The great Synod
of Dordrecht (1618-1619) resolved the Arminian controversy that raged in
the Dutch Reformed churches at the end of the sixteenth century. The Canons
of Dordrecht are the articles drawn up by the synod setting forth and
defending the doctrines of sovereign grace (also called the five points of
Calvinism) over against the Arminian heresies of free will, partial
depravity, conditional election, resistible grace and universal,
ineffectual atonement.
The Voice of Our Fathers is the best English commentary
on this historic Reformed confession. An invaluable feature of the book is
its introduction, which acquaints the reader with the history and the intrigues
of the Arminians surrounding the Synod of Dordt.
In a day when the heart-warming, biblical truths taught in the Canons are being
challenged in Reformed circles, this book will be a great service to any
who are concerned to preserve the sovereignty of God's grace by
establishing them more firmly in the faith.
A Scripture index is included.
"The reader will find here an illustration of
how little the tactics of heretics have changed in the last three or
four centuries ... Anyone who desires a clear analysis of the deep
doctrinal cleavage between pure Calvinism and the Arminianism that has
perverted so much of what still calls itself Reformed theology can
perhaps find no better guide than this commentary" (Wisconsin
Lutheran Quarterly).
''Homer C. Hoeksema's The Voice of Our Fathers
is the only thorough commentary on the Canons in English. The
work includes corrections of the English translation of the Canons
used by the Protestant Reformed Churches and other Reformed churches,
from the original Latin. Examples are the wording of Canons III/IV:8 and the omission of an important line at the end of Canons
III/IV:2. The book is also valuable for its historical introduction.
The author gives an account of the historical occasion of the synod in
the Arminian controversy, a brief description of the 'great
synod' itself, and a reminder concerning the confessional status of
the Canons as one of the creeds of Reformed churches. Two
important appendixes give the semi-official history of the events
leading up to the synod, and the opinions of the Arminian party on the
five doctrines that we know as the 'Five Points of Calvinism,'
or the 'doctrines of grace.' The semi-official history was
published on the authority of the States General, the Prince of Orange,
and the Synod of Dordt. It demonstrates the unscrupulous, deceptive behaviour
of Arminius and his party from start to finish. Reading this
history, no one will have any difficulty with President Bogerman's
righteously angry dismissal finally of the Arminian party, 'You are
dismissed. You began and ended with lies. Get out!' The only
surprising thing is that he had as much patience as he did'' (Prof.
David J. Engelsma, writing in a special edition of the Standard Bearer on the Synod of Dordt).
"I profited a great deal from Rev. Homer
Hoeksema's The Voice of our Fathers, a commentary on the Canons
of Dordt. I used the book both as a study of the five points of
Calvinism and as a devotional tool. First, I would read the article from
the Canons of Dordt making my own notes. Then I would read the
appropriate chapter in The Voice of our Fathers (about 6 to 10
pages), which would expose my own inadequate understanding. My eyes were
also opened to see that much of the modern evangelical church world
accepts what is, in fact, false, and has been rejected by the church of
the Reformation. This book should be read by all students of Christian
doctrine very prayerfully and carefully" (Stephen Rushton, England).
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The
Voice of Our Fathers