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John Robinson was the teaching pastor of the congregation we call the Pilgrims. He never made it to the New World but the congregation still viewed him as their pastor until his death in 1625.
He was a capable defender of the doctrines of grace.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving and discuss the Pilgrims... remember -- they were Calvinists.
For citations see: "The Soteriology of John Robinson, Pilgrim Pastor and Advocate of the Reformed Faith." Stephen M. Johnson, Westminster Theological Journal [Spring 1982].
He was a capable defender of the doctrines of grace.
As you celebrate Thanksgiving and discuss the Pilgrims... remember -- they were Calvinists.
…to conceive that God doth anything, in time, which he did not from eternity purpose to do as he doth it, is derogatory to his infinite wisdom and power: and, indeed, to deny him to be God, and to make him finite: in whom there is a change wrought, and a beginning, and growth of counsels
Not that God draws men, as horses draw a cart, or by any violence, or compulsion against, or without their will; but he makes them by the inward work of his Spirit, joined with the outward word, of unwilling, willing; effectually driving away ignorance and rebellion, and so enlightening the mind, as to assent, and the will, to consent.
God’s actual choosing therefore goes before our actual faith, holiness, repentance, and obedience, as the cause: and follows, then, not as an effect, as they mis-judge.
…these men will make God begin at the other end, and choose men because they are an holy and peculiar people, that is, having faith and repentance going before
That Adam had, as well, freedom of the will after, as before his fall, is as true as that he was a man after, as before. For take away will from a man, and he ceaseth to be a man: and take away freedom of the will, in that which it willeth, and it ceaseth to be will. But here is the difference, that the same natural power of free will, which before was rightly ordered, and disposed only to good actually, though changeably, was afterwards corrupted, disordered, and clean contrarily disposed, til by supernatural grace, it was rectified and renewed.
We therefore conclude with the apostle, that God works in us both the will and the deed: not only by his word working on us, but by his Spirit working in us: not only by sending Paul to plant, by propounding strong arguments of persuasion, but also by giving the increase by the most effectual work of his Spirit, enlightening the eyes of the understanding to see the force of those arguments, opening the heart to attend to them, and so writing them in the same heart, and most inward parts, as they cannot be blotted out.
For citations see: "The Soteriology of John Robinson, Pilgrim Pastor and Advocate of the Reformed Faith." Stephen M. Johnson, Westminster Theological Journal [Spring 1982].