THat in a very great part, which learned Ber­tius in the preceding Oration, hath justly pre­mised touching the difficulty of his task and Province, who was to describe so excellent a man as Reverend Arminius, may be as justly (to say no more) taken up by him that undertakes a description of Episcopius, a man well nigh incomparable in all things commen­dable in a man, in a Christian, in a Minister of the Gospel of Christ.

It's one of Amsterdams chiefest Ornaments, and deserves to be recorded with letters of Gold in the memorials of that famous City; that Simon Episco­pius in the year 1583. was born there.

His Parents, Egbert and Gertrude, are worthy remembrance, not only for their pious Offspring, [Page 2] I mean their eldest son Rembert, also John, but es­pecially the youngest, our Simon; (for their o­ther children, four sons and three daughters, all died in their youth or infancy) but also for their own piety, being then zealous professors of the truth, when extream dangers closely attended on every side those that followed her; Simon Episcopius, that renowned Person of whom we are now to speak, brought with him into the world many rare natural Endowments, which afterwards by good education and much industry were greatly improved, and were in his conversation choicely imployed to the end of his days. Rembert. his eldest brother, soon espying in him grounds of hope as to his use­fulness in the best of imployments; did earnestly solicite his Parents to denote him wholly to learning; His Parents; notwithstanding their Estate, was in­sufficient (by reason of their numerous offspring) to yield him at his studies a competent maintenance▪ yet, having assistance freely and privately, offered by Cornelius Benning, a man of Consular dignity, were perswaded to dedicate their Simon to the study of learning. He therefore was committed, as soon as possible, to the care and discipline of Peter Ʋeke­man, a Schoolmaster at that time famous; under whose manuduction he in so little time made so great a progress in Latin and Greek, that he was commen­ded by diverse great men to the honourable Senate of Amsterdam, which took and received him into the number of their Scholars, when his parents by the advice of Mr. John Kuchlinus and Mr. James [Page 3] Arminius, and by their perswasion, gave their con­sent; for at the first they were somewhat averse thereto. When he had at Amsterdam run out his course there in the Grammar school, the Curatours of the School did. in the year 1600, declare him by Solemn sentence meet and worthy to be promoted to the University, that he might there apply him­self to more high and manly studies; He was there­fore sent away to the University of Leyden, into the Colledge of the illustrious States of Holland and West-friezland; in which Colledge was then Presi­dent that most learned man, John Kuchlinus, who when he was minister at Amsterdam, had contract­ed a firm and intimate friendship with the father of our Episcopius. This hopeful Plant had not been long in the Academical nursery, but he lost his most loving and beloved Parents; for Anno 1602 his father dyed, in the next year his Mother. He though much afflicted with this adversity; yet be­ing thoughtfull, and desirous of his transplanting in­to some place of usefulness to the Church of God, neglects not the present opportunity of furnishing himself with things convenient and necessary there­unto. Wherefore having sukt in as much know­ledge, as was needfull, of the liberal Arts, he ex­tends his endeavours for getting acquaintance with the secrets of Philosophy; In which having spent about three years, he applyed himself most seriously to the studys of Divinity, and with much diligence laboured therein; yet so as to have now and then a recourse to Phylosophy· At length, the Statutes of [Page 4] his Colledge, and his own private affairs requiring it, he sought the title of a Mr. of Arts, and was, being after a severe examination judged worthy, adorned therewith publickly, in the year 1606, by Dr. Rodolphus Snellius, that most renowned Professor of the Mathematicks there. After this he purposeth and resolves to give himself wholy to the study of Divinity onely, in which he had already made a considerable progress. And seeing he could not accomplish his earnest desire of visiting forreign Universities, he continued yet two years and above at Leyden, where he was a diligent hearer of the Divinity Professors, namely, Francis Gomarus, Luke Trelcatius, James Arminius; and was so diligent and industrious in disputations, and exer­citatory Sermons, that he left far behind him most of his equals for age and standing, and was thought worthy to be called to the Ministry. But seeing af­terwards, especially after the death of Dr. Trelcati­us, that unhappy discension about Predestination, which afterwards gave a disturbance to all Holland, did not onely secretly glow between the two re­maining Professors, but also at length break forth openly; and seeing our Episcopius shewed himself more addicted to the opinion of Arminius, he found therefore the Pastors, who were of the o­ther party, to be so disaffected towards him, that they, when the honourable Consuls of Amsterdam, who had knowledge of his singular learning and good conversation, were desirous of promoting him to the office of a preacher, did by delays, and other [Page 5] their subtle devices, frustrate and elude the good design of the Consuls. Episcopius therefore in the year 1609, in which year Arminius dyed, left Leyden and went to Franeker, the Friezlanders University, whither he was drawn especially by the fame of Jo. Drusius, Professor there of the Hebrew tongue. Here Sibrandus Lubbertus, the Professor of this University, took great offence at our Episco­pius, who was somewhat too hot and fervent in Theological disputations, as young men of prompt and ready wits are wont to be. He there­fore a few moneths after departed thence, and went into France, where in a short time he got so great acquaintance with the French tongue, that he was able not onely to understand it, but also to speak French readily and purely. In the year 1610 he returned home, and found the Ministers of Amster­dam no better affected towards him than before. But his vertue and learning, which could be no lon­ger hid, and which were commended by clear and notable testimonies from the Churches and Univer­sities where he lived, break thorow at length all obstacles, and so, that he was, with the consent of the Classis, called by the honourable Senate of Rot­terdam to the Pastoral office at Bleyswyck, an hamlet belonging to their jurisdiction.

After the death of Arminius, they of Calvins perswasion, whose notions of God, reprobating absolutely the greatest part of the world, to make known his power in making his creatures miserable, had framed and disposed to fierceness, begrn to en­deavour [Page 6] the ejection of them out of their places who adher'd to Arminius; hereupon these perceiving the designs that were against them, did exhibite to the most illustrious Stales of Holland and West-friez­land a certain Remonstrance (whence they were afterwards called Remonstrants, as their adversaries were called Contra Remonstrants, from a paper they had written in opposition, and intituled, A Contra-Remonstrance) in which Remonstrance after they had declared their judgement comprehended in five heads or Articles, they humbly petition, that they in that belief and perswasion might be protected from the violence and force of their Adversaries that much threatned them. Afterwards in the year 1611 was that famous Conference at the Hague, where by the appointment, and in the presence of the States of Holland and West-Friezland, Six Re­monstrant, and as many Contra-Remonstrant Pas­tors conferred together about the things now in con­troversy. For the determining of these Controver­sies, the Remonstrants then declared themselves for mutual forbearance, but their adversaries were for a Synodal Decision, as being no way doubtfull of out-voting them, in case the Remonstrants were admitted members of the Synod, which indeed their adversaries denyed them, when they had gotten a Synod, and the arm of flesh on their side.

But the illustrious States of Holland and West-Friezland, knowing well, that onely the oppression of the contrary party was sought after, and that the [Page 7] controversie was obscure and difficult, made a de­cree, that both parties should live together in bro­therly communion, &c. which decree had preserv­ed them in peace, if might had not then overcome right, in casting those peaceable Governours out of their places, and substituting those in their rooms who would be ready to doe what the Contra-remon­strants would have.

But we must return to our Episcopius, who was one of the six Remonstrants that managed the Con­ference at the Hague, whereas on a famous Theater he made manifest his great abilities, both natural and acquired, and gave all men occasion to conclude, that his knowledge and skill in the holy Scriptures, and in Theological disputations, was not ordinary. After this, the fame of his learning and eloquence spreading in the United Provinces far abroad, he was solicited by diverse eminent Cities, chiefly Ʋtrecht to be their Preacher; but seeing they of Bleyswyck would by no means be induced to give their consent for his departure, he therefore continued in the exercise of his ministry among them. But at length in the year 1612, when he was about 29 years old, he was called by the Curators of the University of Leyden, to the Professorship of Divinity there, in the place of Francis Gomarus, who voluntarily had deserted it; Now although the modesty of this wor­thy man Episcopius, was so great, that he judged himself unmeet for a work so difficult in such difficult times; yet suffered he himself to be prevailed with▪ and overcome by the judgment of others concerning [Page 8] him, and especially by the authority and exhortati­on of some very great men in the Common-wealth and Church to accept it▪ In this honourable place, worthy a man so learned and venerable, he lived friendly and peaceably with Dr. Jo. Polyander, his Colleague, though of an opinion differing from his in the controversy of predestination; and most pain­fully laboured in his Office, as even to us is apparent from his Commentaries on some parts of the holy Scriptures, then composed, and his disputations there, which since his death have been exposed to publick view. But his Cares were so many and great, that they far surmounted all his other labours and did much exceed them; For at this time the Controversie about Predestination had swelled over the Academical banks, and had filled the pulpits, whence (as usually) it spread as an inundation a­mong the common people threatning a devastation of the Churches unity, and to the Common-wealth no less then ruine: For the governours themselves, who were to have kept the peace, were divided among themselves, designing variously for their several par­ties. In this evil day and contentious time, good Episco­pius, a man greatly desirous of peace, a manstudious, laborious and solicitous for the good of others, be­came a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs. Now to give a few instances of this mans sufferings, may not onely he serviceable to his commendation, they being the tryal and an evident proof of his sin­cerity, and that which brought to light his Christi­an fortitude and patience, wherein he greatly ex­celled; [Page 9] they may expect, who are of the first in discovering errors, that have been long and more generally em­braced for truths, and for such, which men have much gloryed in, as a treasure more peculiar to them­selves than others; and also to let us know what are the usual effects of blind zeal in matters of religion, which will appear to be the worst of Guides, leading men to most injurious, inhumane and barbarous practices.

We will begin with that which happened at Am­sterdam, in the second year of his Professorship; The story in brief in this, Episcopius being at a church in Amsterdam and (as they commonly speak) standing as a witness with others at the bap­tizing of his brother Johns Daughter, Caspar Hey­dan, who then did officiate, asked him and the other witnesses, Whether they did confess that to be the true and perfect doctrine of salvation, which was contained in the old and new Testament, and in the Apostles Creed, and which was taught in that church, to wit, of Amsterdam; adding moreover these words: What say ye to these things? Episcopius, the chief among them, answered; That he did ac­count whatsoever was taught there according to the word of God, and the Apostles Creed, to be the true and saving doctrine, as the words of the usual form, out of which the interrogation is made, do intend; Which answer, though mild and modest, so moved the spleen of Mr. Heydan, that with con­tempt he called him Young-man, and upbraided him [Page 10] as one very audacious and presumptuous in daring to speak so in the Church of God. To which Episco­pius again replyed, saying; That he would depart if the Preachers would not admit that limitation, comprehended in the form of Baptism, where after mention made of the old and new Testament, and the Apostles Creed, these words are added, and consequently is taught in the Christian Church. But when Heydan had the second time upbraided him with audaciousness, and Episcopius made no further reply, he at length christened the Child. And when Episcopius was going out, he was reproach­fully handled, and called a seditious man, and a disturber of the Church, by some of the baser sort, whom Heydans words had excited to such oppro­brious speeches; and when he was gone out of the Church, he hardly escap'd beating or stoning, to which some instigated the youth that were then pre­sent. But God out of his fatherly care protecting him, and restraining the fury of those wicked men, brought him at length to his friends in safety.

Not long after this it happened in the same City, That a certain Black smith, seeing Episcopius passing by his shop, run out with a bar of Iron that he was forging on his anvil, and called him Arminian, and a disturber of the Church, and so pursued him, as one having a mind to murther him, which danger he escap'd by flight and the assistance of others, that hindered and restrained this villanous Zealot.

Now if we should here insert a short but sad sto­ry of some Contra-remonstrants Plunderers, we [Page 11] should not go far out of our way, nor much digress because Arminianisme (so called) was the occasion, and Rembert, the brother of our Episcopius was the person pillaged, and that in the time we have now under consideration. The story thus runs; There was in the year 1617, and on the 19th of February, a false rumour raised and spread abroad, that some Remonstrants were met together to hear a Sermon in the house of Mr. Rembert Episcopius, who in Am­sterdam was well known to be much addicted to the Remonstrants opinions, and was for that cause much hated by the vulgar sort, Upon this report many hundreds of vile persons run thither, who first break­ing the windows with stones, then with a bar break­ing up the gate, enter the house in an hostile man­ner, and as a Company of Robbers, when they had drank up or spilled the wine and beer in the Cellar, they seorch and sack the house, opening forcibly a­bove 12 chests, carrying away what was portable, for they stole thence a bag of money, wearing clothes, linnen, pictures, books, houshold-stuff, plate, &c. and what they could not carry away tore and broke, leaving nothing there whole and untouch'd, When they had emptyed the house, they begin to demolish it and make it an heap of rubbish, which they had done, if the coming of the Magistrate had not hindered them. The Gentle­man and his wife escap'd their fury; she by flying to a neighbours house; he by hiding himself on the top of his own house, whither he got by a ladder that he drew up after him. His loss was estimated [Page 12] to be above six thousand florans. And if he had not had some space (while those religious Felons were breaking open his doors) for the casting of his mo­ney and some part of his better houshold-stuff into a neighbours house, he had in that one day been well nigh spoyled of a good estate, and reduced to poverty, The other brother Mr. Jo. Episcopius, being also of the Remonstrant perswasion, though he was not pillaged as his brother, yet was he often and much reproached by the dregs of the people, a sort of malignant Zealots But to return now to our Episcopius, who was a sufferer in his Relations, and Christian Associates, and met with many great personal afflictions, especially at the time of the Dort Synod, and afterwards, of which we will here take a Superficial and cursory view.

In the year 1618 began the Synod of Dort, which how unjustly it carryed it self towards the Remon­strants, the Acts and History thereof, long since published; do, saith Curcellaeus, abundantly testi­fy. We will briefly mention here a few things that more nearly touch our Episcopius; Although from that which happened not long before the con­vening of this Synod; namely the violent ejecting of those Magistrates that favoured mutual forbearance, it was not hard to conjecture, that no good issue would attend this Synodical meeting; yet notwith­standing our Episcopius ▪ being invited to it by the Letters of the Illustrious States of Holland, and to sit there with the other Professors of the Ʋnited Pro­vinces, did with some other Remonstrant Preach­ers [Page 13] make his appearance at Dort soon after the be­ginning of the Synod; but the Synod, which was the adverse Party, and which shamefully took to themselves a power of judging in their own cause▪ permitted neither him, nor any other Remonstrants to be present in their assembly, but as cited persons, appearing at the Synods tribunal, and submitting to the authority of the Synod▪ as having power to or­der them, when to speak, when to hold their peace; and also at length, by majority of voices, to judge and censure them; Which how far from all equity it was, let all judge that have eyes to see, and are impartial. The Remonstrants notwithstanding▪ lest they should seem wanting to a good cause, did yield to a necessity, and with a great and undaunted courage entred the Synod, and there Episcopius with great grace and Oratorial gesture (and as our learned Hales expresseth it) recited that excellent O­ration, which is to be found in the Acts of the Synod, and in the second volume of his works. After this, when the Remonstrants declared, that they were ready to confer with the Synod, the Ecclesiastical President in the name of the Synod answered, That they by an authority granted to them from the States General, were come together, not to confer with them, but to judge them; Notwithstanding this, yet the Remonstrants, having protested, that they could not acknowledge that Synod as a lawfull Judge in the present controversy, because the great­est part of it consisted of their professed adversaries, who had already condemned them, and seperated [Page 14] from them, did address themselves freely to propound, explain and confirm their sentence or judgment, be­fore the Synod, so far as they could and did judge necessary; and so to do, they were not onely ex­presly permitted, but also injoyned, by the Depu­ties of the States-General in their Citatory Letters. But when the Synod would again circumscribe that liberty by these limits, to wit, that they should propound, explain and confirm their sentence or judgment, as far as the Synod should judge might be sufficient and ought to be; then could not the Remon­strants satisfy their consciences to submit to such uneqaal and unrighteous conditions, by which they should betray their cause, and so they were at length cast out of the Synod, as persons unworthy for the Synod any longer to treat withall.

Concerning the manner of their ejection I shall here adde something out of the letters sent from Dort to Sir Dudly Charleton, at that time Lord Embassa­dour from K. James to the States-General, and written by Doctor Belcanqual, a member of the Synod, and one of the English Colledge there, and of a different perswasion to the Remonstrants, and by our own renowned Countrey-man Mr. Hales, then Chaplain to the said Embassadour, but for a time resident at Dort, to observe the Synods pro­ceedings there; The letters may be found in Hales his Golden Remains: When the voices saith (Bel­canqual) onely of the forreign Divines were asked (who are not above a third part of the Synod) then were the Remonstrants called in, and dismist with [Page 15] such a powdering speech, as I doubt not but that your Lordship hath heard with grief enough. I protest (saith he) I am much afflicted, when I think of it; For if the Remonstrants should write, [...]hat the President pronounced a sentence, which was not the sentence of the Synod, they should not lie. The Civil Lawyers and Canon of France, who write much about the formalities omitted in the Councel of Trent, are exceptions of less moment then these; So neither was there above a third part of the voices asked, ex quibus sententia fieri nequit. Neither was the sentence conceived in writ, and approved by the Synod; And the bitter words of the sentence were not the words of ony of the suffra­ges, unless that some of them were spoken by one man onely. So far he; There are saith (Mr. Hales) some exceptions taken by the Deputies themselves against Mr. President his rough handling the Re­monstrants at their dismission. The next day in the morning there was a private Session▪ where a repe­tition was made of the last Synodical Acts, but when they came to the Act of the Remonstrants dismission Ludovicus Crosius of Breme signfiyed, that he per­ceived, that Mr. President in that business had been paulo commotior, [somewhat too passionate] and had let slip Ʋerba quaedam acerba [some bitter words] which might well have been spared; That in so great an act as that was, a little more advise and consideration might have been used, That the Synod ought to have been consulted with, and a form of dismission conceived and approved of by all, [Page 16] which should in the name of the Synod have been pronounced and registred, whereas now the Synod stands indicted of all the unnecessary roughness which then was practised. So far our Hales.

After the [...]ismission of the Remonstrants, the Synod prepared to judge them out of their Writings. But they in the mean time, whilest the Synod was thus occupied, did privately, by the command of the States Deputies, compose for the confirmation of their doctrine, those accurate Wri­tings, which rogether with the Synodal Acts were published a little after, and deservedly obtained the approbation of very many of the most learned men in Europe; One of chief authority when he had seen them, said, That the Dort Synod had condemned the Remonstrants; but they by their Writings had triumphed over the Synod.

And indeed one substantial argument is better than a thousand Synodal suffrages. The chiefest part of these Writings ought to be ascribed to the indefati­gable industry of our Episcopius. That nervous Dissertation touching Reprobation had for its Au­thor, that learned and reverend father Mr. Charles Niellius, a preacher at Amsterdam. To his me­mory we are indebted not onely for that piece, but for other things also in that volume; and debtours we are to all the rest of them for that share of their labour we have in those Excellent Writings.

At length the Synodical Sentence against the Re­monstrants was pronounced, by which they are con­demned as men of a corrupt Religion and deposed and put out of Office.

[Page 17]The hard usage of the Remonstrants is not much to be wondered at, the Synods temper being con­sidered; For although there was much candour in some of the forreign Divines, especially our English, yet there was much want of it in the Provincials. Not to speak any thing of the unworthy usage which some of the forreign Divines, experienced in the Synod, & particularly they of Breme, who were upon the point of leaving the Synod, by reason of offences there given them; I shall onely in a word discover their ill disposition towards the Remonstrants: Prejudice prevailed much among the Dutch Contra-remonstrants; They are (saith Belcanqual in his letter of April 17) so eager to kill the Remon­strants, that they would make their words to have that sense which no Grammar could find in them; We have given a remarkable Instance of the Pre­sidents good nature and manners. And as for Go­marus, the then visible head of the Fatalists, of what a froward and turbulent Spirit he was, I am even loth to exptess in the words of Belcanqual, who thus writes to the Embassador; If the Synod (saith he) had wanted but two men, I mean Sibrandus Lubbertus [one of the principal Contra-remonstrant leaders] and Gomarus, we had wanted a great deal of contention▪ which I fear will not forsake the Synod as long as they are in it; They have their fits of madness by course; The last fit before this came to Gomarus his turn, and this day Sibrandus flew out with such raving and fierceness of countenance, and such unheard bitterness against [Page 18] our Colledge, as I desire no other revenge on him, than the very speaking of the words, which while they were in his mouth were checked by the Presi­dent Politick, &c. In another letter, thus; The Palatine Divines are the onely Magistrates Doctors next to Gomarus in all the Synod, and think every thing they speak should be taken for Text. Let me adde one passage more, wherein Gomarus is mainly concerned; In the business of the Remon­strants of Campes, they of Breme perswaded to a middle course in dealing with them. But Gomarus (saith Belcanqual) fell foully upon Martinus, a man very learned and very honest, who hath been so uncivily dealt with, that the Forreigners take much offence thereat, and he and his Colleagues have been ready to leave the Synod. Because he dislikes, as others do the Contra-remonstrants broad speeches in many points, they use him with so much discourtesy; Though one be against the Remonstrants in all the 5 Articles in substance; yet if he differ from them [the Dutch Divines] but in manner of speaking, they hold him as not sound. So far Belcanqual, I thought not indeed to meddle with this business relating to them of Breme, but fell into it unawares, and cannot but learn from it, that if the Contra remonstrants behaved themselves so, in such a place, against persons who in the main were of their perswasion, then certainly the Remon­strants to whom they were professed Adversaries, had cause to expect from them none of the softest usage. But there is one passage more that I shall [Page 19] recite out of Belcanqual concerning Gomarus. In Session 85, Gomarus in his disquisition of the 3 and 4 Articles, delivered a speech against the Bremenses, which none I think but a mad man would have uttered, and he delivered himself with such spark­ling of his eyes, and fierceness of pronunciation, as every man wondered that the President did not cut him off; at last he cut off himself, I think for want of breath, and then the President gave cele­berrimo Duo Gomaro very many thanks for that his learned, grave and accurate speech. The Exteri [the forreign Divines] wondered at it, Martinus onely said, that he was sorry he should be so re­warded for his long journey. In another letter; All I will say my Lord, is this; There are two men in the Synod, Sibrandus, but especially Gomarus, who are able to set it on fire, unless they be lookt to. Thus far he: I shall say nothing of the gene­rality of the Provincial or Dutch Divines, how they were at the devotion of those that were chief Actors in the Contra-remonsttatical Tragedy.

We are come now to the Execution of the Syno­dical Sentence against the Remonstrants; They being thus discharged, other Pastors were put and substituted in their places▪ how unwilling soever the Chuches were to receive them; In some places these new Pastors were brought in by force of arms. Now lest the ejected Remonstrants should teach privately, therefore the States-General propose to them a certain ingagement, to abstain in the future both directly and indirectly from all even private [Page 20] exercise of their Ministry. To which when some could not in conscience subscribe, they were con­demned to perpetual banishment. Alas! who could expect such cruelly amongst Protestants, that had condemned Papists for the like unchristian practices? He that takes a view of our Episcopius and some others of the Remonstrants in their de­portment, when this dismal Cloud appeared, will see cause to admire their faith and fortitude. For so dear was the truth unto them, and their zeal for it so great, that a promise of the same wages or sti­pend which they formerly enjoyed, could not in­duce them (though some of them had but a very mean Estate) to oblige and bind themselves unto silence, which was commanded them; Moreover these Generous spirits did with much boldness, after the pronouncing of the of sentence of Banishment, defend openly to the States-General their own and their associates Innocency, appealing to God, the aven­ger of them that are unjustly oppressed, who would at the last day take cognisance of their Cause, and judge, without respect of person, as well their Judges as them.

Hereupon these Stout Champions for truth were so hastily carryed away by the States Officers out of the limits of the Ʋnited Provinces, that they after their detaining eight moneths at Dort, whether they were called, as they thought, to a free Synod, had not granted to them so much as one day, in which to bid their families fare­well, and to set in order their domestick af­fairs, [Page 21] notwithstanding they petitioned for it.

Episcopius therefore, and the rest, betook themselves to Brabant, and inhabited at Ant­werp, during the peace between the King of Spain and the States. This place these Exiles made choice of for their abode, not to joyn with the enemies of their Country in a conspira­cy against it, nor to endeavour any thing detre­mental to the Reformed religion, as some ma­levolent persons were bold enough to suggest slaunderously against them; but because that place was near, and from which they might more commodiously, than from any place remote, take care of their beloved Churches, and Fami­lies. How faithfully those imployed their talent, received of God, I shall here pass over in Silence, being now to speak onely of Episcopius, whose disputations with Peter Wadingus, a Jesuit of Antwerp, and his Antidote against the Ca­nons of the Synod of Dort, do abundanly testi­fy his great care and diligence; And also the Con­fession of faith, which he, with the other Re­monstrant Pastors there, did compose and pub­lish, that they might stop the mouths of them who calumniously gave forth, that the Remon­strants cherisht in their breast, monstrous and strange opinions, which they durst not expose to publick view.

When the war was renewed between the King of Spain and the States, our Episcopius, seeing he could no longer with safety remain in Brabant ▪ [Page 22] departed thence into France, and inhabited sometime at Rhoan, sometime at Paris. If thou inquire how in these parts his time was spent, those Writings of his there compiled, will give thee a worthy Account, in case thou art able to peruse his Paraphrase and Observations on the 8, 9, 10, and 11 Chapters of St. Pauls Epistle to the Romans; also his Bodecherus ineptiens; his Examen Thesium Jacobi Capelli; his answer to to the Defence of Jo. Cameron; his Treatise of Christian Magistracy. and that of free-will, with other works of his, laboured there. He that with these considers his sollicitous Care for the Churches of his own Countrey, which in this time of persecution being destitute of their ordi­nary Pastors, he by diverse Writings and Epi­stles instructed, comforted and incouraged to pre­severe in the Faith; also the many conferences he had with learned men concerning Religion, by which he endeavoured to bring them to a more accurate search and inquiry after the truth; he, I say, that considers these things, will be so far from thinking that he had many wast hours that he will greatly won­der, where time was found for so many and great At­chievments. Here Stephen Cureelleus got with him his first Acquaintance and professes that he heard him dis­course of some hard points of religion, and learned so many things of him, that he always afterwards es­teemed it a singular happpiness to him, that he had acquaintance with so worthy a man Here also Episco­pius contracted such a friendship with that most cor­dial [Page 23] man and eminent Mathematician, Mr. Ed­mund Mercer, which afterwards no distance of place, or length of time, could dissolve or wea­ken. This was he that published this Book, by which Camerons opinion of Grace and free-will is examined, and intituled it, Epistola viri docti; and he that was so familiar a friend with Hugo Grotius, that Grotius, when he last left France, committed to him the most precious Treasures he had, his Elaborate Manuscripts, that by him they might be communicated to others.

At length Episcopius, being desirous to have a perfect Survay of France, who as yet knew little more than the Northern part of it, went from Paris to Lyons; After that he visited Mar. seille, Nismes, Mompelier, Tholouse: After­wards Burdeaux, Rochella, Poictiers, Angiers, Tours, Orleance, and other places. And when he had finished his perambulation, he returned to Paris and Rhoan; where when he had remained a while; and had heard that the fervour of the persecution, raised in his own Countrey a­gainst the Remonstrants, was some what alayed, he purposed to return thither. Leaving therefore France in the year of our Lord 1626, and in the eighth year of his banishment, he came to Rotterdam, that he might with other brethren lay out his abilities for the gathering of that very numerous Church, which is there out of the dis­persed Remonstrants: And that afterwards he might take care for other Churches in the Ʋnited [Page 24] Provinces. In the mean while by his Writings both in Latin and Dutch he strenuously defend­ed the truth. He published in Latin An Apo­logy of the Remonstrants confession; An An­swer to the Essay of the Leyden Professors, with other Books. In Dutch he wrote a Treatise of true Antiquity against the Papists; Three Trea­tises against James Triglandius, then Preacher at Amsterdam, since Professor of Divinity at Leyden; with other books,

In the second year after his return, he entred into a Matrimonial state, (there being then hope of a more peaceable time) marrying at Rotter­dam that most choice and vertuous Gentlewoman Mrs. Mary Pesser, the widow of Mr. Henry Niellius a Preacher of that City, and the youn­ger brother of Mr. Charles Niellius above-men­tioned. They lived together, but without issue, most piously, peaceably and comfortably to the end of the years 1641, at which time she fi­nished her course.

But before this in the year 1634 He went to Amsterdam, to be President in the Remonstrants Scholastick Nursery or Colledge, which was e­rected there to be as an University, for the in­structing of Youth in Divinity, that were intended for Ministers of the Church,

How faithfully and diligently he exercised him­self here, we have an illustrious testimony from his copious, learned and most usefull Theological Institutions; and the Answer of 64 Questions [Page 25] proposed to him by his Disciples; also from his learned and eloquent Sermons to the people; also his true Remonstrant Divine; and his Answer to the 10 Dilemma's of a certain Popish Doctor, and other works of his.

Whilest he was thus labouring, some occa­sions forced him to Rotterdam, where Anno 1639 he fell dangerously sick, and for some moneths kept his bed, and so far was he gone, that there was little hope of his reco­very. But at length God restored him to health, and so strengthened him, that he returned to his charge at Amsterdam, and as dili­gently laboured among them as before.

After his return it seemed good to the Re­monstrants to publish a plain Catechism for the instructing of the more ignorant sort. Then Abraham Heydan, at that time a Preach­er at Leyden, afterwards Professor of Divini­ty there, published an Examination of this Catechism, the defence of which our Episcopi­us undertook, and finished in a considerable large Volume, which came not forth till af­ter his death. For in the beginning of the year 1643, when he was well nigh 60 years old, he fell mortally sick. His disease is call­ed Ischuria, a dangerous suppression of the Ʋrine, which was so pertinacious and obsti­nate, that for eleven days he could not make one drop of water; although some skilfull Physicians used the utmost of their art to ma­ster, [Page 26] or at least somewhat to mitigate this his mercyless and stubborn enemy. This Excre­ment (of which he afterward avoided but little) mixing it self with the blood of the whole body, so corrupted the Crassis and temperature thereof, that he could not possi­bly long subsist.

He lay sick two moneths and above, and for some weeks before his death was deprived of sight. Which loss, whilest there was any hope of his recovery, had been exceeding grievous unto him, had not his deep and al­most continual sleeping lessened the same; For sometimes he complained of it to his friends that did frequently visit him; saying, that he should not be able any more to serve the Church of Christ,

At length on the 4th of April about the 8th hour in the morning, (at which time the moon was in the Eclipse) he peaceably fell asleep in the Lord. And the 4th day af­ter was carryed forth (a great multitude of all sorts of persons following the herse) unto the West-Church, and was there interred by his wife. His death many much lamented, and many Epicedium's, or funeral Verses of his praise and commendation, were published both in Dutch and Latin.

Caspar Barlaeus, the most renowned Poet of that time, and who lived not full two years after him, published a most excellent Latin Epicae­dium [Page 27] in his commendation, which is prefixed to the first Volume of Episcopius his works.

Thus we have taken a short view of Epis­copius from his birth to his death. His life was unblameable, and illustrious for zeal to the glory of God, and mans salvation; His Love to the Churches peace and concord ad­ded much to his commendation. He was indeed much conversant in Controversies, not of choyce, but through necessity; He was often wont to complain of his constraint to this kind of exercise. His patient bearing of jnjuries, and readiness to forgive, after the ex­ample of his Master Christ, contributed not a little to his praise. In alms-deeds he was to his power ready and cheerfull; And such was his modesty and humble temper, that his rare endowments and great Atchievments he esteemed as nothing. On his sick-bed his Speeches were gracious, full of piety towards God, charity towards men and confidence in Christ. His name now and memory is bless­ed with them especially, that without preju­dice peruse his works, that in two considera­ble Volumes are now publick in the Latin tongue, which I could wish that all men well understood, were it but to read Episcopius. I doubt not but there are many, who have much improved themselves by his writings. Our famous Hales is not doubtless without com­panions of whom this is reported by Mr. [Page 28] Anthony Farindon, his familiar friend: that he himself often told him, that at the well pressing of Jo. 3.16. by Episcopius, he bade Jo. Calvine Good-night. It would be in vain for me here to inlarge, who am speaking to those, that through unacquaintance with Latin, are uncapable to see the great knowledge and elo­quence of our Episcopius: as for those who converse honestly with his Writings, they need not me. But I would not that any should think of me, that I take all his sayings for gospel; No, I believe that his Writings as well as other mens must be read with judgment: for I nothing doubt, but that Errata's may be found in his works, not only such that are justly imputable to the Transcriber and Printer, but such also that are the Authors, who was subject to erre, though much more free from errors than many.