From Reformation to Reformation

We hear much about the Fundamentals of the Christian Faith. But what makes a particular doctrine "Fundamental"? Is it possible to make a list of "Fundamental Doctrines"? And what are the implications of this categorization? De Moor's treatment of this important topic is golden... Get it here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/steven-dilday/de-moors-didactico-elenctic-theology-chapter-iii-concerning-religion/hardcover/product-1p7qek9g.html?q=bernardinus+de+moor&page=1&pageSize=4 [

Take Up and Read! Shortly after my conversion to Christ, I became a regular listener to the radio broadcast of Dr. R.C. Sproul.  Through Dr. Sproul I was exposed to Reformed theology for the first time, and, from the first, I was captivated.  I was quite interested, of course, when he mentioned that he thought that Jonathan Edwards’ Freedom of the Will was the most important, most theologically formative, book that he had ever read.  I ordered it immediately and waited anxio

But Tolerance differs much from Syncretism. We admit the former concerning Heretics as well as Infidels in the external society of the...

β. There is to be no Syncretism with any Heretics, that is, who err Fundamentally, which is to be held especially in the case of the...

But, as Religion requires such a Confession, so true Religion refuses Mixture with False Religion, either in the same Men, 1 Kings 18:21;...

2. Nevertheless, true Religion requires a Prudent Confession, not with a worldly prudence, of which Luke 16:8, and which might persuade...

True Religion requires the Confession of it, 1. Free and Constant, unto Martyrdom, according to the divine declaration of the Lord...

Now, the More Specific Marks, also sought out of the Scriptures, will prove the excellence of the Reformed Religion above all others....

Marks, by which we are able to distinguish true Religion from false, so that we might be certain of the truth of our Religion, and at the...

But Defection from the true Religion, whether unto Infidelity, or unto Heresy, is called Apostasy. In either case Apostasy verily...

4. But every Error is not excluded from the true Religion, although it moves away from the doctrine and practice of true Religion: and...

3. Schism , which more directly indicates the broken Union of the Church, while Heresy denotes its abandoned faith. And, while Heresy has regard to diversity of opinions, Schism denotes dissension whether of hearts and affections, or of rites not necessary; sometimes with some sort of external communion continuing, but with the same commonly ceasing: Quæstione Euangelica XI, § 2, in operibus Augustini , tome 3, part 2, column 202, “It is wont to be asked how Schismatics

Thomas Hobbes Concerning Heresy Hobbes contends in the worst fashion, that no error pertains to the same; but that all private opinion, whether it be erroneous or not, obstinately defended against the laws of the State, is Heresy: but that it is impossible for any opinion to be heretical that the laws of the state appoint or permit to be taught publicly: that, on the other hand, the Christian Religion in the time of the pagan Emperors was a heresy: see COCQUIUS’ Anatomen Hob

When the Apostle prescribes to Titus to avoid , to reject , to repudiate a heretical man of this sort, Titus 3:10, see below Chapter XXXIII, § 21, he adds this reason for this his commandment in verse 11, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος, καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος, knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself . In which a twofold, New Testament ἅπαξ λεγόμενον, hapax legomenon , occurs, namely, the verb ἐκστρέφειν, to subvert , a

2. Heresy , which words is Greek in origin from αἱρέω and αἱρέομαι, especially in the sense of choosing , and of apprehending anything with the embrace of the will. In the common and neutral sense it denotes an opinion, belief, doctrine, to which many men are addicted, or even a society of men, as the multifaceted Heresy of the ancient Philosophers was known: TERTULLIAN, de Resurrectione , chapter XI, page 331, “Among the Philosophers you have those that maintain that this

To True Religion is opposed, 1. Infidelity , in which case the name of Christian is not granted. For, although Infidelity might extend itself much further, and have a place even among those that with the mouth profess the Word of faith and also dwell in the external communion of the Church; indeed, in some measure even in the very faithful, complaining of their ὀλιγοπιστίᾳ, little faith , [1] and asking that the Lord might help their ἀπιστίᾳ/ unbelief , Mark 9:24; [2] Luk

In general, Impiety and Superstition are Opposed to Religion. And indeed, Impiety , as our AUTHOR holds, is opposed in Defect; which one may also call Profanity , and which obtains when a sinner, with due reverence for God shaken off, is unto such thoughts, words, and deed, by which the honor due to His consummate Perfection is trampled upon: Impious Men of this sort are mentioned by Job , Job 21:14, 15, the Psalmist, Psalm 94:3-7, etc. This Impiety was prevailing in the ol

But our AUTHOR does not suffer those inane boastings of our Adversaries concerning all the Fundamentals acknowledged by them, because they perhaps receive the Apostles’ Creed and the Decalogue. Thus Schlichtingius in his præfatione Symboli Apostolici , which he published in the name of the Polish Churches, as he says, which profess one God and His Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit: “That the Symbol called Apostolic is most ancient, and contains that simplest

These Fundamental Articles ought not to be excessively multiplied, as is done by the Papists according to their own will , to whom whatever the Roman Church defines to be Fundamental is Fundamental, the contradiction of which is to them an Error in Necessary Articles : see the Walenburch Brothers , in Examination III Principalibus , page 144. Now, among the necessary heads Rome has for some time now held the supremacy of the Roman Pope, Purgatory, Iconolatry, the real Pres

The Scholastic Papists had already furnished an occasion for disputation concerning determining the Number of Fundamental Articles , not infrequently asking in their Commentaries upon the Master of Sentences, [1] How many Articles of Faith are there? Then, the Socinians furnished an occasion, when they restrict the necessary and Fundamental doctrine concerning God to Six obvious heads. Especially the more recent Papists, the Methodists , among whom the Walenburch Brothers