of the churches, imbued with depraved opinions, this matter should at length burst forth to the great mischief and disturbance of the churches; they judged that an inquiry should be throughly made into the whole transaction, by their own deputies, to whom the common care of the churches used to be committed; so that in the next synods, it might be maturely looked to, that the church might not suffer any detriment. Concerning this cause the deputies of the churches, as well of South as of North Holland, go to Arminius, and state to him the rumours which were every where circulated concerning him and his doctrine, and how great solicitude possessed all the churches; and in a friendly manner they request him, that, if perhaps he found a want of any thing in the received doctrine, he would sincerely (sincerè, ingenuously) open it to his brethren; in order, either that satisfaction might be given him by a friendly conference, or the whole affair might be carried before a lawful synod. To these (persons) he answered, that he himself had never given just cause for these rumours; neither did it appear prudent in him to institute any conference with the same persons, as deputies who would make the report concerning the matter to the synod; but that, if they would lay aside this character, (personam,) he would not decline to confer with them, as with private pastors, concerning his doctrine; on this condition, that if perhaps they should too little agree among themselves they would report nothing of this to the synod. As the deputies judged this to be unjust, and as the solicitude could not be taken away from the churches by a conference of

this kind, they departed from him without accomplishing their purpose (re infecta). Nor did they yet the less understand from the other professors of sacred theology, that various questions were eagerly agitated among the students of theology concerning predestination, free will, the perseverance of the saints, and other heads of doctrine, such as before the coming of Arminius had not been agitated among them.

July 26. 1605. He was also admonished by the church of Leyden, of which he was a member, by the most ample and most celebrated men, Phædo Brouchovius, the consul of the city of Leyden, and Paulus Merula, professor of history (histori arum, of histories, ancient and modern,) elders of the same church, that he should hold a friendly conference with his colleagues, before the presbytery of the church of Leyden, concerning those things which he disapproved in the received doctrine; from which it might be ascertained, whether, or in what dogmas, he agreed or disagreed with the rest of the pastors. To these (persons) he replied, that he could not do that without the leave of the curators of the university; neither could he see what advantage would redound to the church from such a conference.

The time approached when the annual synods of the churches in each Holland used to be held; and, according to the custom, the grievances (gravamina) of the church were sent from each of the classes and among the rest this was transmitted by the class of Dordrecht. Inasmuch as rumours are heard, that certain controversies 'concerning the doctrine of the reformed churches

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have arisen in the university and church of Leyden; the class hath judged it to be necessary, ' that the synod should deliberate on the means by which these controversies may most advantageously and speedily be settled; that all schisms, ' and stumbling-blocks, which might thence arise, may be removed in time, and the union of the <reformed churches be preserved against the ca'lumnies of the adversaries.'-Arminius took this very ill, (ægerrime) and strove with all his power, that this grievance should be recalled; which when he could not obtain, by the assistance of the curators of the university, he procured a testimonial from his colleagues in which it was declared, < That indeed more things were disputed among 'the students, than it was agreeable to them; but

that among the professors of sacred theology 'themselves, as far as it appeared to them, there ( was no dissention in fundamentals.'

A short time after the synod of the province of South Holland was convened, in the city of Rotterdam, which, having understood from the class of Dort, the many and weighty reasons, for which this grievance had been transmitted by them, and at the same time also from the deputies of the synod, how things really were in the university of Leyden, and what had been done by Arminius and the other professors of sacred theology; after mature deliberation it determined, that this spreading evil must be counteracted in time, neither ought the remedy of it to be procrastinated, under the uncertain hope of a national synod. And accordingly it enjoined on the deputies of the synod, that they should most diligently inquire, concerning

articles on which disputations were principally held among the students of theology in the university of Leyden; and should petition the lords the curators, that a mandate might be given to the professors of sacred theology to declare openly and explicitly their opinion concerning the same; in order, that by this means their agreement or disagreement might be ascertained; and the churches, if there was no dissention, or no grievous one, might be freed from solicitude: or, if some more weighty one should be detected, they might think maturely concerning. a remedy of the

same.

The synod also commanded all the pastors, for the sake of testifying their consent in doctrine, that they should subscribe the Confession and Catechism of these churches; which, in many classes had been neglected, and by others refused.1 The deputies of the synod, having diligently ex

"The opinions of Calvin, concerning the decrees of God, and 'divine grace, became daily more general, and were gradually 'introduced every where into the schools of learning. There was not, however, any public law, or confession of faith, that obliged the pastors of the reformed churches in any part of the "world to conform their sentiments to the theological doctrines 'that were adopted and taught at Geneva.' Mosheim, vol. v. p. 366. This introduces the learned historian's account of the Synod of Dort: but the Confession and Catechism of the Belgic churches alone were appealed to in this contest, and they were certainly obligatory on all the pastors of those churches, and were subscribed by most of them. Again: Arminius knew, that the 'Dutch divines were neither obliged by their confession of faith, 'nor by any other public law, to adopt and propagate the opinions ' of Calvin.' Vol. v. p. 41. Now Arminius was not accused, as the whole history shews, of deviating from the opinions of Calvin, but for openly opposing the Confession and Catechism of the Belgic Churches.

amined the matter, exhibited to the lords the curators nine questions, concerning which they had understood that at this time disputations were principally maintained: and they requested, that it might be enjoined by their authority on the professors of sacred theology, to explain fully their opinion concerning the same. But they answered, that some hope now shone forth of obtaining a national synod in a short time; and therefore they judged it more prudent (consultius) to reserve these questions to the same, than by any further inquisition respecting them to give a handle to dissention. The pastors also, who had embraced the opinion of Arminius, every where in the classes refused to obey the mandate of the synod, concerning the subscription of the Confession and the Catechism.

This matter increased the solicitude of the churches, when they saw that these pastors, relying on the favour of certain persons, evidently despised the authority of the synod, and more boldly (audacius) persisted in their attempt. Wherefore, as in that way a remedy could not be applied to this evil, they copiously explained to the most illustrious and mighty lords the States General, in how great a danger the church was placed; and petitioned that, in order to the taking away of these evils, a national synod, which had now been for many years deferred, might be called together, by the authority of the same persons, at the earliest opportunity. These (the States General) declared, that the states of all the provinces had already agreed on the convocation of a national synod; but that there were those

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