The magistrates throughout Holland, with the exception of a few cities, were Arminian, the preachers Gomarian; for Arminius ascribed to the civil authority the right to decide upon church matters, while Gomarus maintained that ecclesiastical affairs should be regulated in ecclesiastical assemblies.  The overseers of Leyden University appointed Conrad Vorstius to be professor of theology in place of Arminius.  The selection filled to the brim the cup of bitterness, for no man was more audaciously latitudinarian than he.  He was even suspected of Socinianism.  There came a shriek from King James, fierce and shrill enough to rouse Arminius from his grave.  James foamed to the mouth at the insolence of the overseers in appointing such a monster of infidelity to the professorship.  He ordered his books to be publicly burned in St. Paul’s Churchyard and at both Universities, and would have burned the Professor himself with as much delight as Torquemada or Peter Titelman ever felt in roasting their victims, had not the day for such festivities gone by.  He ordered the States of Holland on pain of for ever forfeiting his friendship to exclude Vorstius at once from the theological chair and to forbid him from “nestling anywhere in the country.”

He declared his amazement that they should tolerate such a pest as Conrad Vorstius.  Had they not had enough of the seed sown by that foe of God, Arminius?  He ordered the States-General to chase the blasphemous monster from the land, or else he would cut off all connection with their false and heretic churches and make the other Reformed churches of Europe do the same, nor should the youth of England ever be allowed to frequent the University of Leyden.

In point of fact the Professor was never allowed to qualify, to preach, or to teach; so tremendous was the outcry of Peter Plancius and many orthodox preachers, echoing the wrath of the King.  He lived at Gouda in a private capacity for several years, until the Synod of Dordrecht at last publicly condemned his opinions and deprived him of his professorship.

Meantime, the preachers who were disciples of Arminius had in a private assembly drawn up what was called a Remonstrance, addressed to the States of Holland, and defending themselves from the reproach that they were seeking change in the Divine service and desirous of creating tumult and schism.

This Remonstrance, set forth by the pen of the famous Uytenbogaert, whom Gomarus called the Court Trumpeter, because for a long time he had been Prince Maurice’s favourite preacher, was placed in the hands of Barneveld, for delivery to the States of Holland.  Thenceforth the Arminians were called Remonstrants.

The Hague Conference followed, six preachers on a side, and the States of Holland exhorted to fraternal compromise.  Until further notice, they decreed that no man should be required to believe more than had been laid down in the Five Points: 

I. God has from eternity resolved to choose to eternal life those who through his grace believe in Jesus Christ, and in faith and obedience so continue to the end, and to condemn the unbelieving and unconverted to eternal damnation.