The  duplicity  which  stands  so  uniformly  prominent  in  the
schemes  of  Presbyterians  for  the  attainment  of  their  political  ends,
can  be  explained  only  on  the  doctrine  of  "  fore-ordination."  We
have  seen  how  they  persecuted  the  Lutherans  in  Holland,  and
yet,  when  it  seemed  likely  to  serve  their  purpose,  they  wished  to
unite  with  them,  just  as  Dr.  Ely  was  willing  to  unite  with  Bap-
tists, Episcopalians,  Arminians,  Lutherans,  &c.  to  form  a  "  Chris-
tian party  in  politics,"  and  place  "  sound  Presbyterians"  in  places
of  political  trust,  where  they  might  be  "  nursing  fathers"  to  the
church,  "  accordiHg  to  each  one's  place  and  calling."  The  object
of  all  such  unions  tendered  by  them,  was  most  accurately  de-
scribed by  the  Lutherans  of  Germany,  nearly  two  hundred  years
ago.     Brandt  has  recorded  the  occasion,  and  the  issue  of  it : —

"  Before  this,"  says  he,  "  the  Reformed  had  several  times  offered
peace  and  brotherhood  to  the  Lutherans ;  but  now  the  condemning
and  persecuting  the  Remonstrants  had  so  far  cut  off  all  hopes  of  such
a  wholesome  union,  that  the  Theological  Faculty  at  Wittenburg,
in  Saxony,  published  a  book  this  year,  under  the  title  of  '  A  Faith-
ful Warning  to  all  the  Lutheran  Christians  in  Bohemia,  Moravia,
Silesia,   and   other   countries   thereunto   belonging,  carefully   to

(1)  Vol.  i.  p.  .316.
462

abstain  from  the  erroneous  and  highly  pernicious  Calvinistical
religion.'  In  which  book  they  endeavoured  to  expose  the  scan-
dalous and  fraudulent  dealings,  which,  as  they  said,  the  Cal-
vinists  used,  and  had  used  for  several  years,  in  offering  spiritual
fraternity  so  often  to  the  Lutherans,  adding  as  follows :

"  What  good  there  is  to  be  expected  from  such  brethren,  may
easily  be  gathered  from  the  Synod  of  Bart,  and  their  proceedings.
