Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

SOTERIOLOGY : M. M. NINAN
In the mean time [till this assembly can be convened], letmy brethren themselves remain
quiescent and suffer me to be quiet, that Imay be at peace, and neither annoy them, nor
create any uneasiness. If theyentertain other thoughts concerning me, let them institute an
[ecclesiastical]action against me; I will not shun or evade the authority of a competentjudge,
neither will I forfeit my recognizances by failing to appear.
If it be supposed that the minds of those who hear me arepreoccupied in my favor, at a
distance, by some politic subtlety which Idisplay, and that the matter is so managed through
cunning, as makes my brethrenneither to consider it advisable to arraign me before the
judges, nor toaccount it sufficiently safe to commit to my care the youthful students;and
therefore, that the black stain which I have deserved ought to be affixedto my reputation, that
my pupils and hearers may be frightened away; therefore,lest the result of this should be that
the deferring of such a conferencebe productive of certain danger, behold I now offer myself,
that I may, incompany with them, address, solicit, and entreat those high personages whoare
invested with the power of issuing a summons for a convention of thiskind, or of granting it,
not to suffer us any longer to continue in thisanguish and disquietude of mind, but either
themselves to apply a speedyremedy, or allow it to be applied by others, but still by their
order andunder their direction. I will not refuse to place myself before any
assemblywhatsoever, whether it be composed of all the ministers in our UnitedNetherlands,
or of some to be convoked from each of the seven provinces,or even of all the ministers of
Holland and West Friesland, to which provinceour university at Leyden belongs, or of some
ministers to be selected outof these, provided the whole affair be transacted under the
cognizance ofour lawful magistrates. Nor do I avoid or dread the presence of learned
men,who may be invited from other countries, provided they be present at theconference on
equitable conditions, and subject to the same laws as thoseunder which I must be placed.
To express the whole matter at once let a convention besummoned, consisting of many
members or of few, provided some bright hopeof success be afforded [to them], a hope, I
repeat it, which I shall be able,by sound arguments, to prove destitute of good foundation.
Behold me, thisday, nay, this very hour, prepared and ready to enter into it. For I am
weary of being daily aspersed with the filthy scum of freshcalumnies, and grieved at being
burdened with the necessity of clearing myselffrom them. In this part of my conduct, I am
assuredly dissimilar from heretics,who have either avoided ecclesiastical assemblies, or have
managed mattersso as to be able to confide in the number of their retainers, and to expecta
certain victory.
But I have finished. For I have occupied your attention,most honorable sir, a sufficient length
of time; and I have made a seriousencroachment on those valuable moments which you
would have devoted to mattersof greater importance. Your excellency will have the
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