CHRISTIANITY. 155 



the Reformation widely spread, before his death, in 1546. Luther 

 rejected the spurious sacraments, retaining only baptism and the 

 eucharist ; but he believed that the body and blood of our Saviour are 

 actually present in the sacramental bread and wine ; which doctrine is 

 called consubstantiation or impanation. He exploded the doctrine 

 of purgatory, auricular confession, monastic vows, priestly celibacy, 

 salvation by merit, works of supererogation, indulgences, prayers to 

 saints, worship of images, and also the adoration of the host, or 

 image of our Saviour, held up during the Roman mass. 



The early Lutherans believed in the predestination of mankind to 

 happiness or misery, according to God's foreknowledge of their 

 character ; but this, and other doctrines of his, are more or less modi- 

 fied at the present day. The term Protestants, was first applied to 

 those Lutheran princes who protested against the unfavorable mea- 

 sures of the diet at Spire, in 1529 ; and it has since been extended to 

 all the seceders from the Roman Church. The Protestant cause was 

 much aided by the League of Smalcalden, in 1530, and its harmony 

 promoted by the Confession of Augsburg, or articles of faith drawn 

 up by Melancthon, in the same year. In Norway, Sweden, and 

 Denmark, the Lutheran Church is Episcopal, or presided over by 

 bishops ; but in Germany its affairs are directed by a Consistory, 

 having a president, and different grades of Clergy. The Lutheran 

 church was introduced into the United States by the German settlers, 

 as early as 1725. 



Calvinism, embraces the doctrines of John Calvin, professor of 

 Theology at Geneva, who died in 1564. Its leading articles, as 

 adopted by the Genevan Church, and settled by the Synod of Dort 

 in 1618, are called the Five Points ; viz. Total depravity ; Uncon- 

 ditional predestination ; Particular redemption ; Effectual calling ; and 

 the Final perseverance of those who are once converted. These 

 doctrines of Calvin have been modified by later theologians ; who are 

 hence called moderate Calvinists ; while those who adopt them in 

 full, are termed strict Calvinists. The' Huguenots in France, were 

 mostly Calvinists, tolerated by the Edict of Nantes, in 1598, but 

 expelled by its revocation in 1685. Calvinism still prevails in Swit- 

 zerland, Holland, and Scotland, and to a considerable extent in Eng- 

 land and the United States ; among the Presbyterians, Congregation- 

 alists, and Baptists. 



Jlrminianism, comprehends the doctrines of James Arminius, who 

 was a professor of Theology at Leyden. He promulgated his pecu- 

 liar doctrines in 1591, and died in 1609. He maintained, in opposi- 

 tion to Calvinism, that God's election, or predestination, is only 

 conditional, or the result of his foreseeing what would be men's vo- 

 luntary conduct ; that atonement was made for all men, and offered 

 to them, though not by all accepted ; and he doubted whether con- 

 verts may not fall from a state of grace, and die in their sins. His 

 doctrines were carried much farther by his followers, the Remon- 

 strants, who denied the doctrine of original sin ; and maintained that 

 true believers may fall from grace, not only grossly, but finally. 

 These, and other doctrines, contrary to the settled creed of the Belgic 

 Churches, gave occasion for the General Synod of Dort, (or Dord- 



