Anti-Socinianism, Part 23
Iacobus Arminius Leydenſis Profeſſor,
Sampſonis vulpes Arminius atque Socinus,
Juncti per caudas, ora diverſa ſua.
HEreſie creeps in at a little hole, but infects, infeſts the whole houſe, l ke a plague that comes in at the windows, and then propagates it ſelf, beyond all meaſure. And for that purpoſe the Divel raiſeth up inſtruments in all places, ſuch who are ſo over-wiſe, that the very curdle of their wit, procures a breaking out into faction, then grows to error, and at laſt to ſome notorious and blaſphemous Hereſie: Cum diſcipuli veritatis non erunt, magiſtri erroris ſunt: Refuſing to be ſchollars of Truth, they become Maſters of errors. They muſt be Maſters, though it be of the black Art: And ſuch an one was this James Arminius, once Divinity Reader in the Univerſity of Leyden, who having had ſome familiarity, either with the men, of whom we have already ſpoken, or their works, did very much favour this Socinian hereſie: He did firſt ſecretly teach and ſubtilly inſtil it into the ears and hearts of many of his Diſc…ples, and afterwards did op…nly p…ofeſs it; as we may read in his Epiſtle ad Hypolytum de collibus, and other of his writings. And although thoſe errors which he held and maintained, were juſtly condemned in the late Synod of Dort: Yet his Diſciples the Remonſtrants, do obſt…nately perſiſt in them, though t…ey would m…ke the world beleeve they decline and diſclaim them.
Let Ancient and Reverend P…reus ſtand forth, and hear we him in this matter: Anno 1613. writing from Heidelberg, to thoſe o… Leyden, he ſaith, The Socinians of Poland have lately taken, and acknowledge your Arminians for their own, together with Arminius himſelf, as their cheif Dictator; and one Bonfinius, Acontius, with the reſt that are clandeſtine waiters on him. And becauſe Arminius will not be behind in courteſie; he and his complices do mutually and expreſly declare, that they can entertain fraternity with all ſects; yea even with the Socinians themſelves, the Reformed Churches only excepted. We will compare their opinions, and by that means we may the better judge of them, eſpecially in this point, the ſatisfaction of Divine juſtice, which is at this day ſo much controverted among us. It is no where extant, ſay the Remonſtrants, That Divine juſtice is ſatisfied for our ſins, by the ſufferings of Chriſt; yea it is manifestly repugnant to that free grace of Go… in remiſsion of ſins, which he offers to us by Jeſus Christ. Now hear the Socinians in this matter, who ſay, Chriſtians commonly think, that Chriſt by his death, hath made full ſatisfaction for our ſins, and merited ſalvation for us; but this opinion is falſe and erroneous, yea very dangerous and pernicious. Again, they both affirm, that the righteouſneſs of Chriſt is not ours, nor accounted as our Righteouſneſs before God: It cannot be, ſayes the one, That God ſhould impute Chriſt or his Righteouſneſs to us; This Doctrine ſay the other, hath no footing in the word of God, nor common reaſon. We might follow them by the foot, and ſee how they walk together in many, if not moſt of one anothers Hereſies. But we need not any further witneſs, then their own confeſſion, one egge is no …iker another, neither doth milk more reſemble milk, then the Remonſtrants do the Socinians, in their Doctrine and manners: So that Arminius did but play Socinus his game, or act his part for him in Leyden, which he, and his wretched adherents had done in Italy, Germany, Poland, Tranſylvania, the great Dukedome of Lituania; and divers other parts and places beſides: by which the peace and tranquillity of the Churches hath been much diſturbed: the progreſs of the Goſpel impeded, many poor ſouls ſeduced, the Kingdom of Satan enlarged, and their own condemnation haſtned; as may appear by the ſuddain and violent deaths of many, yea the moſt of the Profeſſors and propagators of the ſame.