(James), whose real name in Low Dutch was James Harmann, a famous Protestant divine, from whom the modern sect of Arminians take their name, was born at Oude-water, in Holland, in 1560. He was ordained minister at Amsterdam, on the 11th of August, 1588; when he soon distinguished himself by his sermons, which were remarkable for their fidelity and learning, and gained him universal applause; but Martin Lydias, professor of divinity at Franeker, judging him a fit person to refute a writing in which Beza's doctrine of predestination had been attacked by some ministers of Delft, Arminius at his entreaties undertook the task; but upon thoroughly examining the reasons on both sides, he came into the opinions he proposed to destroy, and afterwards went still farther than the ministers of Delft had done. In 1600, he opposed those who maintained that ministers should subscribe the confession and catechism every year. In 1602, a pestilential disease raged at Amsterdam, during which he acted with the greatest resolution and courage, in afflicting the poor, and comforting the sick; and Lucas Trelacius and Francis Junius dying of that disease at Leyden, the curators of that university chose Arminius, professor of divinity there, and he was afterwards made doctor of divinity. Disputes upon grace were soon after kindled in that university; and he was at length engaged in a new contest, occasioned by a disputation of his concerning the divinity of the Son. These contests, his continual labour, and the concern of seeing his reputation blasted by a multitude of slanders in relation to his opinions, impaired his health, and threw him into a fit of sickness, of which he died on the 19th of October, 1609.

Arminius was esteemed an excellent preacher: his voice was low, but very agreeable; and his pronunciation admirable; he was easy and affable to persons of all ranks, and facetious in his conversation amongst his friends. His great desire was, that Christians would bear with one another in all controversies which did not affect the fundamentals of their religion; and when they persecuted each other for points of indifference, it gave him the utmost dissatisfaction. The curators of the university of Leyden had so great a regard for him, that they settled a pension upon his wife and children.

He left several works, viz. 1. Disputationes de diversis Christianae religionis capitibus. 2. Orationes, itemque tractatus insigniores aliquot. 3. Examen modelli libelli Gulielmi Perkinii de praedestinationis modo et ordine, itemque de amplitudine gratiae divinae. 4. Analytis capitis noni ad Romanos. 5. Dissertatio de vero et genuino sensu epistulae septimae ad Romanos. 6. Amica colloquium cum D. Francisco Junio de praedestinatione per literas habita. 7. Epistola ad Hippolytum a collibus.