CHAPTER V.

THE FEUDS IN THE UNITED PROVINCES BETWEEN THE DISCIPLES OF CALVIN AND THE DISCIPLES OF ARMINIUS, UNTIL THE SYNOD AT DORT.

1610-1617.

It has generally happened, when a people have risen against their sovereign, that their first successes have been followed by divisions among themselves; and that these have endangered, and sometimes even ruined, their cause.  Such a division took place, in a remarkable manner, in the conflict between the United Provinces and Spain.  No sooner did the arms of the former begin to prosper, and promise ultimate success, than the ARMINIAN CONTROVERSY burst forth.  At first, it was merely a religious dispute; but it soon mixed itself in the national politics; split the people into two very hostile parties, and produced contentions between them, which more than once brought their cause to the brink of destruction.  Grotius was unfortunately involved in them.  This part of the history now claims our attention.

[Sidenote:  Calvinism.]

The reformed church, in the largest import of the word, comprises all the religious communities, which have separated themselves from the church of Rome.  In this sense, the words are often used by English writers; but, having been adopted by the French Calvinists to describe their church, these words are most commonly used, on the continent, as a general appellation of all the churches who profess the doctrines of Calvin.

[Sidenote:  CHAP.  V. 1610-1617.]

About the year 1541, the church of Geneva was placed by the magistrates of that city, under the direction of Calvin.  He immediately conceived one of the boldest projects, that ever entered into the mind of an obscure individual.  He undertook to new model the religious creed of the reformed church; to give it strength and consistency, and to render the church of Geneva the mother and mistress of all Protestant churches.  His learning, eloquence, and talents for business, soon attracted general notice; and, while the fervour of his zeal, the austerity of his manners, and the devotional cast of his writings, attracted the multitude, the elegance of his compositions, and his insinuating style, equally captivated the gentleman and the scholar.  By degrees, his fame reached every part of Europe.  Having prevailed upon the senate of Geneva to found an academy, and place it under his superintendence, and having filled it with men eminent throughout Europe for their learning and talent, it became the favourite resort of all persons, who leaned to the new principles, and sought religious or literary instruction.  From Germany, France, Italy, England and Scotland, numbers crowded to the new academy, and returned from it to their native countries, saturated with the doctrine of Geneva, and burning with zeal to propagate its creed.

Calvin’s peculiar doctrine on Predestination and Free-will soon attracted attention, and gave rise to more than a civil war[015] of controversy,[016]