Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

among them, who, in the letters of consent, had added this condition, or, as they called it, clause ; namely, that in the same there should be a revision of the Confession and Catechism of these churches: and, consequently, the convocation of a national synod could not be made, unless this clause were added, without the detriment (præjudicio) of the States of that province. But, as it was not obscurely evident, who for some years had counselled (authores fuissent) the illustrious States of Holland that this clause should be added, and even pressed; and as it might be feared, if it should be annexed to the calling. of the synod, that they who earnestly desired changes of doctrine would. abuse the same; and, at the same time also, lest (especially in this state of things,) it should afford no light cause of offence to the churches; as if the illustrious States themselves, or our churches, doubted of the truth of the doctrine comprised in this Confession and Catechism; the deputies of the churches petitioned that the convocation of the synod should be drawn up in general terms, as they call them, in the manner hitherto customary: especially as this clause seemed the less necessary, seeing that in national synods it had always been permitted, if any one thought that he had ought against any article of these writings, fairly and duly to propose it.

But the illustrious lords the States General declared, that this clause was not so to be understood, as if they desired any thing to be changed by it in the doctrine of these churches; for indeed a doctrine was not always changed by a revisal, (or recognition, recognitione,) but sometimes was even

confirmed; yet it could not be omitted without the prejudice of that province which had expressly added it. They therefore delivered the letters of consent, in which this (clause) also had been added, to the deputies of the churches, which they transmitted to the churches of each of the provinces; and with them they also signified what pains they had bestowed that it might be omitted. March 15, 1606. The Belgic churches, on the receipt of these letters, rejoiced indeed that, after the expectation of so many years, at length the power of holding a national Synod had been obtained; though they were not a little stumbled by this clause. Not because they were unwilling, that the Confession and the Catechism should be recognized, (or reviewed,) after the accustomed and due manner, in the national Synod; but because they feared, lest they who were labouring for a change of doctrine should be rendered more daring, as if by this clause a power was granted to them, by the public authority of the lords the States, of moving and innovating whatever any one pleased; and that these discords and controtroversies had arisen from them, not from the inordinate desire of innovating, but from an earnest endeavour of satisfying the decrees of the illustrious the States. In the same letters, the illustrious lords the States General gave information, that it had been determined by them, to call together some learned and peaceful theologians, from each of the provinces, that they might deliberate with the same, concerning the time, place, and manner of holding this national Synod.

August 1606. While these things were trans

[ocr errors]

acting, the annual synod of the churches of Holland was held at Gorinchem; in which, when the deputies of the churches had related what had been done by them in the cause of the national synod, and what had been determined by the illustrious lords the States General, it was judged proper to enjoin on the same (deputies) diligently to press the convocation of a national synod; and, though the synod thought that the Confession and Catechism would be recognized (reviewed) in a way and manner new and unaccustomed hitherto in the national synod, it purposed that those persons, who should be called together by the States of Holland, out of South Holland, to the convention, in which (it was to be deliberated) concerning the time, place, and manner of holding the national synod, should be admonished to petition from the States General, in the name of these churches, that the clause, of which it hath before been spoken, might be omitted in the letters of convocation, for the reasons before assigned; and that, in the place of it, other milder words, which might produce less offence, might be substituted.

It was also enjoined in the same synod, to all the pastors of the churches of South Holland, and to all the professors of sacred theology in the university of Leyden, that, at as early a time as could be, they should exhibit the considerations or animadversions, which they had upon the doctrine contained in the Confession and Catechism; (because Arminius and the pastors who were attached to him were often accustomed to glory that they had very many;) the pastors in their

own classes, but the professors to the deputies of the churches; that the same might be lawfully carried unto the national synod, if satisfaction could not be given to them in the classes. When this was demanded of the pastors attached to Arminius, they declined proposing them in the classes, because, they said, they were not yet prepared; but that they would propose them in their own time and manner. Arminius also, having been admonished concerning this thing by the deputies of the churches, answered, that it could not be done at that time with edification; but that, in the national synod, he would fully lay open the same.

May 23, 1607 And when not long after the illustrious the States General called together some theologians out of each of the provinces, with whom they might deliberate respecting the time, place, and manner of the national synod; namely, John Leo and John Fontanus, from Gelderland; Francis Gomarus, James Arminius, John Utenbogardus, and John Becius, out of South Holland; Herman, Frankelius, and Henry Brandius, out of Zealand; Everard Botius and Henry Johannis, out of the province of Utrecht; Sibrander Lubertus and Jannes Bogermannus, out of Friesland; Thomas Goswinius, out of Overyssel; John Acronus and John Nicasias, out of the state of Groningen and the Omelandus; the questions, concerning which it should be deliberated in this convention, were proposed to them by the illustrious the States General; and it was declared, by their concurrent suffrages, that, as to the time, it was necessary that the synod should be called

together as soon as might be in the beginning of the ensuing summer: (A. D. 1608.) as to place, that the city Utrecht would be the most convenient for holding the synod: as to the manner, 1. That the grievances to be discussed in the synod, should be brought before the national synod, from each of the provincial synods: 2. That from each of the several synods, and by the suffrages of the same, four pastors and two elders should be deputed; in the place of which elders also, men of singular condition, and skill in matters of theology, and adorned by a testimony of piety, though they did not fill up any ecclesiastical office, might be deputed: 3. That to these deputies, power should be given in all things, which should be treated of in the synod, not of deliberating only, but also of determining and deciding: 4. That the rule of judgment, in all the controversies, relating to doctrine and morals, should be the written word of God, or the sacred scriptures, alone: 5. That to the national synod should be

This rule completely excluded all human reasoning, authority, tradition, or new revelations, as opposed to the written word, "the sure testimony" of God: not only the authority of fathers and councils, with the traditions of the church of Rome; but the authority also of the church of Geneva, of Calvin, and of all other reformed teachers. How is it then, that ecclesiastical historians generally represent this contest, as an attempt to impose the doctrine of the church of Geneva on the Belgic churches? It might as reasonably be said, that the clergymen and others who combined and used every effort, some years since, to procure the abolition of subscription to the articles of the church of England, but could not succeed, had the doctrines of Calvin and Geneva imposed on them. Whatever similarity there might be, between the doctrine of Calvin, or that of the church of Geneva, and the Confession and Catechism of the

« AnteriorContinuar »