Chapter 6 Part 1

The Life of James Arminius
Chapter 6, Part 1 of 3.

This biography of James Arminius was written in Latin by Caspar Brandt, published by Gerard Brandt in 1724, and translated to English by John Guthrie in 1854.
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CHAPTER VI.

FURTHER PROSECUTION AND SUCCESSFUL ISSUE OF ARMINIUS' CALL TO THE PROFESSORSHIP. A.D. 1603.

Arminius meanwhile, not unaware of those things which were in agitation against him, strove to bend all his plans to this one aim, that of finding out a way in which he might defend himself against the criminations of his adversaries, and disarm them of their power. In particular, feeling keenly that he had been covered with stigmas in the hearing of Barneveldt, it appeared to him in the highest degree desirable that he should maintain the stainlessness of his reputation in the presence of that most exalted man; and that before presenting himself at the Hague he should intimate his purpose to the honourable magistrates, and in addition to them, to Helmichius himself, and others who had branded so black a stigma on his name.

He was prevented, however, from carrying into effect this purpose and journey by the adverse state of his health, having been seized with a catarrh contracted by cold, which violently affected his brain and adjacent parts. He informed Uitenbogaert of his circumstances, and, moreover, disclosed to him the state of his mind and his wish, in the following words [Epist. Eccles. Ep. 58, pag. 109, 110.]:— 'Would that this might be obtained from the most noble Barneveldt, namely, that they should receive orders to proceed against me before him, I being present. This verily I aim at and desire far more ardently than that which they think I desire — I mean the theological professorship. But I thoroughly persuade myself (and thus, surely, it ought to turn out) that those good men will not obtain credit with considerate persons, especially as he who is aimed at stands forth for his lawful defence, and is an elder against whom no one has a right to take up an accusation except under two or three witnesses. My opinion, therefore, is, that that journey is not so urgently necessary at this time in consequence of the departure already of a large proportion of the deputies, to whom Helmichius might appeal were I to institute proceedings with him. Meanwhile there remains with me the full right of originating an action at law against hun, and also against the rest who are associated with him. In regard to this, I shall consider, from your advice and that of others, what to do. If, however, you deem it needful that I should open my mind to you in reply to a few queries, you may transmit them in writing, and I will answer you with the utmost plainness and sincerity; for I am unwilling either to commit or to omit anything that might tend either to promote or to impede my call; inasmuch as I have resolved to commit myself wholly to the will of God, that I may be able to maintain a good conscience whatever may be the issue of the affair. In the meantime, I would have you to be of good cheer, and moderate your grief, for well I know how needful is this request. The Lord God will provide and grant that success which he knows will be most conducive to his own glory and the edification of the Church — yea more, and to the salvation of me and mine. On Him I cast all my care: He will bring forth my righteousness as the light, and my judgment as the noon-day.'

During all this time, the honourable curators of the Academy, promising themselves better things of Arminius than rumour held out, had resolved to leave nothing untried by which they might gain Arminius and their wish. Nay, communicating their counsels to the illustrious Prince Maurice, they strenuously besought him to associate with them some one to act in his name, for the furtherance of this business with the people of Amsterdam. To this petition, the Prince gave his gracious assent; and forthwith summoning Uitenbogaert into his presence (on the 13th March), he entreated him, in kindly terms that he would not scruple to undertake this province, as being in great measure an ecclesiastical one — and pledged his faith to furnish him with credentials. Armed with these, he at length, along with the honourable J. Dousa, and N. Zeistius, Syndic of Leyden, set out for Amsterdam on the first day of April; being followed, a little after, by the honourable Neostadius and Nicolas Cromhout, the chief senator of the supreme court: this last the curators had called to their assistance, his influence being very powerful with the Senate of Amsterdam. To smooth for themselves an easier path to the attainment of their end, they judged it expedient to hold interviews, in the first instance, with several of the magistrates, and ministers of the Church. Having on the 5th April, accordingly, obtained public audience of the honourable magistrates, they explained, at length, their reasons for the journey they had undertaken, — Cromhout maintaining the cause of the curators, and Uitenbogaert prosecuting the orders of the Prince [Ex Diario MS. Uitenb.]. They pressed their petition to obtain Arminius, on a variety of grounds; the rulers, on the other hand, set forth the merits of their pastor, and his useful and necessary services in refuting the opinions of different parties on points connected with religion; and declared that they could not dispense with the ministry of so great a man. These, and other arguments of the kind, the curators bent in their own favour, and vigorously retorted; at length the rulers replied that they would deliberate further on the matter, and gave permission, besides, to treat with the ecclesiastical court respecting it.

At a meeting, accordingly, convened on the 8th April, the delegates of the Academy submitted to the presbytery the same reasons for their proposal which they had advanced in presence of the magistrates; in addition to which, the better to promote their object, they held out the hope, and gave the pledge that should the leading men of the church of Amsterdam resolve to substitute in the place of Arminius, after his dismission, another eminent pastor, yea, and even to renew their call to Baselius, the very eloquent minister of the church at Bergen-op-Zoom, from whom they had previously met with a repulse, the illustrious States and the Prince himself, would exert themselves to the utmost for the realisation of their wish. The presbytery shortly after, having previously spent some time in deliberation, came to the decision (on the llth April) to intimate, through certain delegates to the honourable magistrates, that 'Arminius more than others was bound to his own church, and that they would decidedly prefer that he should be retained.' [Ex Actis Synod. Eccles. Amstel.—Vid. Trigland. Hist. p. 286.].

This decision of the ecclesiastical court being, in the opinion of the rulers, expressed in somewhat dubious and too general terms, they demanded of them a more extended counsel and resolution in respect to the business in question [Ex Diario MS. Uitenb.], on which the presbytery decreed to treat, through the same delegates, with Arminius himself. These delegates, accordingly, setting on him with expressions of caressing blandishment, ardently besought him that he would suffer himself to be induced to devote his services and fulfil his pledge henceforward to this church. Arminius replied, that 'formerly, indeed, he had been less inclined to undertake this professorial office; but now, as matters stood, he felt himself rather impelled to undertake it, and ask his dismission. He had his own reasons for thinking that were his dismission refused, it would no longer be in his power to subserve the interests of the Church in Amsterdam. But if, perchance, the expense originally laid out in enabling him to prosecute his studies should be alleged as an objection to his obtaining a dismission, he would rather make restitution to them than that this call should be set aside. He was moreover prepared, in presence of the delegates of the Synod and of the Church, to hold a conference with the eminent Gomarus.' [Ex Actis Presb. Amstelod. citatis a Trigland. p. 286.].

On learning this, the magistrates expressed no small solicitude and fear in reference to this business, lest Arminius should happen to suffer in his health from taking the refusal of his dismission too deeply to heart, and thus become useless alike to the Church and to the Academy, and many groundless rumours be thereby created; on which grounds they urgently demanded of the ecclesiastical court a further deliberation on the matter. But the presbytery here began to weave occasions of delay, and to differ somewhat among themselves—some charging Arminius with bad doctrine, while others defended him. Wherefore, having again requested an audience, on the 13th day of April, at the close of the evening service, the above-named delegates of the Academy presented themselves before this ecclesiastical assembly. They tried in every variety of way to impel the presbytery to dismiss Arminius, and to urge them to give a full deliverance. They further declared, through Uitenbogaert, who acted as their mouth, that 'as they perceived that the tergiversation of this meeting was grounded on the wrong suspicions of some respecting Arminius, they would abandon this call on the spot if the ecclesiastical court would, in express terms, accuse him of bad doctrine. The care of the Academy had been committed to them, and its welfare lay much too near their heart to allow them to consent to have any connexion with a divine of unsound views. But if, nevertheless, any doubt should yet cling to the minds of some, they pledged their faith that Arminius should not be installed into this academic function before he had given full satisfaction to his future colleague, the distinguished Gomarus.' [Vita Uitenb. Belgice ab ipso conseripta, cap. vi.].

After hearing this, and holding some further consultation on the matter, the presbytery at last gave their consent to the dismission requested [Ex Actis Presbyt Amstelod.—Vid. Trigland. Hist. Eccles.], the following stipulation being made:— 'First, Arminius shall not leave Amsterdam to enter on this new function until the church of this city be provided with another pastor, learned and pious, and if practicable, Baselius; secondly, after holding a conference with Gomarus on certain points of Christian doctrine, before the delegates of the churches, he shall wipe away all suspicion of heterodoxy by a candid explanation of his own opinion; and also, thirdly, should he happen at any time spontaneously to make up his mind to resign the office of professor, or should necessity urgently demand his services for the church in Amsterdam, he shall be at liberty to resume the pastoral function.' This ecclesiastical decision was laid before the honourable magistrates on the following day (the 15th April), who, after first convening and taking into their counsel the illustrious senate of the city, also gave their assent. Informed immediately of this result, the curators of the Academy expressed their thanks; and having obtained, a little after, the consent of Arminius himself, they set out on their journey homeward with great delight.