In this installment in the Dort at 400 series, Brian Lee breaks down one of the fundamental disagreements that led to the Synod of Dort 400 years ago.

Psalm 46----To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.----God is our refuge and strength,-- a very present help in trouble.--Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,-- though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,--though its waters roar and foam,-- though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah----There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,-- the holy habitation of the Most High.--God is in the midst of her- she shall not be moved--- God will help her when morning dawns.--The nations rage, the kingdoms totter--- he utters his voice, the earth melts.--The Lord of hosts is with us--- the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah----Come, behold the works of the Lord,-- how he has brought desolations on the earth.--He makes wars cease to the end of the earth--- he breaks the bow and shatters the spear--- he burns the chariots with fire.---Be still, and know that I am God.-- I will be exalted among the nations,-- I will be exalted in the earth----The Lord of hosts is with us--- the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

The Third and Fourth Points of Doctrine- ----Article 1- The Effect of the Fall on Human Nature--Man was originally created in the image of God and was furnished in his mind with a true and salutary knowledge of his Creator and things spiritual, in his will and heart with righteousness, and in all his emotions with purity- indeed, the whole man was holy. However, rebelling against God at the devil-s instigation and by his own free will, he deprived himself of these outstanding gifts. Rather, in their place he brought upon himself blindness, terrible darkness, futility, and distortion of judgment in his mind- perversity, defiance, and hardness in his heart and will- and finally impurity in all his emotions.----Article 2- The Spread of Corruption--Man brought forth children of the same nature as himself after the fall. That is to say, being corrupt he brought forth corrupt children. The corruption spread, by God-s just judgment, from Adam to all his descendants-except for Christ alone-not by way of imitation -as in former times the Pelagians would have it- but by way of the propagation of his perverted nature.----Article 3- Total Inability--Therefore, all people are conceived in sin and are born children of wrath, unfit for any saving good, inclined to evil, dead in their sins, and slaves to sin- without the grace of the regenerating Holy Spirit they are neither willing nor able to return to God, to reform their distorted nature, or even to dispose themselves to such reform.

Psalm 45----To the choirmaster- according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah- a love song.----My heart overflows with a pleasing theme--- I address my verses to the king--- my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.--You are the most handsome of the sons of men--- grace is poured upon your lips--- therefore God has blessed you forever.--Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,-- in your splendor and majesty---In your majesty ride out victoriously-- for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness--- let your right hand teach you awesome deeds---Your arrows are sharp-- in the heart of the king's enemies--- the peoples fall under you.--Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.-- The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness--- you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.--Therefore God, your God, has anointed you-- with the oil of gladness beyond your companions--- your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.--From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad--- daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor--- at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.--Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear--- forget your people and your father's house,-- and the king will desire your beauty.--Since he is your lord, bow to him.-- The people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,-- the richest of the people.--All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.-- In many-colored robes she is led to the king,-- with her virgin companions following behind her.--...

The Second Main Point of Doctrine- Rejection of the Errors----Having set forth the orthodox teaching, the Synod rejects the errors of those-----I. Who teach -that God the Father appointed his Son to death on the cross without a fixed and definite plan to save anyone by name, so that the necessity, usefulness, and worth of what Christ-s death obtained could have stood intact and altogether perfect, complete and whole, even if the redemption that was obtained had never in actual fact been applied to any individual.-----For this assertion is an insult to the wisdom of God the Father and to the merit of Jesus Christ, and it is contrary to Scripture. For the Savior speaks as follows- -I lay down my life for the sheep, and I know them- -John 10-15, 27-. And Isaiah the prophet says concerning the Savior- -When he shall make himself an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days, and the will of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand- -Isa. 53-10-. Finally, this undermines the article of the creed in which we confess what we believe concerning the church.