it like the Prophets of God with quietness and moderation and not in the violence of passion as if we were possest rather then inspir'd Again what equity or indifferency can we look for in the carriage of that cause that falls into the handling of these men Quis conferre duces meminit qui pendere causas Quâ stetit inde favet what man overtaken with passion remembers impartially to compare cause with cause and right with right Quâ stetit inde favet on what cause he happens that is he resolute to maintain ut gladiator in arenam as a Fencer to the Stage so comes he to write not upon conscience of quarrel but because he proposes to contend yea so potently hath this humor prevail'd with men that have undertaken to maintain a faction that it hath broken out to the tempting of God and the dishonour of Martyrdom Two Fryers in Florence in the action of Savonoralla voluntarily in the open view of the City offer'd to enter the fire so to put an end to the controversie that he might be judged to have the right who like one of the three children in Babylon should pass untouch't through the fire But I hasten to visit one weak person more and so an end He whom we now are to visit is a man weak through heretical and erring Faith now whether or no we have any receit for him it may be doubtful For S. Paul advises us to avoid the man that is a maker of Sects knowing him to be damned yet if as we spake of not admitting to us the notorious sinner no not to eat so we teach of this that it is delivered respectively to the weaker sort as justly for the same reasons we may do we shall have a Recipe here for the man that erres in faith and rejoyceth in making of Sects which we shall the better do if we can but gently draw him on to a moderation to think of his conceits only as of opinions for it is not the variety of opinions but our own perverse wills who think it meet that all should be conceited as our selves are which hath so inconvenienced the Church were we not so ready to anathematize each other where we concur not in opinion we might in hearts be united though in our tongues we were divided and that with singular profit to all sides It is the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and not Identitie of conceit which the Holy Ghost requires at the hands of Christians I will give you one instance in which at this day our Churches are at variance The will of God and his manner of proceeding in predestination is undiscernable and shall so remain until that day wherein all knowledge shall be made perfect yet some there are who with probability of Scripture teach that the true cause of the final miscarriage of them that perish is that original corruption that befell them at the beginning increased through the neglect or refusal of grace offered Others with no less favourable countenance of Scripture make the cause of reprobation only the will of God determining freely of his own work as himself pleases without respect to any second cause whatsoever Were we not ambitiously minded familiam ducere every one to be Lord of a Sect each of these tenents might be profitably taught and heard and matter of singular exhortation drawn from either for on the one part doubtless it is a pious and religious intent to endeavour to free God from all imputation of unnecessary rigour his justice from seeming unjustice incongruity on the other side it is a noble resolution so to humble our selves under the hand of Almighty God as that we can with patience hear yea think it an honour that so base creatures as our selves should become the instruments of the glory of so great a majesty whether it be by eternal life or by eternal death though for no other reason but for Gods good will and pleasure sake The authors of these conceits might both freely if peaceably speak their mindes and both singularly profit the Church for since it is impossible where Scripture is ambiguous that all conceits should run alike it remains that we seek out a way not so much to establish an unity of opinion in the mindes of all which I take to be a thing likewise impossible as to provide that multiplicity of conceit trouble not the Churches peace A better way my conceit cannot reach unto then that we would be willing to think that these things which with some shew of probability we deduce from Scripture are at the best but our opinions for this peremptory manner of setting down our own conclusions under this high commanding form of necessary truths is generally one of the greatest causes which keeps the Churches this day so far asunder when as a gracious receiving of each other by mutual forbearance in this kinde might peradventure in time bring them nearer together This peradventure may some man say may content us in case of opinion indifferent out of which no great inconvenience by necessary and evident proof is concluded but what Recipe have we for him that is fallen into some known and desperate Heresie Even the same with the former And therefore anciently Heretical and Orthodox Christians many times even in publick holy exercise converst together without offence It 's noted in the Ecclesiastick stories that the Arrians and Right believers so communicated together in holy prayers that you could not distinguish them till they came to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the gloria patri which the Arrians used with some difference from other Christians But those were times quorum lectionem habemus virtutem non habemus we read of them in our books but we have lost the practise of their patience Some prejudice was done unto the Church by those who first began to intermingle with publick Ecclesiastical duties things respective unto private conceits For those Christian offices in the Church ought as much as possibly they may be common unto all and not to descend to the differences of particular opinions Severity against and separation from heretical companies took its beginning from the Hereticks themselves and if we search the stories we shall finde that the Church did not at their first arising thrust them from her themselves went out and as for severity that which the Donatists sometimes spake in their own defence Illam esse veram Ecclesiam quae prosecutionem patitur non quae facit she was the true Church not which raised but which suffered persecution was de facto true for a great space For when heresies and schismes first arose in the Church all kind of violence were used by the erring factions but the Church seem'd not for a long time to have known any use of a sword but only of a buckler and when she began to use the sword some of her best and chiefest Captains much misliked it The first law
extraordinary courtesie in your kinde invitations I could not be so fitted in my mourning apparel as I would before Saturday at night besides we must now narrowly look to the Canons which are sent to us by the Deputies of the Synod for we are required upon Tuseday next to give in our observations upon them my L. of Landaffe being one of the Deputies hath already delivered his opinion of them and therefore his L. may here be spared till Wednesday next the rest of us have not and it being the main business of our coming hither we must plie it so as it may be done to some good purpose My L. of Landaffe his comming to your L. telleth me that the writing of any occurrences here are needless so with the continuance of my best wishes for your L. health and happiness I take my leave and shall ever account it a great part of my temporal happiness if your L. shall be pleased to account me as I am Dordrecht this 29. of March Stylo loci Your L. in all dutiful respect and service Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord THis place is yet still barren of news but I make no question but my next letters shall send your L. some The Deputies appointed by the Synod have taken pains I must needs confess to give our Colledge all satisfaction besides the second Article some of our Colledge have been earnest to have this proposition out Infideles damnabuntur non solum ob infidelitatem sed etiam ob omnia alia peccata suatam originale quam actualia Because they say that from thence may be inferred that original sin is not remitted to all who are baptized which opinion hath been by more then one councel condemned as heretical they have therefore at their request put it out so I know now of no matter of disagreement among us worthy the speaking of the morrow there is a Synod one way or other we shall determine what shall become of the Canons what we do your L. by Gods grace with the first occasion shall understand I have here sent your L. my speech made in the Synod I know your L. experience will pardon the imperfections of a discourse delivered upon less then two days warning Now my Lord to write a History of Dr. Goad his journey and mine own between Roterdam and Dort that night on which we came from your L. would move too much pity especially if you should make relation of the same to my Lady the compend of it is this that a little after five a clock in the afternoon we took ship at Roterdam and about a little after one of the clock in the night we arrived at Dort but could get no entrance and therefore until half an houre past five in the morning we sometime lay in the ship sometime walked on the Bulwark if we were not sufficiently assaulted with cold and watching we know our selves Mr. Downs his wooing in Greek was never so cold as we were that night Letters I have received from England the summe of the news are that the Spanish Navie is dissipated and that it never exceeded 60. sayles The King of Spain hath written large letters with his own hand to our King in which he protesteth that he never intended any thing against England nor any Christian Kingdom The talk of the Spanish match hath of late been very fresh again in England but this is certain that the other day at Theobalds the King asking a gentleman of good note what the people talked of the Spanish Navie received of him this answer Sir the people is nothing so much affraid of the Spaniards powder as of their match My Lord I can but thank your L. for all your courtesies especially your L. great kindeness at my last being with you which since my fortune will not give me leave to requite I must take leave to acknowledge With the remembrance of my best duty and service to your L. and your worthy Lady and my faithful wishes for both your happiness I take my leave hoping your L. will believe that there liveth no man of whom you may more freely dispose then of Dort this 4 14 of April Your L. most faithful and respectful in all true service Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord DOctor Davenant his coming to your L. saveth me the writing of any news here for he will perfectly relate them to your L. we are full of trouble about things altogether unnecessary they are so eager to kill the Remonstrants that they would make their words have that sense which no Grammar can finde in them upon Tuseday in the afternoon we had a Session in which were read the Canons of the first and second Article and were approved except the last of the second Article which we never heard of till that houre and the second heterodox in that same Article what they were Dr. Davenant will inform your L. the last was such as I think no man of understanding would ever assent unto On Thursday morning we had another Session in which was nothing done but that it was reasoned whither that last heterodox should be retained our Colledge in that whole Session maintained dispute against the whole Synod they condemned the thing it sâ—â—lâ—â— as a thing most curious and yet would have it retained only to make the Remonstrants odious though they finde the very contrary of that they would father upon them in their words That day in the afternoon was another Session in which were read the Canons of the 3. 4. and 5. Articles and were approved the particular passages of these Sessions I will send your L. by the next occasion they were no great matters in them yet when I send your L. the next Sessions in which it is like that something will be done I will send a note of them too yesterday there was no Session but the Deputies met for taking order about the Preface and Epilogue of the Canons and mending those things in the Canons which were thought fit to be amended and have sent them worse then they were in case we stand and what need of counsel we have this worthy Dr. will sufficiently inform your L. My Lord I have had a great deal of talk with Mr. Douglas about the controversies in this Church and finde him unquestionably sound in them also that there is no fear of his opinions if otherwise he be found sufficient I much wonder that we do not hear of my L. of Doncaster There is here in the Synod a report of our King his mortal disease it cometh from Sculâ—â—etus but I hope it is but the Goute with the remembrance of my best duty and service to your good L. and my Lady I take my leave and rest ever Dort this 9 19 of April Your L. in all true respect and service Walter Balcanqual My very Good Lord NOw at last we have made an end of our business of the five Articles what trouble we have had in
brought sounds to no other purpose but this That whereas there was lately raised in the Church a controversie concerning the duality or unity of wills in Christ since that hitherto nothing in the Church concerning either part hath been expresly taught his Counsel was that men would rather cease to doubt then to be curious to search for any solution of their doubtings and so abstain from teaching doctrinally either part and content themselves with that express measure of faith with which the Church hath hitherto rest satisfied This to my conceit is the drift of his Epistle How this advise of the Bishops was appliable or how it fitted the question then in controversie or what reason moved the Councel to think that it was absolutely necessary for them to give an express decision and determine for the one part belongs not to me to discuss But I verily perswade my self that if it had pleased those who in all ages have been set to Govern the Church of God betimes to have made use of this advise to have taught men rather not to have doubted then to have expected still solution of their doubtings to have stopt and damm'd up the originals and springs of controversies rather then by determining for the one part to give them as it were a pipe and conduit to conveigh them to posterity I perswade my self the Church had not suffered that inundation of opinions with which at this day it is overrun Is it not Saint Pauls own practise when having brought in a question concerning Gods justice in predestination he gives no other answer but this O man who art thou that disputest with God Is it not his plain purpose to advise the disputer rather not to make the question then to require a determination of it at his hands How many of the questions even of our own times even of those that are at home amongst us might by this way long since have been determin'd I have I confess the same disease that my first Parents in Paradise had a desire to know more then I need But I always thought it a very judicious commendation which is given to Julius Agricola that he knew how to bridle his desire in pursuit of knowledge retinuitque quod est difficillimum ex scientia modum Mallem quidem as S. Austine saith eorum quae à me quaesivisti habere scientiam quà m ignorantiam sed quia id nondum potui magis eligo cautam ignorantiam confiteri quam falsam scientiam profiteri It shall well befit our Christian modesty to participate somewhat of the Sceptike and to use their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and remainder of our knowledge be supplied by Christ In quem si credimus ut si aliqua nobis non aperiat etiam pulsantibus nullo modo adversus eum murmurare debeamus To conclude S. Austine in his eightieth Epistle discoursing of the speedy or slow coming of our Saviour to judgement to shew that it is the safest way to teach neither but to suspend our belief and confess our ignorance ranging himself with men of this temper obsecro te saith he to Hesychius to whom he writes that Epistle obsecro te ut me talem non spernas So give me leave to commence the same suit to you obsecro vos ut me talem non spernatis Let me request you bear with me if I be such a one as I have S. Austine for example For it is not depth of knowledge nor knowledge of antiquity or sharpness of wit nor authority of Councels nor the name of the Church can settle the restless conceits that possess the mindes of many doubtful Christians onely to ground for faith on the plain uncontroversable Text of Scripture and for the rest to expect and pray for the coming of our Elias this shall compose our waverings and give final rest unto our souls Thus instead of a discourse which was due unto this time concerning the glorious Resurrection of our blessed Saviour and the benefits that come unto us by it I have diverted my self upon another theam more necessary as I thought for this auditory though less agreeable with this solemnity Those who have gone afore me in that argument have made so copious a harvest that the issue of my gatherings must needs have been but small except I had with Ruth glean'd out of their sheaves or strain'd my industry which is but small and my wits which are none to have held your attentiveness with new and quaint conceits In the mean time whether it be I or they or whatsoever hath been delivered out of this place God grant that it may be for his honor and for the Churches good to whom both it aud we are dedicate To God the Father c. Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weak in the faith receive but not to doubtful disputations MIght it so have pleased God that I had in my power the choice of my ways and the free management of my own actions I had not this day been seen for so I think I may better speak seen may I be of many but to be heard with any latitude and compass my natural imperfection doth quite cut of I had not I say in this place this day been seen Ambition of great and famous Auditories I leave to those whose better gifts and inward endowments are Admonitioners unto them of the great good they can do or otherwise thirst after popular applause Vnto my self have I evermore applied that of St. Hierome mihi sufficit cum auditore Lectore pauperculo in angulo Monasterii susurrare a small a private a retired auditory better accords both with my will and my abilities Those unto whose discretion the furniture of this place is committed ought especially to be careful since you come hither to hear to provide you those who can be heard for the neglect of this one circumstance how poor soever it may seem to be is no less then to offend against that faith which cometh by hearing and to frustrate as much as in them is that end for which alone these meetings were ordained We that come to this place as God came to Elias in the mount in a soft and still voice to those which are near us are that which the grace of God doth make us unto the rest we are but Statues such therefore as my Imperfection in this kinde shall offend such as this day are my spectators only know I trust whom they are to blame At my hands is only required truth in sincerely discharging a common care at others care of profitably delivering a common truth As for me the end of whose coming is to exhort you to a gracious interpreting of each others imperfections having first premised this Apology for my self it is now time to descend to the exposition of that Scripture which I have propos'd Infirmum in side recipite c. Him that is weak in the faith receive c.
that the Synod had only exprest it self what it thought fittest to be done As for the necessity of Execution that was not in the power of the Synod but of the States General who when all was done might either pass or recall what they thought good Secondly to the point concerning himself he answered he had done so and thought it fittest so to do but the Synod thought otherwise and since there was a matter of Catechism to be concluded they thought they might confirm this as well as any other and this was not so confirm'd but that it was in the power of the Synod to alter what they please To the point of premising a Text of Scripture before the catechetical Sermon he answered that the determination of the Synod was not to take that custom away there where it it was in use but only to prohibit the urging of it there where it had a long time been disused To the last concerning the Registring of this their dissent he answer'd he saw not how this could be granted them since the States General had concluded that what pass'd by a major part of voices should alone be accounted the Act of the Synod and by the same proportion every one that passes not his voice with the major part might require his dissent to be registred After this the Praeses signified that concerning the question of the baptizing of Ethnicks children put up by the Church of Amsterdam he required yet farther respite because of the opinion of some of the Synod which was somewhat ambiguous and obscure He was therefore to conferre with the Authors of it and therefore desir'd that the resolution might be put off till the next Session and withall he commended to the Synod the consideration how the liberty of printing so promiscuously all kinde of scandalous and libellous Pamphlets might be represt and so he dismist the Synod The Remonstrants are in Town but because they keep themselves private and have not presented themselves unto the States and Deputies there is no notice taken of it And so commending your Honor to Gods good Protection I humbly take my leave Dort this 4. of Decem. 1618. stylo novo Your Honours Chaplain and bounden in all Duty Jo. Hales Right Honourable my very good Lord. UPon Wednesday the 5. of December stylo novo the Deputies being met in the morning the first thing which was done was the admission of a Senior or Elder for those of Groninga whose number as it seems was not yet full The thing was transacted in Dutch and yet the consent of the English was askt at which I did not a little muse Next followed the advice of the Helvetians what course was to be taken with those who are to enter the Ministry in which there was no great matter from what before was intimated The Palatini promis'd the like and therefore the Praeses requir'd yet farther respite before they did conceive any form of Decree in this behalf Then followed the Decree of the Synod concerning the question moved by those of Amsterdam about the Baptism of children born of Ethnick Parents The Decision consisted of two parts The first concern'd the Adulti and it was this That such as were of years and capacity should be diligently taught and catechized and then if they did desire it they should be baptized The second concern'd Infants and it was That till they came to years of Discretion they should by no means be baptized A strange decision and such as if my memory or reading fails me not no Church either Ancient or Modern ever gave When it was objected what if they were in danger of death their answer was that the want of Baptism would not prejudice them with God except we would determine as the Papists do that Baptism is necessary to salvation Which is as much to undervalue the necessity of Baptism as the Church of Rome doth overvalue it Here followed a recitation of all that had been done since the business of the Catechism had been set on foot amongst the rest was registred the exceptions of the Remonstrants of Utrecht and it was added atque iis est à Praeside satisfactum Those of Utrecht excepted against that word satisfactum they had said they an answer given them but no satisfaction For they persisted in their former opinion and forthwith that word was alter'd Here was a doubt moved whether it were not fit that some of the especial Reasons brought by the Synod in the Question of the Baptism of Infants should not be added to the Decree It was answered That Reasons were obnoxious to cavil and exceptions and it was not for the Authority of the Synod to Reason but to Decree After this the Praeses signified to the Synod that the time prefixt for the appearance of the Remonstrants was now expiring and yet nothing was signified concerning their appearance neither to the Secular President nor Ecclesiastical Wherefore naming them all he thought good to cite them to appear It was answered by those of Utrecht that they did provide and would shortly be forth coming In the mean while to take up the time Mr. Praeses thought good to commend to the Synod the consideration and redress of those abuses which were in Printing Every man was suffered to print what him listed whence came abundance of blasphemous heretical obscene and scandâ—â—lous Pamphlets Many here delivered their opinions others requir'd farther time to think of it The English first thought fit that the States General should be requested to take the care of this into their hands That there should be Censors to approve all such Books as should go to the Press That no man should print but such as were known to be of the Reformed Religion Unto this advice divers things were added by others as that there should be a set number of Printers that they should be sworn that there should be certain Laws prescribed unto them that they should print no Heretical Books especially the Books of David Georgius H. Nicolaus Socinus that no libels no unlawful pictures either obscene or made to any mans disgrace should be permitted that no Book should be printed without the names of the Author Printer Place except the Synod or the Magistrates did in some cases otherwise think good that there should be care that the Correctors for the Press were good Scolars and many other things of the like nature Then were there read certain Canons made in some Synods before concerning this business Theodatus of Geneva told us that in his travails at Venice he had observ'd that there was a Colledge of sundry persons secular and spiritual to whose care was committed all the business of Printing He thought it fit there should be such Colledges here erected When all had spoken that would the Praeses told them that Adrian Smoutius had written a little Book in the Belgick Tongue unto the Synod and sent the copies of it to him to be distributed And so requesting
it was Summum hominis Votum to pray for the peace and flourishing of the Church which he confirmed by the examples of the Apostles and of Christ himself Thirdly that it was Summum hominis studium to procure the peace of the Churchâ—â— where speaking of the present occasion I am no Prophet saith he yet I think I foresee that the peace of the Belgick Churches would be a means to settle the peace of other Churches He therefore wisht that the States the Prince the Delegates would all propose unto themselves as their end the peace and flourishing of the Churches amongst them as he doubted not they did in calling this Synod There was not in this Sermon any Doctrinal point discust nor any particular toucht which â—â—ght minister Newes It was only a Pathetical exhortation to all sorts as much as in them lay to procure the Churches peace When he had done the Praeses publikely in the name of the Synod gave him thanks and protested himself to have been very much moved with his speeches Besides this there was nothing done that Session Upon Munday 7 17 of this present the Synod coming together in the Forenoon there were two out of Wetteraw from the Counties of Nassau Bisterfeldius a Preacher and Jo. Henricus Alâ—â—tedius Professor of Divinity in Herborne came as Deputies from the Churches in those parts to be admitted as parts of the Synod The Letters from the States General and then their Credential Leâ—â—ters from their Churches first being read the Oath was read unto them and they took it Then did the Praeses in the Name of the Synod welcom them and told them the end of their coming and what these Churches expected at their hands Then were the Remonstrants call'd in and willed to declare their opinion concerning the rest of the Articles which they did at large and added some Apologies for their proceeding by Negatives which I could your Lordship formerly had been the Exception of the Synod against the manner held by them in the first Article I will not give a brief of what they then delivered because I resolve to send your Lordship the perfect Copy of it as soon as I can come to copie it out When they had done the Praeses asked them whether they were provided to deliver up their Considerations concerning the Confession and Catechisme for the Synod expected it They answered that they expected not the Synod should call for them The Praeses replyed this could not excuse them for they had often told the world in their Books that they had paratam sylvam considerationum in that kinde and that the Synod should better judge of each part when it had learned their opinion of the whole They requir'd leave to withdraw a little and think of an answer In the mean time the Praeses proposed to the Synod to consider how well the Remonstrants had stood to the Decree of the Synod concerning the proposal of their Tenents in Affirmatives he thought that they had offended more against it and that purposely in bringing their Apologie for so doing in censuring the opinions of other Churches for blasphemous c. Howsoever it was their judgement that they should propose their sentence in Negatives yet they ought not to have proposed but to have submitted their judgement to the judgement of the Synod The Remonstrants returning gave answer to this effect that though they might require time to give up their Considerations yet they thought they were not bound to give them up till the five Articles were discust since their Citatory Letters so ran that first the Articles then their Consideration should come in place that they thought it some wrong done them to have this order now perverted The Praeses answered that no wrong was done them for their Considerations should not yet be sifted till the five Articles were concluded And so the order in their Citatory Letters should be kept That long since in a Synod at Delpht they had promis'd to deliver them up in a Provincial Synod there and therefore now after so many years they could not be unprovided Here the Praeses Politicus charged them to obey their Decree and to do as the Praeses and the Synod requir'd The Praeses Eclesiasticus then admonisht them that they were not to accompt of themselves as a Colledg and so still to give answers in commune but they must answer particularly every one for himself and thereupon he asked every of them in order whether they had any such Consideration or no some answered they had some that they had some few of no great moment some that their Considerations were not written down some that they had none at all When the Praeses had said jactatum fuisse by them long since that they had sundry Considerations ready Corvinus excepted against the word jactatum the Praeses replyed He used not the word to disgrace them but only as a Frequentative to signifie that they had often boasted of it When some Litigation was here fallen Martinus Gregorii one that sits close upon the Remonstrants skirts cut it off and commanded them to be quiet The Remonstrants here signified that such Considerations as they had were only in the Dutch tongue The Praeses replyed they should have leasure to translate them Then did the Seculars pronounce a Decree charging them to provide themselves singly one by one he that had many to give up many he that had few to give up few he that had none to give up none and that whether it were in Dutch or Latine The Remonstrants required some time for saith Episcopius we came imparatissimi ad hanc rem First there were given them to two dayes then three then four within which space every man alone by himself was to give up his Considerations and this was the effect of the Session The answer of the English Divines to the Remonstrants exception against the Synod I will send your Lordship in my next Letters together with the Remonstrants answer upon the later Articles Harman the Post came to Dort on Sunday about three of the clock and went for England on Munday about ten of the clock in the morning Mr. Dean of Worcester is very crazy and sickly of late and keeps his Chamber neither hath he been in the Synod some of these last Sessions I hear he purposes to come to the Hague to see if he shall have his health better there Here is a Rumour that the Remonstrants are a little divided amongst themselves and that Corvinus complains that what he hath done was because he suffered himself to be drawn on by others how true this is I know not I heard Scultetus tell my Lord Bishop so much and that Meierus of Basil should say that Corvinus had signified so much to him My Lord Bishop is a little displeased with Mr. Amyes for putting into his hand Grevinchovius his Book in the Preface of which there are cited out of a Writing of Mr. Amyes