History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

egard the numbers, or the learning, or the
eloquence of its members. It met at a great crisis,
and it was called to review, re-examine, and
authenticate over again, in the second generation
since the rise of the Reformation, that body of truth
and system of doctrine which that great movement
had published to the world. The States-General had
agreed that the Synod should consist of twenty-six
divines of the United Provinces, twenty-eight
foreign divines, five theological professors, and
sixteen laymen. The sum of 100,000 florins was set
apart to defray its estimated expenses. Its sessions
lasted six months.
Learned delegates were present in this
Assembly from almost all the Reformed Churches
of Europe. The Churches of England, Scotland,
Switzerland, Geneva, Bremen, Hesse, and the
Palatinate were represented in it. The French
Church had no delegate in the Synod. That Church
had deputed Peter du Moulin and Andrew Rivet,
two of the most distinguished theologians of the
age, to represent it, but the king forbade their
attendance. From England came Dr. George
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