is another question. It can scarcely be doubted that there were faults on both sides in this vehement contest; but I cannot think in an equal degree. Let the candid inquirer read and judge for himself.

In translating this history, and the other documents which I now lay before the public, I make no pretensions to any thing beyond fairness and exactness in giving the meaning of the original. Had I been disposed to aim at it, I do not think myself competent to translate in such a manner, as to invest the Latin, fairly and fully, with the entire idiom of the English language; but I have, even by design, confined myself more closely to literal translation, than I should have done in an attempt less connected with controversy: and have often declined giving a more approved English word or expression, when I feared that it might be suspected of not exactly conveying the sense of the original. Indeed, as far as it could be made consistent with perspicuity, I have rather preserved than shunned the Latin idiom, where any doubt could remain as to the idea which the writers intended to convey. And, when after all I had any apprehension that I had not fully accomplished this, I have given the Latin word in a parenthesis, that the reader may judge for himself.-In other places, a parenthesis often contains a word not found in the Latin, but useful in elucidating the meaning. My sole desire has been to render the whole clearly understood by the English reader; and to call the attention of pious and reflecting persons to a part of ecclesiastical history, which I am confident has been generally less known, and more grossly mis

represented by some, and mistaken by others, than any other part whatever; but which, I am also persuaded, is peculiarly replete with important useful instruction; especially to zealous Calvinists, who may here learn in what a guarded, holy, and practical manner these generally reprobated theologians, stated and defended their tenets; and on what grounds, exclusively scriptural, they rested them.

THE HISTORY OF PRECEDING EVENTS.'

In the course of the last summer, the decision of the venerable Synod, lately held at Dort (or Dordrecht) concerning some heads of doctrine, which had hitherto been disputed in the Belgic churches, with the greatest disturbance of the same, was published, having been comprised in certain distinct canons. And, as this celebrated Synod had been called together by the illustrious and most mighty the States General, the supreme magistracy of the federated provinces, especially for the removal of the controversies which had arisen in religion; the most of them judged that it would be sufficient, if merely the determination of the Synod concerning these same controversies were published. But, when it afterwards was evident that there were very many who greatly desired fur

This is intitled in the original, and in the former edition of this translation, The Preface to the Reformed Churches of 'Christ, in which the rise and progress of those controversies ' in Belgium, for the removal of which this synod was especially

held, are briefly and faithfully related.'-J. S.

ther to know from the very acts of the Synod, what besides these things had been done in the Synod, and by what method, especially with the Remonstrant pastors and when it was not doubtful that they themselves, in order to veil their own pertinacity, were about to publish some things concerning these matters, not with the best fidelity, it pleased the illustrious and most mighty the States General, that the acts also of the same Synod, faithfully transcribed from the public registers (tabulis) should be published in print, for the satisfaction (in gratiam) and use of the churches. And, as in these (records) many things every where occur, which pertain to the history of the things transacted in the Belgic churches, and which could less advantageously be understood or judged of by readers who were ignorant of these things; for which cause even the national Synod (as it may be seen in the different sessions,) enjoined especially on the deputies of the South Holland .churches, to write a brief narrative of the affairs transacted with the Remonstrants: it seemed good to prefix, in the place of a preface, from that history some things which were publicly transacted; that the foreign churches especially might for once know, with good fidelity, what was the rise and progress of these controversies; and on what occasion, and for what causes, the illustrious and most mighty the States General convened this celebrated Synod, at a very great expense;'

After long and tedious debates, which were frequently at

tended with popular tumults and civil broils, this intricate controversy was, by the counsels and authority of Maurice, prince of Orange, referred to the decision of the church, as

especially as many things are related by the Remonstrants, in writings exhibited, and here inserted, which less accord with the truth of the things transacted.

In the reformed churches of Federated Belgium, how great an agreement had, in the preceding age, flourished, on all the heads of orthodox doctrine, among the pastors and doctors, of the Belgic churches; and moreover how great order and decorum (ἐυλαξία and ευσχημοσύνη) had always been preserved in the government of the same, is too well known to the Christian world for it to be needful to set it forth in many words. This peace and harmony of the Belgic churches, lovely (in itself,) and most pleasing to God and all pious men, certain persons had attempted to disturb, with unbridled violence, but not with great success (persons) who having deserted popery, but not being yet fully purified from its leaven, had passed over into our churches and had been admitted into the ministry in the same, during that first scarcity of ministers: (namely Caspius) Coolhasius, of Leyda, Herman Herbertius, of Dort and Gouda, and Cornelius Wiggerus, of Horn. For in the same places in which they had got some persons, too little favouring the reformed religion, on whose patronage they relied, this their wicked audacity was maturely 'sembled in a general Synod at Dordrecht, in the year 1618.' (Mosheim.) It was not by the authority of prince Maurice, but by that of the States General, that the national Synod was 'assembled at Dordrecht. The States were not indeed unani'mous; three of the seven provinces protested against the holding of this Synod, viz. Holland, Utrecht, and Overyssel.' (Maclaine.) Mosheim's History, vol. v. p. 367.

repressed, as well by the authority of the supreme magistracy, as by the prudence of the pastors, and the just censures of the church: that of Coolhasius, in the national synod at Middleburgh; that of Herbertus, in the synods of South Holland; and that of Wiggerus, in the synods of North Holland. Afterwards James Arminius, pastor of the most celebrated church at Amsterdam, attempted the same thing, with great boldness and enterprize; a man indeed of a more vigorous genius, (excitatioris,) but whom nothing pleased except that which commended itself by some shew of novelty; so that he seemed to disdain most things received in the reformed churches, even on that very account that they had been received. He first paved the way for himself to this thing, by publicly and privately lowering, and vehemently attacking (sugillando,) the reputation and authority of the most illustrious doctors of the reformed church, Calvin, Zanchius, Beza, Martyr, and others; that by the ruin of their name he might raise a step to glory for himself. Afterwards he began openly to propose and disseminate various heterodox opinions, nearly related to the errors of the ancient Pelagians, especially in an explanation of the epistle to the Romans: but, by the vigilance and authority of the venerable presbytery of that church, his attempts were speedily opposed, lest he should be able to cause those disturbances in the church which he seemed to project (moliri). Yet he did not cease among his own friends, as well as among the pastors of other churches, John Utenbogardus, Adrian, Borrius, and others, whose friendship the same common studies had conciliated, to propagate his