Theological Viewpoints Compared:
Arminiansim/Calvinism

The industrial revolution along with the resulting “Age of Reason” had not brought with it an enlightenment to the needs of the people. Descriptions of the hard life of the poor in England during the 1700’s equals that of any other period in human history.

Religions revivalism came from two quarters, John Wesley and George Whitefield. Although the goals of the two men were the same, their theological stances separated them immeasurable. Wesley held to the theological ideas of Arminianism and Whitfield was a Calvinist.

These differing views can be seen in representative hymns by Charles Wesley and Augustus Toplady:

Jesus, Lover of my soul,
 Let me to Thy bosom fly.
While the gathering waters roll
 While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
 Till the storm of life is past;
Save into the haven guide,
 O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none;
 Hangs my helpless soul on Thee
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
 Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stay’d,
 All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
 With the shadow of Thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
 More than all in Thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
 Heal the sick and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name;
 I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am,
 Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
 Grace to cove all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
 Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art;
 Freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart,
 Rise to all eternity.

-- Charles Wesley, 1740 MH 479

Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee;
Let the Water and the Blood,
From thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

 

Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.

 

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy Cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress;
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Foul, I to the Fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

 

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes are closed in death,
When I soar through tracts unknown
See thee on thy judgment throne;
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

-- Augustus Toplady, 1776 MH 361

Concept of God.

Wesley’s concept of god is rather childlike: a benevolent Father to whom one can fly for comfort and protection; or, as the first stanza suggests, a safe harbor for a ship in a storm. Toplady’s concept is much more remote. For him, God is one who will not comfort so much as take away the feelings of guilt and sin; not protect so much as judge. God is not a resting place but a place to hide.


Concept of Grace.

For Wesley, God is “full of Grace, . . . plenteous grace to cover all sin.” And this grace is available: “Freely let me take of thee,” comparing the grace of God to a fountain which refreshes and never runs dry. For Toplady, the fountain of God is not a refreshing spring so much as a bathroom in which to wash away the foul dirt; and the grace of God is not so much expected as hoped for: “Helpless, [I] look to thee for grace,” [“Am I one of your elect, O God?”].

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