Jacobus, whose real name in Low Dutch was James Hermanni, a famous Protestant divine, was born at Oude Water, in Holland, in 1560. He was ordained minister at Amsterdam on the 11th of August 1588, where he Armistice soon distinguished himself by his sermons, which were remarkable for their solidity and learning. Martin Lydius, professor of divinity at Franeker, judging him a fit person to refute a polemic in which Beza's doctrine of predestination had been attacked by some ministers of Delft, Arminius at his desire undertook the task; but upon thoroughly examining the reasons on both sides, he adopted the opinions he proposed to overturn, 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. During a pestilential disease which raged at Amsterdam in 1602, he acted with the greatest resolution and courage, in assisting the poor and comforting the sick; and Lucas Trelcatius and Francis Junius dying of that disease at Leyden, the curators of that university chose Arminius professor of divinity there. He was afterwards made doctor of divinity. Disputes upon grace were kindled in the university; and he was likewise involved in a new contest occasioned by a disputation of his concerning the divinity of the Son. These contests, his continual labour, and the vexation at seeing his reputation blasted by 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; his pronunciation admirable; he was easy and affable to persons of all ranks, and facetious in conversation amongst his friends. The curators of the university of Leyden had so great a regard for him that they settled a pension upon his wife and children. His several treatises, collected in a 4to volume, were published at Leyden in 1629, and have been frequently reprinted.