The Gouernour, Chancellour, and Councell, in the name of the Lords and Estates of the Dukedome of Gelderlandt, and County of Zutphen, doe giue to vnderstand:
THAT whereas, not onely out of these Prouinces, the Euangelicall Reformed Christian Religion, and the Teachers thereof (thorow publique Writings and published Bookes, by the Arminians and Separatists) but also within these Prouinces, (as well amongst the common people, as by written Remonstrations deliuered ouer to the discreete Lords and [Page 2] States and their Deputies) is brought in question; about sundry terrible and blasphemous Poynts of Doctrine: whereby the Euangelicall Doctrine and the Teachers thereof are defamed and made causers of the oppression of the Truth, disturbation of the Policie of Gouernment, lamentation & griefe of many zealous Soules and Consciences, departing and seducing of others, and the augmentation of the enemies of the Truth. The discreet Lords and Estates, out of sundry and manifest Reasons heretofore giuen by the Separatists in Church-matters, are moued to command the said Points deliberately to be examined, and in a respectiue Classe, whether any of the Teachers might be found guilty therein. Which done, they of the Classe, which were most suspected and guilty therein, haue declared, first, in their Assemblies, and afterwards in presence [Page 3] of the Deputies in the Prouinciall Synode, for themselues, and in the name of their Committees, that they neuer held or acknowledged, nor yet hereafter will hold or acknowledge that the same Poynts are the opinions of the Reformed Church. Also, that they know not, that euer the same was intended in such sence and meaning by any of the Teachers in the Reformed Church, but much rather, that they had an horror and trembling to thinke the same, detesting and renouncing the same in the highest degree. Whereuppon also, those that were any wayes affected to the Remonstrants, commonly called Arminians, and authors of the foresaid obiected Poynts, to be the old Reformed opinion; haue acknowledged and confessed (in the aforesaid Prouinciall Synode) that they had penned some of the same through ill report, some out of a wicked presumption, [Page 4] and some out of vaine-glory, acquitting and holding their fellow-Brethren free and guiltlesse therein, being heartily sory that they euer did lay the same to their charge, promising hereafter neuer to charge any body with any such like Accusations eyther publiquely or priuately. But much more to doe their vttermost endeuour to moderate the same, and to set them in peace and quietnesse, who therewith were any wayes troubled or molested, and to helpe to defend and take away all further slanders and accusations one of another.
Wee therefore considering that the aforesaid slanders and calumnies of the Doctrine and Teachers of the Euangelicall Reformed Churches, (as well at home as abroad) is rumored both farre and neare, and desiring to exalt and extoll the same, to the maintayning of the Truth haue found it [Page 5] fit and conuenient to extract and publish the aforesaid Poynts and Accusations, Declarations and Confessions, out of the Acts of the last Prouinciall Synode: So that euery one hauing knowledge therof, may hereafter hold themselues quiet in Conscience, remaine and continue in the truth of the Euangelicall Reformed Religion, giue no credit to the slanders and obiections of their enemies, and that thereby the Churches and Commonalty being established in the accustomed vnitie, Gods glory may be furthered, and the Subiects may liue in peace, tranquilitie, and prosperitie vnder their lawfull Magistrates.
Giuen in the Councell of Gelderlandt at Arnhem, the 15. of September, 1618.
Subsigned E. Engelen.
An Extract of the Acts of the Synode of Gelderlandt, held at Arnhem in Iuly, 1618.
THE Acts of the Superiors of the Synode being related, the first separation or diuision of these Countries was also declared, and the writings and Controversies which followed there vpon▪ and how the Ministers about the Towne and Countrie of Nymegam, in their first Letters and Writings (sent and deliuered vnto the Countrey) had obiected tenne Poynts or Positions, like as followeth.
1 Th [...] God from all eternitie hath reprobated the most part of mankinde, [Page 7] and ineuitably ordayned them to damnation, without any respect of their vnbeliefe and sinnes, which they might or should commit, or of the sinne of Adam: onely according to his delight and pleasure, the which hee taketh in the reuealing of the glory of his power and might.
2 Or if that God in the aforesaid Reprobation in any wise hath regarded the sinne of Adam, or the originall sinne thereout proceeding, but not any actuall sinne or vnbeliefe, whereby the Reprobates could deserue this Reprobation more then others.
3 That amongst these Reprobates are an infinite number of young Children of the faithfull, which dying in their Infancie without any actuall sin, poore innocent Sucklings are taken away and cast into the fire of Hell; so that it auaileth them not to haue receiued the holy Baptisme, nor that any [Page 8] man should pray vnto God Almighty for them.
4 That God from all eternitie hath elected, and inresistably or dayned to saluation the lesser part of mankinde, without respect of their beliefe, as a condition necessary to saluation; yea, also without any motion of Christ, as the meriting cause of saluation, onely by meere chance and good lucke in some men, without any respect of qualities: so that Christ is onely the executor of the said Decree: and Beliefe a fruit of the Election.
5 That God towards the fulfilling of his eternall immutable Decree, hath created the most part of mankinde for damnation, and with this intention made them that they should be damned.
6 That God forceth and prouoketh men to sinne, yea, and that hee is the cause of sinne.
7 That God hath giuen his Sonne [Page 9] to be an Aduocate for the relapsed humane generation, whose sacrifice would be sufficient to satisfie for all mens sinnes, yet that his intention was not that Christ should dye for all, but onely for a few: and that the Reprobates, whensoeuer the Gospell is preached vnto them, must also beleeue that Christ dyed for them; and if they did not beleeue so, were therefore iustly damned.
8 That God sendeth his holy Word vnto many Reprobates, and inuites them to his communion, not that they should thereby bee conuerted and beleeue in Christ, but expresly with such an intention that their hearts should be hardned, and therfore more grieuously punished: And that those Reprobates must acknowledge the aforesaid vocation & inuitation of the Lord (through his holy Word) a worke of Grace and Mercy, for the which they are obliged [Page 10] to thanke the LORD.
9▪ That the Elect are conuerted, and Faith and Beliefe infused into them with an inresistable strength, in such sort that they cannot chuse but be conuerted and beleeue in Christ▪ like as (on the contrary) it is impossible for the reprobates to attaine true Faith, what meanes soeuer they vse, although they did doe all the workes of the Saints.
10 That hee that once beleeueth in Christ, cannot wholly nor finally loose the same, nor fall from Grace through carelesnesse, nor through the greatest and highest deadly sinne, as Adultry, Murther and the like▪ that hee being fallen into most heynous sinnes, must of necessitie bee conuerted afore his death, by vertue of the aforesaid absolute and in euitable Decree.
Maintayning that some Teachers in these Prouinces doe teach and hold the same, and do vndertake to thrust them [Page 11] in for the opinions of the Reformed Churches. In consideration whereof the foure Classes, Teil, Zuophen, Ouer, and Neder veluwen, haue solicited, that considering they haue declared, and do by these presents declare, neuer to haue acknowledged the same, nor now to acknowledge the same to be the opinions and sentences of the Reformed Churches: nor to know that the said Poynts were euer maintained by any of the Teachers of the reformed Churches, in that sence and meaning: but that they were much more abashed and astonied thereat, detesting and [...] nouncing the same in the highest degree: That those persons might be specified by their particuler names which euer intended or maintained the same, and did their vttermost to make them passe for Poynts of Beliefe in these Prouinces, whereof they in their first and second writings haue so often [Page 12] made mention, leauing them that are not of vs to answer for themselues▪ In the name of them of South-Holland, Doctor Henricus Arnoldi hath declared, in presence of the aforesaid Classes, to detest and renounce the same, and if so bee they could charge any body therwith▪ that they would make means that hee should appeare in this present place, to the end hee might cleare himselfe before this Assembly, or if he were found guilty, acknowledge his [...]ault▪
Also the Commissaries of both the Countries, in the name thereof, and of the Honourable Lord [...] ▪ haue earnestly besought and solicited, that the same might bee published in these Prouinces to the end the Lords and Magistrates might proceed according to Iustice and equitie▪ to def [...]nd these Prouinces from such blasphemies.
That o [...] sentences and opinions are that God Almighty will eternally torment [Page 13] in the pit of Hell, innumerable young Children: Notwithstanding that they were of beleeuing parents, and that onely because of originall sin, so that the aforesaid Children haue no more hope of saluation then the wicked Angels.
That wee doe holde the opinion of Churches, and not Gods Word the rule of our Beleefe: and that we are therein much like to the Papists, as if the holy Church could not erre.
That the Confession and Catechisme is Norma secundaria Fidei, a secondary rule of Faith, as if we said that the holy Scripture becomes to be a rule of our Beleiefe, when shee is expounded according to the sence and meaning contained in the Confession and Catechisme.
Vnto these and such like accusations, as also to the tenne foresaid Poynts or Positions, the Brethren of Nymegam [Page 14] and Bommel, for themselues, and in the name of their fellow-Brethren of the Arminian opinion in the same quarter; haue for their answer declared: That they had satisfied themselues, and with alacritie listned to the Declarations of the Brethren of the foure Classes, as also to that which Doctor Henricus Arnoldi had annexed thereunto out of the name of the contra-Remonstrants or old Reformed in Holland. And doe acknowledge that they did place some of the said Accusations through euill report, some out of a naughty presumption, and some out of vaine-glory, and doe acquit and discharge all and euery of the assembled Brethren, and are heartily sory that euer they accused them therewith, and desired that they would not bee so highly offended, but to pardon them, and to bury it in the fire of loue, and place it in obliuion, and promised hereafter not to charge any [Page 15] man with such accusations, either publiquely or priuately: but rather to doe their vttermost endeuour to moderate the same, and to set them in peace and quietnesse that therwith are any waies molested, and helpe to take away all occasion of discord and dissention one with another.
Also, that if so bee in time to come they were found to haue committed any thing here-against, they doe willingly submit themselues vnto all censures of Nationall or particular Synodes, and also vpon paine of banishment.
All this being witnessed with words, the Assembly was confirmed with shaking of hands with the President.
Ledenberch his Confession both at Vtrecht and the Hage: Also, the death of Taurinus, and how the said Ledenberch murthered himselfe.
FIrst, to breake the Vnion and to ordaine another forme or kinde of Gouernment, and that thorow the helpe and assistance of the Prouinces of Holland, Vtrecht, and Oueryssell.
Secondly, to depose his Princely Excellencie.
Thirdly, to make the Religion common.
Fourthly, to maintaine and assist one another therein with life & goods.
Fiftly, that they haue communicated the same with some of the Councell [Page 17] of France, and therunto desired aduice and counsell.
Further, some seuen or eight Months since, that Taurinus had made a Booke called the Waech-Schael or Ballance, and that the same was corrected and amended by Vtenbogaert, and that the Originall was deliuered into the hands of some of the States of Vtrecht.
Their Confessions in the Hage.
FIrst, that they would renounce and breake the generality and vnitie of the State.
Secondly, change and alter the Religion.
Thirdly, to degrade the Prince of▪ Orange.
Fourthly, to massacre the people of the Townes which were their greatest enemies, or offered resistance.
Fiftly, if that fayled, to take in assistance of some forraigne Potentates, as Spaine or Brabant, deliuering vnto them Vtrecht, Nimwegen, Berghen op Zoom, and the Briel.
The 23. of September (being Sunday) Taurinus dyed at Bockhouen, a mile from Heusden, and was buried the Friday after at Scheidam.
The 27. of the foresaid Moneth, Ledenberch [Page 18] was examined, acknowledging the abouesaid, and thereafter said to his Son, I haue confessed that which will cost life and goods, and hauing two daies afore conueyed a table-knife into some secret place, commanded to lay his breeches by his Bed: which being done, hee said to his Son, If chance thou hearest any noise to night, be still, for I haue not beene at stoole these two dayes: and then betweene one and two of the clocke in the night hee rose, and taking a pen-knife out of his penner, hee thrust it into his belly to the haft not farre from his Nauell, and feeling that he was not sped, he tooke the tableknife, and therewith cut his throate, and stabd himselfe with the same knife into his short ribs, and lastly into the brest: his sonne awaking, it was alas too late for his poore soule.
FINIS.