Episcopius Simon

Episcopius Simon, (Belg. Bisschop,) was born January 8^th, 1583; and was the youngest of seven sons. He was sent to the public Latin school of his native city, where he made such progress in the study of the classics, that the Senate of Amsterdam adopted him as one of their alumni, or voesterlings, and afterwards shewed him the strongest marks of their estoem and regard. In 1600, he was removed to the University of Leyden, where he prosecuted his studies with great success. For the space of three years he applied himself, with unwearied industry, to the study of Philosophy; and then entered upon his theological course. At the expiration of six years, the time usually allotted for college residenoe, he took his master's degree with honours. His first sermon was preached in the New South Church at Amsterdam, from Rom. viii. 14, but he was not hasty to provide himself with a congregation. He went to Franeker, and disputed successfully with Dr. Sibrand; but the views which he advocated, on the subject of Justification, being unpalatable to the rigid Calvinistic party, he incurred the charge of Socinianism. His first settlement was at Bleiswick, where he became very popular as a Preacher; and, by his learning and talents, greatly aided the success of the Remonstrant cause. On the 13^th of Sept., 1611, the Magistrates and Consistory of Utrecht gave him a call to become one of their Ministers; but while the negotiation was pending, he was invited to the office of Theological Professor at Leyden, and accepted the invitation. Here he became an object of the most virulent hatred to the Calvinistic party; and the charge of Socinianism was revived against him by Festus Hommius, but not substantiated. He was ultimately deprived of his Professorship by the Synod of Dort, and sent into banishment; but, on the death of Prince Maurice, he returned into Holland, and was chosen Minister by the Remonstrants at Rotterdam. In 1634, he was made Professor of Theology in the new Remonstrant College at Amsterdam, and delivered a course of lectures to the students, which was published after his death, under the title of "Theological Institutes." In 1640, he was attacked by fever, but recovered. After this, however, his health gradually declined; and he died April 4^th, 1643, in the sixty-first year of his age.

Episcopius was one of the most eminent among the Arminian Divines; and though his heterodoxy was not of so decided a character as to justify us in assigning him a place in the body of this work, the following extracts will shew what opinion writers of different sentiments have formed of his creed.

"Simon Episcopius, vir maximis naturss ornamentis instructus, rationi tamen et perspicacise suae, ut videtur, nimium indulgens. Socinianis in Belgio se hoc tempore insinuantibus, quamvis ipse Socinianismi palam argui nequeat, non parum profuit."

"S. Episcopius, so much esteemed by our English Divines, seems to have been an Arian. He saith, The Father is so first, as to be first in Order, (i. e. Time,) in Dignity, and in Power. He saith, That Three equal Persons in God, or in the Godhead, make Three Gods. He denies, That the Lord Christ is the Son of God by substantial Generation, that is, by Generation from the Father's Substance or Essence. Speaking of the Creeds that express the Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity, and the Divinity of the Son and Spirit, he saith, That Bishops in General Councils being led by Fury, Faction and Madness, did not so much compose, as huddle up Creeds for the Church. See for these things, Episcop. TheoL Imlitut. L. iv. C. 32, 33, 34."