Imatges de pàgina
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Arminius was charged. Having therefore first taken counsel of John Oldenbarnevelt, Prime Minister to the States of Holland, the honourable the Curators thought proper to consult Uitenbogaert respecting all these matters, and to learn of him the best course to be pursued for the benefit of the University. That pastor, having previously taken time for deliberation, began to "complain of the injury which Gomarus and Kuchlinus had inflicted on Arminius." He afterwards gave a narrative of “ the controversy which arose in Amsterdam, some years before, on occasion of the course of sermons which Arminius delivered on the Seventh Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans:"* He then read "the Preface and Conclusion of the disputation with Junius ;" and proved most evidently, "that what Gomarus called very grievous dissensions had rather been Friendly Conferences; and that Junius himself had cultivated a sincere friendship with Arminius, and had occasionally spoken of him after [their amicable dispute] not without a due preface of praise." But it was Uitenbogaert's opinion," that since the affair was agitated with this uncommon animosity by Gomarus, and this undoubtedly at the instigation of others who possessed great authority in ecclesiastical matters, the call of the University should be given to another person rather than to Arminius; that the greatest doubts were entertained respecting the wishes of Arminius to undertake the office of Professor, and that it was still more uncertain, whether the people of Amsterdam would dismiss him, even if he were to evince a willingness to accept of the call: That this seemed to him a business full of hazard and difficulty, and so much the more difficult, by how much greater was the prejudice with which Gomarus, as he had heard, was inflamed against Arminius; and that the tendency of the whole would be, that whatever the other might produce in defence of his own reputation and of his fidelity, would soon afterwards be disparaged and overturned: That he [Uitenbogaert] was unwilling to take upon himself an affair of so much difficulty, or to have it determined solely by his own judgment; and, though he had adduced according to his conscience those things which tended to recommend Arminius, and though he was quite confident that Arminius would never do any thing that was unworthy of himself or of the University, yet that he preferred to commit the whole matter to the care and decision of the honourable the Curators themselves: But that, if their Lordships still adhered to their resolution of calling this divine, he thought it was exceedingly proper, that

Pages 100-111.

Arminius should be apprised of all that had been said or done against him, so that, after his answer had been heard, they might be enabled the better to consult the real interests of the University."

Such was the substance of Uitenbogaert's speech before the Curators: On the same day he testified, before that right honourable person who enjoyed the highest dignity in the Dutch Republic, John Oldenbarnevelt, "that Arminius,-nay that a hundred Arminiuses were not of such estimation in his eyes, as to make him wishful of disturbing the Church and the University for the sake of seeing him promoted."

Arminius was soon afterwards summoned by letter to Haerlem, and required by the Curators "to disclose with fidelity all that had been previously done." They likewise earnestly requested, "since in this instance his own individual affair was not the only one under discussion, but sincethat of the whole Church was concerned, that he would not refuse to reveal his mind about this matter candidly, freely, and without any evasion." This summons and request were received by Arminius with great admiration ;* and, in obedience to them, he gave an account of all the controversies which had ever been raised against him on account of doctrine, and the method which he had always pursued to allay them. The Professorship was the next subject of discussion, and the extreme good-will manifested towards him by the Governors of the University.

Uitenbogaert, according to the province which had been assigned to him by the Curators, then asked Arminius what were his feelings and intentions respecting his entrance on the Professorship? To which he replied, "that there appeared many reasons why he should prefer remaining at Amsterdam." He confessed, indeed, "that he was more inclined to the scholastic mode of speaking, and not destitute of freedom to write something in a style which might be of service to the republic; but that he was nevertheless deficient in many of those endowments of mind and genius which were necessary for the proper management of such an office." He said, besides, "that since he was by no means his own master he was desirous to refrain from deciding either way, before the Church and Magistracy of Amsterdam had granted him full liberty of choice: That when this was done, he would deliberate about what might be most for the interest of the University and himself: That at all events he would never be induced to devote his services to the honourable the Curators,

* Uitenbogaert's Diary.

until he had removed from the mind of Gomarus, in a previous friendly conference, all the scruples which he had conceived about him: That he knew how much was to be conceded to the peace of the University, and how exceedingly necessary it was to apply the most prompt and effectual relief to the lamentable dissensions of the Churches, rather than to supply new materials for increasing the discord: That he would never, for the sake of any dogma, afford even the slightest occasion of disturbing the peace of the Church; and that, with the same disposition of mind, he would receive in good part, and would bear with patience, whatever Gomarus had done against him at the instigation of others, rather than of his own accord."

Uitenbogaert related this answer to the honourable the Curators of the University. When their Lordships had considered the matter a little more accurately, and when they had reflected that the divines of the Reformed Church had not always maintained the same sentiments on the subject of Predestination,-that no Council of Primitive Christianity had ever determined any thing about it, and that the famous J. Holman had warmly defended, in the University of Leyden, the same opinion as that which Hemmingius maintained on this point,-when they had maturely considered all these things, they determined that they ought no longer to hesitate about calling Arminius to the vacant Professorship. As soon as they had come to this decision, those most excellent men, C. Neostadius and N. Zeystius went to Amsterdam for the purpose of obtaining their wishes: But their journey was unsuccessful, for on the 19th of November, 1602, the honourable magistrates of that city declared, not only that they could not dispense with the services of Arminius, but that they would not permit these two honourable persons to discuss the matter with the members of the Presbytery.

When this resolution of the Magistrates was made known, the deputies of the churches left nothing unattempted by which they might hinder the call of Arminius and retard its progress. Having convened an extraordinary meeting at the Hague, these ecclesiastics thought proper to require the attendance of others of their body, and, among the rest, they sent for Uitenbogaert. After prayers, Arnold Cornelison, who was Chairman of the

In the year 1605, this aged divine departed this life; and, as in the case of Halsbergius, who had likewise been his personal enemy at one time, Arminius poured forth the affectionate feelings of his heart on that mournful occasion, in the following lines to his friend Uitenbogaert :

"Arnold Cornelison, minister of Delft, died the day before yesterday, to the real detriment of that church, and also to the whole of Holland! He was a man of mod

Meeting, suggested, "If it would not be advantageous to the Church, seriously and gravely to warn the honourable John Oldenbarnevelt, as well as the Curators of the University, of the dangers which threatened the Church and the University, from the call of a man who was so much suspected of holding wrong opinions; and to entreat them to think about inviting some other person, who might be equal to the burden of the situation, and free from suspicions of this description."*-Uitenbogaert was among the first who were asked for their opinion about this advice: He declared, that he would not be one who consented to any such counsel. Having afterwards alluded to the danger to which the authors of this advice would expose themselves, if they should not be able to prove the charges which they preferred against Arminius,† he explained at greater length what he had himself known about this matter, and shewed that the accusations against that divine derived their support from suspicions more than from reason.-The old complaints were then repeated to satiety, about the very serious differences which had subsisted between Arminius and Junius; and about the affair relative to his interpretation of the Seventh Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans; and the chairman of the meeting openly declared, “that Arminius was no divine, but a mere stripling, destitute of experience, and inclined to quarrels and petty disputes."

Uitenbogaert, on the contrary, asserted, "that Arminius was generally accounted an eminent divine; and that his present accuser could not be ignorant of his great skill on sacred affairs, for he had totally declined a friendly conference on the subject of religion, which was offered to him, not long ago, by Arminius. That the frivolous objections about his youth applied equally to Gomarus himself, but more especially to the younger Trelcatius, concerning whom, however, there was in this meeting a deep silence: That Arminius was of mature age, [being then 42 years old,] and possessed a judgment that was at once highly cultivated, chaste, and confirmed: That the office of Professor was one

eration; and by this temperate mildness of spirit, he was enabled to keep the more ardent of his co-pastors in their duty, on account of the privilege which was due to his age, erudition, and piety. Yet God will not fail towards his church. May we all contemplate with seriousness the brevity of our own lives, and may we zealously devote what remains of them to the service of God and of his church! The things which distract our attention are numerous; but when we are free from them, let us direct our meditations to this important point, and fix them there. Let us not be too solicitous what a human day of judgment may decide concerning us, provided we are enabled to appear before God and Christ with an approving conscience in that tremendous day!" See in Appendix R, the fine sentiments of our author, on forgiving injuries, in a letter dated November 1, 1604.

Uitenb. Diary.

+ Uitenb. Life, c. 5.

which appertained to theory, rather than to practice: That experience was not so requisite in Universities, as it was in the Churches; and that he must not be supposed to be destitute of experience, who had for so many years sustained with high commendation the load of a church that was by far the most celebrated [in Holland]: That, besides, if discussions were occasionally raised about sacred things, this was a proof, not of a quarrelsome disposition, but of an exquisite genius, and a clear indication that Arminius was born for the benefit of the Universities rather than for that of the Churches."

Another member of the meeting objected, "That if Arminius did not dissent [from his Calvinistic brethren] in essentials, he did so at least in accidentals; and that it was possible to connive at such conduct in the Church, but it certainly could not be endured in the University."-Uitenbogaert replied, "That the liberty of raising controversies, on subjects which did not overturn the foundation of faith, was by no means to be banished from the Universities: That those seats of learning, as well as the Churches, were never in such complete order as to exclude dissensions on sacred subjects, which were sometimes most important, and yet the concord of the Church was preserved: That not even Junius had agreed on all points with his colleague at Heidelberg; and when he removed to Leyden, the agreement between him and his colleague Gomarus was not very remarkable: That the same observation was applicable to this affair: That Arminius was studious of peace; and that no dissension was to be apprehended from him, although his opinions on some subjects were different from those of other people."

Scarcely had Uitenbogaert finished the last sentence, when another of the Pastors bawled out, "We ought to entertain fears about all things, even about those which seem to be safe and secure." To which the most eloquent minister of the church at the Hague replied, with much animation, "That such expressions as these were diametrically repugnant to Christian charity; and that it was far more desirable, in all the ministers of the Church, often to call to mind the declaration of St. Paul, Charity thinketh no evil.”

When Uitenbogaert had in this manner delivered his sentiments, he added a very grave admonition, "that the brethren would treat this business with circumspection, and would attempt nothing of which they might afterwards repent:" And, having obtained leave of absence, he left the meeting.-The members, however, did not think proper to attend to this admonition; but soon afterwards disclosed to the Grand Pensionary of the States

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