Articles of the Synod of Dort [pp. 239-255]

.Irticles of the Synod of Dort.
of reconciliation and mutual toleration might be agreed upon;
but he alleged, that there were other points of difference, and
more important than these, which had not been brought forward. And he expressed the opinion, that the only method
of establishing such a plan that would be at all satisfactory to
the churches, would be by a national or provincial Synod.
When the illustrious the States had heard that such a plan
of conference was in contemplation, they highly approved it,
and directed that it should immediately be carried into effect.
The persons selected on the part of remonstrants were, Utenbogard, Borrius, and Grevenchovius. On the part of the
orthodox, Beccius, Bogardus, and Festus Hommius. In this
conference, the remonstrants still insisted on unlimited toleration as the only effectual plan of peace; the other pastors considered it necessary to obtain from them a declaration, that
they received the fundamental doctrines of the Confession;
and they still urged the calling of a national or provincial
Synod, as the most regular and only probable plan of quieting
the disturbed churches. This conference, therefore, ended as
all former ones had done, without any other effect than to increase the uneasiness of the churches, and to render them
more suspicious of the designs of the remonstrants. But the
Arminians being-in favour with the ruling powers of the State,
by various artifices, succeeded in obtaining a decree for such
a toleration as they had always demanded. As the churches
considered this decree as repugnant to the fundamental principles of the Belgic constitution, many of them resisted it,
and chose rather to incur the displeasure of the States General, than give their consent to an arbitrary decree on the
subject of religion, when the matters contained in it had
never been submitted to the judgment of a lawful Synod.
A state of miserable confusion and even persecution now
ensued. Many of the orthodox pastors were suspended, and
others driven from their charges, because they could not conscientiously receive the remonstrants into the communion of
the church.
By these commotions on account of religion, the very pillars of the state were shaken, and things were manifestly
approaching a crisis, when James I. King of England, addressed a friendly, but admonitory epistle, to the States
General, in which he earnestly recommended the calling of a
national Synod, to restore tranquillity and the genuine doctrines of the reformation. This occurred early A. D. 1617.
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