The Canons of Dordrecht: 2nd Main Point of Doctrine - Rejection of the Errors VI

The Canons of Dordrecht 

The Second Main Point of Doctrine: Christ’s Death and Human Redemption Through It

Rejection of the Errors:

Having set forth the orthodox teaching, the Synod rejects the errors of those

VI. Who make use of the distinction between obtaining and applying in order to instill in the unwary and inexperienced the opinion that God, as far as he is concerned, wished to bestow equally upon all people the benefits which are gained by Christ’s death; but that the distinction by which some rather than others come to share in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life depends on their own free choice (which applies itself to the grace offered indiscriminately) but does not depend on the unique gift of mercy which effectively works in them, so that they, rather than others, apply that grace to themselves. For, while pretending to set forth this distinction in an acceptable sense, they attempt to give the people the deadly poison of Pelagianism.