exceeding foolish to this sense or rather none-sense they did show that they could not at the day appointed give in their answer to the accusations and why they could no more go on in this Synodical action which was commenced against them for many causes such as were first because they were wholly taken up in making ready some writings for the Synod concerning the five Articles which were imposed on them by the commandement of the Delegats 2. Because the copy of the accusations brought unto them by one of the Synod officers was not subscribed by the President nor by either of the Scribes of the Synod and therefore they thought it not an authentick copy or of any credit 3. Because crimes in it were objected to them both promiscuously and that laid to both their charge which only one of them had delivered and therefore their accusation was not exact according to form of law 4. That there were many things in it objected to them not warranted by any witness unless it were by some proofs taken out of their Colleague Foskculius late book which they christened with the name of stultum and tenebricosum scriptum 5. Because it was full of false spellings and writing and therefore they thought it was but negligently stubbered over for these and many more such causes as idle as these with which I hold it not fit to detain your L. though they might decline the judgement of the Synod especially since against the practise of the Belgick Church their own consistory Classis and Provincial Synod being skipped over they were immediately accused before the Synod yet notwithstanding after they had done with all they had to say upon the five Articles they promise that they will give in their answer to this bill of accusations but upon this condition which I beseech your L. to observe that first the Synod would declare them to be free from these false and malitious slanders wherewith they the rest of their brethren Remonstrants cited to the Synod had been most injuriously and falsely charged in that Session of the Synod in which they were dismissed by the President with this elogium to wit that they had refused to go on in the Synodical action that they had showen themselves unworthy with whom the Synod should have any further dealing and that as they had begun this business and continued it with lying and equivocations so now they had ended it But yet that notwithstanding of all this they were contented to go on in this action before the Colledge of the Delegats of the Estates General but not before the Synod These long letters being read next was read an answer to these letters penned by the deputies of the reformed Church of Camps to whom the President had given these letters that they might answer them they did meet particularly with every thing alledged in the other letters which was needless and therefore I omit all their answers save only to that one thing which seemed to require one that was that against the custome of their Church they were immediately brought before the Synod to which it was answered that both the consistory and Classis of Camps were altogether Remonstrantical and that therefore they were both of them such as ought rather to be abrogated then appealed unto but for their Provincial Synod they wondered with what face they durst affirm they had not been cited thither since that Synod had dealt with them oftner then once though to no purpose Next was read a supplication penned and subscribed by Acronius in name of the Reformed Church of Camps in which they relate how Fâ—â—skulius one of the two suspended at Camps while he was rehearsing unto his flock the sentence of his own suspension that he had stirred up the people ad tumultuariam infamam next they humbly beseech the Synod that now for the two suspended their sentence of suspension might be ratified by the Synod and for the other two here present at Dort to wit Mathisius and Gosuinus since they had refused to give in their answer at the time appointed that the Synod would pronounce the like sentence of suspension against them the President propounded this to the Synod whether they thought it fit that the sentence already given against the former two should be ratified and that the other two should be cited to give in their answer to the bill of accusations within fourteen days in which if they failed the like sentence of suspension should be given against them which had been given against their Colleagues the whole Synod approved it and so it was decreed We beginning to go on in reading the Collegial judgements but my L. of Landaffe according as we at home had deliberated among our selves desired leave to speak which being granted he spake to this purpose D Gomarus in the forenoon delivered that this question whether homo lapsus be subjectum Praedestinationis had not been determined by the confession of the Church of France and as I and my Colleagues conceived he delivered the like for the confession of the Church of England and therefore I do entreat D. Gomarus in my own name and the name of my Colleagues to declare before the Synod whether he did say so or not D. Gomarus with good modesty answered that indeed he did say so but he protested it was not out of any evil meaning but only to shew that as other Churches so the Church of England had left that undetermined since the words of the confession determined no farther of the subject then quosdam ex humano genere my Lord of Landaffe replied that he himself and the rest of his Colleagues could not chuse but think themselves by that speech touched for temerity or ignorance for since they in their judgement had delivered the contrary for homo lapsus it was as much to say as that they had delivered that in the Synod which was not according to the judgement of the Church of England but to let the Synod know that they had said nothing in their judgement which was not the judgement of their Church they desired the Synod to hear the words of their confession so D. Goad read publickly the 17. Article of the confession where the words are quosdam ex humano genere in exitio et maledicto which last words Gomarus had left out Gomarus answered that if he had understood the words of the confession amiss he would submit himself to the judgement of the Synod The President told Gomarus roundly enough that it was free for every member of the Synod to deliver his own judgement concerning any point or question but that men ought to be very careful that they do not rashly meddle with the judgements of other Churches My L. of Landaffe desired further leave to adde this Since all the forraign Divines without exception and likewise all the Belgick professors except Gomarus had already delivered their judgements for homo lapsus and that
all and I am sorry I had so much to write to your L. so with the remembrance of my humblest duty to your L. and your worthy Lady I take my leave and rest Dordrecht this 23. of February Stylo Novo Your L. faithful and respectful servant Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord FOr your L. last letters to my self and the news in the letters inclosed as I stand much obliged to your H. so much more I with all others who love peace and long for the happy success of this Synod must ever stand much obliged to your L. for your Letters to the President so full of sober good and necessarie counsel the happy fruit whereof I hope during our being there we shall not cease to finde as we have already begun to taste a little of the sweetness of it for the very next Session after the President had received your L. letters at the beginning in very milde and discreet words he entreated all the members of the Synod that in their disquisition of the fifth Article they should abstain from all bitterness and personal opposition and follow meekness and brotherly kindness which in that disquisition was observed by the two Belgick professors very strictly and their phrase and stile tempered otherwise then heretofore it hath been so as one might see they had been acquainted with the good counsel of your L. letters for I will assure you they followed it your L. joy can not chuse but be great when you remember the great peace procured by your L. I should hold my self an enemy to the weal-publick if I should not particularly inform your L. of all the passages here by whom if any of them go amiss they may so happily be corrected The reason why I have been so long a writing is because I wanted news of which our Synod now is very barren and will be so till towards the latter end of the next week at which time all Colledges judgements of the five articles will begin to be read the matters now in hand are matters of knowledge not of action yet I will be bold for fashions sake to send your L. a note of such Sessions as have been since my last letters to your L. Sessio 92. 25. Feb. Stylo Novo We bent on in the Synodical disquisition of the 3. and 4 article which at that Session was made an end of after that the President did dictate to us and all we did write large Theses collected out of the Remonstrants books upon the five Articles Sessio 93. 26. Feb. Since the Remonstrants by commandement from the Delegats had given up the defence of their opinion touching the second Article their were read 56. pages of this there other new volume in which they studied to overthrow that distinction sufficientiae et efficaciae mortis Christi and go about to prove that those places of Scripture which say that Christ dyed pro peccatis totius mundi are to be enlarged to all particular men not to be restrained ad mundum electorum Sessio 94. 27. Feb. There were read publickly 53. pages more of this volume of the Remonst upon the second Article in which they did vindicate their own arguments propounded in Collat. Hag from the instances and exceptions of the Contra-Remonst in the same Conference Sessio 95. eodem die post meridiem Deo datus was this Session appointed to discuss the first Article but because of the continuance of his sickness his colleague Tronchinus did perform that task for him publickly all auditors being admitted who with good commendation did establish Sanctorum perseverantiam Sessio 96 28. Feb. There was an end made of the reading the Remonst volume on the second Article there were read some 54. pages which were spent in the vindicating the rest of their own arguments from the exceptions of the contra-Remonst in Collat. Hag. Sessio 97. eodem die post meridiem We begun the Synodical disquisition upon the 3. Article where every one of our Colledge spoke at large but especially my Lr of Landaffe who I will assure your L. hath by his most accurate and excellent speech at that Session gained unto himself wonderful great reputation I doubt not but he will send a copie of it to your L. and then it will speak for it self believe me I never heard him do any thing like it and so thinketh every one in the Synod it was learned devout and the stile masculous quicquid dixero minus erit the disquisition came to the Helvetian Divines Sessio 98. 1. March We went on in our Synodical disquisition of the fifth Article where my L. of Landaffe his yesterday speech was cited by two or three several Divines with great Honour and commendation the disquisition came to the Colledge of the Geldrians This my Lord is all we have done when there is any thing worthy the relating I shall not fail to advertise your L. hoping your L. in this time of my other business which must not be neglected will pardon both the rudeness of the hand and stile for both which my necessary plea is want of time The matter between the Bremenses and Scultetus with the other two professors is taken up by the Praeses and the Delegats the Bremenses have shewn their inclination to peace and were contented with private satisfaction the other three did protest they had no hard opinion of them but accounted them learned religious orthodoxal were sorry they had done that which was done and would do so no more the Bremenses desired that one of our Colledge might be present at this satisfaction but the other three would no way yield to it Gomarus was there admonished to repair to my L. of Landaffe and to testifie unto him his sorrow for the word which unawares had proceeded from him to his L. in the Synod but yet the old tuffe man is not come to his L. I hope after this we shall live in peace which I must needs confess for the greatest part of it we are debters to your L. Notwithstanding the late proclamation set out by the states General for restraining the printing of all seditious books during the time of the Synod yet even now in the Belgick tongue there is come forth a seditious pamphlet with no name of Author or Printer containing all the acts which hath been made against the Remonstrants in this Synod especially by the Delegats a book made only to incite the common people to a dislike of the Synod they are not to be sold but they send them abroad among their favorites I have all this day been using means for compassing one of them to send to your L. but cannot yet there is one of them promised me but it may be your L. by this time hath seen some of them By my letters from England from one who I believe knoweth it it wil light heavy upon the party your L. nameth in the end of your letter as much I mean as his place
Church great Bibles which I would have your L. think I speak without any figure trope or Rhetoricallie for it is so big I told the President that it was a thing impossible the Synod could take notice of the contents of that volume under six moneths he answered me that for my comfort he would show me two lines in the Preface which would rid me of that fear and so he did for in these lines they doe protest that they do not offer this volume to the Synod for they profess that they have nothing nor will have nothing to do with the Synod Since the Synod hath refused to have any doings with their living persons but only their dead books and therefore they do only offer this book to the Delegats but will not have it thought by any man that they offer it to the Synod Heinsius dyned with us yesterday and I asked him when they had given in this book he told me that morning but with such impudence as is almost incredible for when one of the Delegats told them that he wondered why they would give in so much paper as was impossible it should ever be read in the Synod Episcopius answered they had nothing to do with the Synod they offered it only to them who were the Delegats the former Delegat replied that the Delegats were not to judge of their opinions but the Synod and that in their letters citatorie they were warned to come and give an account to the Synod of the doctrine which they had delivered in their Schools and Pulpits Episcopius most impudently answered thus briefly we here delivered to you the Delegats this book and to none else if you be pleased to take it from us we will leave it with you if not we pray you give it us again and we will keep it one of the Delegats commanded Heinsius to write down that their peremptory and saucy answer Episcopius very bravely told Heinsius that they would save him that labour for they had set down the same words already in their Preface and pointed out to him the place where he might finde them so that my L. they were never since the beginning of the Synod so lusty as now so as none can chuse but think that they yet have some secret and sure hopes I forget to tell your L. that the President told me he had been glancing at this volume and he findes it to be in many parts a confuration of the several discourses which have been had publickly in the Synod upon the five Articles There is some taâ—â— here about the citation of Vorstius and Festus Hommius yesternight told me he had some talk with your L. about it If he be cited your L. credit with the Prince of Orange and count William must help us for discretion in dealing with him else he will keep the Synod as long as the Remonstrants did your L. I hope will give counsel to them that if Vorstius should desire to have time to give in apologies and explications for â—â—he hard speeches in his book De Deo and should desire to be convinced with Reason and satisfaction of his arguments all which would take up a long time that the Synod would talk of no such matter with him but in plain terms tell him that all the members of the Synod had read his book and found many things in it very neer unto open blasphemy and scandalous without all question to the reformed religion that explications of things which are not once to be called in question is no satisfaction and they therefore only desire to know whether he will make a plain recantation and denial of it and publickly ask God forgiveness for it and his Church likewise there assembled whom by that book he hath scandilized if he do this we gain him if not then without any more ado let the Synod censure him as they shall think fit I wish that to the terror of others he might solemnly be excommunicated in the Synod in this and all other businesses we do and must relie upon your L. care for the handsome carriage of them which as your L. hath hithertil done so that your L. may still continue to the good of Gods Church and your own immortal credit it is no small part of the prayers of Dordrecht this 20. of March Stylo Novo Your L. humble and faithfull servant Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord THis week hath been a very barren one for news for we have been taken up wholly with hearing yet such Sessions as we had your L. shall here have a note of them Sessio 119. 18. Martii stylo novo There were read Letters from the Marques of Brandeburgh in Dutch containing as the President told us an excuse why he deputed none to the Synod the President told us they should be turned into Latine and after read again unto the whole Synod there were read the judgements of the South Hollandi the North Hollandi the Zelandi the Ultrajectini upon the third and fourth Articles Sessio 120. eodem die post meridiem The were read upon the same Articles the judgements of the Frisii the Transisulani the Groninganii Omlandii the Gallobelgici the Drentani And so was ended the reading of all the Collegial judgements upon the third and fourth Articles in which there was wonderful great consent both in the things themselves as likewise in the phrases and forms of speaking Sessio 121. 19 March There were read the judgement of our Colledge upon the fifth Article Which was far longer then any which we gave in before At the end of it we annexed an adhortation to the Delegates for the defence in their Provinces of the Doctrine recived in the Reformed Churches Likewise an Exhortation to all the Members of the Synod for avoiding harshness and rigidity and embracing of all moderation in making the Cannos especially upon the second Article as likewise an admonition to the Provincials for great wariness and discretion in propounding to the common People the Doctrine of Predestination and especially Reprobation these things we told his Majesty desired us to observe and so with a Prayer we wisht both we and all the Synod might be careful in the observing of them There was read the judgement of the Palatines at the end whereof they annexed an Epilogue much to the same purpose with ours In all the judgements that were read upon this Article it is to be observed that every Colledge concluded with such an Epilogue and a Prayer Sessio 122. eodem die post meridiem There were read the judgements of the Hassiaeci of the Helvetici of the Nassovici of the Genevenses who used as in their former judgements no confirmations besides plain citations of places of Scripture of the Bremenses Sessio 123. 20. March There were read the judgement of the Embdani who were exceeding long of the four Professores Belgici which was subscribed as with their own hands so a little beneath with the hand
confessionem catechesin Belgicam esse quoque à Synodo comprobatas sic concludit cum precatione gratiarum actione ejusdeÌ„ Plane flyli cum priori fere Paris prolixitatis post absolutam totam solennitatem pulsantur Organa sic omnes Synodici domum redeuâ—â—ted locum Synodicum eodem plane ordine quo venerant Ibi dominus Praeses monet jam omnia negotia Synodica quae poscerent opem Exterorum Theologorum abloluta esse Ideoque monet ut singula collegia duos mittant qui ad horam quartam Pomeridiana incipiant describere canonet quibus postea subscribant ipse cum Assessoribus scribis ut sic singula collegia habeant exemplar authenticum asservandum in perpetuam rei memoriam brevi precatione Synodum dimittit Sessio 154. ultima 9. Maii. stylo novo D. Praeses movet hune ultimum Synodi conventuÌ„ celebrari ad agenduÌ„ Deo gratias pro exoptatissimo Synodi exitu porrâ—â—que ad agendas gratias Theologis Exteris pro gravissimis laboribus susceptis Gregorius Martini unus ex Delegatis â—â— precationeÌ„ habet suavissima justae prolixitatis qua Deo gratias agit pro asserenda religionis punirate in Ecclesis Belgicis operi consiliis hujus Synodi precaturque iisdem Ecclesiis in veritate hic asserta invictam constantiaÌ„ Precatione finita oratione eleganti Theologos Exteros coÌ„pellat nomine Illustriss ord gen singulis gratias rependit pro saluberrimis ipsoruÌ„ consiliis graâ—â—visâ—â—imis laboribus quibus hoc tempore Ecclesias Belgicas sublevassent itidem ingentibus illis princibus Rebuspublicis Magistratibus qui ipsos delegassent nominatim ipsos cuÌ„ summa observantia recensendo rogatque ut Ecclesias Belgicas ipsoruÌ„â—â—elsitudinibus curatent fore coÌ„mendatissimas rogat ut singuli praesentes persuadeant sibi de prolixissimo ord gen erga ipso animo utque ante discessum Hagam comitis petant referantque ab illustriss ord gen gratias porro ad principes Respublicas sus literas dimissorias D. Praeses Ecclesiasticus oratione pia coÌ„memorat Dei beneficia in EcclesiaÌ„ suaÌ„ saepius lapsenteÌ„ applicatione facta ad Ecclesias Belgicas praedicat mediata illa instrumeÌ„ta quibus Deus ad hanc rem usus fuerat cum primis RegeÌ„ magnae Britanniae deinde reliquos principes Magistratus nominatim qui huc Theologos fuos misissent deinde omnes singulos Theologos Exterors hic praesentes quibus omnia fausta et caelestes benedictiones comprecatur Jubetque ipso esse persuasissimos eoruÌ„ memoriaÌ„ fore hic in aeternum suavissimaÌ„ primuÌ„ Theologi Britanni singuli orationibê° brevibus et succinctis Deo agunt gratias de Synodi tam faelici successu D. Delegatis et fratribus Belgis ob singulareÌ„ humanitateÌ„ Deum rogant ut velit Ecclesias Belgicas semâ—â—er faelices esse et pacatas Idem praestiterunt palatini perdominuÌ„ ScultetuÌ„ Idem Hassiaci per D. Crucigerum Idem Helvetii per D. Brittin germu Idem Nassovici per D. AlstediuÌ„ Idem Genevenses singuli Idem Bremenses per D. MartiniuÌ„ Idem Embdani singuli sed uterque prolixissime itaque omnes Exteri vota sua nuncupassent praeses Synodo piissima et Gratulatoria precationeÌ„ finem imposuit Tum primum D. Delegati dein D. Praeses dein D. Assessores et scribae dein Singuli Synodici Belgae loca sua relinquentes singulos Theologos Exteros ordine datis dextris et adjunctis votis humanissime salutant atque sic Sessio haec auditoribus frequentissimaâ—â— adâ—â—oque ipsa Synodus Dorâ—â— drechtana cum summis gratulationibus et maxima animorum laetitia ob speratum finem et maerore ob corporum divulsionem Q. F. F. Q. sit dimissa est FINIS To the Reader IF that â—â—Reverend and worthy person Mr. Farindon had not died before the Impression of this Book you had received from that excellent hand an exact account of the Authours Life which he had begun and resolved to perfect and prefix to this Edition And as the loss of him is great in many particulars so especially in this because there was none to whom Mr. Hales was so throughly known as unto him nor was there any so able to declare his worth partly by reason of his own abilities eminently known principally because he learn'd his Authour from an intimate converse who was a man never to be truly express'd but by himself I am therefore to entreat thee Reader being deprived of the proper Plutarch not to expect any such thing as a Life from me but to accept of so much onely as is here intended If Mr. Hales were unknown unto thee be pleased to believe what I know and affirm to be true of him if he were known then onely be satisfied that what is published in his name did really proceed from him and more then this needs not to be spoken in reference to the advancement of this Work because he which knew or believeth what an excellent person Mr. Hales was and shall be also perswaded that he was the Author of this Book cannot chuse but infinitely desire to see and read him in it In order to the First of these I shall speak no more than my own long experience intimate acquaintance and high veneration grounded upon both shall freely and sincerely prompt me to Mr. John Hales sometime Greek Professour of the University of Oxford long Fellow of Eton College and at last also Prebendary of Windsore was a man I thinke of as great a sharpness quicknesse and subtilty of wit as ever this or perhaps any Nation bred His industry did strive if it were possible to equall the largenesse of his capacity whereby he became as great a Master of polite various and Universall Learning as ever yet convers'd with Bookes Proportionate to his reading was his Meditation which furnished him with a Judgement beyond the vulgar reach of man built upon unordinary Notions rais'd out of strange observations and comprehensive thoughts within himselfe So that he really was a most prodigious Example of an acute and piercimg Wit of a vast and illimited Knowledge of a severe and profound Judgement Although this may seeme as in it selfe it truly is a grand Elogium yet I cannot esteem him lesse in any thing which belongs to a good man then in those intellectuall perfections and had he never understood a letter hee had other Ornaments sufficient to endear him For he was of a Nature as we ordinarily speake so kinde so sweet so courting all mankind of an affability so prompt so ready to receive all conditions of men that I conceive it neer as easie a task for any one to become so Knowing as so Obligeing A a Christian none more ever acquainted with the nature of the Gospel because none more Studious of the knowledge of it or more curious in the search which being strengthened by those great advantages before mentioned could not prove otherwise then highly
controversies then gravely to compose them he raised great stirs and by disputing spread them far and wide whilst he went about to make himself sole Lord and commander of the whole profession Now that it may appear wherefore I have noted this it is no hard thing for a man that hath wit and is strongly possest of an opinion and resolute to maintain it to finde some places of Scripture which by good handling will be woed to cast a favourable countenance upon it Pythagoras Schollers having been bred up in the doctrine of numbers when afterward they diverted upon the studies of nature fancied unto themselves somewhat in natural bodies like unto numbers and thereupon fell into a conceit that numbers were the principles of them So fares it with him that to the reading of Scripture comes forepossest with some opinion As Antipheron Orietes in Aristotle thought that every where he saw his own shape and picture going afore him so in divers parts of Scripture where these men walk they will easily perswade themselves that they see the image of their own conceits It was and is to this day a fashion in the hotter countreys at noon when the sun is in his strength to retire themselves to their Closets or beds if they were at home to cool and shady places if they were abroad to avoid the inconvenience of the heat of it To this the Spouse in the Canticles alluding calls after her beloved as after a shepherd Shew me O thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest thy flock where thou dost rest at noon The Donatists conceiting unto themselves that the Church was shut up in them alone being urged by the fathers to shew how the Church being universal came on a sudden thus to be confinde to Africk they had presently their Scripture for it for so they found it written in the Canticles Indica quem diligit anima mea ubi pascas ubi cubes in meridie In which text meridies doubtless as they thought was their Southern countrie of Africk where the shepherd of Israel was and no where else to feed his flocks I may not trouble you with instances in this kinde little observation is able to furnish the man of slendrest reading with abundance The texts of Scripture which are especially subject to this abuse are those that are of ambiguous and doubtful meaning For as Thucydides observes of the fat and fertile places of Greece that they were evermore the occasions of stirs and seditions the neighbouring nations every one striving to make it self Lord of them so is it with these places that are so fertile as it were of interpretation and yield a multiplicity of sense they are the Palaestra for good wits to prove masteries in where every one desires to be Lord and absolute A second thing occasioning us to transgress against Scripture and the discreet and sober handling of it is our too quick and speedy entrance upon the practise of interpreting it in our young and green years before that time and experience have ripened us and setled our conceits For that which in all other business and here likewise doth most especially commend us is our cautelous and wary handling it But this is a flower seldome seen in youths garden Aristotle differencing age and youth makes it a property of youth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to suppose they know all things and to be bold in affirming and the heathen Rhetorician could tell us that by this so speedy entring upon action and so timely venting our crude and unconcocted studies quod est ubique perniciosissimum praevenit vires fiducia a thing which in all cases is most pernicious presumption is greater then strength after the manner of those who are lately recovered out of some great sickness in whom appetite is stronger then digestion These are they who take the greatest mysteries of Christian religion to be the fittest arguments to spend themselves upon So Eckius in his Chrysopassus a work of his so termed wherein he discusses the question of predestination in the very entrance of his work tells us that he therefore enterpris'd to handle this argument because forsooth he thought it to be the fittest question in which he might Juveniles calores exercere The ancient Masters of fence amongst the Romans were wont to set up a post and cause their young Schollers to practise upon it and to foin and fight with it as with an adversary Insteed of a post this young fencer hath set himself up one of the deepest mysteries of our profession to practise his freshmanship upon Which quality when once it findes Scripture for his object how great inconvenience it brings with it needs no large discourse to prove St. Jerome a man not too easily brought on to acknowledge the errours of his writings amongst those few things which he doth retract censures nothing so sharply as the mistake of his youth in this kinde In adolescentia provocatus ardore studio Scripturarum allegoricè interpretatus sum Abdiam Prophetam cujus historiam nesciebam He thought it one of the greatest sins of his youth that being carried away through an inconsiderate heat in his studies of Scripture he adventured to interpret Abdias the Prophet allegorically when as yet he knew not the historical meaning Old men saith our best natural master by reason of the experience of their often mistakes are hardly brought constantly to affirm any thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they will always cauteâ—â—ously interline their speeches with it may bees and peradventures and other such particles of wariness and circumspection This old mens modesty of all other things best fits us in perusing those hard and obscure texts of holy Scripture Out of which conceit it is that we see St. Austine in his books de Genesi ad literam to have written only by way of questions and interrogations after the manner of Aristotle in his Problemes that he might not for so he gives his reason by being over positive prejudice others and peradventure truer interpretations that every one might choose according to his likeing ubi quid intelligere non potest Scripturae Dei det honorem sibi timorem and where his understanding cannot attain unto the sense of it let him give that honour and reverence which is due unto the Scripture and carry himself with that aw and respect which befits him Wherefore not without especial providence it is that the Holy Ghost by St. Paul giving precepts to Timothy concerning the quality of those who were to be admitted to the distributing of Gods holy word expresly prescribes against a young Scholler least saith he he be puft up For as it hath been noted of men who are lately grown rich that they differ from other rich men only in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that commonly they have all the faults that rich men have and many more so is it as true in those who have lately attaind to some degree and mediocrity
whatsoever it is that is irksome unto us in the common behaviour of our Brethren it were strange we should not be able to brook Epictetus conconsidering with himself the weakness which is usual in men still to make the worst of what befals us wittily tells us that every thing in the world hath two handles one turn'd toward us which we may easily take the other turn'd from us harder to be laid hold of the first makes all things easie the second not so The instance that he brings in my very purpose Be it saith he thy Brother hath offended thee here are two hand-fasts one of the offence the other of thy Brother If thou take hold of that of the offence it will be too hot for thee thou wilt not easily endure the touch of it but if thou lay hold of that of thy Brother this will make all behaviour tolerable There is no part of our Brothers carriage towards us but if we search it we shall finde some hand-fast some circumstance that will make it easie to be born If we can can finde no other the circumstance of our Saviour Christs example will never fail An example which will not only make us to endure the importunity of his ordinary behaviour but all his outragious dealing whatsoever For saith S. Chrysostome didst thou know that thy Brother intended particular mischief against thee that he would embrue his hand in thy blood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet kiss that hand for thy Lord did not refuse to kiss that that mouth that made the bargain for his blood It is storied of Protagoras that being a poor youth and carrying a burthen of sticks he piled so them and laid them together with such art order that he made them much more light and easie to be born Beloved there is an Art among Christians like unto that of Protagoras of so making up and ordering our burthens that they may lie with much less weight upon our shoulders this art if we could learn it would make us take all in good part at our Brothers hand were he as bad as Nabal was of whom his own servant complain'd that he was such a man of Belial that no man could speak unto him Wherefore leaving you to the study and learning of this most Christian art I will a little consider for what Reasons we may not admit of these two sorts of weak men to controversie For as for the unlearned in private nothing more usual with them then to take offence at our dissentions and to become more uncertain and unjoynted upon the hearing of any question discust It is their usual voyce and question to us Is it possible that we should be at one in these points in which your selves do disagree thus cast they off on our backs the burthen of their back-sliding and neutrality wherefore to acquaint them with disputation in Religion were as it were to blast them in their infancy and bring upon them some improsperous Disease to hinder their growth in Christ. Secondly what one said of other contentions In bellis civilibus audacia etiam valet singulorum In civil wars no man is too weak to do a mischief we have found too true in these our Sacra Bella no man is to weak I say not to do mischief but to be a principal Agent and Captain in them Simple and unlearned souls train'd up by men of contentious spirits have had strength enough to be Authors of dangerous heresies Priscilla and Maximilla silly women laden with iniquity were the chief ring-leaders in the error of the Montanists and as it is commonly said bellum inchoant inertes fortes finiunt weaklings are able to begin a quarrel but the prosecution and finishing is a work for stronger men so hath it fared here For that quarrel which these poor souls had raised Tertullian a man of great Wit and Learning is drawn to undertake so that for a Barnabas to be drawn away to error there needs not always the example and authority of a Peter A third reason is the marvellous violence of the weaker sort in maintaining their conceits if once they begin to be opiniative For one thing there is that wonderfully prevails against the reclaiming of them and that is the natural jealousie they have of all that is said unto them by men of better wits stand it with reason never so good if it sound not as they would have it A jealousie founded in the sense of their weakness arising out of this that they suspect all to be done for no other end but to circumvent and abuse them And therefore when they see themselves to be too weak in reasoning they easily turn them to violence The Monks of Egypt otherwise devout and religious men anciently were for the most part unlearned generally given over to the error of the Anthropomorphitae who held that God had hands and feet and all the parts that a man hath and was in outward shape and proportion like to one of us Theophilus a Learned Bishop of Alexandria having fallen into their hands was so roughly used by them that ere he could get out of their fingers he was fain to use his wits and to crave aid of his Equivocating Sophistry and soothly to tell them I have seen your face as the face of God Now when Christian and Religious doubts must thus be managed with wilfulness and violence what mischief may come of it is already so plain that it needs not my finger to point it out Wherefore let every such weak person say unto himself as Saint Austine doth Tu ratiocinare ego mirer disputa tu ego credam let others reason I will marvel Let others dispute I will believe As for the man strong in passion or rather weak for the strength of passion is the weakness of the passionate great reason hath the Church to except against him For first of all from him it comes that our books are so stuft with contumelious malediction no heathen writers having left the like example of choller and gross impatience An hard thing I know it is to write without affection and passion in those things which we love and therefore it is free so to do to those who are Lords over themselves It seems our Saviour gave some way to it himself For somewhat certainly his Kinsmen saw in his behaviour when as S. Mark reports they went forth to lay hold upon him thinking he was beside himself But for those who have not the command of themselves better it were they laid it by S. Chrysostome excellently observeth that the Prophets of God and Satan were by this notoriously differenced that they which gave Oracles by motion from the Devil did it with much impatience and confusion with a kinde of fury and madness but they which gave Oracles from God by Divine Inspiration gave them with all mildness and temper If it be the cause of God which we handle in our writings then let us handle
them to take in good part the good will of the man for want of more business the Synod brake up At length are we coming to the main battel The Armies have been in sight one of another and have had some parly The manner was this Upon Thursday the 6. of Decemb. stylo novo The Synod being set in the morning the Praeses signified that there had come unto him in the name of the Remonstrants these fower H. Leo Niellius Matthisius and Pinakerus to give notice that the Remonstrants were ready according to their Citation but because they had but lately come unto the Town that yet convenient Lodgings were not provided their papers books and stuff were confused therefore they requir'd respite either till Saterday or at least Friday morning The President of the Politicks replyed that they should come and personally make appearance before the Synod and there propose their mindes and if the Synod approved their causes they might be deferr'd Upon this were two of the Deputies of Utrecht sent forth to give them warning to provide for their present appearance In the mean while till they came the Praeses thought fit that such as in the former Session delivered not themselves concerning the Reformation of abuses in Printing should now do it Here was little delivered besides what was said the day before only some few particulars as that order should be taken to repress this longing humour in many men of coming to the Press that there should be no Impression of the Bible at any time without leave had Forreign Books brought out of other Countreys should not be distracted here without peculiar leave after their being perused by the Censurers to ease the Censurers that they might not be troubled with reading too great a multitude of improfitable books it was thought fit that the books should first be brought to the Classes and what they approved should be brought to the Censurers c. In the mean while the Remonstrants came all that were cited by Letters and were admitted into the Synod There is in the midst of the Synod-House a long Table set as it seems for them for it hath hitherto been void no man sitting at it here Chairs and Forms being set they were willed to sit down The Praeses told them that he had commended to the Synod their Suit of being a little respited but it was the will of the Deputies for the States that they should come before the Synod and propose their cause themselves Episcopius standing up spake to this effect First he prayed God to give a blessing to this Meeting and to poure into their mindes such conceits as best fitted men come together for such ends then he signified that according to their Citation they were now come ad collationem instituendam concerning that cause which hitherto with a good Conscience they had maintain'd As for the point of delay true it is they spake to the Praeses concerning a respite until Saterday or Friday by reason of that great distraction of their books and papers and want of convenient lodging but not as a petition to be moved in that behalf unto the Synod but only as a thing which out of common equity they might have presumed on without acquainting the Synod with it For they were ready even at that present to begin the business they came for without any further delay But this they left to the Deputies Secular and Ecclesiastical to determine of Then were they requested to withdraw a little into a chamber near the Synod House and immediately was it proposed unto the Synod what time was to be set for to begin The time prefixt was the morrow after Jo. Polyander took hold of those words ad collationem and told the Synod that it was fit the Remonstrants were told the end of their coming and the manner of proceeding which should be taken with them that they might know what they were to look for and so provide They were to be inform'd that they came not to conference neither did the Synod profess it self an adverse party against them Conferences had been heretofore held to no purpose They ought to have heeded the words of the Letters by which they were cited They were called not to conference but to propose their Opinions with their Reasons and leave it to the Synod to judge of them The Synod would be a Judge and not a party Then were they call'd in again and all this was told them Episcopius answered that for the word Collatio he stood not on it and how they would carry themselves it should appear the day following Mean while one thing they would request of the Synod that is that Grevinchovius and Goulartius should be sent for to the Synod as Patrons of this cause That they had this last week exhibited a Supplication to the States General to this purpose and receav'd this answer that they should put this matter to the Synod and if the Synod thought it fit to be granted they would not be against it Neither did they propose this to seek delayes For they were ready whilst these men should be sent for to proceed to the action Only they thought fit that to maintain their cause they should be sent for who could best do it Then were they again dismist and one was sent to them to call for their Supplication to the Lords and the Lords Answer To this they return'd that the Lords gave this answer not in writing but by word of mouth and for the copy of their Supplication they called not for it any more Then was the thing proposed unto the Synod and the Secular Deputies replyed that they would return their answer on the morrow and the same was the answer of the Synod Mr. Praeses thought that Grevinchovius might be admitted salvis censuris Ecclesiasticis yet notwithstanding he thought good to acquaint the Synod with the quality of this man and thereupon he produced the Act of the Provincial Synod of South Holland wherein it was witnessed that the Synod because he did refuse to appear when they cited him and because of many blasphemies in his Book and of many reproachful speeches against the Magistrates and against the Ministers had suspended him ab omni munere Ecclesiastico From this Grevinchovius had not appealed to the National Synod and therefore it was in the power of the Synod to do what they thought fit Then were the Remonstrants again call'd in and it was signifyed unto them that on the morrow they should understand the will of the Synod concerning their motion made and so were they again dismist and the Session ended the Praeses having first premised that all other things yet depending as the Decree concerning the Proponentes together with the Remedies concerning the abuses in Printing and what else soever must be deferr'd and the business in hand alone attended My Lord Bishop was desirous that Mr. Carleton should stay this day to see the coming of