The Book Of Religions

A denomination which arose in the fifth century, so called from Pelagius, a monk, who looked upon the doctrines which were commonly received, concerning the original corruption of human nature, and the necessity of divine grace to enlighten the understanding and purify the heart, as prejudicial to the progress of holiness and virtue, and tending to establish mankind in a presumptuous and fatal security. He maintained the following doctrines: --

"1. That the sins of our first parents were imputed to them only, and not to their posterity; and that we derive no corruption from their fall, but are born as pure and unspotted as Adam came out of the forming hand of his Creator.

"2. That mankind, therefore, are capable of repentance and amendment, and of arriving to the highest degrees of piety and virtue, by the use of their natural faculties and powers. That, indeed, external grace is necessary to excite their endeavors, but that they have no need of the internal succors of the divine Spirit.

"3. That Adam was, by nature, mortal, and, whether he had sinned or not, would certainly have died.

"4. That the grace of God is given in proportion to our merits.

"5. That mankind may arrive at a state of perfection in this life.

"6. That the law qualified men for the kingdom of heaven, and was founded upon equal promises with the gospel."