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.

Lord Bishop of Landaff, to Sir Dudley Carleton Em∣bassadour at the Haghe, Febr. 8. 1618.

Right Honourable my very good Lord,

BY my long silence in that particular whereof your Lordship wrote last to us in general, you may perceive how unwilling I am to write thereof. Unto your Lordship have I written nothing till now, which some of my Colleagues think strange, though I suppose they do believe me upon my word. I should not as yet have written hereof, but that I think my self bound to give an account to your Lordship of these things, not only in respect of mine affection to your Lordship, but in respect also of the place which you carry.

When we were to give up our sentence to the second Article, having first thought of certain Theses, we parted our labour, so that each one had his part of the Theses to confirm. When all was conferred together, it was found that Dr. D. and Dr. W. had proceeded so far in declaring their parts, that the rest could not

follow them; whereupon we were at a stand for a time: They perceiving that neither my self, nor the rest of my fellows could approve that which they had set down; took occasion of divers conferences, which did rather set us farther asunder; yet this was private among our selves. They held, that the Redemption of Christ, and the Grace thereof was general to all without ex∣ception; which being put, I could not see, why we should not grant general grace in the largest sence, that the Remonstrants would have it: Their answer was, that it was so far to be granted, and we were to yield so much to them. Upon this there was some difference, I took it neither to be a Truth of the Scripture, nor the Doctrine of the Church of England; and they thought it was both. After some time and discourses spent, I told them that there was a necessity of our agreement, if we could not agree in all things, we must come to such Points wherein all may agree; and willed them to give me liberty to remove the things, where∣in we could not agree, that we might all agree in the rest: To this they yielded, and so we agreed in some things.

After this, we received your Lordship's Letters, for which all without exception thought our selves much beholding to your Lordship. We sent your Lordship an answer in common; which; I suppose, your Lordship sent to my Lord's Grace; for there the question in controversie is set down.

Whether the Grace of Redemption is general to all men in the World without exception; or to be Restrained only to the Church? I know, there be some Bishops in England that are of opinion that it is general without exception to all men; but I never thought that their Opinions were the Doctrine of the Church of England. Dr. W. when in private conference we have occasi∣on to speak of these things; being driven by some evidences of Scripture, which prove that wheresoever the Grace of Redemption goeth, there goeth also remission of sins; So that if he admit the grace of Redemption common to all, he must admit also, that all men have remission of sins: To avoid this, deviseth a word to ex∣press the generality thus, not Redemptio, but Redimibilitas; and not Reconciliatio, but Reconciliabilitas. Which devising of Words makes me more to suspect the Doctrine; for I think a devised School term should not determine a Truth in Divinity. I told him if this Opinion be granted, we must have new terms to express it,

for the old will not serve: He answereth that it is good and fit to make new terms, as this word was devised in the Council of Nice, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And, as it seemeth, he could be well contented, that new words were devised in this Synod to receive this Doctrine. As where the Remonstrants have a Doctrine from Arminius, that, Redemptio impetrata is communis, but not applicata; Whereupon it followeth that impetratio is generalis; which thing soundeth as unsound in the ears of men: Dr. W. deviseth a word to help this: For he will not say that impetratio is general, but impetra∣bilitas is general. Thus as if we wanted matter, we are playing with words. And if this humour had stayed it self within our private conferences, it would have been less offensive; but he hath opened himself to divers of the Synod, which have told me of it. And that men should not be ignorant, he hath opened the same publickly in the Synod. This gave the occasion of that report, which came to your Lordship of some dissent among us. We keep peace and love among our selves notwithstanding some variety of Opinions. We wrote to your Lordship that Mr. Pre∣sident was offended at some things which we exhibited, and was desirous that we should write to know my Lord's Grace his opini∣on therein. In moving of that to my company, I told them that we might yet take such order as to quiet all things without troubling my Lord's Grace: Namely, if we should recall our Theses, and alter them at our pleasure; for that is the common liberty granted to all, to recall or add what they think good, before the framing of the Canons. I told them it might be with less trouble and speech, if we did it of our selves, rather than to refer it to my Lord's Grace to do. To this Dr. D. answered that he would rather have his right hand cut off, than recall or alter any thing. Thus were we driven to send to his Grace. If I could have drawn them to another course, my Lord's Grace should not have been troubled. Whatsoever will be done in this, if we should do what we can, we cannot sway the Synod, for the Synod will ever have a major part against these. Opinions, and we can do nothing herein but only shew our Devises, for we are sure before hand that this Devise of the Vniver∣sal Grace of Redemption will not be received in this Synod. Thus having given an account to your Lordship of these things whereof you wrote, and which I thought my self

bound to do, commending your Lordship to the protection and blessing of God, and my self to your Lordship, I rest

Dordr. Febr. 8. 1618.

Your Lordships most affectionate to do you service, George Landaven.