course, had I not requested "that they would offer a conference in the same manner to Gomarus, as well as to Trelcatius of pious memory, because it did not appear to me, that I had given them any cause for making such a demand upon me, rather than upon either of my two colleagues."-At the same time I enforced my concluding expressions with several arguments, which it would be too tedious now to repeat in the presence of your Mightinesses.-When I had finished, the deputies replied, "that they would comply with my request, and would wait on the two other Professors of Divinity and make them a similar offer:" And prior to their departure from Leyden, they called and assured me, that they had in this particular fulfilled their promise.

This then is the first of the many requests that have been preferred to me. It was the cause of much conversation at the time when it occurred: For many persons spoke about it. Some of them related it imperfectly, and in a manner very different from what were the real circumstances of the whole transaction; while others suppressed many essential particulars, and studiously concealed the counter-proposal which I had tendered to the deputies* and the strong reasons which I produced in its support.

3. Another application is made to me.

A few days afterwards, that is, on the 28th of July in the same year, 1605, a request of a similar character was likewise presented to me, in the name of the Presbytery of the Church of Leyden: but on this condition,—that if I approved of it, other persons, whom such a request equally concerned, should also be summoned before the same ecclesiastical tribunal: but if this offer did not receive my approbation, nothing further

* The account of this counter-proposal is thus related in the Historical Preface: "He said, If they would lay aside their quality as Deputies, he would not avoid a Conference on doctrine with them in the capacity of private pastors,-on this condition, that if it should happen that they did not agree together, they should not make any report of the matter to the Synod. This proposal the deputies considered to be unjust, since the anxiety of the Churches could not be removed by a conference of this description; and they departed from him without having accomplished their errand."-Their purpose was obviously the same as that of the other deputations and private persons who were instructed to wait upon him :—it was, that they might entrap him in his speech, and thus furnish themselves with matter for his accusation. We ought, therefore, to feel no surprize, when they represent his proposal as an unjust one, for it did not co-incide with their designs.-But, beside other considerable omissions, they do not state what was actually the fact,—that he was ready on that condition to enter into a conference with any one or more of their number, as well as with the whole body, in the relation of one private pas tor conferring with another. See page 537.

should be attempted.

But when I had intimated, that I did not clearly perceive, how this request could possibly obtain approval from me, and when I had subjoined my reasons which were of the same description as those which I had employed on the preceding occasion,-my answer was perfectly satisfactory to Bronchovius the Burgomaster [of Leyden] and Merula of pious memory, both of whom had come to me in the name of that Church of which they were the Elders, and they determined to abandon all ulterior proceedings in that business. 4. The Request of the Deputies of the Synod of South Holland to their Lordships, the Visitors of the University, and the Answer which they received.

On the ninth of November, in the same year [1605], the deputies of the Synod of South Holland, Francis Lansbergius, Festus Hommius, and their associates, presented nine questions to their Lordships the Curators of the University of Leyden ;* these were accompanied with a petition,-" that the Professors of Divinity might be commanded to answer them." But the Curators replied, "that they could on no account sanction by their consent the propounding of any questions to the Professors of Divinity; and if any one supposed that something was taught in the University contrary to truth and rectitude, that person had it in his power to refer the matter of his complaint to a National Synod, which, it was hoped, would at the earliest opportunity be convened, when it would come regularly under

These nine questions with the answers to them and nine counter-questions, will be found at the close of this volume immediately after the Reply of Arminius to the Thirty One Articles. The origin of these questions was as follows: On the 30th of August, the Synod of South Holland met, when as the Historical Preface says, "Having heard from their own deputies the state of affairs in the University of Leyden, and what had been done with regard to Arminius and the other professors of Theology, they determined after mature deliberation, that this increasing evil must be seasonably counteracted, and that a remedy for it must not be deferred under the uncertain hope of a National Synod. The Synod therefore enjoined it on their deputies to make the most diligent inquiry concerning those articles which were the principal subjects of disputation among the divinity-students in the University of Leyden, and to desire the Lord Curators, to command the Theological Professors to give an open and sincere declaration of their sentiments concerning them, &c. The deputies, having instituted a diligent enquiry into this matter exhibited to the Curators nine questions relating to topics which, they had understood, were at that time principally discussed."-These nine questions, therefore, were manufactured by Hommius and his associates, after the most sedulous and secret investigation in the city of Leyden; and how ill-calculated they were to fasten the charge of heresy upon Arminius, the reader will perceive on inspection.

The allusion, at the beginning of this extract, to "what had been done with regard to Arminius and the other professors of Theology," will be understood by referring to page 39.

the cognizance of that assembly and receive the most ample discussion.”—When this answer had been delivered, the Deputies of the Synod did not hesitate earnestly to ask it as a particular favour, "that, by the kind permission of their Lordships, they might themselves propose those nine questions to the Professors of Divinity, and might, without troubling their Lordships, personally inform themselves what answer, of his own accord and without reluctance, each of those three divines would return." But, after all their pleading, they were unable to obtain the permission which they so strenuously desired.— The whole of this unsuccessful negotiation was conducted in such a clandestine manner, and so carefully concealed from me, that I was totally ignorant even of the arrival of those reverend deputies in our city;* yet soon after their departure I became acquainted with their mission and its failure.

Arminius knew nothing about their arrival or departure; but he was aware that these his restless enemies were entrusted with such a commission. In allusion to this, he says, in a letter which he addressed to his friend Uitenbogardt on the 27th of October, a fortnight prior to the arrival of the Synodical deputies: "You have undoubtedly, before this time, heard of the determination of the Synod; which was a circumstance that did not affect me so much as to induce me to think I ought to write to you about it. For they appear to have been suffering under a dearth of counsel respecting the method to be adopted in the further management of the affair which was at that time commenced, rather than to have derived any considerable profit from the business in which they were previously engaged." This refers to the attempt of the Dort Class, page 39.-He then proceeds: "What a difficult affair is this, which they have enjoined on their Deputies, to make an open enquiry about the actual state of our dissension, and to see what the necessity of the case may require!' But this they cannot determine, except by consent of the Curators. And among whom will that enquiry be made? It cannot be instituted among the Professors of Theology, who have already delivered to the Curators their opinion in writing. (Page 39.) The matter, therefore, will be transacted among the Divinity-students, who, on being interrogated, will either not venture to make any declaration, or, when ordered to produce proofs, will fail in the attempt. It is probable, that those to whom the domestic peace of the University is a subject of deep interest, will not account such a course as this advisable. Indeed, it scarcely seems possible for this enquiry to be instituted without exciting great tumult and contention; for the dispositions of young people are known to be warm above measure in favour of which party soever they espouse.-But I will exercise the grace of forbearance and will look upon all their proceedings with a calm and tranquil eye, resting in the testimony of my conscience and in my innocency."-The event proved the correctness of his prognostication; those who were most concerned for "the domestic peace of the University" hindered these pragmatical presbyters from inflaming the minds of the students by the needless inquisitorial process which they wished to institute.

In another part of the same letter he exclaims: "How difficult is it, in these unhappy days, to devote one's attention at once to the study of verity and of peace, when the minds of men are full of vehemence! Unless I received encouragement from the consciousness of my integrity, the favourable judgment of certain good men, and the open and manifest profit which I behold arising from my labours, it would often be scarcely possible for me to be in any other VOL. I.

MM

5. A Fourth Request of the same kind.

After this, a whole year elapsed before I was again called to an account about such matters. But I must not omit to mention, that in the year 1607, a short time before the meeting of the Synod of South Holland at Delft, John Bernards minister of the Church at Delft, Festus Hommius minister of Leyden, and Dibbetius of Dort,* were deputed by the Synod to come to me and inquire what progress I had made in the refutation of of the Anabaptists. When I had given them a suitable reply

than a state of great disquietude. But thanks be to God, who communicates strength and constancy to my spirit, and who has caused me to feel very little concern about these things, or the manner in which they may terminate."

The reader who is acquainted with the history of the Synod of Dort, will perceive what a number of its members had occupied themselves almost as long as Arminius lived within their jurisdiction, in vexing his righteous soul and in devising plans for the ruin of his reputation and usefulness. Toomit others of less note,-Festus Hommius, (467,) Dibbetius, Sibrandus Lubbertus, (465,) Gomarus, (74,) Henry Arnoldson, Henry Braudt, John Bogerman, (443,) James Rolandus, (466,) Faukelius, and Cornelius Hillenius, were among the number of those who lived long enough to sit in judgment upon some of the opinions of Arminius at the Synod of Dort,-a consummation after which they had long and ardently aspired while he lived, but in which their narrow spirits were not gratified till ten years after his decease, when the political circumstances of their country favoured their designs and enabled them to give vent to all those malicious passions to which they had previously allowed such large entertainment.

This duty was imposed on Arminius by the unanimous vote of the brethren, in 1600, at the South Holland Synod, an annual Assembly, of which he had that year been chosen the President. The North Holland Synod also seconded the request, and Arminius promised to apply himself to its execution. On the part of some of his brethren, his invitation to undertake this refutation had been promoted, with intentions apparently not of the purest kind. They imagined, that in replying to the unscriptural arguments of that fanatical and litigious sect, he would be compelled to disclose all his sentiments on Predestination, which, it was known, did not accord with those of Calvin, and from which they were wishful to draw matter for his accusation. But though this seems to have been the feeling of some among his chief adversaries, the great majority of his copastors thought the charge had been committed into the hands of a competent person, whose performance would do honour to their choice. But, it will be seen, that he did not live to finish the treatise which he had commenced on this important subject.

In a letter to Uitenbogardt, dated 26 Jan. 1600, he says: "I have not yet determined any thing respecting the business which has been imposed on me by the Synod. Yet my mind, for certain reasons, is inclined to undertake the task, provided I could ascertain that it has been committed to me with a sincere intent; of which I am compelled to doubt by the perverse aud erroneous judgments which some men have formed respecting me. But, whatever intention they may have had, I am of opinion that the labour will be useful to the Church of Christ: Not because these heresies have not been refuted in a learned and solid manner; but because new refutations find new readers. I have not in the course of my previous studies had an opportunity to learn the heresies of the Anabaptists, and their foundations, with so much accuracy as the profitable discussion of this matter requires: This is the

concerning that affair, which was the cause of much conversation among us on both sides, and when they were just on the point of taking their leave, they begged "that I would not hesitate to reveal to them whatever views and designs I had formed on the subject of Religion, for the purpose of their being communicated to the Synod, by the deputies, for the satisfaction of the brethren."-But I refused to comply with their intreaties, "because the desired explanation could not then be given either conveniently or to advantage: and I did not know any place in which it was possible to explain these matters with greater propriety, than in the National Synod; which, according to the resolution of their most noble and High Mightinesses the States General, was expected very shortly to assemble." I promised "that I would use every exertion that I might be enabled in that assembly openly to profess the whole of my sentiments; and that I would employ none of that alleged concealment or dissimulation about any thing of which they might then complain."-I concluded by saying, "that if I were to make my profession before them as deputies of the Synod of South Holland, I could not commit to their fidelity the relation of what might transpire, because, in matters of this description, every one was the most competent interpreter of his own meaning."-After these mutual explanations we parted from each other.

6. The same Request is privately repeated to me, and my

Answer to it.

In addition to these different applications, I was privately desired, by certain ministers, "not to view it as a hardship to communicate my views and intentions to their colleagues the brethren assembled in Synod:" while others intreated me "to disclose my views to them, that they might have an opportunity of pondering and examining them by themselves, in the fear of the Lord," and they gave me an assurance, "that they would not divulge any portion of the desired communication.” To the first of these two classes I gave in common my usual

only circumstance which slightly interrupts my progress. If any persons feel a persuasion on their minds, that this burden is imposed on me with the sole view of discovering the thoughts of my heart on certain controverted points, they will be frustrated in their wishes. For the necessity of the refutation will not require me to unfold all the views which I hold about Predestination and Free Will, which are, among others, the doctrines concerning which the dispute lies between us and the Anabaptists. But in this affair, I know, you will not fail to lend me your aid, both in furnishing me with books, (if you have any which treat on this subject,) and in giving me the benefit of your advice, as well as correcting my productions."