predestinated and foreordained, are
particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so
certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or
diminished.

"Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before
the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal
and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure
of his will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out
of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith
or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other
thing in the creature, as conditions or causes moving him
thereunto, and all unto the praise of his glorious grace."

I do not say that Calvinists never contradict any of these
statements. Nor do I profess to have spread out the entire theory
of Calvinism. The question now relates to their doctrine of
Divine decrees.

I am fully convinced that the times demand a review and
comparison of the two opposing systems, Calvinism and
Arminianism. Our Calvinistic brethren, both Old and New School,
are putting forth high claims in behalf of their system, and
speaking of ours in very disparaging terms.

The Rev. Albert Barnes tells us, in his sermon in behalf of the
Home Missionary Society, preached in 1849, that the more mind is
elevated, and cultivated, and brought into connection with
colleges and schools, the more likely it will be to embrace the
Calvinistic form of Christianity. He thinks that Calvinists will
be increased just in proportion as schools and colleges can be
founded, and an intelligent and educated ministry sent out. He
does not suppose that the entire mind of the west will embrace
Calvinistic views, but he does "expect that a considerable
portion of the _educated_ and _ruling_ mind will" (p. 40). He
tells us, in his sermon delivered before the New School General
Assembly, convened in Washington in 1852, that past history has
shown that the class of minds most likely to embrace the
Calvinistic system "is most likely to be found among the
thinking, the sober, the educated, the firm, the conservative,
and the free" (p. 10); that "the Calvinistic system identifies
itself with education, and a large portion of the cultivated mind
of a community will be always imbued with the sentiments of the
system." (p. 15.)

This seems to imply, whatever may be intended, that Arminianism
has special affinities for ignorance; that it is more indebted to
ignorance than to intelli