In the mean time, the most Illustrious and powerful the States General had addressed letters to the most Serene and powerful James I. King of Great Britain, to the deputies of the reformed churches of the kingdom of France, to the most Serene the Elector Palatine, and the Elector of Brandenburgh; to the most Illustrious the Landgrave of Hesse; to the four reformed republics of Helvetia, (Switzerland,) the Tigurine, Bernessian, Basilian, and Schaphusian; to the Illustrious and generous the counts of Correspondentia and Wedevarica; to the republics of Geneva, Bremen, and Emden, in which they requested, that they would deign to send from them to this Synod, some of their own theologians, excelling in learning, piety, and prudence, who might earnestly labor by their counsels and decisions, along with the rest of the deputies of the Belgic churches, to settle those controversies, which had arisen in these Belgic churches, and to restore peace to the same.

All these things having been duly prepared and completed, when at the appointed time as well the deputies of the Belgic churches, as also the foreign theologians, a few excepted, had met together at Dordrecht, (or Dort,) that national Synod was begun in the name of the Lord, on the 13th day of November (1618.) But in this Synod, what now was actually done, the prudent reader may copiously (prolixe) know from the acts of the same, which now are published for the favor (satisfaction, gratiam) and use of the reformed churches. It hath seemed good also, that to these acts should be joined, besides other writings exhibited to this Synod, the judgments also of the theologians, concerning the five articles of the Remonstrants as they were proposed in the Synod; by which they may more fully know, by the same, on what passages of Scripture, and on what arguments, the canons of the reformed church do rest. It is not to be doubted, but that the prudent reader will discover in these judgments, the highest and most admirable agreement. If perhaps in less matters a certain diversity appear; even this will be an argument, that a due liberty of prophesying and judging flourished, in this venerable convention; but that all, notwithstanding, by concording opinions, agreed in the doctrine expressed in the canons of this Synod; of whom all and every one, (not one indeed excepted, or declining to do it,) subscribed to testify this consent.

But all the reformed churches are requested, willingly to embrace, preserve, and propagate this orthodox doctrine, so

solemnly in this Synod, explained and confirmed from the word of God; and transmit it to all posterity, to the glory of divine grace, and the consolation and salvation of souls. And at the same time also favorably to receive the pious, and never sufficiently to be celebrated zeal and earnest endeavor of the most Illustrious and mighty the States General of federated Belgium, for preserving the purity (sinceritate) of the reformed religion; and also to follow up with their favor, the diligence and piety, in maintaining the same, of so many doctors, of distinguished churches, who were present at this Synod; and, above all things it is requested, that they would earnestly entreat the most high and gracious God (optimum maximum) that he would indeed benignly preserve the Belgic churches, and, in like manner, all others professing with them the same orthodox doctrine, in the unity of the faith, in peace and tranquillity; and that he would inspire a better mind into the Remonstrants themselves, and all others who are involved in error;* and by the grace of his own Spirit, would at length, some time lead them to the knowledge of the truth, to the glory of his own divine name, the edification of the churches, and the salvation of us all; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, the one, true and immortal God, be praise, and honour, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.†

"That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth, all such as have erred and are deceived." Litany. The Calvinism of the Synod did not, it seems, prevent their prayers for those who, as they supposed, were in error. It did not lead them to treat their most eager opponents, as reprobates, and give up as necessarily consigned to destruction; as many ignorantly suppose, or confidently assert, that decided Calvinists do, even with malignity and malignant satisfaction. So greatly are they calumniated!

† "Accordingly a Synod was convoked at Dordrecht in the year 1618, by the counsels and influence of prince Maurice, &c." Mosheim, vol. v. p. 450. "Our author always forgets to mention the order issued by the States General, for the convocation of this famous Synod; and by his manner of expressing himself, and particularly by the phrase, (Mauritio auctore,) would seem to insinuate, that it was by this prince, that the assembly was called together. The legitimacy of the manner of convok ing this Synod was questioned by Olden-Barneveldt, who maintained that the States General had no sort of authority in matters of religion; affirming that this was an act of sovereignty, that belonged to each province separately, and respectively." Maclaine, Ibid.

It was by means of these disputes, about the ecclesiastical authority, (which all parties supposed to be possessed by some of them,) that the union of the confederated States was endangered in this controversy. "Dr. Mosheim, however impartial, seems to have consulted more the

authors of one side than of the other, probably because they were more numerous, and more generally known. When he published this history, the world had not been favored with The Letters, Memoirs and Negocia tions of Sir Dudley Carleton, which Lord Royston (afterwards Earl of Hardwicke) drew from his inestimable treasure of historical manuscripts, and presented to the public, or rather at first to a select number of per sons, to whom he distributed a small number of copies, printed at his own expense. They were soon translated both into Dutch and French: and, though it cannot be affirmed, that the spirit of party is no where discoverable in them; yet they contain anecdotes with respect both to Olden-Barneveldt and Grotius, that the Arminians, and the other patrons of these two great men, have been studious to conceal. These anecdotes, though they may not be sufficient to justify the severities exercised against these eminent men, would, however, have prevented Dr. Mosheim from saying, that he knew not on what pretext they were arrested." Mosheim, vol. v. p. 449, 450. Note by Maclaine,

In a political contest for authority, between prince Maurice and his opponents, in the States General, the Remonstrants favored his opponents, and the Contra-Remonstrants were attached to him. The prince's party at length prevailed, and, "the men who sat at the helm of government, were cast into prison. Olden-Barneveldt, a man of wisdom and gravity, whose hairs were grown grey in the service of his country, lost his life on the public scaffold, while Grotius and Hoogerberts were condemned to perpetual imprisonment; under what pretext, or in conse quence of what accusations or crimes, is unknown to us.". Mosheim, vol. v. p. 448, 449.

S*

THE JUDGMENT

OF THE

NATIONAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED BELGIC CHURCHES,

Held at Dort, in the years of our Lord, 1618, 1619;

AT WHICH VERY MANY THEOLOGIANS OF THE REFORMED CHURCHES OF GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY, AND FRANCE, WERE PRESENT; CONCERNING THE FIVE HEADS OF DOCTRINE CONTROVERTED IN THE BELGIC CHURCHES.

(Published on the fifth of May, A. D. 1619.)

PREFACE.

In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Among very many comforts, which our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ hath given to his own church militant, in this calamitous pilgrimage; that which he left unto it, when about to go away to his Father, into the heavenly sanctuary, saying, "I am with you at all times, even unto the end of the world," is deservedly celebrated. The truth of this delightful promise shines forth in the church of all ages, which, whilst it has been besieged from the beginning, not only by the open violence of enemies, but also by the secret craftiness of seducers, truly if at any time the Lord had deprived it of the salutary guard of his own promised presence, had long since been either crushed by the power of tyrants, or seduced into destruction by the fraud of impostors.

But that good Shepherd, who most constantly loveth his flock, for which he laid down his life, hath always, most seasonably, and often by his own right hand stretched forth, most miraculously repressed the rage of persecutors; and hath also detected and dissipated the crooked ways of seducers, and

their fraudulent counsels; by both demonstrating himself to be most effectually present (presentissimum) in his church. Of this thing, an illustrious instruction (documentum) exists in the history of the pious emperors, kings, and princes, whom the Son of God hath excited so often for the assistance of his church, hath fired with the holy zeal of his house, and by their help, hath not only repressed the furious rage (furores) of tyrants; but also hath procured to his church when con flicting with false teachers, in various ways adulterating reli gion, the remedies of holy Synods; in which the faithful servants of Christ, by united prayers, counsels, and labors, have valiantly stood for the church, and for the truth of God; have intrepidly opposed themselves against the "ministers of Satan, though transforming themselves into angels of light;" have taken away the seeds of errors and discords; have pre served the church in the concord of pure religion; and have transmitted the genuine (sincerum) worship of God, uncor rupted, to posterity. With a similar benefit, our faithful Sa viour hath, at this time, testified his own gracious presence with the Belgic church, by one means or other (aliquam) very much afflicted for many years. For this church, rescued by the powerful hand of God from the tyranny of the Roman antichrist, and the horrible idolatry of popery, (or the pope dom, papatus,) and many times most miraculously preserved in the dangers of a long continued war; and flourishing in the concord of true doctrine and discipline, to the praise of her God, to an admirable increase of the republic, and the joy of the whole reformed world, James (Jacobus) Arminius and his followers, holding out the name of Remonstrants, by various errors, old as well as new; at first covertly, and then openly assaulted, (tentarunt,) and while it was pertinaciously disturbed with scandalous dissentions and schisms, they had brought it into such extreme danger, that, unless the mercy of our Saviour had most opportunely interposed in behalf of his most flourishing church, they had at length consumed it with the horrible conflagration of discords and schisms.

But, blessed be the Lord for ever, who, after he had hid his face for a moment from us, (who by many ways had provoked his wrath and indignation,) hath made it attested to the whole world, that he doth not forget his covenant, nor contemn the sighs of his own people. For when scarcely any hope of a remedy, humanly speaking (humanitus) appeared; he inspired this mind into the most Illustrious and very powerful