the preterite

[Joseph Tracy]

Thanks Paul and Dave on the preterition information.
Makes sense that Pynchon would appropriate  this Calvinist  and apparently richly American Pilgrim word.

Paul wrote:  Can't think at the moment of who thought good works were the key to
salvation. Probably would have been a heresy against the doctrine that
man is powerless to save himself without the free gift of God's grace.

I think it was Arminius, Joseph or Jacob maybe, and I think Dutch. Anyway a reformation  theologian who argued for free will and won over some protestants, but the doctrine and is believers were indeed persecuted.

Joseph Tracy
brook7 at earthlink.net
Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.
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