See CHRISTIANITY.
REMONSTRANTS have obtained this name, particularly on the continent,
because, in 1610, they presented to the states of Holland a petition,
entitled their Remonstrance, in which they stated their grievances, and
prayed for relief. They are also called Arminians, because they
maintained the doctrines respecting predestination and grace, which were
embraced and defended by James Harmenson or Arminius, an eminent
Protestant divine, and a native of Holland, who was born in 1560, and
died in 1609. He first studied at Leyden, and then at Geneva. While at
the university of Geneva, he studied under Beza, by whom he was
instructed in the doctrines of Calvin; and having been judged by Martin
Lydius, professor of divinity at Franeker, a proper person to refute a
work in which the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination had been
attacked by some ministers of Delft, he undertook the task. On a strict
examination of the reasons on both sides, however, he became a convert
to the opinions which he was employed to refute. The result of his
inquiries on this, and other subjects connected with it, was, that,
thinking the doctrine of Calvin with respect to free will,
predestination, and grace, too severe, he expressed his doubts
respecting them in the year 1591, and at length adopted the religious
system of those who extend the love of God, and the merits of his Son,
to all mankind. After his appointment to the theological chair of
Leyden, in 1603, he avowed and vindicated the principles which he had
embraced; but the prudence and caution with which he published and
defended them could not screen him from the resentment of those who
adhered to the theological system of Calvin, and in particular from the
opposition of Gomar his colleague. After the death of Arminius, the
controversy, thus begun, became more general, and threatened to involve
the United Provinces in civil discord. However, the Arminian tenets
gained ground, and were adopted by several persons of merit and
distinction. The Calvinists or Gomarists as they were now called,
appealed to a national synod. Accordingly, a synod was at length
convened at Dordrecht or Dort, and was composed of ecclesiastical and
lay deputies from the United Provinces, and also of ecclesiastical
deputies from the reformed churches of England, Switzerland, Bremen,
Hesse, and the Palatinate. This synod sat from the first of November,
1618, to the twenty-sixth of April, 1619. The principal advocate in
favour of the Arminians was Episcopius, who was at that time professor
of divinity at Leyden. The religious principles of the Arminians have
insinuated themselves more or less into the established church in
Holland, and imbued the theological system of many of those pastors who
are appointed to maintain the doctrine and authority of the synod of
Dort. The principles of Arminius were early introduced into various
other countries, as Great Britain, France, Geneva, and many parts of
Switzerland; but their progress is said to have been rather retarded of
late, especially in Germany and several parts of Switzerland, by the
prevalence of the Leibnitzian and Wolfian philosophy, which is more
favourable to Calvinism. The distinguishing tenets of the Remonstrants
may be said to consist chiefly in the different light in which they view
the subjects of the five points, or in the different explanation which
they give to them, and comprised in the five following articles:
predestination, universal redemption, the operation of grace, the
freedom of the will, and perseverance. They believe that God, having an
equal regard for all his creatures, sent his Son to die for the sins not
of the elect only, but of the whole world; that no mortal is rendered
finally unhappy by an eternal and invincible decree, but that the misery
of those who perish arises from themselves; and that, in this present
imperfect state, believers, if not vigilant, may, through the force of
temptation, and the influence of Satan, fall from grace, and sink into
final perdition. See ARMINIANISM.
REMONSTRANTS have obtained this name, particularly on the continent,
because, in 1610, they presented to the states of Holland a petition,
entitled their Remonstrance, in which they stated their grievances, and
prayed for relief. They are also called Arminians, because they
maintained the doctrines respecting predestination and grace, which were
embraced and defended by James Harmenson or Arminius, an eminent
Protestant divine, and a native of Holland, who was born in 1560, and
died in 1609. He first studied at Leyden, and then at Geneva. While at
the university of Geneva, he studied under Beza, by whom he was
instructed in the doctrines of Calvin; and having been judged by Martin
Lydius, professor of divinity at Franeker, a proper person to refute a
work in which the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination had been
attacked by some ministers of Delft, he undertook the task. On a strict
examination of the reasons on both sides, however, he became a convert
to the opinions which he was employed to refute. The result of his
inquiries on this, and other subjects connected with it, was, that,
thinking the doctrine of Calvin with respect to free will,
predestination, and grace, too severe, he expressed his doubts
respecting them in the year 1591, and at length adopted the religious
system of those who extend the love of God, and the merits of his Son,
to all mankind. After his appointment to the theological chair of
Leyden, in 1603, he avowed and vindicated the principles which he had
embraced; but the prudence and caution with which he published and
defended them could not screen him from the resentment of those who
adhered to the theological system of Calvin, and in particular from the
opposition of Gomar his colleague. After the death of Arminius, the
controversy, thus begun, became more general, and threatened to involve
the United Provinces in civil discord. However, the Arminian tenets
gained ground, and were adopted by several persons of merit and
distinction. The Calvinists or Gomarists as they were now called,
appealed to a national synod. Accordingly, a synod was at length
convened at Dordrecht or Dort, and was composed of ecclesiastical and
lay deputies from the United Provinces, and also of ecclesiastical
deputies from the reformed churches of England, Switzerland, Bremen,
Hesse, and the Palatinate. This synod sat from the first of November,
1618, to the twenty-sixth of April, 1619. The principal advocate in
favour of the Arminians was Episcopius, who was at that time professor
of divinity at Leyden. The religious principles of the Arminians have
insinuated themselves more or less into the established church in
Holland, and imbued the theological system of many of those pastors who
are appointed to maintain the doctrine and authority of the synod of
Dort. The principles of Arminius were early introduced into various
other countries, as Great Britain, France, Geneva, and many parts of
Switzerland; but their progress is said to have been rather retarded of
late, especially in Germany and several parts of Switzerland, by the
prevalence of the Leibnitzian and Wolfian philosophy, which is more
favourable to Calvinism. The distinguishing tenets of the Remonstrants
may be said to consist chiefly in the different light in which they view
the subjects of the five points, or in the different explanation which
they give to them, and comprised in the five following articles:
predestination, universal redemption, the operation of grace, the
freedom of the will, and perseverance. They believe that God, having an
equal regard for all his creatures, sent his Son to die for the sins not
of the elect only, but of the whole world; that no mortal is rendered
finally unhappy by an eternal and invincible decree, but that the misery
of those who perish arises from themselves; and that, in this present
imperfect state, believers, if not vigilant, may, through the force of
temptation, and the influence of Satan, fall from grace, and sink into
final perdition. See ARMINIANISM.