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difobedient, preachers of erroneous doctrine, and corruptors of religion; and as fuch condemned to be deprived of all ecclefiaftical and academical functions:

But

tions and banishment which followed the decifions of this fynod, of fuch great men as Epifcopius, Uytenbogart, Corvinus, &c. and the perfecution which enfued throughout the United Provinces, against the Arminians; whoever confiders thefe, will be apt to entertain but a poor opinion of those men who were actors in it. Some of the divines might poffibly mean well; but the kings, princes, and great men concerned therein, had, undoubtedly, worldly views, and were actuated by them. For though purity of doctrine, peace of the church, extirpation of herefy, were preténded, the ftate faction of the Arminians was to be fuppreffed, and that of Maurice prince of Orange exalted. A fynod was judged neceffary for thefe purposes, and it extremely well performed what it was intended for. The remonftrants were rendered odious to the populace; their men of parts fent into exile; their ftrength was exhausted; and they could no longer oppose the measures of their adverfaries. Dr. Heylin obferves, that " as king James

had formerly afperfed the remonftrant party, fo he "continued a moft bitter enemy unto them, till he had "brought them at the last to an extermination. But "he feems at a lofs to tell what fhould induce him heresunto. Some fuppofe, fays he, that he was drawn in "to it by Abbot and Mountague; others imputed it to "his education in the church of Scotland: one thought "that he was drawn into it by his affection for prince "Maurice; another that he was moved by reafon of "ftate, for the preventing a dangerous and incurable

rupture, which otherwife was like to follow in the state "of the Netherlands." This laft reafon he thinks moft probable. He afterwards adds, " that James fent fuch

of his divines as were moft likely to be fufficiently

* active

But fevere as James was against the Arminians abroad, he favoured them much at home (DDD), and advanced feveral of them

to

hift. of the

16.0.

"active in the condemnation of the Arminians (p)." (p) Heylin's
Reasons of state might have had fome influence on James,
› Presbyteri-
though he had little knowledge of it, and generally was ans, p. 403.
little influenced by it. But I fancy it was a regard to Fol. Oxford
his own character which chiefly induced him to act as
he did in this affair. For we have feen how he had
treated the name of Arminius, in a writing difperfed
throughout Europe. Had he failed on fuch an opportu-
nity to extirpate his errors, his zeal for orthodoxy might
have been thought to have been leffened, and he to have
failed in that which he had declared to be the duty of a
king, the extirpation of herefy.

(DDD) He favoured the Arminians much at home.]
The articles of the church of England are plainly calvi-
nistical, as will appear to every one who will read them
attentively. They were " agreed on by the archbishops
and bifhops of both provinces, and the whole clergy,
in the convocation holden at London, in the year
1562, for the avoiding of diverfities of opinions, and
for the establishment of confent touching true religion
έσ (a)." The avoiding of diverfities of opinions, and (a) Vid. the
the establishment of confent, was the profeffed defign of religion, and
them, and doubtlefs the compilers of them imagined conftitu
that they fhould effectually accomplish it, by requiring tions and
all who entered into the church to fubfcribe to them.

articles of

canons ec

clefiaftical,

c.

12. fe&t. 1,

But they were very much mistaken. Diversity of opi- canon 36.
nions foon arofe, and men who fubfcribed the fame ar- and statute
ticles, held contradictory opinions. Nor could it pof- 13 Eliz. c.
fibly be otherwife; for while men are inquifitive they and 3.
will fee things in new lights; and those who are honest
and fincere, will not speak contrary to their fentiments.
Subfcriptions then are only clogs and incumbrances;
they answer no good end, but may occafion many mif-
chiefs. Yea, many there are who believe that "the
"impofing

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to the greatest dignities. So amazingly inconfiftent was his conduct.

Cardinal

"impofing articles has given occafion to almost all the "uncharitableness and perfecutions, the devaftations " and deftruction of chriftians, that have ever been (b) Effay on fince articles firft were made (b).”- -In the time of impofing and Elizabeth there was a pretty great uniformity of belief fubfcribing in the doctrinal points of religion among the clergy; religion, by they in general were Calvinifts, and fo were their fucPhileleu- ceffors in the reign of James. Bancroft indeed was tabrigienfis, very different in his opinion. But Abbot, Mountague, and p. 31. Lond. almost all the rest of the bishops adhered to the doctrine 3719. 8vo. of the church in like manner as their predeceffors.

articles of

therus Can

66

Thus things continued till about the year 1616, when fames being acquainted with what dangers would proceed from training up of young ftudents in the grounds of Calvinism, difpatched fome directions to the vicechancellor, and profeffors of divinity at Oxford, which was the firft ftep, fays Dr. Heylin, towards the fup"preffing of that reputation which Calvin and his wri(c) Heylin's" tings had attained unto in that university (c)." And life of Laud, in the year 1622, inftructions were drawn up and fent to the archbishops, and by them to the bishops, in which they were required to fee to it, "that no preacher

P. 72. Lond. 1668. Fol.

of what title foever, under the degree of a bishop cr "dean at the least, do henceforth prefume to preach in "any popular auditory, the deep points of predeftina"tion, election, reprobation, or of the univerfality,

66

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efficacy, refiftibility, or irrefiftibility of God's grace (d) Id. p. 98. (d)." (d)." Laud had a hand in drawing this up, and what his intent was thereby, is not difficult to guefs. However fo it was, that the Calvinifts continually loft ground in the king's favour, and the Arminians had credit with him. Laud, Howfon, and Corbet were advanced to bishopricks by him, though publicly known to be Arminians: Neile, of the like opinion, was in great favour, and received many promotions from him:

and

Cardinal Perron having pronounced in the chamber of the third eftate at Paris, Jan. 15, 1615, an oration, and fent it to James,

he

P. 125. and
Cabala, p.

and Richard Montague, one of the moft violent Arminians of the age, received his open protection and approbation of all the opinions contained in the book for which he was afterwards queftioned in parliament (e). What (e) Hevlin's fhall we think of fuch a conduct as this? are the fame life of Laud doctrines herefies abroad, and truths at home? are men in Holland to be deemed enemies to God, and worthy 11. of fynodical condemnation for holding particular opinions, and in England fit for the highest ecclefiaftical promotions? what muft the world judge of the man who behaved fo very contradictory?But James had his reafons for favouring the Arminians in England. They were fupple and fawning, they knew how to flatter artfully, and, above all, they feemed very zealous in preaching up.

The right divine of kings to govern wrong,

And

Th' enormous faith of millions made for one (ƒ). (ƒ) Pope's

Nothing could be more acceptable to him than this, it attoned for their errors, yea made them moft orthodox in his fight. For he was either indifferent as to all religious principles, or believed juft nothing at all about them; or otherwife he could not have acted as we fee he did.

eflay on

man. Ep. 37

1.243.

The following account from Mr. Waller's life will make a proper fupplement to what has been faid con- . cerning the artful flattery, and high prerogative notions of the Arminian clergy at this time.- On the day "of the diffolution of the laft parliament of king James I. Mr. Waller, out of curiofity or refpec, "went to fee the king at dinner, with whom were "Dr. Andrews the bishop of Winchester, and Dr. Neal

66

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bishop

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he foon after published his remonstrance (EEE) for the right of kings, and the independance

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"bishop of Durham, ftanding behind his majesty's chair. There happened fomething very extraordinary "in the converfation those prelates had with the king, "on which Mr. Waller did often reflect. His majefty "afked the bishops, My lords, cannot I take my fubjects money when I want it, without all this formality in parliament? The bishop of Durham readily answer"ed, God forbid, Sir, but you should; you are the breath of "our noflrils: whereupon the king turned and faid to "the bishop of Winchester, well, my lord, what say you? Sir, replied the bishop, I have no fkill to judge "of parliamentary cafes. The king anfwered, no put"offs, my lord, anfwer me prefently. Then, Sir, faid

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he, I think it is lawful for you to take my brother "Neal's money, for he offers it. Mr. Waller faid the "company was pleafed with this anfwer, and the wit g) Account of it feemed to affect the king (g)."

of the life

and writings

of Mr. Wal

to his po

ems, p. 67.

(EEE) He publifhed his remonftrance for the rights efixed of kings.] This piece is written with much more decency than the other controverfial tracts of James. He edit. Lond. acknowledgeth Perron to be a prelate in great authority, 1712.12mo. and of no less learning (a), and owns his courtesy in (a) King fending him a copy of his oration (b). But at the fame James's works, p. time he infinuates that in the cardinal's fpeech, his lips 383. looked one way, and his conscience another: and profeffes," his reft is up, that one of the maynes for which "God had advanced him upon the loftie ftage of the "fupream throne, was, that his words uttered from fo "eminent a place, for God's honor, moft fhamefully "traduced and vilified in his own deputies and lieute"nants, might with greater facility be conceived (c).' Then he gives the reafons for his engaging in this controverfy which were first, "the common intereft of

(b) Id. p. 386.

(c) Id. p. 382.

kings."

Secondly,

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