tenets of the Remonstrants, or Arminians, which the Synod had to consider, was, that "there is no reprobation of infants;" for "no one," say they, "is damned for original sin alone." Upon this heterodox opinion, as it was pronounced, the deputies from the several European churches gave their judgment in writing. The British divines said:
"If this be the meaning of the position, that there is no election of infants, that is, of one infant in preference to another, as if all promiscuously were saved, certainly the hypothesis has no foundation; nor if it were granted, would the [main] position follow. For according to the method of God's election whether to be maintained or disproved [nam ad rationem electionis divinœ sive ponendam sen tollendam], the circumstance of age has nothing to do with it [est quiddam impertinens], and has no influence."[1]
And in support of their opinion, as here expressed, they quoted this sentence from Prosper to Augustin:
"Infants who have as yet no wills, no actions of their own, are not separated one from another without the judgment of God; some are taken as heirs, others pass away as debtors."
The deputies from Switzerland said:
"That there is election and reprobation of infants as well as of adults, we cannot deny against God, who tenderly loves, and inculpably hates them before they are born."
The Genevan Professors expressed their judgment thus:
- ↑ Acta Dordr. Judicia Theologorum Exterorum, p. 10.
