in the State is worth their is scuffling for to be his successor what is reported of Mr. Pakker is but guessing your L. is in name for it at Court but upon what ground I know not I would it were as sure as my wishes are strong So with the remembrance of my best service to your L. and your worthy Lady I take my leave and rest Dordrecht this 2. of March. Your L. in all true respect and service Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord THough our Synod yieldeth no great argument of writing for now we are taken up in hearing altogether yet I can not omit my duty in letting your L. know how we spend the time Sessio 99. 4. March Stylo Novo The President did invite the whole Synod to the Funeral of a Helvetian Gentleman one Mr. Staffurins who came hither as comes itineris with the Helvetian Divines the invitation was against the morrow at 11. of the clock The President moreover with great joy told the Synod that he had received news from the Magistrates of Camps whereby they signifie that they rest well satisfied in the last decree of the Synod concerning the suspension of their cited ministers and continuance of the same suspension in case of their not comparence within 14. days after new advertisement that they would do what in them lyeth to perswade them to comparence which if they refused that they would not give them any more countenance or protection as heretofore they had done moreover that they did with all due respect expect the resolutions of the Synod concerning the points of religion now in question to which they mean to submit themselves wholly and by their own example of obedience encourage and perswade as much as in them lyeth their distracted people to yield the like obedience and that in the mean time the care of their Ministers Flocks should be no pretence to their cited ministers for not comparence because that during their abscence they themselves would undertake to see their cures sufficiently discharged both for reading and preaching of the word I must needs say this message was much unlike their former letters which they were wont to write in favour of their Remonstrant Ministers Moreover the President told us that D. Altingius one of the Palatine Divines had brought him letters to the Synod from old D. Paraeus of Heidelberge together with his judgement in a written book of the five Articles in controversie which he told us should presently after the Synodical disquisition be read We go on in the Synodical disquisition of the fifth Article where some of the provincials observed some things some nothing and so at this Session quickly our disquisition upon the first Article was ended then Paraeus letters to the Synod were read the summe whereof was this I am not so good an English man as to adventure to translate I will therefore give you the Latine Quantum doloris et lachrimarum sentiebamus hic omnes jam per aliquot annos ex flends illo schismate et dissidio quod Ecclesiam Vestram Florentissimam laceravit tantum etiaem et nunc gandii et gratulationum experimur ex coactione Celeberrimae bujus Synodi cuâ—â—us ope et saluberrimis consiliis speramus altissimum hoc vulnus sanatumiri quantum gloriandi materâ—â—am de derit Pontificiis Vestrum schisâ—â—a palam est omnibus illis ut Synodus obstruat os possitque hoc Ecclesia Vestra incendium restinguere pacemqne vestram nimis collapsam restituere illud est quod sieut expectant à vobis boni omnes ita et à Deo Opt. Max. omnibus precibus expetunt O utinam daretur mihi in ultima jam senectute venerandam hanc Synodum conspicari Verum cum illud aetas mea mihi deneget tametsi Doctissimi mei Collegae meas vices supplebunt visum tamen fuit mihi meam quoque de famosis illis 5. Articulis ad Reverentias Vestras sentenâ—â—iam perscribere et una cum Ecclesia Resormata meam quoque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 testatam facere Videbitis me hic conditionatam Electionem rejicere Reprobationem una cum D. Calvino passim praesertim Institutionum lib. 3. ad vitiositatem referre si minus fortassis quam par est Praedestionis mysteria pertractavero illud putate consulto factumesse sunt enim illa adoranda magis quam discutienda solitam et receptam de merito mortis Christi distinctionem puta sufficientiae et efficientiae videbitis me retinere Distinctionem illam de resistibilitate et irresistibilitate gratiae Divinae velim â—â—ad authores suos puta Jesuitas relegari Heteredoxa illa de apostasia sanctorum sententia se ipsam jugulat Det Deus ut in omnibus orthodoxam doctrinam retineatis et paecem unice sectemini The subscription was Rever Vest. Observantissimus David Paraeus Septuagenarius Scribebam manu propria This was the summe of this letter and of the Session too Sessio 100. 5. of March There was read publickly so much of Paraeus his sentence as concerned the first and second Article in which he did accurately dispute against the Remonstrants opinion in both and spent a great many pages in expounding and confirming the received distinction of the sufficiency and efficiency of the merit of Christ his death Sessio 101. eodem die post meridiem Dr. Martinius of Breme aypointed by the President publickly all auditors admitted did very accurately and soundly discourse of the true Deity of Christ and especially laboured to prove his omnipraesentia opposing and answering all those places of Vorstius in which in his disputation de Deo he calleth the omnipraesentia of Christ into question Sessio 102. 6. March We went on in the publick reading of D. Paraeus his judgement upon the 3. 4. and 5. Articles where I must needs say that he did most accurately and soundly and methodically with great subtilty and variety of reasons overthrow the Remonstrants opinions of Resistibility of grace and the apostasie of the saints one would little think that that wit and judgement could be so young in so great age the President told us that after the Collegial judgement were read that the Synod by their publick letters must needs give him many thanks for these his great and good pains as he did not doubt but that the Estates General would take order for doing of the like So one of the Scribes by the President his appointment was beginning to read our Colledge his judgement but D. Davenant told the President that he thought it greatly concerned the dignity of the Synod that the Collegial suffrages should not be read thus privately but that they should be read as publickly as might be all auditors being admitted both because it might be that the Remonstrants being moved by force of their reasons might relent something in their opinions and all other auditors be edified and confirmed in the truth as likewise because all auditors should perceive the consent of so many
men in so hard and an controverted Article There was read the judgement of our Colledge upon the third and fourth Article which was most just and equal condemning the rigidity of some of the contra-Remonstrants opinion though not by that name as well as the errors of the Pelagians Semipelagians and Remonstrants There was read the judgement of the Palatines who in all things agreed with the judgement of the contra-Remonstrants as it is set down in Collatiâ—â— Hagiensis Sessio 117. eodem die post meridiem There were read the judgements of the Hassiaci the Helvetians the Nassovici who agreed in all points with the contra-Remonstrants of the Geneâ—â—onses who carried a very even hand in this Article their Theses as before were confirmed only by places of Scripture but finely digested of the Bremenses who handled the head de gratia et libero arbitrio in general and in particular overthrew resistibility of Grace Of the Embdani whose judgement after an houres reading was not neer half done and therefore we were glad to make an intercession of their discourse of Grace till the morrow Sessio 118. 16. Martii We went on in reading the judgement of the Embdani which yet continued above an houre and an half they discussed 34. questions and to speak truth they were long above the strength of patience There was read the judgement of the foure Belgick Professors subscribed by themselves and afterwards approved by the subscription of Sibrandus next was read the judgement of Sibrandus subscribed by himself and approved by the subscriptions of his Colleagues next was read the judgement of the Geldri So my very good Lord here is the summe of all hath passed this week I hope your L. hath received the letters I sent these last two weeks what followeth I shall not fail to advertise your L. So with the remembrance of my most observant duty to your L. and your worthy Lady I take my leave and rest Dordrecht this 16. of March Novo Stylo 1619. Your L. in all true respect and service Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord AFter I had written these yesternight I received your L. letters for which I stand much obleiged to your L. I had before them received very particularly news from England but especially of the Star-Chamber sentence from a gentleman of good worth who was present many memorable sentences his Majesty delivered such as were these he said this sin was like the first sin committed in the world that my Lady Lake was the Serpent my Lady Rosseas Eve and Sir Thomas Lake the man he desired the noble men to take heed of their wives for he had now known five of his counsel who had been overthrown by their wives and especially bid such look to themseves who had Popish wives if for no other thing yet for this that a Whore and a Papist were termini convertibiles Moreover speaking publickly of the Navie he gave in the Star-Chamber three reasons why he had made my L. of Buckingham Admiral one was because the other was exceeding old second because this was young and fit for service third because of his love to this and his being neer about him I am sure your L. hath the Kings meditation upon the Lordâ—â— Prayer dedicated to my L. of Buckingham else I would have sent your L. one Yesternight their landed here one English Gentleman of good worth who assureth us that on Tuseday last the Queen died and it may be true for I had a letter written the first of March assuring me that my L. of Canterbury was sent for in haste to Hampton-Court as was thought to see her die I hear likewise but cannot believe it that Mr. Dean of Worcester cometh this journey over with my L. Hayes in his Embassage to the Emperour Now for your L. directions in our Synod business our thanks is but a small recompense your L. may justly look for your reward in heaven I pray God send us out of the second Article well and I shall be perswaded of Harmony in all the rest for in good faith some of the Provincials especially the Geldri and the North Hollandi who are of all in the Synod greatest in the President his books have delivered such propositions in that Article as I dare say never any Divine in the world dreamed of but themselves for mine own part I had rather loose mâ—â—ne hand then subscribe them For that your L. adviseth from the King about the Palatines it is a thing absolutely necessary for they are the only Magistrales Doctores next to Gomarus in all the Synod and think every thing they speak should be taken for text in good faith in their judgement upon the second Article they did gird most bitterly at some things which D. Ward had delivered in the Synod of that same Article with which D. Ward is very much moved Our judgement in the second Article is already read in the Synod so we must study to frame our selves to our directions from England in making of the Canons my L. his Grace his letter is to have us conform our selves to the received distinction and restriction with which his grace acquainted his Majesty and received approbation from him but I must needs say that the directions which your L. hath sent from Secretary Nanton do seem to will us to be as favourable to the general propositions as may be giving as little offence to the Lutherans as we can which counsel in my poor judgement we have in our Theses already followed Frequent admonitions and exhortations rather from your L. or by your L. means procured to the President for prudence and wariness and keeping the bond of peace may hinder much indiscretion in this Synod in which as I hope your L. will not be wanting so by Gods grace I shall not be wanting to give your L. all convenient information not be wanting in my prayers to the God of peace that your L. may still go on in procuring the peace of our assembly So once again with the remembrance of my most sincere duty I rest This Sunday morning 17. March Your L. faithful and respectful servant Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord SInce my last unto your L. there have been but three Sessions no matter of moment hath been done in them and therefore I will defer the relation of them to my next letters only I thought good to let your L. know that yesterday after the forenoon Session the President called me into his lodging and told me he would show me a miracle which in truth he did for there he showed me a volume which the Remonstrants that morning had given in to the Delegats upon the 3. 4. and 5. Articles I was I confesse astonished when I looked on it for I could not with mine one hand lift it from the table it is above twice as much as all they have given in yet in good faith my Lord I think it is fully as big as one of our
holy Scripture to lay open in the view of the world many grosse faults and imperfections even of the most excellent instruments of his glory That which he tells the woman in the Gospel who annointed him before his passion that wheresoever the Gospel should be preached this fact of hers should be recorded in memorial of her the same as it seems was his intent concerning his Saints that wheresoever the word of life should be taught there likewise should be related the grievous sins of his servants And therefore accordingly scarcely is there any one Saint in the whole book of God who is not recorded in one thing or other to have notably overshot himself Sometimes he hath made the Saints themselves the proclaimers of their own shame So he makes Moses to register his own infidelity so David in his one and fiftieth Psalm by the instinct of Gods spirit leaves unto the Church under his own hand an evidence against himself for his adultery and murther Sometimes he makes their dearest friends the most exact chroniclers of their faults for so St. Chrysostome observes of St. Mark the companion and Scholer of Peter who hath more particularly registred the fall of his master then any of the other Evangelists 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Who would not marvel saith he that St. Mark not only concealed not the grosse escape of his master but hath more accurately then any of the rest recorded the particulars of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even because he was his Disciple As if he could have done his master no better service then to deliver a most exact relation of his fault There are yet two things further to be noted in this dispensation of Almighty God The first in regard of us the second in regard of the Saints whose errors are recorded for the first who can but marvel that since all things that are written are written for our instruction that if they be good they may serve for our imitation if otherwise for warnings to us yet many sinister actions of the Saints of God are so exprest in Scripture without censure without note that it were almost some danger to pronounce of them Abrahams equivocating with Abimelech Jacobs deluding his blinde father Rachel abusing Laban with a lie Jephthe his sacrificing his daughter Sampson killing himself with the Philistins these and many other besides are so fet down that they may seem to have been done rather by divine instinct then out of humane infirmity Wherein the Holy Ghost seems to me tanquam adoriri nos ex insidiis to set upon us out of ambush to use a kind of guile to see whether we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spiritual discretion to trie whether we will attribute more to mens examples then to his precepts Secondly in regard of the Saints themselves it is worth our noting that God seems to have had more care to discredit them then to honour them in that their faults are many times particularly registred but their repentance is wrapt up in silence so the story of Noah is concluded with his drunkenness after the report of Lots incest there is not a word of him throughout the Scriptures as soon as the story of Salomons idolatry is related it immediately follows in the text And Salomon died We should very much wrong these men if we should think that they past out of this life without repentance because their repentance is concealed Doubtless if we were worthy to search the mysteries of the spirit we should finde that the Holy Ghost hath left something for our instruction even in this particular for nothing in Scripture is done by chance But as St. Chrysostome is wont sometime to tell his auditory that he will not resolve all doubts but leave some to meditate on by themselves so will I now deal with you I will leave this to your private considerations to practise your wits in the depths of christianity and so to frame reasons unto your selves of this proceeding of the Holy spirit In the New Testament the Holy Ghost constantly holds the same course of relating the fall of the Saints and so accordingly by all foure Evangelists sets down at large the fearful sin of Peter in denying and forswearing his Master But as it pleased him in mercy to give him repentance so in these words which I have read unto you hath it pleased him to leave unto the Church a memorial of it Our first note therefore before we come to the words shall be a note of that exceeding use and profit which hath redounded to the Church by the registring of Peters repentance for this is done by the Holy Ghost to signifie unto us the necessity and force of repentance and sorrow for sin The concealing of Solomons reclaim hath occasioned some upon acknowledgement of the necessity of repentance to suppose that Solomon past away without it and so received the finall reward of the impenitent But he that should have read this story of Peter and observed what authority he had afterwards what especial favour our Saviour did him after his resurrection notwithstanding his fall if the manner of his recovery had not been recorded might easily have entertained a conceit very prejudicial to repentance Quid non speremus Who might not hope to regain the favour of God without shedding a tear if Peter notwithstanding so grievous a crime without repentance should again be reconciled We might therefore with excuse have presumed upon a nonnecessity of repentance as if it had been enough in case of sin to practise that which common morality teaches barely to relinquish it without any more adoe that therefore which we learn by this registring of Peters repentance is this that for the clearing of a Christian mans account unto God it is nor sufficient barely to cease from doing ill to satisfie the law which we broke either with our life or with our goods to make recompence to our neighbour for wrong done him all this and much more washes not away the guilt of sin before God These are things which the very light of nature teaches us to do It was not to be thought that David to his former adulteries and murther would have added new he that hath been forc't to restore fourefold that which he had taken away by stealth will peradventure take warning to steal no more But this doth not suffice him There is a further duty a duty of repentance required of every Christian man a duty proper to him alone For this doctrine of repentance Nature never taught in her school neither was it ever found in the books of the learned It is particular to the Book of God and to the doctrine that came down from Heaven In the sins against the first Table we offend immediately and only against God but in the sins against the second Table there is a double guilt contracted one against God another against our Neighbour In these sins as there is a double fault
even in his most chosen vessels evermore secret and hidden infirmities and sometimes gross and open scapes which may serve when they look into themselves to abate all overweening conceit of their own righteousness and when they shall look into the errours of others may be secret admonitioners unto them not rashly to condemn them considering their own weakness I will therefore shut up this place with the saying of Saint Ambrose etiam laepsus sanctorum utilis est Nihil mihi obsuit quod negavit Petrus etiam profuit quod emendavit The fall of the Saints is a very profitable thing It hurts not me that Peter denied Christ and the example of his amendment is very beneficial unto me And so I come unto the preparative unto Peters Repentance in these words and he went forth THe wisdom of God hath taught the Church sometime by express message delivered by words of mouth sometime by dumb signes and actions When Jeremy walk't up and down the city with a yoke of wood about his neck when Ezekiel lay upon his side besieged a Slate with the draught of Jerusalem upon it and like a banished man carried his stuff upon his shoulders from place to place they did no less prophesie the captivity desolation famine and wo which was to fall upon Jerusalem then when they denounced it by direct word and speech yea many of the ordinary actions of the Patriarks which seem to participate of chance and to be in the same rank with those of other men themselves as a learned divine of our Mercerus age observes not intending or understanding any such thing contained by the dispensation of the Holy Ghost especial lessons and instructions for us That speech of Sarah cast out the bondwoman and her son c. seemed to Abraham only a speech of curst heart and she her self perceives not her self to speak by direction from God but moved with impatience of Ismaels petulant behaviour toward her son Yet the Holy Ghost himself hath taught us that this act of hir prefigured a great mystery Many disputations there are concerning the cause of this action of Peters going forth whether it were out of the common infirmity that is in most men namely a greater shame to repent then to offend or whether it were out of modesty and good nature that he could not indure the sight of Christ whom he had so grievously offended Howsoever it were we shall do this Scripture no wrong if we think it to contain an act in outward shew casual and like unto the actions of other men but inwardly indeed an especial action of a person great in the sight of God and therefore comprehending some especial instruction And to speak plainly this abandoning the place wherein he fell the company for fear of whom he fell and those things that were occasioners of his sin doth not obscurely point out unto us an especial duty of speedy relinquishing and leaving of all either friends or place or means or whatsoever else though dearer unto us then our right hand then our right eye if once they become unto us inducements to Sin In former days before the Fulness of time came the Calling of the Elect of God was not by any one act more often prefigured then by this action of going forth When the purpose of God was to select unto himself a Church and to begin it in Abraham come forth faith he unto him out of thy countrey and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house When Israel being in AEgypt it pleased God to appoint them a set Form and manner of serving him before this could be done they and all theirs must come forth of AEgypt they must not leave a hoof behinde them When the time of the Gospel was come our Saviour holds the same course none must be of his company but such as come forth leave all and follow him And therefore the Apostle putting the Hebrews in minde of their duty expresses it in this very tearm Let us go forth therefore unto him saith he without the camp bearing his reproach And in the original language of the New Testament the Church hath her name from this thing from being called forth so that without a going forth there is no Church no Christianity no Service to God the reason of all which is this we are all by nature in the High Priests court as Peter was where we all deny and forswear our Master as Peter did neither is there any place for Repentance till with Peter we go forth and weep For our further light we are to distinguish the practise of this our going forth according to the diversity of the times of the Church In the first ages when Christianity was like unto Christ and had no place to hide its head no entertainment but what persecution and oppression and fire and sword could yield it there was then required at the hands of Christians an Actual going forth a real leaving of riches and friends and lands and life for the profession of the Gospel Afterward when the Tempests of persecutions were somewhat alay'd and the skie began to clear up the necessity of actual relinquishing of all things ceast Christians might then securely hold life and lands and whatsoever was their own yet that it might appear unto the world that the resolution of Christian men was the same as in times of distress and want so likewise in time of peace and security it pleased God to raise up many excellent men as well of the Laity as of the Clergy who without constraint voluntarily and of themselves made liberal distribution of all they had left their means and their friends and betook themselves to deserts and solitary places wholy giving themselves over to meditation to prayer to fasting to all severity and rigidness of life what opinion our times hath of these I cannot easily pronounce thus much I know safely may be said that when this custome was in its primitive purity there was no one thing more behoofful to the Church It was the Seminary and nursery of the Fathers and of all the famous Ornaments of the Church Those two things which afterwards in the decay and ruine of this discipline the Church sought to establish by Decrees and Constitutions namely to estrange her Priests from the world and bind them to single life were the necessary effects of this manner of living for when from their childhood they had utterly sequestred themselves from the world and long practised the contempt of it when by chastising their body and keeping it under with long fasting they had killed the heat of youth it was not ambition nor desire of wealth nor beauty of women that could withdraw them or sway their affections That which afterwards was crept into the Church and bare the name of Monkery had indeed nothing of it but the name under pretence of poverty they seized into their possession the wealth and riches of the world they removed themselves from
entertain our selves a little in the porch and see what matter of meditation it will yield And he spake a parable unto them c. To instruct and teach the ignorant no method no way so speedy and effectual as by parables and Fables Strabo gives the reason of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For man is a creature natural desirous to know but it is according to the proverb as the Cat desires fish loath to touch the water loath to takes the pains to learn knowledge is indeed a thing very pleasant but to learn is a thing harsh and tedious above all the things in the world the book which Saint John eats in the tenth of the Apocalyps was in his mouth sweet as hony but bitter in his belly Beloved those Librorum helluones students that like S. John eat up whole volums these finde the contrary For in the mouth in the perusal their books are harsh and unpleasant but in the stomach when they are understood and digested then are they delightful and pleasurable yet one thing by the providence of God our nature hath which makes this rough way to learn more plain and easie it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 common experience shews we are all very desirous to hear narrations and reports either pleasant or strange Wise men therefore and God himself which is wiser then men being to train up mankinde Genus indocile a subject dull of hearing and hardly drawn to learn have from time to time wrought upon this humor upon this part of our disposition and mitigated sugred as it were the unpleasantness of a difficult and hard lesson with the sweetnes of some delightful parable or fable And S. Chrysostome tells us of a Physician who finding his patient to abhor Physick but infinitely long for wine heating an earthen cup in the fire and quenching it in wine put his potion therein that so the sick person being deceived with the smell of wine might unawares drink of the Physick or that I may better draw my comparison from Scripture as when Jacob meant to be welcome to his father Isaack he put on his brother Esau's apparel and so got access So beloved wisemen when they meant either to instruct the ignorant or to reprove offenders to procure their welcome and make their way more passable have been wont for the most part as it were to clothe their lesson or reproof in a parable or to serve it in a dish savouring of wine that so Jacob might be admiâ—â—ted under Esau's coat that the smell of the pleasantness of wine might draw down the wholsomness of Physick Great and singular have been those effects which this kinde of teaching by parables hath wrought in men by informing their ignorance reproving their error working patience of reproof opening the understanding moving the affections and other soveraign commodities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And for this cause not only our Poets and profane Authors but whole cities and men which gave Laws to Common-wealths have made especial choice of this course Yea our Saviour Christ himself hath filled the Gospels with parables made them like a Divine and Christian AEsop's Fables because he found it to be exceeding profitable For first of all it is the plainest and most familiar way and above all other stoops to the capacity of the learner as being drawn either from trees or beasts or from some ordinary common and known actions of men As from a shepheard attending his flock from an husbandman sowing corn in his field from a fisher casting his net into the Sea from a woman putting leaven into her dough or the like So that in this respect a parable is like Moses Tabernacle which outwardly was nothing but goats skins or some ordinary stuff but within it was silk and purple and gold And indeed since those we teach are either children or ignorant persons who are but children 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for every man in what he is ignorant is no better then a childe that manner of information fits best which is most easie and familiar Again a parable is a kinde of pattern and example expressing unto us what we heare Now nothing doth more illustrate and explain then instance and example 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a parable as it were upon a stage the thing that we are taught is in a manner acted and set forth before our eyes Secondly parables do not only by their plainess open the understanding but they work upon the affections and breed delight of hearing by reason of that faceteness and wittiness which is many times found in them by reason of which they insinuate themselves and creep into us and ere we are aware work that end for which they were delivered who is not much moved with that parable of Jotham in the book of Judges that the trees went forth to chuse a king or that of Menenius Agrippa in Livie that the parts of the body conspired against the belly by which the one shewed the wickedness of the men of Sechem against the sons of Gideon the other the folly of the common people in conspiring against the Senators and noble-men And no marvel beloved if this faceteness of parables doth thus work with men since it seems to have had wonderful force with God himself For when the Canaanitish woman in the Gospel had long importun'd our Saviour in the behalf of her daughter and our Saviour had answered her with that short cutting and reproachful parable It is not meet to take the childrens bread and cast it unto dogs she facetely and wittily retorts and turns upon our Saviour his own parable Truth Lord saith she yet dogs do eat the crums that fall from their masters Table be it that I am but a dog I require no more then is due to a dog even the crums that fall from your table with which speech our Saviour was so far taken as that he seems to have been stricken into a wonderment for he presently cries out O woman great is thy Faith Thirdly there is one thing that this way of instruction by parable hath above all other kindes of teaching It serves excellently for reproof for man is a proud creature impatient of plain and open check and reprehension 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many times no way of dealing with him when he hath offended but by deceiving him with wiliness and craft 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that comes rudely and plainly to reprehend doth many times more hurt then good I speak not this only in regard of ministerial reprehension used by the preacher of the word but of all other for to reprove offenders is a common duty and belongs to every private man as well as to the Minister St. Austine in his book de civitate Dei handling the question why in common calamities the good do bear a part as well as the evil amongst many other reasons gives this
Scribe had by some means or other suffered a copie of the reason for their opinion to be brought aforehand to those of Breme who openly in the Synod house in scripto refuted them which thing is feared will cause some choler And this was all that this day was done concerning this question and so both the questions yet depend The Synod did the sooner end because they were at eleven a clock to go to the Funeral of Henricus ab Hell who died lately as I think I told your Honour The Solemnity was no more but this Some of the chief of the Town together with the whole Synod went to the House where he died accompanied him to the Church laid him in his Grave and went home again almost in as little space as I have told it you The Dutchess of Tremullio was at this Session and as I hear spake very well of the Synod commending it both for Piety and good Order The Remonstrants are now every day expected We understand that they are already met together at Leyden Mr. Praeses came this day to my Lord Bishop and under Benedicite told him that it was thought the Remonstrants would become Suiters to the Secular Deputies for some greater respect in the Synod then it is likely otherwise they should have and that for this they would use the English as Mediators Then that they would call in question the right of his Presidentship as being made only by the Provincials without any respect had unto the Forreigners To this my Lord Bishop replyed that for the first since they were Members of the Synod they would not do any thing clancularily without the Consent and Privity of the whole Company To the second he answered that hitherto they had acknowledged him for their Praeses and so they would continue to do notwithstanding any objection might be fancyed so that of them he might secure himself And this is all hath hapned since Friday Morning at what time I addrest my last Letters unto your Honour and for this time commending your Lordship to Gods good Protection I humbly take my leave Dort Decemb. 2. 1618. Stylo novo Your Honours Chaplain and Bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable and my very good Lord MY Letters conteining the acts of our Synod upon Friday and Saterday I dispatched this morning unto your Honour by a Soldier whom I knew not and he delivered them to a Skipper whom he knew not and whether or no they came to your Lordships hands I am uncertain There are to come with them Letters from my Lord Bishop to your Honour Upon Monday the third of Decemb. the Deputies being met they prosecuted the two questions before left undecided First of the Baptizing of children born of Ethnick parents secondly of means considerable how to breed up those who are to enter the Ministry In the first concerning the adulti the Synod agreed that if they made profession of the Christian Faith they might be baptized etiam invitis parentibus Their reason was because that after children came to be of years in case of Religion they depended not from the power of their parents but might make their own market All the difficulty was of infants and children not yet of discretion to make their choice The English the Professors those of Hassia those of Breme of Zeland of Freesland thought it necessary they should be baptized if they were rightfully adopted into Christian Families and that their parents had altogether resigned them into the hands of the Christians They grounded themselves upon the examples of Abraham circumcising all that were of his Family of Paul baptizing whole housholds of the primitive Church recorded in S. Austin who shews that anciently children that were exposititii were wont to be taken up by the Christians and baptized Now such were the children of Ethnick parents for it was never esteem'd lawful for Christians to expose their children All the rest were peremptory that they were not to be baptiz'd till they came to be of years of Discretion to make profession of the Faith The North Hollanders themselves whose business it was and who moved the Synod in it were expresly against it whether they were bought given taken in war or howsoever Their reasons were because they are immundi because they are extra foedus of which Baptisme is a signe because Adoption could entitle them only to terrene not to an Heavenly inheritance c. So that if plurality of voices carry it the negative part prevails The Praeses requir'd some time to compare the opinions together and so for that time forbare to pronounce sentence And because the examples of Abraham and Paul were much stood upon by those who held the affirmative he proposed these two things to be considered of First whether it were likely that in Abrahams Family when he put circumcision in act there were any Infants whose Parents died uncircumcised Secondly whether it were likely that in the Families baptized by Paul there were any Infants whose Parents died unbaptized and so he past away to the second Question concerning the manner of training up those who were to enter the Ministry In my last Letters to your Honour I related at large the advice given in this point by the Zelanders and South Hollanders It was now proposed to the Synod whether they did approve their counsel or except against it Some thought it was unlawful for men not in Orders to preach publickly or baptize for the South Hollanders in their advice had determined they should others thought it unmeet that they should be present in the Consistories and meetings of Deacons or that they should read the Scriptures publickly in the Church which was the joint advice of the Zelanders and South Hollanders Lastly it was doubted whether the Synod could make any Decree in this Question because of the several customs in several Provinces which it lay not in the power of the Synod to prejudice So that instead of deciding this one doubt the Praeses proposed five more to be considered of 1. Whether men not in Orders might make publike Sermous 2. Whether they might baptize 3. Whether it were fit they should come into the Consistories 4. Whether they should read the Scriptures publikely 5. Whether the Synod could make a Decree in this business for the reason above mentioned or only give advice The Synod had begun to speak to the two first and it was the general opinion that they might not baptize In the point of preaching they differ'd Some thought absolutely it might be permitted them others on the contrary thought no some took a middle course thinking they might preach privately before a select Auditory who were to be their Judges how sufficient they were for that end some that they may do it openly so that it were understood they did it not cum potestate solvendi ligandi But when part of the Synod had spoken their mindes because the time was much pass'd they
that the Synod had only exprest it self what it thought fittest to be done As for the necessity of Execution that was not in the power of the Synod but of the States General who when all was done might either pass or recall what they thought good Secondly to the point concerning himself he answered he had done so and thought it fittest so to do but the Synod thought otherwise and since there was a matter of Catechism to be concluded they thought they might confirm this as well as any other and this was not so confirm'd but that it was in the power of the Synod to alter what they please To the point of premising a Text of Scripture before the catechetical Sermon he answered that the determination of the Synod was not to take that custom away there where it it was in use but only to prohibit the urging of it there where it had a long time been disused To the last concerning the Registring of this their dissent he answer'd he saw not how this could be granted them since the States General had concluded that what pass'd by a major part of voices should alone be accounted the Act of the Synod and by the same proportion every one that passes not his voice with the major part might require his dissent to be registred After this the Praeses signified that concerning the question of the baptizing of Ethnicks children put up by the Church of Amsterdam he required yet farther respite because of the opinion of some of the Synod which was somewhat ambiguous and obscure He was therefore to conferre with the Authors of it and therefore desir'd that the resolution might be put off till the next Session and withall he commended to the Synod the consideration how the liberty of printing so promiscuously all kinde of scandalous and libellous Pamphlets might be represt and so he dismist the Synod The Remonstrants are in Town but because they keep themselves private and have not presented themselves unto the States and Deputies there is no notice taken of it And so commending your Honor to Gods good Protection I humbly take my leave Dort this 4. of Decem. 1618. stylo novo Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord. UPon Wednesday the 5. of December stylo novo the Deputies being met in the morning the first thing which was done was the admission of a Senior or Elder for those of Groninga whose number as it seems was not yet full The thing was transacted in Dutch and yet the consent of the English was askt at which I did not a little muse Next followed the advice of the Helvetians what course was to be taken with those who are to enter the Ministry in which there was no great matter from what before was intimated The Palatini promis'd the like and therefore the Praeses requir'd yet farther respite before they did conceive any form of Decree in this behalf Then followed the Decree of the Synod concerning the question moved by those of Amsterdam about the Baptism of children born of Ethnick Parents The Decision consisted of two parts The first concern'd the Adulti and it was this That such as were of years and capacity should be diligently taught and catechized and then if they did desire it they should be baptized The second concern'd Infants and it was That till they came to years of Discretion they should by no means be baptized A strange decision and such as if my memory or reading fails me not no Church either Ancient or Modern ever gave When it was objected what if they were in danger of death their answer was that the want of Baptism would not prejudice them with God except we would determine as the Papists do that Baptism is necessary to salvation Which is as much to undervalue the necessity of Baptism as the Church of Rome doth overvalue it Here followed a recitation of all that had been done since the business of the Catechism had been set on foot amongst the rest was registred the exceptions of the Remonstrants of Utrecht and it was added atque iis est à Praeside satisfactum Those of Utrecht excepted against that word satisfactum they had said they an answer given them but no satisfaction For they persisted in their former opinion and forthwith that word was alter'd Here was a doubt moved whether it were not fit that some of the especial Reasons brought by the Synod in the Question of the Baptism of Infants should not be added to the Decree It was answered That Reasons were obnoxious to cavil and exceptions and it was not for the Authority of the Synod to Reason but to Decree After this the Praeses signified to the Synod that the time prefixt for the appearance of the Remonstrants was now expiring and yet nothing was signified concerning their appearance neither to the Secular President nor Ecclesiastical Wherefore naming them all he thought good to cite them to appear It was answered by those of Utrecht that they did provide and would shortly be forth coming In the mean while to take up the time Mr. Praeses thought good to commend to the Synod the consideration and redress of those abuses which were in Printing Every man was suffered to print what him listed whence came abundance of blasphemous heretical obscene and scandâ—â—lous Pamphlets Many here delivered their opinions others requir'd farther time to think of it The English first thought fit that the States General should be requested to take the care of this into their hands That there should be Censors to approve all such Books as should go to the Press That no man should print but such as were known to be of the Reformed Religion Unto this advice divers things were added by others as that there should be a set number of Printers that they should be sworn that there should be certain Laws prescribed unto them that they should print no Heretical Books especially the Books of David Georgius H. Nicolaus Socinus that no libels no unlawful pictures either obscene or made to any mans disgrace should be permitted that no Book should be printed without the names of the Author Printer Place except the Synod or the Magistrates did in some cases otherwise think good that there should be care that the Correctors for the Press were good Scolars and many other things of the like nature Then were there read certain Canons made in some Synods before concerning this business Theodatus of Geneva told us that in his travails at Venice he had observ'd that there was a Colledge of sundry persons secular and spiritual to whose care was committed all the business of Printing He thought it fit there should be such Colledges here erected When all had spoken that would the Praeses told them that Adrian Smoutius had written a little Book in the Belgick Tongue unto the Synod and sent the copies of it to him to be distributed And so requesting
and Faction in the Church and had separated themselves from their brethren could not be their Judges but of this Synod a great part were Authors of Schism and the rest Favourers and Abettors of it they could not therefore be their Judges In the prosecution of which Reason they did not spare very liberally to bestow on the Synod the name of Schismatici Novatores and schismatum Fautores and other goodly titles of the same nature The second part of their Oration was a meere Chimaera saltans in vacuo a strange phancy of such a Synod as never was nor can be I had thought to have taken an abstract of it but the tediousness of it deterr'd me I will give your Honour a taste or two of it There were but two wayes of instituting a Synod for the ending of these quarrels The first was by seeking out every where certain select men who all this time of contention had taken part with neither side but kept themselves unpartial Secondly if a Synod of such could not be found as I think it could scarcely be found in the Netherlands though the Sun it self should seek it then such a Synod should be framed as in which should be an equal number of both parties each with their several Praeses and Assessors and they should debate the matter betwixt themselves and if they could not agree as it is likely they would not what then thought I shall they part as they came No forsooth The Civil Magistrate tanquam Deus è machina he must come in and prescribe the Moderamen from which neither party must appeal Provided alwayes that he laboured onely for Accomodation and not to determine decisively for on part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And so I awoke Of the same threed was the whole piece of their speech When they had well and throughly wearied their Auditory they did that which we much desired they made an end The Praeses made a brief answer to this effect For the point of Schism saith he it is not yet fit time to discusse But when it should in the Synod be made plain what had been the receiv'd Doctrine of the Church then it would appear who they were that had made secession from it and so were guilty of Schism If you refuse us because we are your Adversaries whom would you have deputed as Judges your selves or the Papists or the Anabaptists or the Libertines or some other faction in these Countries Let us be Sscismaticks let us be Scribes and Pharisees and worse yet you may not deny this Synod to be a lawful Synod For first it was done by the Civil Magistrate who had authority to do it Secondly such as were there were deputed by the consent of the Provinces Thirdly they had all taken their oaths to judge uprightly This is enough to make us your Judges and common Charity should make you to hope we would judge uprightly at least it should make you resolve thus far if we should decide truly you would subscribe unto it if otherwise you would patiently bear it If you were in our places so deputed so sworn and we were to be judged by you we were to do the like Here followed some wrangling to no great purpose and so the Session ended The same day after dinner the Deputies met again where first the Praeses commended to the Synod the consideration of that reproachful Name of Schism which the Remonstrants did so openly and so often brand them with For it was Episcopius his palmarium argumentum the Synod was all either Schismaticks or favourers of them and therefore could not be their Judges It was much that they should grow to that boldness as that openly they should call the Synod the Seculars the chief Magistrate yea the Prince of Orange himself Schismaticks For what had formerly been done in the matter of Secession and Division of Churches was done by their consent and approbation He requir'd therefore the Synod to deliver themselves what was to be done Divers spake diversly Lydius of South Holland relating the story of what had been done in the time of separation clear'd them of Schism and shewed first that the name of Schism was used craftily by them as for a reproach so likewise for a farther end they had for themselves For a Schism is only a breach of Charity and peace of the Church the Doctrine remaining intire If there were a separation by reason of Doctrine Heretical as here he thought there was it was not to be call'd a Scism Now the Remonstrants did therefore use the name of Schism that they might perswade the world that the difference was only in certain points indifferent in which it matter'd not which end went forward by this means to make their way open to a tolleration Again the separation which was made was made upon good reason For they were forced unto it by the Remonstrants violence as in particular he did shew At length he and the rest of the Synod concluded that they should roundly be put in minde of their duty and to speak more respectively to the Synod Upon this the Remonstrants being called in the Praeses signifyed what the Synod disliked in them and what behaviour it expected at their hands and withall will'd them to attend the Decree of the States Episcopius would have answer'd but he was prohibited Then immediately followed a decree of the States to this purpose that whereas the Remonstrants had hitherto made many dilatory answers to the injury both of the Eclesiasticks and Seculars it was decreed by them that they should lay by all frivolous Excepâ—â—ions and dilatory answers and forthwith proceed to set down their minde concerning the Five Articles for which end they were come together Then began Episcopius to purge himself and declare that in the imputation of Schism they included not the Seculars they only charged the Eclesiasticks and if the Seculars had a hand in it they medled not with that The Praeses urged them to give their answer whether or no they would set down their mindes concerning the points in controversy they still excepted that the Synod were not their competent Judges The Praeses asked by whom they would be judged they replyed they would not answer this it was sufficient that the Synod could not be their Judges They were will'd to remember they were Citati they replyed Citatorum est excipere de competentia judicis The Praeses of the Seculars will'd them remember that they were Subjects they replyed the Magistrate could not command their Consciences being again will'd to give their answer whether or no they would exhibit their mindes concerning the five Articles they requir'd first to have their exceptions answer'd when no other answer would be given they dismist them and appointed that of the Synod two should be chosen Delegates who should immediately go to them and in the name of the Synod warn them to lay by all other answers and at the next Session
Categorically answer whether they would exhibit their mindes concerning the points in Controversy or no that so the Synod might know what they had to do and so they brake up this morning therefore we look what will be done And so for this time I humbly take my leave commending your Honour to Gods good Protection Dort Decemb. 1 11. 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and Bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Of the Remonstrants of Utrecht two only have joyn'd themselves to the Citati the third which is an Elder professes to submit himself to the judgement of the Synod if they shall decide according to his Conscience and that if it please the Synod to give him his Oath he is ready to judge neither as Remonstrant nor Contra-Remonstrant but accordingly as it shall please God to open him the truth in the Synod Right Honourable and my very good Lord ON Thursday the 4 14. of Decemb. the Synod being sate and repetition made according to the custom of what had past in the former Session the Remonstrants being called in were askt whether or no they had set down in writing their opinion concerning the first Article Forthwith they exhibited to the Synod their opinion subscribed with all their hands The copie of this your Lordship shall receive here with these letters The paper being read the Praeses askt them all one by one whether this were their opinion to which each man answered affiâ—â—â—atively The Remonstrants being dismist the Praeses proposed to the Synod whether it were not fit that they should be sent for one by one and examined singly as concerning their tenent His reason was because he understood that they made themselves an Antisynod and had among themselves ordained a Praeses two Assessours and two Scribes according to the form of the Synod and so they did all things communi consensu like a little Synod to this some answered that they thought it fit some that those only should be singled out who were carried away with respect to their company and if they were alone would think and do otherwise others thought it utterly unfit because it might seem olere artificium aliquod to savour of a trick whereas it best became the Synod to do all things candide syncere others would have no man examined alone but when all the rest were by others left it to the judgement of the Praeses to do as he thought good when occasion served which last sentence as it seemed stood good After this was there a generall exception against the manner in which they had proposed their sentence that they had done it confuse diâ—â—tracte obscure that they had intermingled things impertinent and belonging to other questions that the most of their proposalls were negatives what they did not hold and not affirmatives what they did whereas their appearance there was to shew what they did hold not what they did not hold And it was discovered that this their proceding by negatives was that they might take occasions to refute other opinions and not to confirm their own whereas by the decree of the States they were call'd thither ut sententiam SUAM dilucidè perspicuè c. exponerent defenderent not that they should oppugne others That it had been their custom very liberally to examine other mens opinions and to be sparing in confirming their own That if they did refuse to deal more plainly in expounding their mind the Synod should take order that the state of the question should be taken out of their books especially our of the Hague conference and so they should be questioned whether they would stand to it or no that they did maintain amongst them an implicite faith and it was usuall with some of them when they were prest with any reason they could not put by to answer that though themselves could say little to it yet such and such could say much which was enough for them When all had spoken their pleasure the conclusion of the Synod was that they must reform the manner of propounding their mind that they must give up their answer in affirmatives as much as was possible that this form of answer was not according to the Decree of the States and this was the effect of that Session On Friday the 5 15 of Decemb. there was a short Session in the morning The matter propounded was whether it were not fit that the Remonstrants should be required to give up their minds concerning all the five points before the Synod proceeded to examine or determine any thing The reason was the connexion of the points mutually one with another for which cause it was hard to determine of one except their mind in the rest were known The Secular Lords and the Synod liked well of the proposall Those of Geneva thought it best to take their opinions out of their books to which the Praeses answer'd that it could not be because they were call'd thither by their citatory Letters to propose and defend their own opinions That they could not complaine of the Synod for calling on them thus at once to deliver themselves For the Synod doubts not that they were provided since themselves had long since given it out in their books and private speeches that they were provided The Remonstrants then being called in were told that it was the determination of the Synod that they should deliver their opinions at once concerning the five points and for this they had given them time till Munday For this would prove better for the Synod and for themselves Then that they should deliver themselves in affirmatives as much as possibly might be For by their negatives they delivered not their own opinions but diverted upon others The Confessions and Creeds had always been framed by affirmatives thus or thus wee do believe not by negatives To this they replied Attendemus ad ea quae a Domino Praeside dicta sunt considerabimus Then did the Praeses signifie that on the morrow there should be a Latin sermon in the Synod house Scultetus is the man that makes it And this is the effect of what was done at that time and so ceasing to trouble your Lordship any farther at this time I humbly take my leave resting Dort this 15. of Decemb. 1618. stylo novo Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord THe seventh of December stylo novo being Friday in the morning the Synod met the first thing that was done was the pronouncing the Decree of the States concerning Grevinchovius and Goulartius to this effect That whereas the Remonstrants had petitioned to the States that Grevinchovius and Goulartius might be admitted into the Synod there to defend the Remonstrants Cause the Lords for good causes thought they neither ought nor could grant it yet thus much did they graciously permit that they might freely come in private and do them what help they could and if they thought that in any thing
themselves which yet had not broken out into separation of mindes and breach of Charity That it was impossible for all wits to jump in one point It was the Judgement of Paraeus a great Divine that the greatest cause of Contentions in the Church was this that the Schoolmens Conclusions and Cathedral Decisions had been receiv'd as Oracles and Articles of Faith That they were therefore unjustly charged with the bringing in of a Sceptick Theologie They sought for nothing else but for that liberty which is the mean betwixt servitude and License That now they appear'd before the Synod whether as cited or otherwise they were not careful They had been present howsoever had it been lawful They requir'd the Forreigners not to judge of them as they had heard abroad but as they now should finde them That they profess they oppose themselves first against those Conclusions concerning Predestination which the Authors themselves have call'd Horrida Decreta Secondly against those who for the Five Articles so call'd have made a Separation never expecting any Synodical Sentence Thirdly against those who cast from them all those who in some things dissent from them And yet to raise the controversy greater is the question of the right of Magistrates added above all the rest which they maintain'd against those who taught the Magistrate should with a hoodwiâ—â—kt obedience accept of what the Divines taught without farther enquiry These are the points for which we have contended Give unto us that respect which your selves would look for at our hands if you were in our case we have not ambitiously sued to any the Favour of God alone it is which we have sought Look not upon this small number which you see Unus Patronus bonae causae satis est 'T is not the smaller number that makes the Schism If a major part carry the right what think you then of the Province of Utrecht where the greater parts are Remonstrants From you doth the Schisme proceed First here in this Synod by making so an unequal a choice of Deputies with so small a number of Remonstrants Secondly by proceeding against us abroad not expecting a Synodal Decree by cashiering and subjecting unto Censures the chief Patrons of our Cause eos apud quos sunt aquilae nostrae and peradventure even at this very hour you proceed against some of ours by suspending discommuning by expelling them from their Churches c. But yet we cast not away our Swords The Scriptures and sollid Reason shall be to us instead of multitudes The Conscience rests not it self upon the number of Suffrages but upon the strength of Reason Tam parati sumus vinci quam vincere He gets a great Victory that being conquer'd gains the Truth Amicus Socrates amiâ—â—us Plato amica Synodus sedâ—â— magis amica Veritas These are the Fragments of Episcopius his speech as far as my Memory and broken notes could supply me I suppose what Errors I have committed by leaving out misplacing misrelating Mr. Ames when he comes to your Honour will rectify this and much more for an hours space he delivered with great grace of speech and Oratorial gesture The Praeses signified unto him that because there were in his speech many things considerable he was therefore to deliver the Copy of it Episcopius replyed that he had none handsomely written if the Synod would have patience he would cause a fair Transcript to be drawen for them But this excuse would not serve Fair or foul deliver it up he must and so he did The Deputies for the Politicks signified that since there were many things in it which did as well concern the Seculars as Eclesiasticks they were to give it up subscribed with all their hands which forthwith was done Then did the Praeses tell them how much they were beholding to the Synod that had so patiently heard them notwithstanding that they had no leave granted them to speak and that they ought to have expected the Mandate of the Synod To this Episcopius replyes that he had required leave before he began to speak True said the Praeses but you stayed not till leave was granted you besides saith he you are to know that no man may no not of those that are the members of the Synod offer to declaim without leave first had and without manifesting the Argument and drift of his speech After this followed a Form of Oath prescribed by the States which all the Members of the Synod were to take the Articles of it were these two That only the Word of God should be taken for their rule to end their questions and that they had no other purpose but the peace of the Church First the Praeses took his oath in this order standing up in his place he said Ego promitto coram Deo thus and thus ita propitius mihi sit Servator Christus Then the Provincials took every one in his order standing in his place and pronouncing these words Idem promitto coram Deo sancto Servatore only the Remonstrants Deputies of Utrecht took not the Oath because as yet they had not determined whether they would make themselves parties or Judges After the Provincials did the Forreigners in order do the like and so the Session ended And with it I think is time for me to end and commend your Lordship to Gods good Protection Dort this 7. of Decemb. 1618. stylo novo Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord UPon Saterday 5 1â—â— of this present the Synod being sate in the Morning Scultetus made unto them a pious and pathetical Sermon In the beginning he signified first how it joyed him to speak unto them Post eruditissimum virum Josephum Hallum Decanum Wigorniae meritissimum Secondly that he saw that day that which his Majesty of Great Brittain and the Prince Elector his Master had so long desired to see namely a Synod gathered for the setling of the Churches peace in these Countries He took for his Theme the 122. Psalm I rejoyced when they said unto me Let us go up unto the house of the Lord and so forth unto the end of the Psalm Where first having shewed the occasion of this Psalm that it was the Removal and bringing of the Ark unto Jerusalem he considered in the whole Psalm three things First that it was Summum hominis gaudium to see the Peace and flourishing of the Church which he shewed by many Reasons and confirmed by the examples of the Duke of Wittemberg who at the Council held at Worms a hundred and twenty years since when others discoursed of many Priviledges and conveniences of their Lordships and Territories openly protested it to be his greatest felicity that he could in aperto campo in sinu Subditorum suorum dormire and of Theodosius the Emperour who at his death did more comfort himself that he had been a Son of the Church then the Emperour of the World Secondly that
Synod first to handle of Election and then of Reprobation as much as should seem necessary and for the Churches good and withall charged them to answer roundly and Categorically whether they would proceed according to this order they answered No. Then did the Praeses require them to withdraw and give the Synod leave to advise of this The sum of that which past in the mean time was this That their pretence of Conscience was vain since it was not of any thing which concern'd Faith or good manners but only of order and method in disputing which could not at all concern the Conscience that the Disputation must begin from Election First because the order of Nature so requir'd to deal of the Affirmative before the Negative and again because that all Divines who ever handled this Question did hold the same order and the Holy Ghost in Scripture had taken the same course That they should be assured in the name of the Synod that they should have Liberty to diseusse the question of Predestination throughout That whatsoever they pretended yet the true end of their so hotly urging the question of Reprobation was only to exagitate the Contra-Remonstrants Doctrine and to make way for their own Doctrine in point of Election Iâ—â—dius observed that it had been the Custome of all those who favour'd Pelagianism to trouble the Church with the question of Reprobation D. Gomarus that saw that his Iron was in the fire for I perswade my self that the Remonstrants spleen is chiefly against him began to tell us that Episcopius had falsified the Tenent of Reprobation that no man taught that God absolutely decreed to cast man away without sin but as he did decree the end so he did decree the means that is as he predestinated man to death so he predestinated him to sin the only way to death and so he mended the question as Tinkers mend Kettles and made it worse then it was before In summe the Synod caused a Decree to be penn'd to this purpose That it should be lawful for the Remonstrants to propose their Doubts both in the Question of Election and of Reprobation but for the order in disputation which of the two should come first they should leave that to the Synod who thought it fitter to give then to receive Laws and that whereas they pretended Conscience it was but vain since there was nothing in Scripture against this Command of the Synod nay that it was more agreeable with Conscience to obey then to withstand Then were the Remonstrants called in and after a short admonission better to advise themselves the Decree of the Synod was read unto them And when they began to urge their Conscience the Praeses Poliricus spake to this purpose that there had heretofore been many Decrees made by the Delegates but they had been all neglected he therefore strictly warn'd them that no man should dare to withstand any Decree either of the Magistrate or of the Synod either by open opposing against it or by sullen silence under pain of penalty according to the will of the Lords When Episcopius had said aegerimè ferimus and would have said somewhat more he was enjoyn'd silence and so the Session ended Mr. Praeses telling us that the next Session we should come to the question si per Remonstrantes liceret Now concerning Monsieur Moulins Proposals of which your Lordship requir'd to know what I thought I will deliver my self in my next Letters to your Honour In the mean time commending your Honour to Gods good protection I humbly take my leave Dort this 17 27. of Decemb. 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord UPon Friday 18 2â—â— of Decemb. in the morning it was long ere the Synod met At length being come together there were read the two Decrees one of the States another of the Synod made the former Session the reason of the repeating was the absence of some the day before Then did the Praeses signify that that very morning immediately before the time of the Synod he had received from the Remonstrants Letters satis prolixâ—â—s which concern'd himself and the whole Synod the perusal of which Letters was the cause of his long stay The Letters were sent to the Secular Delegates to know whether or no they would have them read Whilst the Seculars were advising of this point there were brought in a great heap of the Remonstrants Books and laid upon the Table before the Praeses for what end it will appear by and by The Secular Delegates signifie that they think not fit that the Letters should be publickly read and that the Remonstrants should immediately be call'd in They being entred the Praeses askt them whether they were ready to obey the Orders set down by the States and the Synod They require to have their Letters read but the Seculars willed them instead of reading their Letters to hearken to a Decree of the States and forthwith was read a Decree sounding to this purpose that the States strictly commanded that nothing should be read or spoken in the Synod in prejudice of the Decree made yesterday but that they should without any further delay come to the business in hand The Remonstrants reply that except they may most freely propose their mindes in both the parts of Predestination both Election and Reprobation they refused to go further in Conference for that their Conscience would not permit them The Praeses replyed that for Liberty of proposal of their opinions they could not complain for the Synod had given them Libertatem Christianam aequam justam but such an absolute Liberty as they seemed to require of going as far as they list of oppugning before the Synod what opinions they pleased of learned men this they thought unfit And as for Conscience they knew that the Word of God was the rule of it Now what part of Scripture had they that favoured them in this behalf or that did take any order and prescribe a Method in Disputation By thus stiffely urging their Conscience they did exceedingly wrong the Decrees of the States and Synod as if by them something against the Word of God some impiety were commanded When the Praeses had thus said he began to propose unto them certain Interrogatories concerning the Five Articles Your Honour may be pleased to call to minde that in one of my former Letters I shewed that because the Remonstrants had given up their opinions very perplexedly and imperfectly the Synod had thought good that the Praeses should propose them certain questions out of their own Writings so the better to wrest their meaning from them This was the Praeses now beginning to do and this was the cause of the bringing in of the Books The Interrogatory proposed was this Whether or no they did acknowledge that the Articles exhibited in the Hague Conference did contein their opinions Episcopius stept up and required that it might
Books since they could not get them from themselves dismist the Company The same day after dinner was there a Session but very private neither was any stranger permitted to be there Wherefore a Relation of that Session I must give only upon hearsay Which I would now have done but that I hasten to the Session this morning And I understand that the Synod will dispatch some of their Company to the States General to signify how matters stand and to know their further pleasure I will here therefore shut up my Letters reserving the rest of the News till the next occasion and commending your Honour to Gods good Protection I humbly take my leave Dort this 17 27. of Decemb. 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord THe State of our Synod now suffers a great crisis and one way or other there must be an alteration For either the Remonstrant must yeeld and submit himself to the Synod of which I see no great probability or else the Synod must vail to them which to do farther then it hath already done I see not how it can stand with their Honour How the case stood at the last Friday Session your Honor may perceive by my letters written upon Saterday Three things there were mainly urged by the Synod and as mainly withstood by the Remonstrants The first was the point of order to be held in discussing the articles whether the question of Reprobation were to be handled after the five articles as the Synod would have had it because it is none of the five points and by order from the States nothing ought to be determined of till the five be discust or whether it should be handled in the first place as the Remonstrants would have it because as they pretended their doubts lay especially there and that being cleared they thought they should shew good conformity in the rest The second thing was the putting of interrogatories which thing they much disdain'd as Predagogicall Third was the Liberty of disputation which was to be given the Remonstrant whether it were to be limited and circumscribed by the discretion of the Synod or large and unlimited accordingly as it pleas'd the Remonstrants So strongly in these points did the Remonstrants withstand the Synod that on Friday last it was verily thought they would have gone their way and left the Commissioners to determine without them But the Synod bearing an inclination to peace and wisely considering the nature of their People resolved yet further though they had yielded sufficiently unto them already yet to trie a little more the rather to stay the clamour of the Country and cut off all suspicion of Partiall dealing And for this purpose call'd a private Session on Friday in the Evening to mollify some things in thein Decrees and Proceedings From that Session all Strangers were excluded and what I write I do only upon Relation The summ of it was this The Praeses much complain'd him of the perplexity he was in by reason of the Pertinacy of the Remonstrants For saith he if we labor to keep them here they will be but a hindrance to us as hitherto they have been if we dismiss them we shall hazard our credit among the People as if we purposed only to do what we please Whatsoever it is that here we do is by some that come hither and write all they hear presently eliminated and carryed to them which hath caused many hard reports to pass of us both with them and otherwhere He therefore commended to the Synod to consider whether there might not be found some means of accommodation which might somewhat mollify the Remonstrant and yet stand well with the Honour of the Synod And first to make way they read the Letters which in the morning by publick Decree of the States were forbidden to be read a pretty matter in so grave a place to break those edicts in the Evening which but in the Morning had been so solemnly proclaimed and to speak truth their Decrees have hitherto been mere matter of formality to affright them a little for none of them have been kept as being found to be Pouder without Shot and give a clap but do no harme The Letters being read they began to deliver their minds Some thought the Synod had been too favourable to the Remonstrants already and that it were best now not to hold them if they would be going since hitherto they had been and for any thing appeared to the contrary meant hereafter to be a hindrance to all Peacable and orderly proceedings Others on the contrary thought fit that all should be granted them which they required to suâ—â—cease the Interrogatories to let them speak of Reprobation in what place in what manner and how much they pleased since this took from them all pretence of exception and Prejudiced not the Synods power of determining what they pleased A third sort thought it better to hold a middle course and under colour of Explanation to mollifie some of their Decrees This sort prevailed and accordingly it was concluded that the Decree of the Synod of this decree I gave your Honor the summ in my Satterday Letters made in the Morrning should be more largely and Significantly drawne and withall in it should be exprest how far it pleased the Synod to be indulgent unto the Remonstrants in the points in Question The Forraign Divines were requested that they would conceive some Reasons by way of Answer to these late Exceptions of the Remonstrants and give them up in writing the next Session to try whether by these means they might make them a little to relent This is all was done that Session which though it seem but little yet being handled with much and long Speaking among so many took up a long time On Munday the 21 31 of Decemb. in the Morning the Synod being set Johannes Polyander made a Latin Sermon His Theme was the seventh verse of the two and fiftieth of Isaiah O quam speciocâ—â— in montibus c. he spake much of the greatness of Eclesiasticall Function First in regard of their dignity in the word Speciosi Secondly of their industry in the word Montibus which argues them either to be Pastores or Speculatores Thirdly of the suavity of their Doctrine in the word Peace and Good things After this he fell Pathetically to bewail the torne State of the Belgick Churches and to commend the diligence of the Synod in endeavouring to establish their Churches Peace This was the sum of his Sermon it being only a passionate strain and conteining nothing much Remarkable either for Doctrine or News The Praeses in the Name of the Synod gave him great thanks and signified that he had many causes Sperare optima quaequâ—â—e de Synodo but that Gods good Spirit was indeed amongst them he gather'd especially by this Argument that so many Learned and Pious Sermoâ—â—s had in this place been lately
made and so He dismist the Company Concerning Monsieur Moulins proposition of which your Honor required my opinion thus I think His project consists of two heads of a Generall Confession and of a peaceable treaty for Union with the Lutheran Churches I imagine that the Generallity of the Confessions must not include the Lutheran For if it doth then are both parts of his proposition the same it being the same thing to procure one generall Confession of Faith and a Union Supposing then that this Confession stretches not to them I will do as Jupiter doth in Homer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will grant him one part and deny â—â—him the other For a generall Confession of Faith at least so farr as those Churches stretch who have Delegates here in the Synod I think his project very possible there being no point of Faith in which they differ If therefore the Churches shall give power to their Delegates to propose it to the Synod I see no reason but it should pass But I did not like the intimation concerning Church-Goverment It had I think been better not mentioned not that I think it possible that all Churches can be Govern'd alike for the French Church being sub cruce cannot well set up Episcopall jurisdiction but because it may seem to his Majesty of Great Brittain that his excepting the point of Government might not proceed so much from the Consideration of the Impossibility of the thing as from want of love and liking of it in the Person Now for that part of the proposition which concerns the Lutheran either it aimes at a Union in Opinion or a mutuall tolleration The first is without all question impossible For in the point of the Sacrament and the dependences from it as the ubiquity of Christs manhood the Person of Christ the communicatio idiomatum c. Either they must yield to us or we to them neither of which probable Their opinions have now obtein'd for a Hundred years ever since the beginning of the Reformation and are derived from the chief Author of the Reformation It is not likely therefore that they will easily fall that have such Authority and so many years to uphold them But I suppose Monsieur Moulins intended only a mutuall tolleration and be it no more yet if we consider the indisposition of the persons with whom we are to deal I take this likewise to be impossible The Lutherans are divided into two sorts either they are Molliores as they call them or Rigidi What hope there may be of moderation in the first I know not but in the second we may well despair of For they so bear themselves as that it is evident they would rather agree with the Church of Rome then with the Calvinist He that is conversant in the writings of Hunnius and Grawerâ—â—s will quickly think as I do The first of which hath so bitterly written against Calvin that Parsons the Jesuit furnisht himself by compiling Hunnius his Books If the whole lump be Leaven'd as those two pieces which I but now named they are certainly too sower for moderate men to deal with The French wits are naturally active and projecting and withall carry evermore a favourable conceit to the possibility of their projects Out of this French conceit I suppose proceeded this of M. Moulins Mr. Deane went away to the Hague giving notice to no man I understood not till dinner that day of any intent he had to go I wisht him an ill journey for this discurtesy but I hope he had a good one I fear I well wearied your Honor with these my long Letters I will therefore take my leave commending your Lordship to Gods good protection Dort 1. January stylo novo 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and Bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord. WHat hath lately been done at the Hague in the business concerning our Synod and what Decree the States have made to restrain the exorbitancy of the Remonstrants I suppose is sufficiently known unto your Lordship as a thing done in your presence So much thereof it as shall serve the present purpose I will take and leave the rest to your Honors better knowledg Upon Thursday the third of January stylo novo the Commissioners being met and the Delegates ready to declare the pleasure of the States the Remonstrants being call'd in two of them were found wanting Isaacus Friderici and Henricus Leo for Isaacus it was answered that he had leave on Friday last of the Praetor of the Town to go abroad for Leo it was answered that they knew not where he was Having sent for Leo and awhile in vain expected him the Delegates proceeded to declare the will of the Lords and signified that the States allowed the Proceedings of the Synod and commanded the Remonstrants to obey for the present and whatsoever Decrees hereafter the Delegates and Synod should enact and if they refused to obey they should expect both Civill and Eclesiasticall censure If this served not yet the Synod should go forward and gather their opinions out of their books and writings That the Remonstrants should be commanded to remain in the Town and be ready to appear whensoever the Synod should summon them and answer plainly and directly to such Interrogatoryes as it should please the Synod to propose them This first was read in Dutch and afterwards for the information of the Forreigners it was put into Latin The Praeses then put to them that Question which in one of the former Sessions he had proposed viz. Whether or no they did acknowledg the Articles set down in the Hague Conference to contein their opinions and amongst the rest that first concerning Election which by the Scribe was read unto them out of the Book Episcopius beginning to make answer Martinus Gregorii commanded that their answers should be taken and set down in their own words Episcopius his answer was this Omnibus in timore Domini expensis adjunctis etiam ad Deum precibus non possum impetrare ab anima mea ut aliam agendi rationem sequar quam eam quae ultimo responso meo exhibita est This their answer of which he speaks was given on Saturday last as I have inform'd your Honor and it was this that except the Synod in antecessum as they spake would beforehand promise them that they should have free Liberty to propose their own opinion of Reprobation and refute the Contra-Remonstrants Doctrine in that point together with the Doctrine if all those whom the Contra-remonstrants held for Orthodox and that as far as they pleas'd without receiving any check from the Synod they were resolved to go no further The same was the answer of the rest with some alteration of words for they were questioned one by one every one by himself Hollingerius answered that he could not eam recipere legem eamque ingredi viam which tended openly to the ruin and oppression of the better
cause For by so doing he should greivously wound his Conscience before God and cast irreparabile scandalum before the true worshippers of God Imitabor itaque exemplum Christi Silebo et omnem eventum commendabo illi qui venturus est adjudicandum vivos mortuos Neranus spake after the same manner and added that the Reasons why they thus thought themselves bound to answer they had exhibited this Morning to the Secular Delegates Poppius gave answer thus Respondeo cum debita erga summas Potestates reverentia me invocato sanctissimo Dei nomine retota etiam atque etiam expensa apud animum meum non posse desâ—â—iere ab ultimo meo responso Exhibuimus rationes Dominis Delegatis in quibus etiamnam acquiesco certo persuasus id quod facio Deo Optimo maximo Christo Jesu probatum iri Martinus Gregiiro advised him here to bethink himself a little whether or no he spake not these words in Passion for he seem'd to be somewhat Cholerick He replied that he spake them with his best advice The Praeses perceiving that they were resolved not to Answer concluding the questions which he had proposed thought that the Synod might without scruple accept of the first Article in their Remonstrance at the Hague for their proper tenent He proceeded therefore to propose unto them another Interrogatory Whether or no that Decree which they spake of in that first Article did contein the whole Decree of Election and so were the main ground of Christianity or whether there were not some Decree besides this The behavioâ—â—r and answers of the Remonstrants carryed the same Copie of Countenance with the former and Poppius plainly answered Quia conscientiae meae à Synodo non habetur ratio non expecto ab ea instructionem in veritate ideóque consulâ—â—um non est respondere The Praeses then citing some Texts out of Johannes Arnoldi and Arminius and the Hague Conference concluded that it was their opinion that besides that Decree mention'd in the Conference they acknowledged no farther Decree of Election In the third place this question was put the Remonstrants whether when they taught that God chose Man propter fidem praevisam this were not rather to be called an Election of Faith then of the person since the person was chosen for the qualities sake But they were still the same Neranus was the man that gave it but it was the common answer of them all Si liceat nobis de Reprobatione Contra-Remonstrantium sententia super ea agere quantum nobis conscientia nostra Eclesiarum nostrarum aedificatio persuadebit suâ—â—ficere boc nobis in antecessum promittatur libentur ad quaesita respondebimus si minus silere malumus Now because they had often appeal'd to their Reasons exhibited in Scripto to the Secular Delegates that Morning the Delegates thought good to read the writing in the Audience of the Synod It contein'd almost no new thing but was a repetition of their old exceptions that their Liberty was prejudiced that the Synod was pars adversa and for farther illustration of this they reckoned up all the sharp speeches that either Scultetus or the Divines of Geneva or any other had used against them that their Consciences would not allow of this manner of proceeding c. This last Night was there a private meeting not by way of Session but only it was a Conference to which some of the Graver Discreeter of the Synod were call'd The end was only to advise what course is best to be holden in the following disputations It was thought fit that the Remonstrants should alwayes be present at their meetings and questions should be proposed them but the Synod should procâ—â—ed whether they answer'd or no and so they concluded of a course to gather their opinions out of their Books Mr. Amyes will inform your Lordship more largely peradventure in some farther circumstances his sudden and unexpected departure hath made me scrible up this more â—â—udely and concisely then I had intended because I was loth to miss of so good a Messenger Wherefore I cease any further to trouble your Honor and remit you to Mr. Amyes larger Relation Dort this Fourth of January 1619. stylo novo Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty and Service Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord UPon Wednesday the ninth of January stylo novo the Synod met not at all Time was given the Deputies to advise of the Theses which were to be handled only at Night the English went in private to the Praeses to consult what manner of proceeding were fittest to be used What counsel they gave him I know not but this I see that the course he taketh is not altogether so well approved by them Upon Thursday the tenth of January the Commissioners met in the Morning in private where Mr. Praeses proposed unto them four things to be considered of First whether or no the Theses proposed by him formerly did not perfectly contein the opinion of the Remonstrants Secondly An electio sit una an multiplex that so he might exclude the Remonstrants Division of Election in Revocabilem irrevocabilem completam incompletam c. Thirdly An electio sit ex fide obedientia an potius ad fidem obedientiam For this is one main point of difference the Remonstrant teaches that God foresaw only who would believe and so ordein'd and Elected only to Glory the Contra-Remonstrant teacheth that God ardein'd who should believe and so predestinated and Elected both to Grace and Glory The fourth thing proposed was concerning the means how true believers become sure of their Salvation After this the Synod was requested to deliver themselves concerning a Method of proposing and examining the Theses proposed The greatest part of them liked well of that form which the Praeses proposed The English the South-Hollanders and Festus Hommius conceived severally a form of Theses every man according to his discretion and exhibited them to the Judgement of the Synod and had them publikely read this was the sum of that meeting A Copie of the Theses drawn by our Englishmen I will send your Honor as soon as I can procure the sight of them The same day at Evening the Deputies met in private as before They continued yet their consultation upon the point of manner of proceeding The Praeses invented certain new Interrogatories and propounded them to the Synod to know their mindes whether it were not fit to propose them to the Remonstrants There was great doubt whither this were a thing fit to be done since it is not likely that the Remonstrants behaviour in this behalf will be any other then hitherto it had been This question as it seems was the greatest part of their consultation It was at length Concluded that the Remonstrants should be call'd in and the Interrogatories put to them the next Session This Morning therefore we look for an open Session
that he had lately spoken with Musius but understood nothing by him concerning the matter which your Lordship is privy too He willed me moreover to inform your Honor That whereas you lately spake to Mr. Dean to deal with Deodati Mr. Dean by reason of his indisposition of Body and sudden departure found no means to talk with him Thus with humble recommendation of my Service to your Honor I take my leave Dort this 11 21 of January Your Honors Chaplain and bounden in all Duty and Service Jo. Hales Right Honourable and my very good Lord THe Errours of publike actions if they be not very gross are with less inconvenience tollerated then amended For the danger of alteration of disgracing and disabling Authority makes that the Fortune of such proceedings admits no regress but being once howsoever well or ill done they must for ever after be upheld The most partialls spectator of our Synodal acts can not but confess that in the late dismission of the Remonstrants with so much choler and heat there was a great oversight committed and that whether we respect our common profession of Christianity Quae nil nisi justum sâ—â—adet lene or the quality of this people apt to mutine by Reason of long Liberty and not having learnt to be imperiously commanded in which argument the Clergy above all men ought not to have read their first Lesson The Synod therefore to whom it is not now in integro to look back and Rectify what is amiss without disparagement must now go forward and leave events to God and for the Countenance of their action do the best they may For this purpose have they lately by Deputies appointed for that end made a Declaration of all their proceedings unto the States Generall from whom they have procured a Decree for Confirmation of them which Decree upon Munday the 11 21 of Jannary was publickly first in Dutch then in Latin read at the Synod in the Evening The particulars of it I shall not need relate as being sufficiently known to your Honor. The Decree being pronounced Heinsius first signified that it had been before in private made known to the Remonstrants and then in the name of the Delegates warn'd the Commissioners of the Synod Ut quam matâ—â—rimè celerrime de istis controversiis statuant ut possint tandem afflictis eclesiis Belgicis subvenire I was very glad to hear that admonition and it gives me hope that our Synod shall have end not long after Easter at the Farthest After this did Tysius another of the Professors discusse three other of the Remonstrants arguments taken out of the Hague Conference according to the same forme as Sibrandus and Gomarus had done before This being done the Praeses required Jo. Polyander and Wallaeus to provide to do the like upon Thursday next in the Evening for before that time there is to be no publick Session and requesting the Company the next Day to accompany Bisterfieldius to his Grave which accordingly was done at the time appointed he dismist the meeting So that till Thursday next we are likely to understand no more news of the Synod I spake upon Tuesday with Mr. Praeses concerning Moulius project His anâ—â—wer to me was this that he communicated the thing with some of the discreeter of the Synod and that he had required my Lord Bishop and Scultetus to conceive a forme of publick Confession Which as soon as it should be concieved and allowed of by those who should in that behalf be consulted withall he would send a Copy of it to your Honor to be sent to his Majesty by him to be revised and altered according to his pleasure and so from him to be commended unto the Synod publickly Which course he thinks will take good success As touching the point concerning the Lutherans he thinks it not fit that any word at all be made I dealt with Mr. Praeses concerning a Copy of M. Deans Valediction to the Synod he answered me that he had delivered it to Dammannus the Scribe to be copied out and as soon as it was done I should have it to transcribe so soon therefore as I can procure the Copie of it I will not fail to send it your Lordship Mr. Dean at his departure had an Honorarium bestowed on him by the States Heinsius the Scribe came to his lodging to him and making a short speech unto him presented him in the Name of the States with munusculum as he call'd it What or how much it was no man knowes Thus commending your Honor to Gods good protection I humbly take my leave Dort this 12 22 of January 1619. Your Honors Chaplain in and Bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honurable and my very good Lord UPon Tuesday she 12 22 of this present in the Evening for for the debating of certain particular points in controversy belonging to the first Article the Synod came together in private It hath been lately questioned how Christ is said to be Fundamentum Electionis The Doctrine generally received by the Contra-Remonstrant in this point is That God first of all resolved upon the Salvation of some singular persons and in the second place upon Christ as a mean to bring this Decree to pass So that with them God the Father alone is the Author of our Election and Christ only the Executioner Others on the contrary teach that Christ is so to be held Fundamentum Electionis as that he is not only the Executioner of Election but the Author and the Procurer of it for proof of which they bring the words of the Apostle to the Ephesians the first Chapter elegit nos in Christo ante jacta mundi fundamenta The Exposition of this Text was the especial thing discust at this meeting and some taught that Christ was Fundamentum Electionis because he was primus Electorum or because he is Fundamentum Electorum but not Electionis or because he is Fundamentum beneficiorum which descend upon us others brookt none of those Restraints D. Gomarus stands for the former sentence and in defence of it had said many things on Friday This night Martinius of Breme being required to speak his minde signified to the Synod that he made some scruple concerning the Doctrine passant about the manner of Christs being Fundamentum Electionis and that he thought Christ not only the Effector of our Election but also the Author and Procurer thereof Gomarus who owes the Synod a shrewd turn and then I fear me began to come out of debt presently assoon as Martinius had spoken starts up and tells the Synod ego hanc rem in me recipio and therewithall casts his Glove and challenges Martinius with this Proverb Ecce Rhodum eâ—â—ce saltum and requires the Synod to grant them a Duel adding that he knew Martinius could say nothing in refutation of that Doctrine Martinius who goes in a quipace with Gomarus in Learning and a little before him for his
Discretion easily digested this affront and after some few words of course by the wisdom of the Praeses matters seemed to be a little pacified and so according to the custom the Synod with Prayer concluded Zeal and Devotion had not so well allayed Gomarus his choler but immediately after Prayers he renewed his Challenge and required Combat with Martinius again but they parted for that night without blowes Martinius as it seems is somewhat favourable to some Tenents of the Remonstrants concerning Reprobation the latitude of Christs merit the Salvation of Infants c. and to bring him to some conformity was there a private meeting of the Forreign Divines upon Wednesday morning in my Lord Bishops Lodging in which thus much was obtain'd that though he would not leave his Conclusions yet he promised moderation and temper in such manner that there should be no dissention in the Synod by reason of any opinion of his Upon Thursday the 14 24 of this present the Synod being met in the Evening Jo. Polyander and Wallaeus undertools the defence of some places of Scripture brought by the Contra-Remonstrants against the exceptions of the Remonstrants the places of Scripture were Luke 10. 20. Gaudete quia nomina vestra scripta sunt in Coelis Apocal. 21. 27. inscripti in libro vitae Rom. 9. 11. Ut propositum Dei secundum Electionem maneret and 11. 5. Reservatio secundum Electionem and Rom. 8. 13. Quos praedestinavit ut conformes fiant imagini Filii sui eos eriam vocavit Act. 13. 48. Crediderunt quot quot erant ordinati ad vitam aeternam Upon these places these two spake almost three hours It was expected that as the rest of the Professors hitherto have done so Doctour Davenant the next Professour should speak in publike It is said that he shall do it this day in a private Session for there is no publike till Munday and what will then be done I know not What the meaning is of this Audience only in private I know not But of this I will say more in my next Letters to your Honour till when I leave your Lordship to Gods good protection Dort this 15 25 of January 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Your Honour shall hear receive a Copie of Mr. Deans farewell I fear me it is a little imperfect for I understand it not in some places If I can hear of another copie from Mr. Praeses who promised me one at the beginning of this week and finde it to be perfecter I will again transcribe it The Dean of Worcesters Valediction to the Synod NOn facile mecum in gratiam redierit cadaverosa haec moles quam aegre usque circumgesto quae mihi sacri hujus Conventus celebritatem toties inviderit jamque me prorsus invitissimum a vobis importune avocat divellit Neque enim ullus est profecto sub Coelo locus aeque Coeli aemulus in quo tentorium mihi figi maluerim cujusque adeo gestiet mihi animus meminisse Beatos vero vos quibus hoc frui datum Non dignus eram ego ut fidelissimi Romani Querimoniam imitari liceat qui pro Christi Eclesâ—â—ae suae nomine sanctam hanc provinciam diutius sustinerem Illud vero 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nempe audito quod res erat non alia me quam adversissima hic usum valetudine serenissimus Rex meus misertus miselli famuli sui revocat me domum quippe quod cineres meos aut sandapilam vobis nihil quicquam prodesse posse norit succenturiavitque mihi virum e suis selectissimum quantum Theologum De me profecto mero jam silicernio quicquiâ—â— sâ—â— viderit ille Deus meus cujus ego totus sum Vobis quidem ita feliciter prospectum est ut sit cur infirmitati meae haud parum gratulamini quae hujusmodi instructissimo succedaneo coetum hunc vestrum beaverit Neque tamen committam si Deus vitam mihi ac vires indulserit ut et corpore simul et animo abesse videar Interea sane huic Synodo ubicunque terrarum sim votis consiliis conatibusque meis quibuscunque res vestras me pro virili serio ac sedulo promoturum sancte voveo Interim vobis omnibus ac singulis Honoratissimi Domini Delegati Reverendissime Domine Praeses Gravissimi Assessores Symmystae Colendissimi tibique Venerandissima Synodus Universa aegro animo ac corpore aeternum valedico rogoque vos omnes obnixius ut precibus vestris imbecillem reducem facere comitari et prosequi velitis Right Honourable my very good Lord UPon Tuesday the 19 29 of January at the Evening Session the point of Reprobation was Scholastically and learnedly discust by Altingius one of the Palatine Professors His discourse was the most sufficient of any that yet I heard He began from the Definition and proceded to how far God had a hand in it and how far man is the Author of his own Destruction lastly answered the Remonstrants arguments He spake about an hour and half I would willingly have given your Honour an account of his speech but it was in the Evening and the Auditory are allowed no candles so that I could not use my tables And thus have they discust the first Article though I could have wished that the question of Reprobation had been yet farther opened and stood upon it being a point of large extent and especially insisted on by the Remonstrant As for Synodical Resolution in this first Article that we must yet expect till all the rest be examined as this hath been There is no open Session till Friday next after dinner and then is it their purpose to enter upon the Second Article of Universal Grace at which time Mr. Balcanqual and Cruciger of Hassia are appointed to speak according as the rest have done before to this question Whether the death of Christ were intended indifferently for all or only for the Elect Upon Wednesday the 20 30 of January in the evening was there a private Session wherein belike for the makeing of better speed they consulted whether they should go on to examine the rest of the Articles after the same manner they had done the first or else bethink them of some more speedy order After a long disceptation even so long that Jo. Polyander put the Praeses in minde of the exceeding sharpness of the Weather they at length concluded that they would go on in the same course they had begun And this as yet is all the Newes that is passant wherefore ceasing farther to trouble your Honour I humbly take my leave Dort this 21 31 of January 1619. Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty and Service Jo. Hales Right Honourable and my very good Lord UPon Friday the 15 25 of January there was a meeting of the Synod partly publick partly private As the Provinciall Professors had done so was D. Davenant who is the first
Professor of the Forraigners enjoined by the Praeses to do The intent of his discourse at that time was to overthrow certain distinctions framed by the Remonstrants for the maintenance of their positions and evasion from the Contraremonstrants Arguments The Remonstrants usually distinguish upon Election and divide it into definitam indefinitam revocabilem irrevocabilem peremptoriam non peremptoriam mutabilem immuâ—â—abilem and the like For the refutation of which distinctions he first set down the definition of election brought by the Contraremonstrant and at large confirmed it secondly he brought the definition of election agreed on by the Remonstrant and Argued against it and thirdly he directly oppugned these forecited distinctions all which he did learnedly and fully When Dr. Davenant had spoken the Auditory was commanded to depart For having a purpose that others should speake at the same time and fearing that some diversity of opinion might rise and occasion some dissention it was thought fit that things should be transacted as privately as might be Many more of the Forreigners deliver'd themselves that night and amongst the rest Martinius of Breme proposed again his former doubts unto the Synod concerning the sense in which Christ is said to be fundamentum electionis requested to be resolved But D. Gomarus at this time was somewhat better advised thought it best to hold his peace This day will there be a private meeting wherein every company will give up their judgments in writing upon the first Article and to morrow I understand they will go on unto the second and proceed in it accordingly as they have done in the former As for any Decisive Sentence they will give none till they have thus gone through all the five In this I suppose they do very discreetly For since the Articles are mutually linked together it is most convenient they should first go through them all since a predetermination in the former might bind them to some inconvenience in the later there being no place left to look back but stand they must to what they have once concluded For avoiding of this it is thought best to determine of all at once And this is all the news that here is currant wherefore Commending Your Honour to Gods good protection I humbly take my leave Dort this 18 28 of January 1619. Your Honors Chaplain and Bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord UPon Munday the 18 28 of January in the Evening the Synod being met Scultetus spake at large de Certitudine gratiae salvtis that it was necessary for every man to be assured of his Salvation The manner of his discourse was oratoriall the same that he uses in his Sermons not scholasticall and according to the fashion of disputation and Schools For this cause the question was neither deeply searcht into nor strongly proved And this is all was done that night I spake with Mr. Dr. Goad concerning Mr. Brent who answer'd me that he heard nothing at all of him and that he will shortly write unto My Lord Archbishops Secretary to be informed farther concerning him My Lord Bishop of late hath taken some pains with Martinius of Brente to bring him from his opinion of Vniversall Grace By chance I came to see his Letter writen to Martinius in which he expounded that place in the third of John So God loved the World that he gave his only begotten Sâ—â—on c. which is the strongest ground upon which Martinius rests himself Beyond this here is no news worth the relating and therfore till farther occasion offer it self I humbly take my leave Dort this 19 29 of January 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord. UPon Thursday the 24 31 of January in the Evening the Synod met privately and as they had done in the first so did they in the second Article For the speedier Direction to finde the places in the Remonstrants Books where the particulars concerning Vniversall Grace are discust there was a kinde of Index or Concordance drawn of the severall passages in their writings touching that subject The next Day following that is the first of February Stylo novo Mr. Balcanquall and Cruciger of Hassia made entrance upon the second Article Mr. Balcanquall spake above an hour and did very well acquit himself When they had done the Praeses enjoin'd Steinius of Hassia upon Tuesday next in the Evening at what time will be the next open Session to speak of the fourth Article for of the third there is no question and to sound whether the Grace of God converting us be resiâ—â—tible as the Remonstrants would have it This hast chat is made in this suddain passing from one Article to another is much mervail'd at by our English Divines for the Colledges yet have not all given up their opinion upon the first and besides that the Remonstrants upon Wednesday last were willed to give in their Arguments upon the first Article For notwithstanding they be excluded from personall appearance in the Synod yet are they Commanded to Exhibit to the Synod whatsoever they shall please to command Now some time will be required for the Examining of those reasons if they be of late invention and such as yet have had nothing said to them But what the reason of this hast is will appear hereafter I lately writ unto Mr. Collwall to know what Order was to be taken for the discharge of my lodging whether your Honor were to answer it or the publick purse I would willingly be resolved of it because I have a desire to returne to the Hague first because the Synod proceeding as it both I do not see that it is opere pretium for me here to abide and then because I have sundry private occasions that call upon me to return For notwithstanding this hast of which I but now spake it will be long ere the Synod will come to determine any thing and about that time if your Honor shall be so pleased I shall be ready to come back to Dort And so remembring my service unto your Honor I humbly take my leave Dort this first of Febr. 1619. stylo novo Your Honors Chaplain and bounden in all Duty and Service Jo. Hales Right Honourable and my very good Lord OUr Synod goes on like a watch the main Wheels upon which the whole business turnes are least in sight For all things of moment are acted in private Sessions what is done in publick is onely for thew and entertainment Upon Munday last the 4th of February stylo novâ—â— the Deputies met privately in the Evening where the first thing that came upon the Stage was that old impertinent business concerning the Campenses at what time Scotlerus a Remonstrant Minister who had been formerly cited to appear before the Synod having not appeared at time appointed pretended sickness and for that cause he required the Synods patient forbearance After
this they entred into consultation concerning certain Books and Writings to be conceiv'd partly for declaracion of the Synods meaning in the Doctrine of the five Articles partly in Apology for it And first it was proposed that there should be scriptum didacticum a plain and familiar writing drawn wherein the Doctrine of the five Articles according to the intent and meaning of the Synod should be perspicuously exprest for the Capacity of the Common sort and that in Dutch and Latin The Apologicall Writings were of two sorts first Scriptum Elenchicum wherein there were to be refuted such Errours as had been lately broached in prejudice of the received Doctrine secondly scriptum Historicum which was to consist of two parts first a narration of the Synods proceedings with the Remonstrant from the day of his first appearance till the time of his Ejection for the refutation of many bitter invectives which lately had been written against the Synod in that behalf Secondly a Relation de causis turbarum who were the Authors of the late Stirs in time of the separation for answer of Episcopius his Oration and other Writings of the Remonstrants in which the whole misorder is turn'd upon the Contra-Remonstrant For the Scriptum didacticum the English were altogether against it and so was Vosbergius Their Reason was because it seem'd incongruous that any writing concerning the Doctrine of the Articles should be set forth before the Synod had given Sentence And indeed I must confess I see no great congruity in the proposall whilst matters are in controversy Judges walk suspensly and are indifferent for either party and whatsoever their intent be yet they make no overture of it till time of sentence come All this business of citing inquiring examining must needs seem only as acted on a stage if the Synod intempestively before hand bewray a resolution But notwithstanding any reason alleadgable against it the thing is concluded and Wallaeus Udemannus and Triglandius are deputed to write a discourse to that purpose with the inspection and supervision of my Lord Bishop Scultetus Brittingerus and Deodatus For the scriptum historicum in the first part concerning the proceeding of the Synod with the Remonstrant there is required the pains of Scultetus and Triglandius in the second part de causis turbarum Latius must bestow his labour with the help of Festus Hommius of the South-Holanders and North-Hollanders who best of any know the whole carriage of that matter To the composing of the scriptum elenchicum there are deputed four of the Provincials Professors Jo. Polyander Lubbertus Gomarus and Thysius to whom are adjoyned as helpers and Supervisors D. Davenant Altingius and Martinius But the business of this writing past not without some opposition Deodat altogether misliked it Polyander requested that his pains might be spared Novi saith he quam sit mihi curta supellex But above all D. Gomarus was most offended at the Proposall Bella mihi video bella parantur aiâ—â— And therefore quite refusing to consent to any Polemicall writing he advised that the scriptum didacticum should abstain a non necessariis privatis and contein only necessary points such as pass by common consent That they should expect till the Remonstrant had set forth some adversary writing and then would be a fiâ—â—er time to think of somewhat in this kind I blame not D. Gomarus if he a little recoil For being of the Supralapsarii as they terme them of those who bring the Decree of Gods Election from before the fall and seeing the Synod not willing to move that way but to subside in a lower sphere he is to be pardon'd if he deny his hand to that writing which he supposes cannot be so warily indicted but he must be forced with his own pen to let fall somewhat Prejudiciall to his own opinion The Praeses answered that it was not his drift to force the Synod against their mindes to set out such a Book but only to take hold of the present occasion whilst the Forreign Divines were here and have such a Book in readiness for use hereafter though it were not now set forth He farther advised that those who were to undertake this should have an eye to the inclination of the Synod and beware as much as might be that they toucht not there where any man was sore Whatsoever the pretence is the mentioning of these Books before the Determination of the Synod be formally set down must needs be very unseasonable It will make the World to think they came resolved what to do which though perchance they did yet it is no wisdome to confess it After this did they advise concerning the Exceptions against the Confession Catechisme and of such as should answer them For the Catechisme the Palatine Divines undertook it for the Confession some of the Provincialls were appointed whose names I have not learnt The Praeses then by the advice of the Secular Delegates advised the Synod to think of gathering a Synopsis and brief of all the Synodicall Proceedings to be sent to the King of England and other Foreigne Princes and States who had sent Deputies to the Synod that so they may understand what hath been done For this were there appointed Altingius Steinius the Assessors and Scribes and for Supervisors were named D. Davenant Praeses This is the summe of that Session On Tuesday at Even they met again in private where every one spake in order what they had further to say concerning the second Article Upon some occasion I know not what the Praeses mentioned Negotium Vorstianum Bertianum Venatorianum which I note because this is the first time that Vorstius his cause was named in the Synod There hath not been any stay made amongst the Forraign Divines but only in this second Article out of which if they can wel clearly wrest themselves their passage out of the rest will be more smooth I lately told your Honor that Martinius of Breme made some doubts amongst the rest concerning Universall Grace Not Martinius only but Dr. Ward in this point For the composing the doubts of both these that they brake not out to any publick inconvenience there hath been of late many private meetings in my Lord Bishops Lodging where upon Wednesday Morning were drawn certain Theses in very suspense and wary termes to what end whither to give content to all partyes or to exhibite to the Synod or what else I know not by chance I had a view of them but no opportunity to transcribe them On Wednesday the sixt of February there was a publick Session in the Evening at what time Steinius of Hassia spake to the fourth Article concerning the resistibility of Grace in the same manner as others had done before him He spake about an hour a half and when he had done the Praeses gave warning of a publike Session to be upon Munday next in the Evening and so dismist the Auditory but not the Synod who after this sate a good space in private consultation 7. Febr. 1619. Your Honors Chaplain and bounden in all Duty and Servoie Jo. Hales FINIS ** O Blatio Christi facta in cruce perfecta est redemptio propitiatio et satisfactio pro omnibus peccatis tâ—â—tius mundi tam originalibus quam actualibus Contravertitur an per totum mundum intelligatur mundus electorum an mundus omnium particularium hominum ubi de his tribus ambigitur Primo An retinenda sit illa distinctio quae receptissima est apud Reformates Doctores quemque Episcopuâ—â— Sarisburiensis astruit pag. 35. et sequentibus mortuus est pro omnibus secundum sufficientiam seu magnitudinem pretii non secundum proprietatem redemptionis quidam put ant non retinendum esse quia putant sic sufficienter dici posse mortuum pro Diabolis Secundo Contravertitur de hac propositione Christus obtulit se pro omnibus seu persolvit pretium redemptionis pro omnibus quidam putant sensum esse persolvit pretium quod sufficit pro omnibus non autem actu solvit pretium illud nisi pro redimendis electis alii putant hanc expositionem incommodam quia putant commentarium hunc verba ipsa destruere Ea etenim putant sequi Christum quidem habuisse pretium in numeraâ—â—o quod persolutum suffecisset omnibus redimendis verum Christum non persolvisse actu pretiumillud aut factum esse propitiationem pro peccatis totius mundi Tertio Contravertitur de sensu horum verborum totius mundi quidam putant intelligi de singulis hominibus aliis de solis electis hic est sanguis novi testamenti qui funditur pro mult is in remissionem peccatorum exponuntque haec vocabula totius mundi ficut Augustinus exponit epist. 48. Totus mundus est in maligno positus propter zizania quae sunt per totum mundum et Christus propitiator est peccatorum totius mundi propter testicum quod est per totum mundum Quaeritur ergo an per totum mundum debeamus intelligere singulos homines an solos electâ—â—s an vero nulla sit danda explicatio sed retinenda sint verba confessionis absque ullo commentario In Psal. 28. Hom. 1. in Mat. L. 3. Epist. 106. Fâ—â—ber Schol. in Thucyd. Flinie Arist. Rhet. 2. Nicephorus Thuâ—â—yd De Genesi ad literam Livie Seneca Isidorus Pelusiota 2. Pet. 1. 20. Ausoniâ—â— in monosyl * St. Pauls Cross
as I shall understand what was done I will acquaint Your Lordship with it and till then I humbly take my leave Dort this 5 15. of January 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord. SInce the Dismission of the Remonstrants there hath not been any publick Session and as I Conjecture for a while will not be They are altogether in Consultation concerning their order of proceeding and in gathering materialls out of the Remonstrants Books whence they may Frame their Theses and propositions which must be the subject of their disputation This they purpose as I conceive to do through out all the Five Articles before they come to the open discussing of any one for they are past from the first and gone one to the second So that till this Consultation be ended there will not be any great occasion of news Against Mr. Praeses so rough handling the Remonstrants at their Dismission there are some exceptions taken by the Deputies themselves The Forreigners think themselves a little indirectly dealt withall in that it being proposed to the whole Synod to pass their judgement concerning the behaviour of the Remonstrants the Provincials were not not at all required to speak and by these meanes the envy of the whole business was derived upon the Forreigners Whereas on the contrary when the like question was proposed formerly and the Forreigners had spoken very favourable in ihe Remonstrants behalf the Provincials stroke in and establisht a rigid sentence against the Forreigners liking So that there is little regard given to the judgement of the Forreigners except they speak as the Provincials would have them Again upon the Tuesday Session in the morning there being a repetition made according to the custom of the late Synodical acts when they came to the act of the Remonstrants Dismission Lud. Crosius of Breme signified that he perceived that Mr Praeses in that business had been paulo commotior and had let slip verba quaedam acerba which might well have been spared that in so great an act as that was a little more advice and consideration might have been used The Synod ought to have been consulted with and a form of Dismission conceived and approved of by all which should in the name of the Synod have bin pronounced and registred whereas now the Synod stands indicted of all that unnecessary roughness which then was practised It had stood better whith the Honor of the Synod to have held a more peaceable and passionless order The Preses replied that for Dismissing the Remonstrants without a Synodical form it was from the Secular Lords who willed him immediately to proceed What his apologie was for his passionate speeches I know not The Session was in private and I have nothing but by relation I hear nothing yet from Mr. Preses concerning the French project as soon as I shall hear ought I will not fail to acquaint your Honor till when I humbly take my leave Dort 6 16 January 1618. Your Honours Chaplain and Bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales The bringer of this Letter is Sir John Berks Son Right Honourable my very good Lord YOur Honour shall here receive the Decree of the Synod mentioned in my last Letters conteining the form of proceeding which they will hold in discussing the Articles The morning they mean the Deputies shall spend in private after dinner in open Synod the chief places of Scripture upon which the Remonstrant grounds himself shall be opened and answers fram'd to the Arguments drawn from thence According to which resolution they began to proceed upon Thursday the â—â— 17 of Janu. in the Evening The question proposed then was An praeter Decretum de salvandis fidelibus nullum sit aliud Decretum Electionis The Remonstrant affirms there is none and for this produces certain places of Scripture The Contra-Remonstrant grants that there is such a Decree but withall contends that this is but a Secondary Decree For God saith he first resolved upon the Salvation of some certain singular persons and in the second place decreed to give them Faith as a means to bring the former Decree to pass But before this question came on the stage other things were done at that time The Synod therefore being met at the time mentioned First the Letters from the States concerning D. Goads Admission were read and after that some were sent to his Lodging to conduct him to the Synod In the mean time were there Letters from Mr. Dean to the Synod produced and read together with a form of Valediction and farewell by him conceived I suppose Mr. Dean acquainted your Honor with the thing whilst hee was with you which is the cause I have not sent a transcript of it as soon as I understand your Lordship hath not seen it I will cause a Copy of it to be taken It was then concluded by the Synod that the Praeses and Assessors together with the Seculars Scribe should after the Synod was ended repair to Mr. Dean and take their leave of him in the name of all the rest and by him commend their love and service unto his Majestie and render him humble thanks for his princely care All which the same night was done Now was Dr. Goade come to the Synod and according to the manner conducted to his seat where being sate he made a short speech which being ended the Synod proceeded to dicusse the question above metion'd The Decree is that the Professors shall expound those places of Scripture on which the Remonstrant builds Wherefore Jo. Polyander who is the Senior Professor being absent Sibrandus Lubbertus who is the next in order tooke the question and answer'd such Texts as were urged by the Adversary one out of the 3. of John 36. Qui credit in filium habet vitam aeternam qui non credit non videbit vitam sed ira Dei manet super eo Another out of the 1. to the Ephes. 4. Elegit nos in Christo ante jacta mundi fundamenta A third out of 11. to the Hebrews Impossibile est sine fide placere Deo The summe of Sibrandus his answer at that time I can not give For being misinform'd that it would be but a private Session I was not at it Besides Sibrandus no man spake any thing that night As soon as he had done it was signified by the Praeses that the Campenses who were lately cited were now ready to make their appearance It was concluded that because the business of the Synod should not be interrupted certain out of the company should be appointed to hear the cause and make relation of it to the Synod so the Praeses concluded the Session with a prayer in which he prayed for Mr. Deans Health and for the good success of his journey This was the summe of what was then done and so I end committing your Honor to Gods good protection Dort this 8 18 of January Your Honors
Chaplain and bounden in all Duty and Service Jo. Hales The Synodical Decree of the sixt of January concerning the manner of handling the Five Articles COllatis diligenter per D. Praesidem Assessores Scribas ex praescripto illustrium D D. Delegatorum suffragiis omnibus tum Scripto tum viva voce heri ac nudiustertius in veneranda hac Synodo dictis super modo agendi circa examen judicium quinque Articulorum compertum est plurimis placere ut singula quamprimum Collegia ad examen illud instituendum judiciumque formandum serio se accingant Ac primo quidem loco in manus sumant primum Articulum In cujus examine ut deinceps in coeterorum ad interrogatoria Theses a D. Praeside dictaâ—â—a ut postea dictanda quilibet in primis attendat Si quis tamen plura quae ad sententiam Remonstrantium proponendam explicandam facere possunt quae forte in Thesibus interrogatoriis istis indicata non sunt addere velit possit id cuique liberum relinquatur ut privatim singula collegia ante Meridiem de hoc examine cogitabunt ita post Meridiem ne Synodus intermissa ac nulla Auditorum Spectatorumque ex omnibus passim oris quotidie accurrentium ratio haberi videatur publicus nisi omnino res ipsa aliud postulaverit conventus celebrabitur in quo potissima Remonstrantium argumenta maxime ex Scripturis desumpta ipsorumque adeo ad contrariae sententiae argumenta maxime ex Scripturis desumpta responsiones proponentur excutientur praeeuntibus D D. Doctoribus ac Professoribus nunc nostratibus nune exteris ad Arbitrium D. Praesidis relicta interim singulis libertate dictis addendi suam etiam â—â—e praepositis argumentis sententiam dicendi Quare necesse quoque erit ut quilibet serio de argumentis istis responsionibus apud se cogitet ac meditetur Dabit autem operam D. Praeses singulis Sessionibus ut ea de quibus proxima Sessione erit agendum universae Synodo significet Ac si quis fuerit qui de quoquam quod forte a D. Praeside monitum non fuerat judicium Synodi audire sua vel aliorum causa desideret ejus si privatim D. Praesidem appellaverit ratio habebitur prout ipse adhibito consilio Assessorum Scribarum ac si opus fuerit plurium ex usu Synodi aut rei qua de agitur esse existimaverit Judicium formatum de quolibet Articulo additis ratiâ—â—nibus quibus subnixum est Praesidi privatim exhibebitur asservandum donec de omnibus judicium Articulis judicium formatum similiter exhibitum fuerit Right Honourable and my very good Lord UPon wednesday the 6 16 of January there was no Session at all in the morning in the evening there was one but in private In this they have concluded the question about their manner of proceeding There was a forme conceived and concluded upon and transcribed by all the Deputies They concluded likewise their Theses upon the first Article which they purpose publickly to discusse It was late in the evening ere this Session was done so that I could not get the Copies of either of these but in my morrow Letters I will not fail by Gods grace to send your Honor the transcripts of them Besides there were some things of smaller weight advised of First whether in delivering of their judgements upon the Articles in Controversie the Forreigners should begin as hitherto they had done The Provincials at first strain'd courtesie and thought it no point of good manners to take Precedency of the Forreigners but it is concluded they must as being better tried in these Controversies then the Forreigners are and therefore meete it was they should give them more time to advise The second thing proposed was concerning their Auditory For they question'd whether they should admit of hearers or do all in private Old Sibrandus was very hot against the Auditory and thought it not fit that any care should be had of them as being only Mulierculae puâ—â—enli juvenes incauti There is some reason of this complaint of his for many youthes yea and Artificers and I know not what rabble besides thrust in and trouble the place As for women whole troopes of them have been seen there and the best places for spectators reserved for them Which thing must needes expose the Synod to the scorne of those who ly in wait to take exception against it But the Synod hath determined in favour of their Auditory that Sessions consultatory and Provisionall shall be private but Sessions wherein they discusse and conclude shall be publick Meetings heerafter will not be so frequent for men will take more time to advise This is the summ as farr as I can learn of what was done at that time To morrow your Lordship shall receive farther information till which time I humbly take my leave Dort this 7 17 of January Your Honors Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable and my very good Lord UPon Friday the 8 18 of January in the Evening the Synod being met Doctor Gomarus answered some parts of Scipture laid hold of by the Remonstrants after the same manner as D. Sibrandus had done the night before the places by him discust were for the more part the same which in the former Session had been handled The order of discussing these arguments is by continued discouse after the manner of Laâ—â—in Sermons or rather of Divinity Lectures such as are read in our Schools In one thing the Discretion of both these Doctors was much approved For both of them holding that extream and rigid tenent which Beza and Perkins first of all acquainted the World with yet notwithstanding they held an unpartiall and even course and never stroke upon it When Gomarus had spoken towards an hour and half my Lord Bishop deliver'd himself concerning the meaning of the same places of Scripture and after him certain other of the forraign Divines After this same Copy will all the news be yet this ten days or more these evening Sessions are only to entertain the Auditory not to determine any thing at all Each company must in private conceive and set down in writing their opinion concerning the Articles and when they have so done the Writings must be exhibited to the Synod and out of them must be gathered the Conclusion which must stand for good This is a thing which will require some good time and in the mean while besides these Theologicall Lectures there shall be nothing done publickly in the Synod The same day at night Bisterfieldius one of the Deputies lately come out of Nassau died When his Funerall will be I know not Upon Friday Morning Mr. Dean took his journey toward Middlebourgh Upon Saturday their was no Session at all Mr. Balcangual commends his Service unto your Honor and required me to signify to you thus much