ABBOT, Orange. The latter was tried and executed; which usage Abp. Cant. was complained of as contrary to the fundamental laws of the country, and the union articles. Conjectures upon the Remon strunts. King James having engaged against Vorstius, and given reasons why Arminius a hard character, was prepossessed in favour of the fell in with Contra-Remonstrants. As to the prevailing motives which the Contra- governed the king, they can only be guessed at. Some think his judgment was led by archbishop Abbot, and Montague, bishop of Winchester. Others fancy his education in Scotland might give him a bias towards Calvin. And some will have it, the strength of his affection to the prince of Orange overruled him into these measures. A fourth conjecture resolves the matter into reasons of state: that the king countenanced the Contra-Remonstrants to secure the public repose in the United Provinces, and prevent their flying out into civil distractions; that he looked upon the Remonstrants as a faction; and that the harmony of the country was first disturbed by that party. Now the king at this time had a considerable interest going in the Netherlands. The cautionary towns of the Brill, Flushing, and the fort of Ramekins, were still in his hands. For these reasons he is supposed to have a more than ordinary concern for the quiet of that government. But, after all, the most honourable guess for the king's memory is, that his understanding might be surprised; and that he had not looked thoroughly through the controversy. Four English divines sent by the king to the synod of Dort. To go on. The Contra-Remonstrants, having crushed their adversaries by dint of power, thought it prudent to secure their conquest, and get the face of a Church authority to countenance their rigours. To this purpose, the States-general, solicited by the prince of Orange and king James, ordered a national synod at Dort. To this assembly all the Calvinians in Europe (those of France excepted) dispatched their commissioners. King James being requested by the States to contribute to the solemnity of the appearance, sent four divines of character, viz. George Carleton, doctor of divinity, then bishop of Llandaff, and afterwards translated to Chichester; Joseph Hall, doctor of divinity, then dean of Worcester, afterwards successively bishop of Exeter and Norwich; John Davenant, doctor of divinity, Margaret-professor, and master of Queens'-college JAMES I. in Cambridge, afterwards bishop of Salisbury; Samuel Ward, doctor of divinity, and master of Sidney college in Cambridge, and archdeacon of Taunton. These divines, attending his majesty at Newmarket, received the following instructions, which I shall give the reader as they stand transcribed from Dr. Davenant's manuscript. instructions "1. Our will and pleasure is, that from this time forward, The king's upon all occasions, you inure yourselves to the practice of to these the Latin tongue: that, when there is cause, you may divines. ver your minds with more readiness and facility. deli "2. You shall in all points to be debated and disputed, resolve among yourselves beforehand what is the true state of the question, and jointly and uniformly agree thereupon. "3. If in debating of the cause of the learned men there, any thing be emergent, whereof you thought not before, you shall meet and consult thereupon again, and so resolve among yourselves jointly what is fit to be maintained. And this to be done agreeably to the Scriptures, and the doctrine of the Church of England. "4. Your advice shall be to those Churches, that their ministers do not deliver in the pulpit to the people those things for ordinary doctrines which are the highest points of schools, and not fit for vulgar capacity, but disputable on both sides. "5. That they use no innovation in doctrine, but teach the same things which were taught twenty or thirty years past in their own Churches; and especially that which contradicteth not their own confessions, so long since published, and known unto the world. "6. That they conform themselves to the public confessions of the neighbouring reformed Churches, with whom to hold good correspondency shall be no dishonour to them. "7. That if there be main opposition between any, who are overmuch addicted to their own opinions, your endeavour shall be, that certain positions be moderately laid down, which may tend to the mitigation of heat on both sides. "8. That as you principally look to God's glory, and the peace of those distracted Churches; so you have an eye ABBOT, to our honour, who send and employ you thither: and conseAbp. Cant. quently at all times consult with our ambassador there residing, who is best acquainted with the form of those countries, understandeth well the questions and differences among them, and shall from time to time receive our princely directions, as occasion shall require. Fuller's Ch. Hist. book 10. The oath taken by the members at their admis sion into the synod. "9. Finally, in all other things which we cannot foresee, you shall carry yourselves with that advice, moderation, and discretion, as to persons of your quality and gravity shall appertain." At their arrival in Holland, they waited on the prince of Orange at the Hague. The bishop made a short speech to his highness, who entertained them at his court. From hence they removed to Dort, where the synod opening on November the 3rd, all the members took the oath following: "I promise before God, whom I believe and adore, the 717. Searcher of the heart and reins, that in the whole course of these synodical proceedings, in which the known Five Articles,' and difficulties thence arising, shall be discussed and decided; and in the debate and resolution of these points, and all other doctrinals, I will not make use of any human writings, but only of God's Word, for settling the standard and rule of faith; and I shall be governed by no other views in this whole management besides the glory of God, the peace of the Church, and especially the preserving the purity of doctrine. So may my Saviour Jesus Christ be merciful to me, whom I earnestly pray, that for the Acta Synod. keeping this resolve he would always support me with the assistance of his Spirit." Dordrac. p. 64. Dec. 10, These English divines, in regard to their character, and the king who sent them, had an allowance from the States of ten pounds sterling a day, which they frankly spent in furnishing an hospitable table. They had orders from the king to send him weekly dispatches of what was done in the synod. The second month Walter Balcanquel, bachelor of divinity, appeared at the synod with credentials from king James. JAMES I. The letter imported that it was his majesty's pleasure he Mr. Balshould act in the synod as a representative of the Church of canquel, a Scotland. He was accordingly admitted, and saluted with sent by the a speech by the president. And now, to keep close to the order of time, I shall go back to England, and give the reader an account of Selden's submission, registered in the High Commission Court, in which he acknowledges his fault under his own hand, for publishing his book, entitled "The History of Tithes.” The whole record stands thus: Scotchman, king. cantation for of Tithes." "Vicessimo octavo die mensis Januarii, anno Domini Selden's rejuxta computationem Ecclesiæ Anglicana 1618, coram writing his reverendissimo in Christo patre, domino Georgio, Providentia History, Divina Cantuariensi archiepiscopo, totius Angliæ primate et metropolitano, Johanne London, Lancelot Winton, et Johanne Roffen, eadem Providentia respective episcopis; Johanne Bennet, Willielmo Bird, et Georgio Newman, militibus, in manerio archiepiscopali apud Lambehith in comitatu Surrey, judicialiter sedentibus; presente Thoma Mottershed. "Officium dominorum contra JOHANNEM SELDEN, de Interiori Templo, London, armigerum." "I most humbly acnowledge my error, which I have committed in publishing the History of Tithes,' and especially in that I have at all, by showing any interpretation of Holy Scriptures, by meddling with councils, fathers or canons, or by what else soever occurs in it, offered any occasion of argument against any right of maintenance jure divino of the ministers of the Gospel; beseeching your lordships to receive this ingenuous and humble acknowledg- Tillesly's ment, together with the unfeigned protestation of my grief, for that through it I have so incurred both his majesty's and Selden's your lordship's displeasure, conceived against me in behalf of Tithes, the Church of England. Animadver History of Preface, printed "JOHN SELDEN." 1621. АВВОТ, Abp. Cant. Fuller. Dr. Hall's return to ill health. This year James Mountague, bishop of Winchester, departed this life. He was son to Sir Edward Montague, of Boughton, in Northamptonshire, bred in Christ's, and afterwards master of Sidney-college in Cambridge. This prelate had a great share in the king's esteem, published his majesty's works, and wrote the preface. He was first preferred to the see of Bath and Wells, and from thence to Winchester. He lies buried in the cathedral of Bath, which church he in a manner rebuilt at his own charge. John Overall, bishop of Norwich, died about this time. He was master of Catherine-hall, and king's professor of divinity in Cambridge. He was a strong genius, made a great improvement in study, and was reckoned one of the most learned controversial divines of his time. To return to the synod of Dort: Dr. Hall, finding the England on air unfriendly to his constitution, got his majesty's leave to the score of disengage, and come to England. He excused his going off in a speech, in which he laments his being unserviceable upon the score of his indisposition, expresses his esteem of the synod, and his regret in parting with them. But though his health was sunk, his oration is lively and florid, as the See Records, reader may see in the records. Hall was succeeded by Thomas Goad, doctor of divinity, and chaplain to Archbishop Abbot. The president received him with the compliment of a speech, in which among other things he made Cæterum ubi a panegyric upon the king for his care of the synod, and not recalling one divine till he had furnished another. num. 106. sint locorum verbi Dei ministri, eandem illi lem omnes potestatem tum auctori In the hundred and forty-fifth session, the Belgic Conatque aqua- fession was brought in to be subscribed by the Dutch, and habent tum publicly approved by the foreign divines. In this form of belief there was one article which clashed directly with the tutem ut qui constitution of the English Church. It is the thirty-first, omnes Christi where it is expressly affirmed, "That the ministers of the unici illius word of God, in what place soever settled, have the same universalis advantage of character, the same jurisdiction and authority, ecclesia in regard they are all of them equally ministers of Christ, the only universal bishop, and head of the Church." sint æque episcopi et capitis ministri. Syntagm. This article being a broad censure of the government of the Church by archbishops and bishops, was opposed by the Confession. British divines, and particularly by bishop Carleton, who p. 179. |