The doctrinal discussion in the synod showed that its members were not so fully at one in their positive views of doctrine as in their opposition to Arminlan- ism. The question whether, according to Ephes. i, 4, Christ is the ground of election (fundamenttan ekctio- fMt), gave rise to strong debates, the Anglicans and the Germans taking the affirmative, while other deputies, in view of the divine decree, maintained the negative ; the Melancthonian element was obviously not yet up- rooted. It was found difficult at last to harmonize the various views of election in one formula. The depu- ties fhmi Hesse, Bremen, Nassau, and England seemed to fkvor a doctrine on the extent of the atonement sim- ilar to Baxter^s so-called Universalism. See ATOinc- MEKT. The Canonei Synodid (sees. 186, April 28, 1616) set forth clearly the doctrine of predestination, but not in the supralapsarian sense.
After the condemnation of the Arminian tenets, it remained to punish those who upheld them. Tho Hessians and Anglicans opposed the infliction of per- sonal penalties. Nevertheless, the synod "deposed the Aiininian ministers, excluded them and their fol- lowers fW)m the communion of the Church, suppressed their religious assemblies, and, by the aid of the civil government, which confirmed all their acts, sent a number of the clergy of that party, and of those who adhered to them, into banishment" (Miller, IntrodMC^ tory Eatay to Scott's Synod of Dort, p. 29).
In the later sessions the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession were adopted as orthodox state- ments of doctrine, in ftall harmony with the Word of God. In the 144th session the synod read before a large concourse, in the great church of Dort, the Con- ont on the five articles, and the Centura EccUnattiea passed against the Remonstrants. The 154tii and laft session was held on May 9. Five days after (May 14) the great Bameveldt was beheaded at the Hague.
Fabricius, BihliotJkeca Graca, xi, 728 (Hamb. 1705, 14 vols.), gives an account of the Synod of Dort, from which wo extract the following statement (translated by Nichols) as to the publication of its i4cto (Journals). '* For the publication of the Acts, the divines chosen out
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of Tarumt districts of tho United Prorincet were John I aembly if eoooeiTed m a ddibentiTe Mr, deipii
PoljandM'f Anihooj WalMiSf Anthony Thy niu, Dnniel Heintius, Festoa UommioB, Daniel Colonius, and John Laets. BatDr.Wm.Bate«infbmiiai,inhiiLiy0o/'/l. Walamj that the * chief merit of the publication it due to Feetos HommiaB, who was a ready and elegant writ- ex, and, as secretary to the synod, had noted with Kn^t- er diligenee than the others the matters that had been tranaacted.' These Acts were pablithed at Dort in the year 1630, in folio, in the neat types of Elzevirs at Leyden, and were soon afterwards execated with greater correctness, in the same year, at Hanover, in quarto, with the addition of a copious index. Prefixed to the Acts stand the epistle of their high mightinesses the 8tatss4}eneral, addressed to the monarchs and kings, to the prinoes, oourts, cities, and magistrates (of the Christian woridX and vouching for tlie fidelity and authority of these Acts ; and likewise the ample preface of Dankl Heinsius, addressed to the Reformed churches of Christ, conoeming the origin and increase of the Dutch controversies, for the purpose of appeas- ing which the synod had been convened. The Acts themselves consist of three parts : (1.) The rules for holding the synod ; the form of the synodical oath ; decrees and Judgments concerning the translation of the Bible, catechising candidates for the sacred min- istry, and concerning the removal of the abuses of printing ; the canons against the five points of the Re- monstrants ; the Confession of the Dutch churches ; the approbation of the Palatine Catechism ; the judg- ment passed on the doctrine of Conrad Vorstins; a writing of the Remonstrants respecting the conditions on which the sjmod ought to be held ; the theses of the Remonstrants on the five points, and the various exceptions and protestations against the synod; a writing by Simon Episcopius, in which he defends himself; the confession of the two brothers Geisteeren ; and, lastly, the orations of those very celebrated men, Balthasar Lydius, Martin Gregory, Joseph Hall, John Polyander, John Acronius, and of the memorable Epis- copius. Q2.) The judgments of the foreign divines on the five points of the Remonstrants. (3.) The judg- ments of the Dutch divbies on the same points."
The Canom ofDoetrime are given under five heads : I. Of predestination, 18 articles. II. Of the death of Christ, and of the redemption of men thereby, 9 arti- cles. Ill and IV. Of man's corruption, and of his converston, 17 articles. V. Of the perseverance of the saints, 15 articles. They may be found, in English, in Scott's iS^nod of Dort^ and in the Coiutiiwtiom oftke Reformed Dutch Church (Philadel. 1840, Appendix, p. 72 sq.). They were officially received by Holland, France, the PaUtinate, and SwitserUwd, but were merely countenanced by England and Brsndenburg. The English Church afterwards *' rejected the deci- sions of the synod, and a royal mandate of James I, who fiivored Arminianism as strongly in his later years as he had favored Calvinism before, in 1G22, forbade the preaching of the doctrine of predestination" (Shedd, Hiiiory of Doctrine^ ii, 477 ; Neal, ffisioiy of the Puri- tons, Harpers' ed., i, 272). The Reformed churches of other countries did not consider them as binding. They received kffai authority in no other country but France. The divines of Bremen were very moderate at the synod, and afterwards, headed by Martinius, they rejected its decisions. Martinius wrote: **0 Dort, Dort, would to God I had never seen thee." Hales, of Eton, was converted from Calvinism to Ar- minianism at the synod. See Hales.