Charting a course for the future

The Polemics of John Heigham and Richard Montagu and the Rise of English Arminianism

“…55 Montagu's response to Heigham provoked the fury of the English Calvinists, who produced at least five books directed against Montagu in the course of the 1626 parliament. 56 Montagu was labelled an Arminian, after James Arminius (1560-1609), the Dutch Reformed theologian who had rejected Calvin's doctrine of predestination. Arminianism was depicted as a menacing Trojan Horse that threatened to overthrow the Church of England.…”

“…Arminianism was depicted as a menacing Trojan Horse that threatened to overthrow the Church of England. 57 These attacks led Montagu to compose his Appello Caesarem. A just appeale from two unjust informers (1625), in which Montagu tried to vindicate himself from the charges of his fellow Protestants.…”

“…61 In addition to publishing at least five books against Montagu in the course of the 1626 parliament, the Calvinists succeeded in having Appello Caesarem suppressed by royal proclamation in 1629. 62 Montagu was accused of 'popery' in many of his doctrines, including his understanding of justification, since he allowed good works a role in justification and had departed from the sola fide view still current in the universities. 63 What especially scandalized the Calvinists was that Montagu said that in justification man is made just, that is, translated from the state of nature to the state of grace.…”

“…62 Montagu was accused of 'popery' in many of his doctrines, including his understanding of justification, since he allowed good works a role in justification and had departed from the sola fide view still current in the universities. 63 What especially scandalized the Calvinists was that Montagu said that in justification man is made just, that is, translated from the state of nature to the state of grace. 64 One of his principal Calvinist enemies, Morton, described Montagu's work in this way: 'All his discourse about justification tends to the justifying of the popish doctrine and to the making of good works a part of our justification, or an access unto the very act of it at least'.…”

“…30 At the same time, A New Gagg for an Old Goose afforded Montagu with an occasion for attacking predestinarian Calvinism, 'on the ground that this was no part of the teaching enshrined in the Thirty-nine Articles'. 31 Tyacke has examined the background circumstances of Montagu's reply to Heigham and believes that Montagu was a sort of 'stalking horse for a court-based faction of leading clergy, who sought not merely to counteract the effects of Dort but fundamentally to alter the doctrinal stance of the English Church concerning predestination and much else'. 32 Such a 'test-case' role or masking purpose for Montagu's book adds to the importance of this particular polemical exchange between these Catholic and Anglican apologists.…”