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A44419
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Golden remains of the ever memorable Mr. John Hales ... with additions from the authours own copy, viz., sermons & miscellanies, also letters and expresses concerning the Synod of Dort (not before printed), from an authentick hand.
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Hales, John, 1584-1656.
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1673
(1673)
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Wing H271; ESTC R3621
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409,693
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508
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Scriptures For they thought that if Scripture alone were taught and not any mens glosses it would be a more immediate means to gain the Anabaptists and other Schismaticks to accept of the Catechism Fourthly they thought fit that in the Preface to these Catechisms there should be a note given to this purpose that these kinds of writing by Catechisms c. were to be esteemed only as the Apochryphal Scriptures To the third point some little was answered to this purpose that this was a mean utterly to extirpate all other Forms of Catechizings out of the Church there never yet having been any form of Creed or Catechism so conceived Yet their might be a time hereafter for the Synod to consider of it when they pleased After this followed the Form of Catechizing which the Praeses and Assessors had agreed upon My purpose was to have taken an extract of it and sent it to your Honour and I dealt with Festus Hommius about it but his answer was that he was to communicate about this with the Praeses and that it was in the hand of Sebast. Dammannus his fellow Scribe To Dammannus I was not known neither did I understand of any acquaintance he had with your Honour and therefore I let it rest The summe of it was this That there should be observed a threefold Catechizing 1. At home by the Parents 2. In the Schole by the Schole-Master A third in the Church by Catechetical Sermons then that there should be a threefold Catechism one for Incipientes containing the Lords Prayer the Creed the Commandments the Doctrine of the Sacraments and the Church Discipline A second for the Middle sort which should be a brief of the Palatine Catechism A third for Youths the Palatine Catechism it self That every one that was admitted Scholemaster should be bound to teach no other Catechism and that all other Forms should be abolisht that if either Scholemasters in the Scholes or Ministers in the Church should refuse or neglect to Catechize they should be subject to censure c. When this Form was read the Provinces were in order askt what they would have altered or supplied Those of Geldria thought it fit that the Minister before his Catechetical Sermon should not only take the words of the Catechism as the custom had in most places been but likewise some Text of Scripture upon which the Doctrine of the Catechism was grounded For as it seems the custom is in Catechistical Sermons not to take a Text of Scripture but a portion of the Catechism for their Text and Theme It was answered that this custom had been a long time laid down and could not now conveniently be recalled the same Deputies proposed whether it were not fit that whereas in the Decree there is mention made of a censure to pass on those who neglected it there should be some particular form of Censure set down by the Synod The thing being put to voices it was decreed that it should be left to the Judgement of the Classes how they should be censured The South Hollanders thought it necessary there should be publick catechizing in the Church by way of Question and Answer It was answered that this could not be by reason of the frequency of Sermons Those of Overyssell proposed somewhat concerning the form of Catechetical Sermons It was answered that this should hereafter be thought of Which answer is a civil way which the Praeses uses when he means to put by an impertinent question Last of all those of the Walon Churches required that this Decree should not prejudice them who had already accepted of Beza's Catechism in their Churches Now whereas there were three Catechisms proposed of which there was but one in being namely the Palatine they consulted of deputing some who should make the other two The matter being put to Scrutiny there were chosen these six Polyander Gomarus Tysius Lydius Fauchelius Vdemannus Here the Praeses proposed to the Synod that they would think of fit means for the Education and training up of those who should enter the Ministery but those of North Holland proposed a doubt wherein the Church of Amsterdam required the determination of the Synod The matter is this The Merchants of Amsterdam having Traffick into the East Indies took into their Families many of the Youths and Infants of that Country but doubted whether they were to be baptized or no. The question was thus proposed Whether the Children of Ethnick parents adopted into the Families of Christians were to be baptized if so be they who did offer them to be baptized did undertake that they should be brought up in the Christian Faith But both these questions were put over to the nex Session and so the Synod brake up This afternoon the Dutchess of Tremullio came to Town The English went to entertain her where my Lord Bishop made a speech unto her in Latin which by her Chaplain was interpreted unto her who likewise in her name returned answer But of the particulars of this entertainment I suppose my Lord Bishop in his Letters relates more fully to your Honour that I can for I was not there On Saturday the first of December stylo novo the Deputies being met in the morning the question concerning means of education of those who should be fitted for the Ministery was proposed where because they found it to be a greater matter than it seemed when at first it was proposed the Provinces requested further respite excepting the Zelanders and South-Hollanders who there delivered up their Judgements in scripto The substance of what the Zelanders delivered was this that it would please the States General to appoint that a certain number of Youths might be bred up for the Ministery at the charge of the publick purse That the wealthier sort would send such of their Children to the Scholes as they thought fittest to make Scholars That out of these should be chosen youths of ingenuous Parentage and Manners of good wit of strength and health of body which should be sent unto the University That in the University there might be distinct Colledges for every Province and in these Colledges there might be Regents and Supervisors which might prescribe unto Youths a Method of study and not suffer them to wander in variety of Study and not perfit themselves in some one kind That there might some time be prefixt for their aboad in the University as five or six years And because many upon two years study seek for preferment in the Church and others on the contrary stay in the University over long for remedy of both these there might a time be fixt wherein the whole course of study should be absolved That these Students every year should give an account of their proficiency to their Parents and Benefactors and such as bred them up that after this they should go and visit forreign Churches and Universities to see and observe That at their coming home they bring with them the Testimonies
hands of the Christians They grounded themselves upon the examples of Abraham circumcising all that were of his Family of Paul Baptizing whole housholds of the primitive Church recorded in Saint Austin who shews that anciently children that were exposititii were wont to be taken up by the Christians and baptized Now such were the children of Ethnick parents for it was never esteemed lawful for Christians to expose their children All the rest were peremptory that they were not to be baptized till they came to be of years of Discretion to make profession of the Faith The North-Hollanders themselves whose business it was and who moved the Synod in it were expresly against it whether they were bought given taken in War or howsoever Their reasons were because they are immundi because they are extra foedus of which Baptism is a sign because Adoption could entitle them only to terrene not to an Heavenly inheritance c. So that if plurality of voices carry it the negative part prevails The Praeses required some time to compare the opinions together so for that time forbare to pronounce sentence And because the examples of Abraham and Paul were much stood upon by those who held the affirmative he proposed these two things to be considered of First whether it were likely that in Abrahams Family when he put circumcision in act there were any Infants whose Parents died uncircumcised Secondly whether it were likely that in the Families baptized by Paul there were any Infants whose Parents died unbaptized and so he past away to the second Question concerning the manner of training up those who were to enter the Ministery In my last Letters to your Honour I related at large the advice given in this point by the Zelanders and South-Hollanders It was now proposed to the Synod whether they did approve their Counsel or except against it Some thought it was unlawful for men not in Orders to preach publickly or baptize for the South-Hollanders in their advice had determined they should others thought it unmeet that they should be present in the Consistories and meetings of Deacons or that they should read the Scriptures publickly in the Church which was the joynt advice of the Zelanders and South-Hollanders Lastly it was doubted whether the Synod could make any Decree in this Question because of the several customs in several Provinces which it lay not in the power of the Synod to prejudice So that instead of deciding this one doubt the Praeses proposed five more to be considered of 1. Whether men not in Orders might make publick Sermons 2. Whether they might baptize 3. Whether it were fit they should come into the Consistories 4. Whether they should read the Scriptures publickly 5. Whether the Synod could make a Decree in this business for the reason above mentioned or only give advice The Synod had begun to speak to the two first and it was the general opinion that they might not baptize In the point of preaching they differed Some thought absolutely it might be permitted them others on the contrary thought no some tooke a middle course thinking they might preach privately before a select Auditory who were to be their Judges how sufficient they were for that end some that they may do it openly so that it were understood they did it not cum potestate solvendi ligandi But when part of the Synod had spoken their minds because the time was much passed they brake up and put off the determination to the next Session Here is a rumor that some of the Remonstrants are come to Town who they are I cannot yet learn I shall to morrow make inquiry and by the next Messenger acquaint your Lordship with it In the mean time I humbly take my leave Dort this 3. of Decemb. 1618. Stylo novo Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord UPon Tuesday the fourth of December Stylo Novo the Deputies being met in the morning they proceeded to determine of those doubts which were moved the Session before In the matter consulted concerning the training up of those who were to take upon them the Ministery there were five questions moved 1. Whether it were fit they should preach publickly 2. Whether they should baptize 3. Whether they should come to the Consistories and meetings of the Classes 4. Whether they should read the Scriptures publickly in the Church before the People Lastly whether they should make a Decree to bind all Provinces necessarily or only to advise them To the first two the Exteri had given their answer in the former Session For the question of Baptism no man stood upon it but all accounted it unlawful for men not in Orders to take upon them to baptize the doubt was concerning Sermons Io. Polyander thought it very fit that such as intended the Ministery before they were admitted should practise Preaching First because it was the practise of some of the Belgick Churches Secondly because it took from them that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that subrustick shamefastness of many men by which they feared to speake unto the people Thirdly because it was convenient that they should be known for men fit for that duty before they should enter upon it Fourthly that they might approve themselves to their Parents and Benefactors who had been at the charge of their Education Provided that it were with these conditions first that it were done with consent of the Classes Secondly that it were practised only when the Church was unsupplied either by the death or absence or sickness of their Pastor or in case of like necessity With Polyander did Wallaeus of Middleburgh agree and grounded himself upon the practise of the Jews amongst whom not only the Levites but others also publickly taught the Law as it appears by the story in the Acts where Paul and Barnabas coming into the Synagogue the Rulers called unto them that if they had any word of exhortation they should speak unto the people Contrary unto both these was D. Gomarus who held it utterly unlawful for any to preach before they were admited to the Ministery First because they had no Mission and who can preach except he be sent Secondly because they had not the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven Thirdly it was granted that they could not baptize now Christ hath put Baptism and Preaching together Go teach all Nations baptizing them quae Deus conjunxit homo ne separet Last of all though there had been a custom in some places to the contrary yet fitter it was that custom should conform it self to Truth than Truth to custom With Gomarus agreed Thysius and thought his argument drawn from Mission to be unanswerable and for my own part I thought so to D. Gomarus is a man of great note but I never heard him speak with any strength of reason in the Synod till now What Sibrandus his opinion was concerning the point I know not for he