[Sidenote:  Disputes on the Free-will of Man.]

These, and other doctrinal differences, separated the Protestants into the adherents to the creed of Luther, and the adherents to the creed of Calvin.  The United Provinces were among the latter:  the creed of Calvin was, as we have mentioned, one of the fundamental laws of the Union.

The Calvinistic doctrine, that God, from all eternity, consigns one portion of mankind, without any fault on their side, to everlasting torments, shocks our feelings, and is totally repugnant to the notions entertained by us of the goodness and justice of the Deity:  it is not therefore surprising that it should be called in question.  From the first, several objected to it; but it was not till the successes of the United Provinces appeared to afford them a near prospect of triumph, that the opposers of Calvin’s doctrine formed themselves into a party, and occasioned a public sensation.

[Sidenote:  CHAP.  V. 1610-1617.]

The celebrated JAMES ARMINIUS[019] was at their head.  He was born in 1560, at Oudewater in Holland, of respectable parents.  He lost his father in his infancy, and was indebted, for the first rudiments of his education, to a clergyman, who had imbibed some opinions of the reformed religion.  Under his tuition, Arminius studied, during some time, at Utrecht.  After the clergyman’s decease, Rudolphus Snellius, a clergyman of eminence, took Arminius under his protection, and, in 1575, placed him at Marpurgh.  There, he heard of the taking of Oudewater by the Spaniards, and their massacre of its inhabitants.  His mother, sister, and two brothers were among the victims.  On the first intelligence of the calamity he repaired to Oudewater, in hopes that the account of it might have been exaggerated.  Finding it true, he retired to Leyden:  there, his severe application to study, and the regularity of his morals, gained him universal esteem.  In 1563, he was sent to Geneva, at the expense of the magistrates of Amsterdam, to perfect his studies under the care of Beza.  Unfortunately, by adopting the philosophical principles, of Ramus, and unguardedly professing them, he displeased some leading men of the university, and was obliged to leave it:  he then went to Basle.  There, his reputation having preceded him, he was received with great kindness:  the faculty of divinity offered him a doctor’s degree; but a general wish for his return being expressed at Geneva, he declined the honour, and returned to that city.  He then visited Italy, and, during some months, studied under Zabarella, a famous philosopher, who then lectured at Padua.  In 1588, Arminius was ordained minister at Amsterdam.

[Sidenote:  Arminius.]