Golden remains of the ever memorable Mr. John Hales ... with additions from the authours own copy, viz., sermons & miscellanies, also letters and expresses concerning the Synod of Dort (not before printed), from an authentick hand.

Right Honourable, my very good Lord,

UPon Saturday 5/•••• of this present, the Synod being sate in the Morning, Scultetus made unto them a pious, and patheti∣cal Sermon. In the beginning he signified, first how it joyed him to speak unto them Post eruditissimum virum Iosephum Hal∣lum, Decanum Wigorniae meritissimum. Secondly that he saw that day, that which his Majesty of Great Brittain, and the Prince Elector his Master had so long desired to see, namely a Synod gathered for the setling of the Churches peace in these Coun∣tries. He took for his Theme the 122. Psalm, I rejoyced when they said unto me, Let us go up unto the house of the Lord, and so forth unto the end of the Psalm. Where first having shewed the oc∣casion of this Psalm, that it was the Removal and bringing of the Ark unto Ierusalem, he considered in the whole Psalm three things. First, that it was Summum hominis gaudium, to see the Peace and flourishing of the Church; which he shewed by many Reasons, and confirmed by the examples of the Duke of Wit∣temberg, who at the Council held at Worms a hundred and twen∣ty years since, when others discoursed of many Priviledges and conveniences of their Lordships and Territories, openly protest∣ed it to be his greatest felicity, that he could in aperto campo, & in sinu Subditorum suorum dormire: and of Theodosius the Emperour, who at his death did more comfort himself that he had been a Son of the Church, than the Emperour of the World. Secondly, that it was Summum hominis Votum to pray for the peace and ••lourishing of the Church: which he confirmed by the examples of the Apostles and of Christ himself. Thirdly, that it was Summum hominis studium to procure the peace of the Church. Where speaking of the present occasion, I am no Pro∣phet

(saith he) yet I think I foresee, that the peace of the Bel∣gick Churches would be a means to settle the peace of other Churches. He therefore wisht that the States, the Prince, the Delegates, would all propose unto themselves as their end, the peace and flourishing of the Churches amongst them, as he doubted not they did in calling this Synod. There was not in this Sermon any Doctrinal point discust, nor any par∣ticular toucht, which might minister Newes. It was only a Pathetical exhortation to all sorts, as much as in them lay to procure the Churches peace. When he had done, the Praeses publickly in the name of the Synod gave him thanks, and pro∣tested himself to have been very much moved with his speeches. Besides this there was nothing done that Session.

Upon Munday •• of this present, the Synod coming together in the Forenoon, there were two out of Wetteraw from the Counties of Nassau, Bisterfeldius a Preacher, and Io. Henricus Al∣stedius, Professor of Divinity in Herborne came as Deputies from the Churches in those parts, to be admitted as parts of the Sy∣nod. The Letters from the States General, and then their Cre∣dential Letters from their Churches first being read, the Oath was read unto them, and they took it. Then did the Praeses in the Name of the Synod welcome them, and told them the end of their coming, and what these Churches expected at their hands. Then were the Remonstrants call'd in, and willed to declare their opinion concerning the rest of the Articles: which they did at large, and added some Apologies for their proceeding by Negatives (which I told your Lordship formerly had been the Exception of the Synod against the manner held by them in the first Article.) I will not give a brief of what they then deliver∣ed, because I resolve to send your Lordship the perfect Copy of it, as soon as I can come to copie it out. When they had done the Praeses asked them, whether they were provided to deliver up their considerations concerning the Confession and Cate∣chism, for the Synod expected it. They answered that they ex∣pected not the Synod should call for them. The Praeses replyed, this could not excuse them, for they had often told the World in their Books, that they had paratam sylvam considerationum in that kind: and that the Synod should better judge of each part, when it had learned their opinion of the whole. They

required leave to withdraw a little, and think of an an∣swer. In the mean time the Praeses proposed to the Synod, to consider how well the Remonstrants had stood to the Decree of the Synod, concerning the proposal of the Tenents in affirma∣tives, he thought that they had offended more against it, and that purposely in bringing their Apologie for so doing: in cen∣suring the opinions of other Churches for blasphemous, &c. Howsoever it was their judgement that they should propose their sentence in Negatives, yet they ought not to have proposed, but to have submitted their judgement to the judgement of the Synod. The Remonstrants returning, gave answer to this effect: that though they might require time to give up their Considerati∣ons, yet they thought they were not bound to give them up, till the five Articles were discust; since their Citatory Letters so ran, that first the Articles, then their Considerations should come in place: that they thought it some wrong done them to have this order now perverted. The Praeses answered, that no wrong was done them; for their Considerations should not yet be sifted, till the five Ar∣ticles were concluded. And so the order in their Citatory Let∣ters should be kept. That long since in a Synod at Delpht they had promised to deliver them up in a Provincial Synod there, and therefore now after so many years they could not be unprovided. Here the Praeses Politicus charged them to obey their Decree, and to do as the Praeses and the Synod requir'd. The Praeses Ecclesiasticus then admonisht them, that they were not to accompt of themselves as a Colledge, and so still to give an∣swers in commune, but they must answer particularly every one for himself: and thereupon he asked every of them in order, whether they had any such Consideration or no: some answered they had, some that they had some few of no great moment, some that their Considerations were not written down, some that they had none at all. When the Praeses had said, jactatum suisse by them long since, that they had sundry Considerations ready •• Corvinus excepted against the word jactatum; the Praeses reply∣ed, He used not the word to disgrace them, but only as a Fre∣quentative, to signifie that they had often boasted of it. When some Litigation was here fallen, Martinus Gregorii (one that sits close upon the Remonstrants skirts) cut it off, and commanded them to be quiet. The Remonstrants here signified, that such

Considerations as they had were only in the Dutch tongue. The Praeses replyed, they should have leasure to translate them. Then did the Seculars pronounce a Decree charging them to provide themselves singly one by one, he that had many to give up many, he that had few to give up few, he that had none to give up none, and that whether it were in Dutch or Latin. The Remonstrants required some time; for, saith Episcopius, we came imparatissimi ad hanc rem. First there were given them to two dayes, then three, then four: within which space every man a∣lone by himself, was to give up his Considerations: and this was the effect of the Session.

The answer of the English Divines to the Remonstrants excep∣tion against the Synod, I will send your Lordship in my next Letters, together with the Remonstrants answer upon the later Articles. Harman the Post came to Dort on Sunday about three of the clock, and went for England on Munday about ten of the clock, in the morning. Mr. Dean of Worcester is very crazy and sickly of late, and keeps his Chamber, neither hath he been in the Synod some of these last Sessions. I hear he purposes to come to the Hague, to see if he shall have his health better there. Here is a Rumour that the Remonstrants are a little divided amongst themselves; and that Corvinus complains that what he hath done, was because he suffered himself to be drawn on by others, how true this is I know not; I heard Scultetus tell my Lord Bishop so much, and that Meierus of Basil, should say that Carvinus had signi∣fied so much to him. My Lord Bishop is a little displeased with Mr. Amyes for putting into his hand Grevinchovius his Book, in the Preface of which there are cited out of a Writing of Mr. Amyes certain words very reproachful unto Bishops. Other Newes here is none, and therefore for this time ceasing any further to trouble your Honour; I humbly take my leave, resting

Your Honours Chaplain, and bounden in all Duty, Jo. Hales.