Thomas Ralston on Freedom of the Will Part 7

Thomas Ralston now begins to examine and respond to various objections posed by “necessitarians” against the Arminian view of self-determinism.  
WE propose in this chapter, to examine some of the principal objections which have been urged against the view taken in the preceding chapter of the freedom of the will. Those most worthy of notice [...]

Thomas Ralston on Freedom of the Will Part 6

Thomas Ralston now concludes his positive arguments in favor of self-determinism:
(4) In conclusion, upon this part of the subject, we think it proper briefly to notice the absurdity of attempting to reconcile the doctrines of necessity with the proper freedom and accountability of man.
This, President Edwards and many others have labored hard to accomplish. They [...]

Thomas Ralston on Freedom of the Will Part 5

Ralston continues with his defense of free moral agency from Scripture:
(2) In the next place, the Scriptures everywhere address man as a being capable of choosing; as possessing a control over his own volitions, and as being held responsible for the proper exercise of that control.
In Deuteronomy 30:19, we read: “I call heaven and earth [...]

Thomas Ralston on Freedom of the Will Part 4

Thomas Ralston begins his appeal to Scripture with his third evidence for self-determinism in his Elements of Divinity:
3. Our third evidence of man’s proper free agency is founded upon the divine administration toward him, as exhibited in the Holy Scriptures.
Here we shall perceive that revelation beautifully harmonizes with nature; and those clear and decisive evidences [...]

Thomas Ralston on Freedom of the Will Part 3

We continue with Ralston’s second argument for self-determinism from his Elements of Divinity:
2. Our next argument for the self-determining power of the mind over the
will is founded upon the history of the world in general.
Turn your attention to any portion or to any period of the world’s history and you find among all nations, in [...]

Thomas Ralston on Freedom of the Will Part 2

We now continue with Ralston’s defense of free will from his Elements of Divinity
II. We proceed now to consider some of the leading arguments by which the free moral agency of man, as briefly defined above, is established.
1. We rely upon our own consciousness.
By consciousness, we mean the knowledge we have of what passes within [...]

Helpful Definition of LFW

Dan at Arminian Chronicles has written a timely post addressing proper Arminian definitions of LFW.

Thomas Ralston on Freedom of the Will

Thomas Ralston was an early Methodist theologian.  The following is taken from his Elements of Divinity (Wesleyan Heritage Collection CD):
“The great question in this controversy is not whether a man can will “as he pleases,” for that is the same as to ask whether he can will as he does will. But the question is, [...]

Augustine the Libertarian

Some refer to Calvinism as Augustinianism.  John Calvin took the teachings of the later Augustine and systematized them.  The only major difference between the later Augustine and Calvin’s theology is the doctrine of perseverance.  Augustine believed that one could be truly regenerated and yet not be granted the gift of perseverance.  Calvin denied that one [...]

Calvinism and Job: Something to Think About

Most Christians are familiar with the story of Job.  Job endured severe trials but did not curse God (though he did question God).  The emphases of the book are many.  It is probably mainly concerned with a faulty theology which claimed that bad things don’t happen to good people.  But how does any of this [...]