present any further mention of these topics; and will by Divine assistance explain them at some future opportunity.

My most illustrious and accomplished hearers, we have already perceived, that both the pages of our sacred Theology are full of GOD and CHRIST, and of the SPIRIT of both of them. If any enquiry be made for the OBJECT; God and Christ by the SPIRIT are pointed out to us. If we search for the AUTHOR; God and Christ by the operation of the SPIRIT spontaneously occur.-If we consider the END proposed; our union with God and Christ offers itself,-—an end not to be obtained except through the communication of the SPIRIT.-If we enquire concerning the TRUTH and CERTAINTY of the doctrine; God in Christ, by means of the efficacy of the HOLY GHOST, most clearly convinces our minds of the TRUTH, and in a very powerful manner seals the CERTAINTY on our hearts.

All the glory, therefore, of this revelation is deservedly due to God and Christ in the Holy Spirit: and most deservedly are thanks due from us to them, and must be given to them, through the Holy Ghost, for such an august and necessary benefit as this which they have conferred on us. But we can present to our God and Christ in the Holy Spirit no gratitude more grateful, and can ascribe no glory more glorious,-than this, the application of our minds to an assiduous contemplation and a devout meditation on the knowledge of such a noble object. But in our meditations upon it, (to prevent us from straying into the paths of error,) let us betake ourselves to the revelation which has been made of this doctrine. From the word of this revelation alone, let us learn the wisdom of endeavouring, by an ardent desire and in an unwearied course, to attain unto that ultimate design which ought to be our constant aim, -that most blessed end of our union with God and Christ. Let us never indulge in any doubts concerning the truth of this revelation; but, "the full assurance of faith" being impressed upon our minds and hearts by the inspiration and sealing of the Holy Spirit, let us adhere to this word, “till [at length] we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Ephes. iv, 13.) I most humbly supplicate and intreat God our merciful Father, that he would be pleased to grant this great blessing to us, through the Son of his love, and by the communication of his Holy Spirit.-And to him be ascribed all praise, and honour, and glory, for ever and ever! VOL. I.

Amen.
Ꮓ

ORATION IV.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST.

This charming Oration was delivered by Arminius on the eleventh of July, 1603, -the day on which the dignity of Doctor of Divinity was publicly conferred on him, and immediately prior to the act of creation. At the close of the Oration will be found a beautiful form of prayer and thanksgiving which Arminius addressed to God, after receiving at the hands of Dr. Francis Gomarus the requisite literary honours: He also briefly returned thanks to Gomarus and the various orders of spectators, who were exceedingly numerous on that interesting occasion, not only on account of the just celebrity of the Professor elect, but because his was the first Doctor's degree which had been granted by the new Dutch University.

As a preparatory exercise, he had on the preceding day maintained a public disputation, on THE NATURE of God. The substance of his profound and elaborate Theses on that subject was afterwards published, and stands in a subsequent part of this Work, as the fourth of his Public Lectures. His opponents were Bertius, Hommius, Crucius, and Grevinchovius, all of them celebrated for their great skill in scholastic learning. According to the duty which devolves on all opponents in the Schools, these learned men produced in a formal manner every objection to the positions of Arminius which they could devise; but he with the utmost skill and ingenuity answered the whole of their arguments, and, to the unbounded gratification of his auditory, proved himself a complete master of the art of reasoning and eminently qualified to engage in the instruction of others. On inspecting the fourth Lecture, those who are acquainted with the forms of scholastic disputation will perceive the arduous nature of such an undertaking, before an assembly of the greatest and most learned men in Holland. Some adequate conception of the difficulty of this task will likewise be formed, by those who are not personally familiar with the usages of the Schools, when they are informed, that all replies to objections must be IMPROMPTU and managed syllogistically; that the Respondent knows nothing of the objections of his opponents till they are actually propounded in public, when the tact of his talent discovers itself in furnishing a ready and appropriate answer to each of them as they arise; and that this disputation occupied several hours both in the morning and the afternoon: At the conclusion, Arminius received the applauses of his enlightened audience, for the consummate ability which he had displayed.-A few weeks afterwards, Arminius entered on the duties of his Professorship, in the execution of which he fully realized those high expectations that had been excited by the auspicious specimen which he then gave of his scholastic attainments.

On the Nineteenth of June, three weeks prior to this public ceremony, Arminius had gone from Amsterdam to Leyden, and had subjected himself to a private examination: it being usual for all those who lay claim to a Doctor's degree, or any other literary distinction, to demonstrate to accredited persons in private that they possess the requisite qualifications, before they are permitted to tender similar unequivocal demonstrations in public. In a letter which he addressed to his

bosom-friend Uitenbogardt, two days afterwards, Arminius gives the following account of this preparatory examination: "On Tuesday last I was examined by Gomarus, in the presence of the honourable Grotius and Merula. He performed his duty with great diligence and fairness: I returned as good extempore answers to his questions as I was able. I gave complete satisfaction to him as well as to the two gentlemen who were present. His interrogatories consisted of those particulars which have a reference to the substance of Theology: and he conducted himself through the whole in such a manner as was highly becoming in him, and as well as I could possibly have desired.”—Such was the creditable and frank testimony which this good man bore to the conduct of a divine, who had very recently opposed his call to the Professorship, and had united with others in an attempt to rob him of his good name and his character.

THE noble the Lord Rector,-the very famous, reverend, skilful, intelligent, and learned men, who are the fathers of this most celebrated University,-the rest of you, most worthy strangers of every degree, and you, most noble and studious young men, who are the nursery of the Republic and the Church, and who are increasing every day in bloom and vigour :

If there be any order of men in whom it is utterly unbecoming to aspire after the honours of this world, especially after those honours which are accompanied by pomp and applause, that, without doubt, is the order ecclesiastical,-a body of men who ought to be entirely occupied with a zeal for God and for the attainment of that glory which is at his disposal. Yet, since, according to the laudable institutions of our ancestors, the usage has obtained in all well-regulated Universities, to admit no man to the office of instructor in them, who has not previously signalized himself by some public and solemn testimony of probity and scientific ability,—this sacred order of men have not refused a compliance with such public modes of decision, provided they be conducted in a way that is holy, decorous, and according to godliness. So far, indeed, are those who have been set apart to the pastoral office from being averse to public proceedings of this kind, that they exceedingly covet and desire them alone, because they conceive them to be of the first necessity to the Church of Christ: For they are mindful of this apostolical charge, "Lay hands suddenly on no man;” (1 Tim. v, 22.) and of the other, which directs that a Bishop and a Teacher of the Church be " to teach, holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Titus i, 9.)-I do not therefore suppose one person, in this numerous assembly, can be so ignorant of the public ceremonies of this University, or can

apt

hold them in such little estimation, as either to evince surprise at the undertaking in which we are now engaged, or wish to give it an unfavourable interpretation. But since it has always been a part of the custom of our ancestors, in academic festivities of this description, to choose some subject of discourse, the investigation of which in the fear of the Lord might promote the Divine glory and the profit of the bearers, and might excite them to pious and importunate supplication,—I also can perceive no cause why I ought not conscientiously to comply with this custom. And although at the sight of this very respectable, numerous, and learned assembly, I feel strongly affected with a sense of my defective eloquence and tremble not a little, yet I have selected a certain theme for my discourse which agrees well with my profession, and is full of grandeur, sublimity, and adorable majesty. In making choice of it, I have not been overawed by the edict of Horace, which says,

Sumite materiam vestris, qui scribitis æquam &c.

"Select, all ye who write, a subject fit,

A subject not too mighty for your wit!

And ere you lay your shoulders to the wheel,

Weigh well their strength, and all their weakness feel!"

For this declaration is not applicable in the least to theological subjects, all of which by their dignity and importance exceed the capacity and mental energy of every human being and of angels themselves. A view of them so affected the Apostle Paul, (who, rapt into the third heaven, had heard words ineffable,) that they compelled him to break forth into this exclamation: "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor. ii, 16.) If therefore I be not permitted to disregard the provisions of this Horatian statute, I must either transgress the boundaries of my profession, or be content to remain silent. But I am permitted to disregard the terms of this statute; and to do so, is perfectly lawful.

For whatever things tend to the glory of God and to the salvation of men, ought to be celebrated in a devout spirit in the congregations of the saints, and to be proclaimed with a grateful voice. I therefore propose to speak on THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST: Not because I have persuaded myself of my capability to declare any thing concerning it, which is demanded either by the dignity of my subject, or by the respectability of this numerous assembly ;-for it will be quite sufficient, and I

shall consider that I have abundantly discharged my duty, if according to the necessity of the case I shall utter something that will contribute to the general edification: But I choose this theme that I may obtain, in behalf of my oration, such grace and favour from the excellence of its matter, as I cannot possibly confer on it by any eloquence in the mode of my address. Since, however, it is impossible for us either to form in our minds just and holy conceptions about such a sublime mystery, or to give utterance to them with our lips, unless the power of God influence our mental faculties and our tongues, let us by prayer and supplication implore his present aid, in the name of Jesus Christ our great High-Priest. "Do thou, therefore, O holy and merciful God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Fountain of all grace and truth, vouchsafe to grant thy favourable presence to us who are a great congregation assembled together in thy holy name. Sprinkle thou our spirits, souls, and bodies, with the most gracious dew of thy immeasurable holiness, that the converse of thy saints with each other may be pleasing to thee. Assist us by the grace of thy Holy Spirit, who may yet more and more illuminate our minds-imbued with the true knowledge of Thyself and thy Son; may He also inflame our hearts with a sincere zeal for thy glory; may He open my mouth and guide my tongue, that I may be enabled to declare concerning the Priesthood of thy Son those things which are true and just and holy, to the glory of thy name and to the gathering of all of us together in the Lord. Amen."

Having now in an appropriate manner offered up those vows which well become the commencement of our undertaking, we will, by the help of God, proceed to the subject proposed, after I have intreated all of you, who have been pleased to grace this solemn act of ours with your noble, learned, and most gratifying presence, to give me that undivided attention which the subject deserves, while I speak on a matter of the most serious importance, and, according to your accustomed kindness, to shew me that favour and benevolence which are to me of the greatest necessity. That I may not abuse your patience, I engage to consult brevity as much as our theme will allow. But the FRIESTHOOD is to be deduced from the very origin of the office, that from thence the discourse may appropriately be brought down to the PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST on which we profess to

treat.