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boasting, undertook to prove that he had taught such an opinion concerning the first article of our faith, namely, the justification of man before God, as was opposed to the word of God, and to the confession of the Belgic churches. For the proof of this he produced his own very words, written out from the hand writing of the same Arminius, in which he asserts that, in the justification of man before God, the righteousness of Christ is not imputed for righteousness; but that faith itself, or the act of believing (ro credere,) by the gracious acceptation, (acceptationem,) was that our righteousness, by which we are justified before God. When Arminius saw himself thus fast bound, as he could not indeed deny this to be evidence of proof, (evidentiam probationis, conclusive evidence,) he began to consent to another method of proceeding; namely, that each should sign in a writing his own opinion, comprised in certain theses, concerning the principal articles in which the difference was thought to consist; on which each afterwards in return marked his own animadversions.

This conference having been terminated, the counsellors of the supreme court reported to the illustrious the states of Holland and West Friezland, that they, as far as they had been able to perceive from the conference, judged that the controversies, which had arisen between these two professors, were not of so great importance, but regarded especially some more subtle disputes concerning predestination, which might either be omitted or connived at (dissimulari) by a mutual toleration. But Gomarus added, that the difference

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detected in the opinions were of so great moment, that he with the opinion of Arminius, should not dare to appear before the judgment of God; and that unless a remedy were maturely applied, it was to be feared lest, in a short time, one province should be engaged in a contest against another, church against church, state against state, and citizens against each other. But the illustrious the States determined, that the writings sealed on each side in this conference should be preserved in the supreme court, even unto a national synod, neither should they be communicated in the mean while to any man (cuiquam mortalium). Yet, neither did this conference deliver from anxiety the churches, but rather increased it; especially as the things which had been done at it were concealed from the churches. For not without reason they judged, (haud temerè,) that this was done in favour of Arminius, lest his opinions should be made manifest. In the mean while the churches did not cease by their deputies, strenuously to petition the illustrious States, that this ecclesiastical cause, which, except with great danger of the church, could not be deferred, might be examined and decided on, as soon as possible, by the judgment either of a lawful provincial, or a national synod. When Arminius understood this, he procured by Utenbogardus, whose authority at that time was great among most of the chief persons of the country, that the illustrious States should command, that the annual synods themselves, as well of South as of North Holland, the time of which was at hand, should be deferred. But, as this could not be done without the greatest detriment of the

churches, they again, having explained before the illustrious the States their difficulties, petitioned, either that it might be allowed to hold, according to custom, each of the annual synods, as well that in South as in North Holland; or that out of each united together one provincial synod should as soon as possible be called, as it had also before this been petitioned.

June 28, 1608. To this petition the illustrious States declared, that they had determined, in the next October to call together a provincial synod for this purpose. When this had been made known to the churches, all the pastors attached to Arminius were again admonished, that each of them should lay open to his class his considerations, (or remarks, considerationes,) that the same might be lawfully carried to the approaching synod. But they, as before, so now also each of them, declined this with one consent, with their accustomed evasions (tergiversationibus). And, when the month of October approached, and the churches pressed the convocation of a provincial synod, as promised, that was again deferred for two months: and it was again permitted to the churches, to hold the particular annual synods, as well in South as in North Holland; yet on this condition, that the cause of Arminius should not be treated of in the same, which they willed to be reserved to the provincial synod. In the synod of the churches of South Holland, which was held at Dort, when it had been reported, that all the pastors attached to Arminius were hitherto unwilling to lay open their considerations, which they said they had against the received doctrine, to their fellow pastors, (sym

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detected in the opinions were of so great moment, that he with the opinion of Arminius, should not dare to appear before the judgment of God; and that unless a remedy were maturely applied, it was to be feared lest, in a short time, one province should be engaged in a contest against another, church against church, state against state, and citizens against each other. But the illustrious the States determined, that the writings sealed on each side in this conference should be preserved in the supreme court, even unto a national synod, neither should they be communicated in the mean while to any man (cuiquam mortalium). Yet, neither did this conference deliver from anxiety the churches, but rather increased it; especially as the things which had been done at it were concealed from the churches. For not without reason they judged, (haud temerè,) that this was done in favour of Arminius, lest his opinions should be made manifest. In the mean while the churches did not cease by their deputies, strenuously to petition the illustrious States, that this ecclesiastical cause, which, except with great danger of the church, could not be deferred, might be examined and decided on, as soon as possible, by the judgment either of a lawful provincial, or a national synod. When Arminius understood this, he procured by Utenbogardus, whose authority at that time was great among most of the chief persons of the country, that the illustrious States should command, that the annual synods themselves, as well of South as of North Holland, the time of which was at hand, should be deferred. But, as this could not be done without the greatest detriment of the

churches, they again, having explained before the illustrious the States their difficulties, petitioned, either that it might be allowed to hold, according to custom, each of the annual synods, as well that in South as in North Holland; or that out of each united together one provincial synod should as soon as possible be called, as it had also before this been petitioned.

June 28, 1608. To this petition the illustrious' States declared, that they had determined, in the next October to call together a provincial synod for this purpose. When this had been made known to the churches, all the pastors attached to Arminius were again admonished, that each of them should lay open to his class his considerations, (or remarks, considerationes,) that the same might be lawfully carried to the approaching synod. But they, as before, so now also each of them, declined this with one consent, with their accustomed evasions (tergiversationibus). And, when the month of October approached, and the churches pressed the convocation of a provincial synod, as promised, that was again deferred for two months: and it was again permitted to the churches, to hold the particular annual synods, as well in South as in North Holland; yet on this condition, that the cause of Arminius should not be treated of in the same, which they willed to be reserved to the provincial synod. In the synod of the churches of South Holland, which was held at Dort, when it had been reported, that all the pastors attached to Arminius were hitherto unwilling to lay open their considerations, which they said they had against the received doctrine, to their fellow pastors, (sym

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