I should not enter into his rest, is a +truth which I feelingly confess. But that he could or would leave +me a slave to everlasting misery on account of my original +depravity, I utterly deny.</p> +<p class="pn">Where shall we find the mercy of God, according to +this merciless doctrine? It is said that “mercy is his darling +attribute, and that judgment is his strange work.” But according +to this scheme, we must reverse this sentence, and say that +“<i>judgment</i>, or rather everlasting destruction, is his +darling attribute; and that mercy is his strange work.” It is +said, that “his tender mercies are over all his works.” This must +mean over such as have sinned; for such as have not sinned, do +not stand in need of mercy. But this narrow limited doctrine does +not make his mercy extend to a tenth part of his works. If I see +a multitude of poor wretches hanging over a dreadful fiery +furnace, and can extend my help to them all as easily as to one, +but will not, this speaks but little for my mercy; and as little +does this doctrine speak for the unbounded mercy of +God.<sup><a href="#r3" name="f3" title=" see footnote ">3</a></sup></p> +<p class="pn"><a name="VII">VII.</a> It contradicts +common sense.—There is something of a light in the breast of +every one, which the Author of our being has planted, and which +we call “the understanding.” By this we are enabled to see things +in common life which are consistent or inconsistent; so even in +religious matters there may be asserted some things so shockingly +inconsistent as may affront even what we call common sense, and +perhaps may be a stumbling-block in the way of many. Should the +legislative power of England give out laws or acts of parliament +to be obeyed, and rewards promised to the obedient, and +punishments denounced to the disobedient; but at the same time, +by some secret springs of management, should so order it, that a +certain number should be constrained to obey, in some particular +time, called a day of power; and the remaining part should be +under an unavoidable necessity of disobeying, either by being +constrained to disobedience, or for want of that ability to obey +which the government could only give, but it was denied them: now +must it not shock all common sense, and all degrees of truth and +justice, to find these poor impotent wretches brought to the +stake to be burnt alive, because they could not do +impossibilities? And does not every one see the case is parallel, +when the great Judge shalt pass the sentence of condemnation at +the last day, “Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire?”—“Why, what +for? Because I have decreed it shall be so?” No: “I was hungry, +but ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, but ye gave me no drink.” +We do not find them objecting any such decree being made against +them; if there had, how could they have been furnished with a +better plea? They might have said, “Lord, thou knowest we could +not reverse thy decree, nor avoid our impending doom. Didst thou +not ordain that we should just do as we have done, seeing thou +hast fore-ordained from eternity whatsoever should come to pass +in time? So that we have just fulfilled thy counsel, and done all +thy pleasure.” Here it seems pretty plain that such a scheme must +fill the prisoner’s mouth with undeniable arguments, while the +judge has his mouth stopped. How horrid the bare thought +appeared, in so much as it shocks me to make the supposition! And +yet it is no more than what this uncouth system inevitably holds +forth; it is the plain undeniable consequence. Let them shift it +off that can; and if they cannot, let them renounce so +unscriptural, so absurd a scheme, which fathers such broad +blasphemies upon the Father of mercies, and the God of truth.</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="VIII">VIII.</a> It has a +tendency to licentiousness.<sup><a href="#r4" name="f4" title= +" see footnote ">4</a></sup>—It is well known that the +human heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately +wicked; that it is prone to every vice, and is glad to catch at +anything to keep itself in countenance. But can anything be +better calculated to cause a poor fallen creature to sing to his +lusts, and sound a requiem to his sensual soul, than a doctrine +which informs him, that “all things are ordained from eternity,” +and he must sit still, and, if he is a chosen vessel, he will +some time or another be called upon; and, if otherwise, all his +striving or seeking will avail nothing at all. Besides, if he +feels propensities to any sensual appetites, like a true +free-thinker, he may say, “What are these passions or appetites +for, but that I may gratify them? Or, why should I endeavour to +deny myself, seeing I cannot alter what God has decreed? I may +eat, drink, dance, sing, swear, live in uncleanness, just as my +inclinations lead me. To stem the torrent is in vain, seeing it +is fixed, unalterably fixed, nor is it in my power to reverse the +same.” Nor do there want instances in history of such as have +died under the grossest delusions, affirming, if they were +deceived, it was God who had deceived them. All the calls to +repentance, all the invitations to Christ, all the exhortations +to holiness, self-denial, and mortification, plainly imply a +capacity to prevent them in the parties addressed, or their +labour is absurd; but absolute predestination supposes no such +thing, any more than if the stones in the street were exhorted to +arise and run, or the sign-posts were exhorted to take up arms +and defend the city.</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="IX">IX.</a> It makes the God of +all grace and goodness worse than the devil.—One of the names +given to satan is A<span class="sc">pollyon</span>, that is, “a +destroyer;” but then he is not destroying his own work, he is +seeking to destroy the works of God, whose daring enemy he is, +and thereby acts consistently with himself. But this gloomy +scheme represents God bringing innumerable beings into existence, +not barely to destroy them, but to torment them for ever. Can +anything be greater blasphemy? But be it what it will, it is the +natural consequence of all things being ordained from eternity, +which are to come to pass in time. What a dismal picture of the +blessed God! When I have read of some of the Popish massacres, I +have been much shocked, and my very blood has run chill; much +more so, when I have read of some religious rites of the +heathens; such as their offering the captives, who were taken in +war, sacrifices to their devil-gods, nay, even their own children +that have been offered up in the flames; I have found it raise an +unspeakable indignation against both them and their religion. And +what idea must a person have of that God who has made on purpose +millions of rationals to fulfil his decree here, censuring and +frowning for ever over them, while they are tormented with +endless flames, for just doing what he has ordained them to do? +Lord, how is thy name blasphemed by doctrines so contrary to thy +goodness, pity, and love?</p> +<p class="pn"><a name="X">X.</a> Lastly. If the +unconditional decree be a true doctrine, then there is no such +thing as sin in the world.—Everything is just going on as he +would have it to be; all are acting in the department of life +which is appointed. Therefore go on, ye jolly drunkards, and +jovial song-singers; proceed, ye numerous tribes of profane +swearers and sabbath-breakers; curse on, ye horrid blasphemers +and swarms of liars; ye murderers, plunderers, unclean +profligates,—ye are all doing the will of God, answering the +great ends for which you were made. What avails all the noise the +preacher makes about the wicked being turned into hell, and all +the nations which forget God? Let him cry out, till his face is +black, “Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways.” If ye be ordained +to turn, ye shall turn; if not, all his zeal will avail no more +than a tinkling cymbal. Therefore, he that is praying, and he +that is preaching; he that is speaking the truth, and he that is +lying; he that is labouring honestly, and he that is stealing; he +that is chaste, and he that is impure; he that is over-reaching, +and he that deals honestly; he that sings the songs of Zion, and +he that sings the songs of satan; in a word, he that is +converted, and he that is unconverted; he that is a believer, and +he that is an unbeliever; are all doing the will of God, which +none can acid to, and none can take from; but all things are just +in the state and condition which God has appointed, and all are +just doing what his will is, and then there is no such thing as +sin in the world.</p> +<p class="pn">I should now have finished this small affair, only +two or three objections, which have sometimes been made against +Universal Redemption, may justly and with very great propriety be +retorted upon the objectors.</p> +<p class="pn">First. “To assert that Christ died for every man, +or, what is the very same thing, that all men may be saved if +they will, is mere heathenism.”</p> +<p class="pn">A<span class="sc">nswer</span>. Whether it be +heathenism or not, I am certain that absolute predestination is. +For it is well known that the stoics were a very extensive sect +among the heathens, and it is equally known that they held an +absolute fatality, that is, absolute predestination. They even +made Jupiter, their supreme deity, subject to the fates; and even +that “father of gods and men,” as they termed him, could not +reverse what the fates had decreed to be done. Their fates +determined what kingdoms should rise, and what should fall; what +heroes should conquer, and what should be conquered. This +doctrine runs throughout the poem of Homer called the Iliad; so +that he makes the fates determine the ends of his two chief +heroes, Hector and Achilles. And though the former was knocked +down several times in the different engagements and dangerously +wounded, yet as the fates had decreed that he should fall by the +hand of Achilles, he is rescued from destruction by a deity, +because the time of his death was not yet arrived. So that +whether our asserting that “all may be saved, if it is not their +own fault,” be heathenism, it is certain that unconditional +predestination is; and if that proves the untruth of it, then are +their absolute decrees untrue.</p> +<p class="pn">Secondly. They say that “our doctrine is +Popery.”</p> +<p class="pn">This has as frightful an aspect as the other, and +perhaps more so; as many think there is less danger of their +turning Heathens, than their turning Papists. But be not +frightened at nothing; perhaps the tables again may be turned +upon the objectors. Whether Christ’s tasting death for every man +be Popery or not, I am sure absolute predestination is; and it +argues, that they who start that objection are ignorant of the +tenets of the Papists. It is well known, that that large +fraternity among the Papists called Dominicans, were all rigid +predestinarians, as well as those called Jansenists. And I very +much question if Calvin himself did not spring from the former +stock; and, when he came from the church of Rome, brought that +branch of Popery along with him, by which means the leaven spread +among many of the Protestants. It would shock any mind which is +not quite intoxicated with the absolute decrees, to read what +some writers of the above-mentioned classes have said concerning +God fore-ordaining sin and misery, and how much he is pleased +with the same, nay, how he is glorified thereby, far more than by +holiness. From hence it is very evident, that absolute +predestination is downright Popery.</p> +<p class="pn">Again: the Mahometans are rigid predestinarians;—a +doctrine which suits that cruel disposition for which they are so +remarkable; the same leaven which spreads among the +predestinarians among those which are called Christians. The same +vindictive, sour spirit we find in Calvin; witness his conduct +towards Servetus, who was by his means burned to death. The same +savage turn we see in Knox. Let any one read the proceedings of +the infamous Synod of Dort. Could any Popish tribunal be more +boisterous or arbitrary? How were the poor Remonstrants dragooned +from place to place! It seemed as if that time was come, when no +man should buy or sell who had not the mark of the beast of +predestination either in his forehead or in his right hand; that +is, either public or private. Let any one read the book called +the “Cloud of Witnesses.” Did they die like true martyrs, calling +for mercy upon their persecutors? No; the book is full of very +dreadful execrations and horrible anathemas, pronounced with +their dying breath. Does the spirit of Jesus breathe out +threatening and slaughter in such a manner, so as to bind eternal +vengeance upon any one? Let any one consult the spirit of the +Seceders and Sandemonians, and they will see the same genuine +Mahometan spirit, which is as contrary to that doctrine which +says, “Let all bitterness, and malice, and anger be put away from +you,” as darkness is to light. Certain it is, that love worketh +no ill to any one; nay, it thinketh no evil; it is the end of the +commandment out of a pure heart.</p> +<p class="pn">Reader, weigh these things attentively; consult the +Scriptures, comparing Scripture with Scripture; and consider the +nature of that Deity whose essential character is L<span class= +"sc">ove</span>.</p> +<div style="text-align:center"> +<p style="font-size:9pt;margin-top:6em; margin-bottom:6.5em;">THE +END.</p> +<hr style="width:25%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"> +<p style="font-size:9pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:10em;">James +Nichols, Printer, Leeds.</p> +<hr style="margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:3em"> +<p style="font-size:15pt;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:7em;"> +<a name="Footnotes"></a></p> +<p style= +"font-size:18pt;text-align:center;margin-top:5em; margin-bottom:2em;"> +Footnotes</p> +</div> +<p class="pns"><sup><a href="#f1" name="r1">1</a></sup> + “I presume, nothing is intended here against any humble, pious, +good man.” E<span class="sc">d</span>.</p> +<p class="pns"><sup><a href="#f2" name="r2">2</a></sup> + It is easy to observe, that the above entirely refers to the +predestinarians of the Dissenting party; whatever may be said of +them, it must be acknowledged, they act a far more honest and +ingenuous part than the predestinarians who are Ministers of the +established Church. As Dissenting Ministers are maintained by the +voluntary contributions of their hearers, their hearers are at +liberty to withdraw their assistance; but then Ministers, who +obtain parishes and lectureships, &c., yet being +predestinarians, are preying upon the emoluments of the Church, +and are real Dissenters within her own walls. But perhaps a half +sheet may take a little farther notice of them shortly.</p> +<p class="pn"><sup><a href="#f3" name="r3">3</a></sup> + It is not the design of this small dissertation to prove what is +asserted at large, or answer the objections which have been made +against God’s being loving to every man, or to explain the +Scriptures which Calvinists bring in to defend their tenets. No, +my design is only to present the reader, who has no better way of +knowing, with a few of the principal features of Calvinism. But I +wish to recommend “John Goodwin’s Redemption Redeemed;” or “Mr. +Sellon’s answer to Cole,” or his “Arguments against General +Redemption Considered.” Who or what this Sellon is, I know not, +except from his writings, having never to my knowledge seen the +gentleman in my life; but by his writings I find that he is an +honest, consistent Minister of the establishment; and that he is +a sensible man, and a scholar, one who has well studied the +original Scriptures, and the nature of the controversy. Likewise +I beg leave to recommend what entirely satisfied me on this head, +“Mr. Wesley’s Predestination Calmly Considered.” That, and his +Sermon on Free Grace, I wish every reader duly to consider.</p> +<p class="pns">“Mr. Sellon’s works have lately been published in +2 vols. 8vo. price 16s. by Blanshard, London.” E<span class= +"sc">d</span>.</p> +<p class="pns"><sup><a href="#f4" name="r4">4</a></sup> + “Of this tendency we have but too many lamentable proofs.” + E<span class="sc">d</span>.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns +of Calvinism, by Thomas Taylor + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLEMN CAUTION--CALVINISM *** + +***** This file should be named 28172-h.htm or 28172-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/1/7/28172/ + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/28172.txt b/28172.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a5de6a --- /dev/null +++ b/28172.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1119 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns of +Calvinism, by Thomas Taylor + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns of Calvinism + +Author: Thomas Taylor + +Release Date: February 24, 2009 [EBook #28172] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLEMN CAUTION--CALVINISM *** + + + + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + + + + +A + +SOLEMN CAUTION + +AGAINST THE + +TEN HORNS OF CALVINISM. + + +BY PHILALETHES, + +LATELY ESCAPED. + + +FOURTH EDITION, CORRECTED. + + +And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rise up out +of the sea, having seven heads and Ten Horns. Rev. xiii. 1. + + +LEEDS: + +PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, 36, BRIGGATE, AND SOLD BY OTHER +BOOKSELLERS. + +1819. + + + + +TO + +THE REV. JOHN WESLEY. + + +Reverend Sir, + +THE author of the following strictures hopes your candour will +pardon his addressing you in this public manner. Who he is, or what +he is, signifies very little; only he begs leave to intimate, that +he hopes he is a follower of that Saviour who "gave himself a ransom +for all." He was convinced when young in years, in a great measure, +by reading "Alleine's Alarm;" and the Calvinists being the only +professing people near him, he soon got acquainted with them, and +was, for some time, in their connexion. Being young in years, +experience, and knowledge, he saw with their eyes, and heard with +their ears; yet not without many scruples concerning the truth of +several of their tenets. Sometimes he proposed his doubts, yet +seldom had much satisfaction; but rather was a little brow-beaten +for being muddy-headed. He often paused, and pondered, and read, and +rubbed his head, and wondered what he ailed. Cole on "God's +Sovereignty" was put into his hands to clear his dull head, and make +him quite orthodox; but still he could not see how God could be just +in condemning men for exactly doing what he had decreed them to do. +After many conflicts, your little piece, entitled, "Predestination +Calmly Considered" fell into his hands; he read it over with that +attention which both the doctrine and performance deserve; and never +had a doubt, from that day to this, that God is loving to every man. +You will, dear sir, excuse the liberty which he has taken in +recommending that little useful piece, as well as some others, which +are published in your catalogue. But, perhaps, you will say, "Who +hath required this performance at your hands? Are there not already +better books written upon the subject than yours?" He answers, Yes; +there are books much better written: They are really written too +well for the generality of readers. He wanted to adapt something to +the genius and pockets of the people. The generality of such as +profess religion are poor, and have little time, little capacity, +little money. If they read and understand this, perhaps they may be +capable of relishing something better. However, the writer throws in +his mite, and hopes it will be acceptable. In the meantime may you, +who have much to cast into the divine treasury, go on and abound +until you finish your course with joy. I am, Reverend Sir, your +obedient and humble servant, + +THE AUTHOR. + +_December_ 5_th_, 1779. + + + + +A + +SOLEMN CAUTION, + +_&c._ + + +When the forerunner of our blessed Lord came preaching his +dispensation among men, it is said, "the same came for a witness, to +bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. +He was not the light, but was sent to bear witness of the light. +That was the true light which lighteth every man which cometh into +the world." It is farther added, "this is the condemnation, that +light is come into the world, but men love darkness rather than +light." + +One would think such express testimonies were sufficient to convince +any man who attentively considers what is here spoken, and who spake +these words, "that Christ tasted death for every man;" and that he +"would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the +truth." Yet it is well known, men have found the art of torturing +these and many other scriptures to death, so as to leave neither +life nor meaning in them. For many years I did not see the bad +tendency which unconditional predestination has; for though I was +convinced that it was not a scriptural doctrine, yet knowing some +who held it to be gracious souls, I was ready to conclude that all +or the greater part were thus happily inconsistent, and so, contrary +to the genius and tendency of their doctrine, were perfecting +holiness in the fear of the Lord. But latter years have convinced me +to the contrary; and though many are either afraid or ashamed to +hold it forth in its full extent, and have kept its chief features +out of sight, yet it is still like that second beast which is +mentioned in the Revelation,--its horns are like a lamb; but attend +closely to it, and it speaks like the true dragon, and with its ten +horns is pushing at the saints of the Most High; and, I fear, has +cast down many, and is still pushing every way to the great danger +of many more. Many who were simply going on their way, rejoicing in +a crucified Saviour, denying themselves, and taking up their cross, +--no sooner has this beast obstructed their way, but they have +unwarily been seduced from the path of life. Having now their eyes +opened, they are become wise in their own conceits, and are no +longer the same simple, patient followers of the Lamb; but soon +become positive, self-conceited, and gradually fall back into the +world again. + +It is true, many excellent checks have been given to this growing +plague; several of which are mentioned in the subsequent part of +this little performance: Yet they are really too well written, and +too large, for the generality of readers. Such arguments as Mr. +Toplady and Mr. Hill have made use of, that is, being pretty liberal +in calling foul names, are far more taking than rational scriptural +reasoning. I could not prevail upon myself to stoop so low; truth +does not require it. Yet a few plain strictures, just giving a +concise view of some of the principal features of this beast, is +what is pretended to here. I think I shall avoid all railing +accusations, all personal abuse; there being something so low and +mean in scurrility, that it can never help the cause of pure and +undefiled religion. The following positions, concerning absolute +predestination, I hope to make appear. + +The sum of Calvinism is contained in that article in "the Assembly's +Catechism," viz., "that God, from all eternity, hath ordained +whatsoever comes to pass in time." From hence naturally follow the +ensuing ten blasphemous absurdities:-- + +I. If it is so, that, God has from all eternity ordained whatsoever +comes to pass in time; then it is certain, nothing can come to pass +but what he hath ordained or appointed.--But, we are sensible, the +most shocking things have come to pass; such is the rebellion and +fall of the angels, who kept not their stations, but are become the +enemies of God and man, and seeking to do all the mischief they can +in the world. But if God has, by an express decree, ordained +whatsoever shall come to pass, he has ordained that these angels +should sin, and fall, and become devils; they could not help it; and +all the mischief they do in the world is but fulfilling the divine +decree. Likewise it was ordained, that they should seduce man, and +that he should fall, and propagate a race of sinful creatures like +himself, and that all the shocking consequences should follow; that +Cain should murder his brother; that the old world should be +immersed in sin and sensuality, and then be drowned; and, though +Noah was a preacher of righteousness a hundred and twenty years, +that none should believe and be saved; likewise the arriving of the +Sodomites to such an enormous pitch of wickedness, was ordained; and +that they should burn in lust, working that which was unseemly, and +perish by fire; also that the Israelites should murmur, tempt God, +commit fornication in the wilderness, and their carcases should then +fall; in like manner, after they were settled in the promised land, +that they should fall in with the various abominations, such as +burning their children to Moloch, use enchantments, witchcrafts, and +every other abomination which we find them charged with. Then was +not the cruelty exercised by Pagans, or Papists, or Mahometans all +ordained?--also all the massacres, treacheries, plundering, burning +of towns and cities, dashing poor infants to pieces, or starving +them to death, ripping up their mothers, together with all the +rapes, murders, and sacrileges which have ever come or shall come to +pass? I say, this doctrine charges the blessed, the merciful God +with it all, by ordaining from all eternity whatsoever shall come to +pass in time. Here is no overstraining, no forcing things; it is the +unavoidable consequence, as much as a man charging, pointing, and +firing a cannon at any one or number of men is the cause of their +death. The powder, cannon, and ball only do what the men appoint +them to do. Reader, is not this shocking? Does not thy blood chill +at reading all this blasphemy? I am sure mine does at writing. I +know, great care is taken to hide their monstrous visage; but as it +is there, I am determined to drag it out to light. + +II. This doctrine makes the day of judgment past;--a heresy which +very early found its way into the church of God, and thereby +overthrew the faith of some. If God from all eternity ordained +whatsoever shall come to pass in time, then he ordained who should, +and who should not, be damned. + +Now if there be anything in the day of judgment analogous to what is +transacted in courts of justice here, then causes are to be tried by +the law or word, and such as have voluntarily committed crimes are +to be punished accordingly, and every cause is to have a fair +hearing, Rev. xx. 12. But, according to the scheme of absolute +predestination, all is settled and fixed already; then there is no +judging of every man "according to his works," but according to what +is before ordained concerning him. So that the clay of judgment is a +solemn farce, or rather we may call it the day of execution, seeing +it is only to execute what was long ago determined. What a +ridiculous idea does this give us of the proceedings of that great +and awful day! Should the king summon a number of cannons to take +their trial in Westminster-Hall for blowing down some city, which +cannon had been fired by his secret orders, would not every one who +knew the affair both despise, and in their judgment condemn, such a +foolery? But how does judging men for doing that which He has before +determined they should do, reflect upon the wisdom and goodness of +the Almighty? It is said of Nero, that he secretly ordered Rome to +be set on fire, and then laid the blame upon the Christians, and +ordered them to be persecuted for the same. But is it not horrid +beyond conception to represent the God of wisdom, mercy, and +goodness, even worse and more ridiculous than Nero? Such is the +consequence of absolute predestination. + +III. It contradicts the plain word of God.--To quote all the texts +of Scripture which it contradicts, would quite swell this little +performance too large. A few, however, shall be selected. "The Lord +is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works," +Psalm cxlv. 9. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in +the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and +live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: For why will ye die, O +house of Israel?" Ezek. xxxiii. 11. + +These two testimonies from the Old Testament cut off all absolute +predestination at a stroke. If God is good to all, or if he is +loving to every man, how can this consist with his + + "Consigning their unborn souls to hell, + Or damning them from their mother's womb?" + +If his tender mercies are over all his works, how can this consist +with fore-ordaining that the greatest part of mankind should sin and +be damned for ever? Now, what loving tender heart can take any +satisfaction in any such broad blasphemies? + +Again: if God takes no pleasure in the death of a sinner, certainly +he affords him proper means of living; but that he takes no pleasure +in the death of such, we have not only his word, but his oath for +it; and, as he could swear by no greater, he has sworn by himself. +"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of +the wicked," &c. Now, must he not have a large stock of impudence +who can give the God of truth here the lie? What kind of brass must +his brow be cased with? For me to see a poor creature hanging over a +dreadful fiery furnace, and have it in my power to help him with a +word, and will not help him, nay, order him secretly to be pushed +in, and yet stand, and in the most solemn manner cry, "As I live, I +have no pleasure in your death;" yea, passionately cry out, "Why +will ye die? turn ye, turn ye;"--now I say, where would be my +sincerity all the time? When I have pushed the contenders for +reprobation in this manner, the cry has been, "O, that is your +carnal, human reason!" Indeed I think the other is devilish, inhuman +reason. + +I shall now select a few witnesses from the New Testament. Hear the +lip of truth expostulating with the unhappy Jerusalem, a little +before it suffered: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the +prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would +I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her brood +under her wings, and ye would not!" Luke xiii. 34. "Of a truth I +perceive, that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation, +he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with +him," Acts x. 34, 35. "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief +that he might have mercy upon all," Rom. xi. 32. "Who will have all +men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth," 1 Tim. +ii. 4. "Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due +time," 1 Tim. ii. 6. "For the grace of God, that bringeth salvation, +bath appeared to all men," Titus ii. 11. "He, by the grace of God, +should taste death for every man," Heb. ii. 9. + +I shall multiply no more quotations; these are sufficient. Only I +would ask, Is there any meaning in language? Or are words intended +to convey any fixed and determined meaning? If that is the case, +then absolute predestination manifestly contradicts the plain +testimony of Scripture, and therefore must spring from the father of +lies; and, as such, is to be abhorred. + +IV. It has a tendency to render all means useless.--I know it is +asserted, that He who has ordained the end, has appointed the means +thereunto: And this observation, understood rightly, is a great +truth. But has God so ordained, that there is no liberty left for +free agency? Has he appointed that one must be a preacher, and +another a curser and swearer? that one must give his goods to feed +the poor, and another must steal and plunder, and so live upon spoil +and rapine? Or has the Lord given a power to every man either to +choose or refuse? This is what the Bible maintains, or otherwise the +many exhortations, reproofs, expostulations, and threatenings are in +vain. Now we are exhorted to pray: "To pray! for what?" Such things +as we are sensible we stand in need of. Yea, and it is said, "Ye +have not:" "And why had they not? Was it because God had decreed to +give them nothing?" No such thing; they have not, because they did +not ask. For if God had decreed to give them nothing, then they had +not been to blame; but they are charged with neglect in not asking, +and that is assigned as the reason of their not receiving. This is +perfectly consistent with what our Lord has said, "Ask, and it shall +be given; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened." +Well, but all this asking, knocking, seeking, is all lost labour, if +there be any such decree as is mentioned above. For can all this +praying, and asking, and seeking, alter what is irreversibly decreed +to be done? Indeed this borders upon deism; for the deists argue, +"Do you think that praying will make God change his mind?" Now if we +believe the Bible, we must ask God to give us the blessings we stand +in need of, and cannot warrantably expect to receive without asking. +The same holds good with regard to family prayer. I ask eternal life +for my wife, children, or friends. How vain is all my labour! For if +God has decreed to give them eternal life, they shall have it in the +way, time, place, and manner it is decreed for them, whether I pray +or not. And if God has not decreed to give it unto them, all my +praying can never change the decree. + +I find a love to poor perishing sinners in some town or village, and +I go to persuade them to be reconciled to God: Many of them use me +ill, not only with reviling language, but even with sticks, or +stones, or clods, or rotten eggs. Why, what a fool was I to expose +myself on any such account! If they are decreed to be saved, they +shall be saved; or lost, they shall be lost: So that my suffering +and preaching are entirely in vain.--See that pert young man, he has +just left his loom or his plough, and he is going to hammer at a bit +of Latin; by and by, he becomes a mighty smatterer: With his little +sense, little grace, and next to no learning, he harangues famously +about a decree and a covenant, and puffs and parades, and shouts out +amain, "O the sweetness of God's electing love!" Having by this time +acquired a pretty good stock of assurance, he looks out for a shop, +that is, in the quaint phrase, "he waits for a call;" by and by the +desired object appears, the bargain is struck, and the stipend is +settled, and now we have our pert youngster a Reverend Sir!--"Well, +but what is he to do?" Why, we should think, call sinners to +repentance, and comfort mourners, and establish believers, and help +their faith. But, alas! this is all in vain. This Reverend Sir might +as well have stayed at his loom or plough, as take the poor people's +money for watching over their souls, when all from first to last was +settled by an unalterable decree. + +Such is the consistency of predestinarian teachers. Poor simple +souls, who are thus led, do not you see that if such a decree is +gone forth, you are supporting an idle man in vain?[1]--What end is +preaching to answer? Let him lecture with ever such state and +assurance, if the time, the place, the manner be all fixed: I say he +is an ignorant, lazy drone, who is picking his poor people's +pockets; but, perhaps, it was decreed that it should be so.[2] + +V. It makes promises and threatenings useless.--I apprehend promises +are intended to encourage the fainthearted, and such as are ready to +be discouraged in their way; and the Lord who has made them, no +doubt, designs to fulfil the same. They are not mere baubles, but +the firm and never-failing words of God. Yet they are conditional. I +know no promise made to us, in the way of experience, but there is a +condition either expressed or implied. The only promises which can +in any measure be said to be unconditional, are such as respect +Christ's coming into the world, the pouring out of the Spirit, or +the preaching of the Gospel. But as for such as respect the +forgiveness of sins, consolation, sanctification, or glorification, +they are all conditional, and, as such, are intended to encourage +all who are travelling to Mount Zion. + +So with regard to the threatenings; they are intended to warn the +unruly, and put a check upon the disobedient; so that no sinner may +rush upon his own damnation, without being duly apprised of the +same. "And why is he apprised? Barely to torment him before the +time?" No, verily; but, like the citizen's hearing the sound of the +trumpet, that he may take the warning, and escape the danger. But if +there is an irrevocable decree, if all things are so ordered and +fixed from eternity, then are the threatenings mere scare-crows; +they can answer no valuable end at all, and might as well be given +to stocks and stones as to human beings, if they have no power to +take the awful warning. And does not this make the word of God of +none effect? Certainly; if promises have no power to allure and +encourage, that is, if the human race are not to be moved by them, +and if their power of obeying is wholly taken from them, it is in +vain for God to call out, "How long, ye simple ones, will you love +simplicity? Turn ye at my reproof. Unto you, O men, I call! and my +voice is unto the sons of men." It is in vain for him to say, "Come, +let us reason together; though your sins be like scarlet, they shall +be white as wool: And though they be red like crimson, they shall be +as snow. Come, let us reason together!" "Reason! with what?" Brutes, +nay stocks and stones! How absurd! Would a wise man make such a +proposal? How does this inconsistent scheme reflect upon the +infinitely wise and gracious God? Shall vain man throw such an odium +upon his Maker? God forbid! But such an odium does this decree throw +upon unerring wisdom; and all the quibbles in the world cannot clear +it of the same. Again: let God speak like thunder, "The wicked shall +be turned into hell, and all the people that forget God!" yet if the +sinner is incapable of taking the warning, what empty bombast does +it make of the awful threatening! But let God be true, and every man +a liar who can cast such vile reflections upon his righteous +proceedings. + +VI. It is contrary to every attribute in the Deity.--Now his justice +is the severest attribute of the blessed God; that is manifest when +its sword awaked against the Man who was his fellow, when the great +Mediator bled for human crimes. Yet even this attribute must be +consistent with mercy and goodness; nay, the very term itself +implies there is no wrong in it. But how can we clear the justice of +God, if he has ordained that man shall sin; nay, is made for that +very end, and then to be damned for it? There is nothing equal to +this in the whole compass of history. That which bears the nearest +resemblance is the well-known instance of Tiberius; when determined +to destroy a noble family root and branch, finding a young virgin +who could not, by the Roman laws, be put to death, he ordered the +hangman to ravish the poor innocent, young and helpless creature, +and then to strangle her. Such a horrid picture do these low +advocates draw of the justice of the Supreme Being!--And what shall +we say of his love? Nay, hear what David said of it, namely, that +"He is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." +Hear what the lip of truth himself hath said, "God so loved the +world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth +in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "God so loved +the world;" "that is," say they, the "elect world." And what proof +do they bring for such an interpretation? None; nay, that is a +circumstance which is often forgotten. But we need go no farther +than the text itself, to confute that rugged interpretation; only +let the grammatical sense of the words be attended unto,--"God so +loved the _elect_ world, that whosoever of the _elect_ world +believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Then +what is become of the elect world which do not believe in him? +According to this scheme, there are some of the elect world which +will not believe in him, and so perish. See what consequences follow +such absurdities! St. John says, "Behold what manner of love the +Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of +God." But the poor reprobates may argue, "Behold what manner of hate +and destruction the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should +thus by his decree be called reprobates, children of darkness, +enemies to God, strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, and enemies +to the cross of Christ." + +And what can we say, upon such principles, for the pity of Him whose +bowels melt with tenderness? Who are the objects of his pity? Are +not poor miserable objects, who are plunged into a hopeless, +helpless situation through the fall, and become offenders through +the original transgression? The doctrine under consideration is so +far from representing any pity to such unavoidable objects, that it +really represents God, of his own sovereign good-will and pleasure, +bringing them into that deplorable situation, and then leaving them +to perish without remedy, and taking a horrid pleasure in their +everlasting destruction. O thou pitiful anti compassionate Lord God, +what a picture of vindictive cruelty does this sad doctrine exhibit +of thy tenderness and pity to poor sinners! + +And what plea is there for the goodness of God, upon the same gloomy +doctrine? I can see none. Now goodness does not seem to be so much +any one attribute, as a blessed assemblage of them all put together. +It seems a collection of all the glorious and blessed qualities in +the adorable Deity, shining out in countless rays on every side; an +image of which is the sun which shines on the evil and good, and the +innumerable drops of rain which fall on the just and the unjust. + +Some have asked me, "Do you not think that God might have justly +passed you by, and left you without his grace or help at all?" I +answered, No; I think he could not have done any such thing. That I +was shapen in iniquity, and in sin conceived, I allow; its woeful +effects I feel to this day. But then that was not my fault. I could +not help it; and certain I am, that God never demands the taking up +of that which he never laid down, or reaping where he has not sown. +That I have, times without number, rejected that grace which brings +salvation to all, and abused it again and again, I do with shame and +confusion acknowledge; and that he might have taken away the abused +talents, and, from my so frequently turning a deaf ear to his loving +voice, have sworn I should not enter into his rest, is a truth which +I feelingly confess. But that he could or would leave me a slave to +everlasting misery on account of my original depravity, I utterly +deny. + +Where shall we find the mercy of God, according to this merciless +doctrine? It is said that "mercy is his darling attribute, and that +judgment is his strange work." But according to this scheme, we must +reverse this sentence, and say that "_judgment_, or rather +everlasting destruction, is his darling attribute; and that mercy is +his strange work." It is said, that "his tender mercies are over all +his works." This must mean over such as have sinned; for such as +have not sinned, do not stand in need of mercy. But this narrow +limited doctrine does not make his mercy extend to a tenth part of +his works. If I see a multitude of poor wretches hanging over a +dreadful fiery furnace, and can extend my help to them all as easily +as to one, but will not, this speaks but little for my mercy; and as +little does this doctrine speak for the unbounded mercy of God.[3] + +VII. It contradicts common sense.--There is something of a light in +the breast of every one, which the Author of our being has planted, +and which we call "the understanding." By this we are enabled to see +things in common life which are consistent or inconsistent; so even +in religious matters there may be asserted some things so shockingly +inconsistent as may affront even what we call common sense, and +perhaps may be a stumbling-block in the way of many. Should the +legislative power of England give out laws or acts of parliament to +be obeyed, and rewards promised to the obedient, and punishments +denounced to the disobedient; but at the same time, by some secret +springs of management, should so order it, that a certain number +should be constrained to obey, in some particular time, called a day +of power; and the remaining part should be under an unavoidable +necessity of disobeying, either by being constrained to +disobedience, or for want of that ability to obey which the +government could only give, but it was denied them: now must it not +shock all common sense, and all degrees of truth and justice, to +find these poor impotent wretches brought to the stake to be burnt +alive, because they could not do impossibilities? And does not every +one see the case is parallel, when the great Judge shalt pass the +sentence of condemnation at the last day, "Go, ye cursed, into +everlasting fire?"--"Why, what for? Because I have decreed it shall +be so?" No: "I was hungry, but ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, +but ye gave me no drink." We do not find them objecting any such +decree being made against them; if there had, how could they have +been furnished with a better plea? They might have said, "Lord, thou +knowest we could not reverse thy decree, nor avoid our impending +doom. Didst thou not ordain that we should just do as we have done, +seeing thou hast fore-ordained from eternity whatsoever should come +to pass in time? So that we have just fulfilled thy counsel, and +done all thy pleasure." Here it seems pretty plain that such a +scheme must fill the prisoner's mouth with undeniable arguments, +while the judge has his mouth stopped. How horrid the bare thought +appeared, in so much as it shocks me to make the supposition! And +yet it is no more than what this uncouth system inevitably holds +forth; it is the plain undeniable consequence. Let them shift it off +that can; and if they cannot, let them renounce so unscriptural, so +absurd a scheme, which fathers such broad blasphemies upon the +Father of mercies, and the God of truth. + +VIII. It has a tendency to licentiousness.[4]--It is well known that +the human heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately +wicked; that it is prone to every vice, and is glad to catch at +anything to keep itself in countenance. But can anything be better +calculated to cause a poor fallen creature to sing to his lusts, and +sound a requiem to his sensual soul, than a doctrine which informs +him, that "all things are ordained from eternity," and he must sit +still, and, if he is a chosen vessel, he will some time or another +be called upon; and, if otherwise, all his striving or seeking will +avail nothing at all. Besides, if he feels propensities to any +sensual appetites, like a true free-thinker, he may say, "What are +these passions or appetites for, but that I may gratify them? Or, +why should I endeavour to deny myself, seeing I cannot alter what +God has decreed? I may eat, drink, dance, sing, swear, live in +uncleanness, just as my inclinations lead me. To stem the torrent is +in vain, seeing it is fixed, unalterably fixed, nor is it in my +power to reverse the same." Nor do there want instances in history +of such as have died under the grossest delusions, affirming, if +they were deceived, it was God who had deceived them. All the calls +to repentance, all the invitations to Christ, all the exhortations +to holiness, self-denial, and mortification, plainly imply a +capacity to prevent them in the parties addressed, or their labour +is absurd; but absolute predestination supposes no such thing, any +more than if the stones in the street were exhorted to arise and +run, or the sign-posts were exhorted to take up arms and defend the +city. + +IX. It makes the God of all grace and goodness worse than the +devil.--One of the names given to satan is Apollyon, that is, "a +destroyer;" but then he is not destroying his own work, he is +seeking to destroy the works of God, whose daring enemy he is, and +thereby acts consistently with himself. But this gloomy scheme +represents God bringing innumerable beings into existence, not +barely to destroy them, but to torment them for ever. Can anything +be greater blasphemy? But be it what it will, it is the natural +consequence of all things being ordained from eternity, which are to +come to pass in time. What a dismal picture of the blessed God! When +I have read of some of the Popish massacres, I have been much +shocked, and my very blood has run chill; much more so, when I have +read of some religious rites of the heathens; such as their offering +the captives, who were taken in war, sacrifices to their devil-gods, +nay, even their own children that have been offered up in the +flames; I have found it raise an unspeakable indignation against +both them and their religion. And what idea must a person have of +that God who has made on purpose millions of rationals to fulfil his +decree here, censuring and frowning for ever over them, while they +are tormented with endless flames, for just doing what he has +ordained them to do? Lord, how is thy name blasphemed by doctrines +so contrary to thy goodness, pity, and love? + +X. Lastly. If the unconditional decree be a true doctrine, then +there is no such thing as sin in the world.--Everything is just +going on as he would have it to be; all are acting in the department +of life which is appointed. Therefore go on, ye jolly drunkards, and +jovial song-singers; proceed, ye numerous tribes of profane swearers +and sabbath-breakers; curse on, ye horrid blasphemers and swarms of +liars; ye murderers, plunderers, unclean profligates,--ye are all +doing the will of God, answering the great ends for which you were +made. What avails all the noise the preacher makes about the wicked +being turned into hell, and all the nations which forget God? Let +him cry out, till his face is black, "Turn ye, turn ye, from your +evil ways." If ye be ordained to turn, ye shall turn; if not, all +his zeal will avail no more than a tinkling cymbal. Therefore, he +that is praying, and he that is preaching; he that is speaking the +truth, and he that is lying; he that is labouring honestly, and he +that is stealing; he that is chaste, and he that is impure; he that +is over-reaching, and he that deals honestly; he that sings the +songs of Zion, and he that sings the songs of satan; in a word, he +that is converted, and he that is unconverted; he that is a +believer, and he that is an unbeliever; are all doing the will of +God, which none can acid to, and none can take from; but all things +are just in the state and condition which God has appointed, and all +are just doing what his will is, and then there is no such thing as +sin in the world. + +I should now have finished this small affair, only two or three +objections, which have sometimes been made against Universal +Redemption, may justly and with very great propriety be retorted +upon the objectors. + +First. "To assert that Christ died for every man, or, what is the +very same thing, that all men may be saved if they will, is mere +heathenism." + +Answer. Whether it be heathenism or not, I am certain that absolute +predestination is. For it is well known that the stoics were a very +extensive sect among the heathens, and it is equally known that they +held an absolute fatality, that is, absolute predestination. They +even made Jupiter, their supreme deity, subject to the fates; and +even that "father of gods and men," as they termed him, could not +reverse what the fates had decreed to be done. Their fates +determined what kingdoms should rise, and what should fall; what +heroes should conquer, and what should be conquered. This doctrine +runs throughout the poem of Homer called the Iliad; so that he makes +the fates determine the ends of his two chief heroes, Hector and +Achilles. And though the former was knocked down several times in +the different engagements and dangerously wounded, yet as the fates +had decreed that he should fall by the hand of Achilles, he is +rescued from destruction by a deity, because the time of his death +was not yet arrived. So that whether our asserting that "all may be +saved, if it is not their own fault," be heathenism, it is certain +that unconditional predestination is; and if that proves the untruth +of it, then are their absolute decrees untrue. + +Secondly. They say that "our doctrine is Popery." + +This has as frightful an aspect as the other, and perhaps more so; +as many think there is less danger of their turning Heathens, than +their turning Papists. But be not frightened at nothing; perhaps the +tables again may be turned upon the objectors. Whether Christ's +tasting death for every man be Popery or not, I am sure absolute +predestination is; and it argues, that they who start that objection +are ignorant of the tenets of the Papists. It is well known, that +that large fraternity among the Papists called Dominicans, were all +rigid predestinarians, as well as those called Jansenists. And I +very much question if Calvin himself did not spring from the former +stock; and, when he came from the church of Rome, brought that +branch of Popery along with him, by which means the leaven spread +among many of the Protestants. It would shock any mind which is not +quite intoxicated with the absolute decrees, to read what some +writers of the above-mentioned classes have said concerning God +fore-ordaining sin and misery, and how much he is pleased with the +same, nay, how he is glorified thereby, far more than by holiness. +From hence it is very evident, that absolute predestination is +downright Popery. + +Again: the Mahometans are rigid predestinarians;--a doctrine which +suits that cruel disposition for which they are so remarkable; the +same leaven which spreads among the predestinarians among those +which are called Christians. The same vindictive, sour spirit we +find in Calvin; witness his conduct towards Servetus, who was by his +means burned to death. The same savage turn we see in Knox. Let any +one read the proceedings of the infamous Synod of Dort. Could any +Popish tribunal be more boisterous or arbitrary? How were the poor +Remonstrants dragooned from place to place! It seemed as if that +time was come, when no man should buy or sell who had not the mark +of the beast of predestination either in his forehead or in his +right hand; that is, either public or private. Let any one read the +book called the "Cloud of Witnesses." Did they die like true +martyrs, calling for mercy upon their persecutors? No; the book is +full of very dreadful execrations and horrible anathemas, pronounced +with their dying breath. Does the spirit of Jesus breathe out +threatening and slaughter in such a manner, so as to bind eternal +vengeance upon any one? Let any one consult the spirit of the +Seceders and Sandemonians, and they will see the same genuine +Mahometan spirit, which is as contrary to that doctrine which says, +"Let all bitterness, and malice, and anger be put away from you," as +darkness is to light. Certain it is, that love worketh no ill to any +one; nay, it thinketh no evil; it is the end of the commandment out +of a pure heart. + +Reader, weigh these things attentively; consult the Scriptures, +comparing Scripture with Scripture; and consider the nature of that +Deity whose essential character is Love. + + +THE END. + + +James Nichols, Printer, Leeds. + + + + +Footnotes + + +[1] "I presume, nothing is intended here against any humble, pious, +good man." Ed. + +[2] It is easy to observe, that the above entirely refers to the +predestinarians of the Dissenting party; whatever may be said of +them, it must be acknowledged, they act a far more honest and +ingenuous part than the predestinarians who are Ministers of the +established Church. As Dissenting Ministers are maintained by the +voluntary contributions of their hearers, their hearers are at +liberty to withdraw their assistance; but then Ministers, who obtain +parishes and lectureships, &c., yet being predestinarians, are +preying upon the emoluments of the Church, and are real Dissenters +within her own walls. But perhaps a half sheet may take a little +farther notice of them shortly. + +[3] It is not the design of this small dissertation to prove what is +asserted at large, or answer the objections which have been made +against God's being loving to every man, or to explain the +Scriptures which Calvinists bring in to defend their tenets. No, my +design is only to present the reader, who has no better way of +knowing, with a few of the principal features of Calvinism. But I +wish to recommend "John Goodwin's Redemption Redeemed;" or "Mr. +Sellon's answer to Cole," or his "Arguments against General +Redemption Considered." Who or what this Sellon is, I know not, +except from his writings, having never to my knowledge seen the +gentleman in my life; but by his writings I find that he is an +honest, consistent Minister of the establishment; and that he is a +sensible man, and a scholar, one who has well studied the original +Scriptures, and the nature of the controversy. Likewise I beg leave +to recommend what entirely satisfied me on this head, "Mr. Wesley's +Predestination Calmly Considered." That, and his Sermon on Free +Grace, I wish every reader duly to consider. + +"Mr. Sellon's works have lately been published in 2 vols. 8vo. price +16s. by Blanshard, London." Ed. + +[4] "Of this tendency we have but too many lamentable proofs." Ed. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Solemn Caution Against the Ten Horns +of Calvinism, by Thomas Taylor + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOLEMN CAUTION--CALVINISM *** + +***** This file should be named 28172.txt or 28172.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/1/7/28172/ + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/28172.zip b/28172.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a4c31b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/28172.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be01adf --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #28172 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28172) |