CHAPTER XVI.

THE prominent part which Episcopius took at the Sy. nod of Dort, spread his fame as a theologian and scholar beyond the Netherlands, and his residence at Antwerp attracted the attention of many distinguished and learned individuals. Among these were some members of the Romish community, who paid him very great respect. It was supposed by these that the usage which the Remonstrant clergy had met with from the bigotry of the Cal. vinist ministers of their own country, would dispose them to listen to insinuating invitations to enter the Catholic Church. Indirect attempts were, therefore, made upon them for this purpose at Antwerp, and afterward in France, when these banished ministers had taken up their resi dence in that country, after the termination of the truce between the Spaniards and the Dutch. In the latter instance the French Catholics calculated upon success, grounded upon the refusal of the Reformed of that king. dom to allow Grotius to enter their communion, unless he first promised to abandon Arminianism. But though the Remonstrants had been persecuted and expelled from their country by the Calvinistic clergy of the Netherlands, and not suffered to hold communion with those of France, yet having adopted their opinions as the fruit of patient investigation and a conviction of their truth, they were not to be moved from a firm attachment to them, though suffering banishment on account of it. They therefore not only resisted all such insinuating offers, but actually turned upon the parties who had thus dared to tempt them, with powerful arguments in defence of Protestantism. For though they knew how to esteem acts of favour shown to them as strangers and exiles, yet when any great point of truth was assailed, they then deemed it not right to carry their courtesy so far as not to stand up and defend it.

An instance of this will be seen in the case of Episcopius, who, during his residence at Antwerp, was visited by Peter Waddingus, professor of theology among the Jesuits. This gentleman introduced himself by saying that he waited upon him at the wish and direction of the

dean of the nunnery Church, merely to pay his respects to him as a stranger and a scholar. On this occasion they had a long conversation on the certainty of faith, and the authority of the writings of the fathers. This interview took place on the 17th of February, in the year 1620; and on the 13th of the following June they had a second meeting, when they had a friendly disputation on the subject of justification. On the 10th of October, Episcopius was invited with Uitenbogaerdt to the resi dence of some gentleman, to meet the pensionary of Antwerp. During this visit Waddingus made his appearance in company with his colleague, who, it was afterward un derstood, was expressly invited for the purpose of having an opportunity of conversing with Episcopius on certain subjects in theology. They accordingly entered into a discourse, when the following points were discussed the Church, the Scriptures, the worship of images, and the authority and infallibility of the pope. This last interview was the occasion of Waddingus producing two letters, the one on the rule of faith, the other on the worship of images. These letters Episcopius determined to an swer, but could not accomplish his purpose, until he had settled in France, when he executed his design in a most masterly way, and refuted in this publication the positions of this Jesuit in favour of the doctrines and worship of the Church of Rome, and sent a copy of the work to Antwerp to him. In thus finishing our account of Episcopius' letters to Waddingus, we have necessarily been carried to a period beyond the regular course of our narrative, and, therefore, must now return to noticé the circumstances attending the departure of the Remonstrants from Antwerp.

Here it may be proper to remark, that as the period approached for the termination of the truce between the Spaniards and the Dutch, the exiled ministers deemed it right to prepare to leave Brabant before the war recommenced. Accordingly, Uitenbogaerdt, in company with Borrhius, went to Paris; Episcopius, Grevinchovius, and Cupus, to Cologne, where Episcopius made himself known to Leonardus Marius, regent of the Catholic college of Cologne, of whom he made inquiries as to the possibility of their being permitted to reside there. This gentleman

received him very courteously, but gave him to under. stand that they would not be allowed to have an asylum there, which intimation was soon confirmed by a declara. tion to the same effect from the public authorities.

On their return to Antwerp, they found there Uitenbogaerdt, who had brought information from Paris which determined them to take up their residence in France. When the people of Brabant learned that they intended to quit Antwerp, measures were adopted to induce them to stay. This was done with the hope of making use of them to effect their objects upon the Netherlands, by ex. citing the persons attached to them to act in concert with the Spaniards against their country. To induce them to do this they promised to grant them the establishment of their religion in certain towns which might be made sub. ject to Spanish authority. But these men, though persecuted by their countrymen, had not lost their love of their fatherland, and received these offers with the strongest marks of displeasure, and indignantly exclaimed "that there was not a single man of their party who would stir a finger in aid of the Spaniards, for all the liberty they might promise them." The pensionary of the city of Antwerp met with no better reception, when making a similar communication to Uitenbogaerdt, who replied "that he must not suppose that the people whom he called Arminians, would give any opportunity to their common enemy to invade their native country to the injury of its inhabitants."

The answer Uitenbogaerdt made on this subject to the marquis of Queva, the Spanish minister in Flanders, will show alike the patriotism and high Christian principle of the Remonstrants. This gentleman sent for this clergyman to Brussels, for the purpose of trying to induce him to stay in Brabant, making him large promises if he would comply with his proposal. After several remarks had passed between them on the subject of the renewal of hos-. tilities, on which occasion the marquis could not forbear admiring the talent, the candour, and freedom displayed by this clergyman: the former stood amazed, says a historian, when he heard this Dutch divine, who had imbibed all the love of liberty that distinguished the Hollanders during the time of William, the great prince of Orange,

Ne

make the following statement to him :-"Now let me say one word to your excellency freely; that is, that I am not ignorant that your excellency and other great men, and even the clergy themselves, endeavour to keep me and my brethren in this country, not out of any kindness to us and our cause. For though I believe you look upon us to be a peaceable sort of men, and obedient inhabitants, and by no means inclined to raise riots and tumults under the cloak of religion, which though former experience may have taught you to apprehend from the Calvinists, yet nothing of this kind is dreaded by you from us. vertheless, we are persuaded that you wish and hope, some time or other, to avail yourselves of our influence with the people of our persuasion, who are very numerous, to raise a rebellion or insurrection by them in the cities of our native country against the government, and thereby strengthen your hands, in the event of hostilities continu ing for some time. This I firmly believe is expected from us; as also that we, who have the management of the affairs of the Remonstrants, should from hence make some such attempts. I think it, therefore, my duty to acquaint your excellency in the plainest terms, but with all due respect, and for the information of the king, that these expectations are vain; and that the people of our persuasion in the United Provinces will never be brought so far as to attempt to shake off that yoke which their new lords, by depriving them of their pastors, and consequently of the free exercise of their religion, have put about their neck; and to exchange it for a yoke which they judge to be so much worse. None of us will advise them to do it, and I am sure they would not take such ad. vice, if it were never so much in their power; for all of them have too much love for liberty, and too great an aversion to your nation, ever to be persuaded to attempt it. For though both they and we have been greatly wronged, yet are we not therefore obliged to embrace another religion which we cannot in our conscience approve." "I am amazed at your conduct," said the marquis: "other exiles and people driven out of their native country have been used to try all means to get in again, and to promote whatever methods had a tendency to that end." To this Uitenbogaerdt replied, "Those persons had. nothing in

view but their own interest or revenge; but we aim at neither, choosing rather to live upon bread and water, and in the utmost distress in foreign countries, than to endeavour to return into our own by unlawful means. For we

are Christians, and our hopes are raised to. a better life; and, therefore, we dare not do what God has forbidden. Could we be restored to our country by means of a good peace, by which our religion and privileges might be preserved, we should then be pleased; but if not, we must have patience." "You speak very plain," cried the marquis. "Yes, sir," said the other, "I speak the thing as it is, to the end that his majesty may not count upon any insurrection or revolution to be brought about by our people, which will never happen."

After courteously thanking the authorities of Antwerp for the favours shown to them, the Remonstrants left the country, and first went to Rouen, where they stayed a little time, and then departed for Paris. Some of them subsequently returned to the former place. On this occasion the king of France published an edict, in which he declared that he allowed the Remonstrants the same privileges as to other subjects of the States-General who resided in his kingdom, but refused to permit them publicly to celebrate Divine worship among themselves, it being said that his majesty was not willing to allow a third religion to be established in France. Nevertheless, Episcopius was accustomed to preach in the house of Grotius, it being winked at by the authorities. This circumstance will account for the fact of the name of this distinguished individual being so frequently connected with that of the subject of these memoirs, and for the close intimacy which subsisted between them; Grotius himself frequently giving his judgment as to the best mode in which Episcopius should use his powerful pen on behalf of the Remonstrants, and the cause of Arminianism in general.

After publishing his reply to Waddingus' letters, Episcopius wrote a treatise for the instruction and guidance of some among the Remonstrants, in which he showed that it was lawful for a Christian to sustain the office of a magistrate. This treatise was sent into Holland and read with great avidity. Daniel de Breen, a man of learning and high character, and strongly attached to the