The Grand-Pensionary, imagining that by making themselves masters of the election of the ministers, the States would insensibly appease these troubles, proposed the revival of an obsolete regulation, made in the year 1591, by which the magistrates and consistory were each to nominate four persons, who should chuse a Minister, to be afterwards presented to the body of Magistrates, who might receive or reject him.
This motion was agreed to by the States, to the great mortification of the Contra-Remonstrants: they complained that the States had exceeded their power.

Hence arose a grand contest who ought to be Judge in ecclesiastical matters.

The Arminians said it belonged to the Civil Magistrate to decide them: the Gomarists maintained that the clergy alone had that power.

They separated themselves from the communion of the Remonstrants[72], took possession of the churches by force, stirred up seditions, wrote libels, and deposed the Arminian Ministers.

In other churches the Contra-Remonstrants were driven out as madmen and rioters.
These violences gave rise to schisms, some joining the old Ministers, and others the new.
It was at this time of confusion Grotius was nominated Pensionary of Rotterdam, and ordered to go over into England.