Hugo Grotius (April 10, 1583-August 28, 1645)
was a Dutch jurist, theologian and statesman, who was considered the founder of the science of International Law. In 1607, being 24 years old, he was appointed Advocate General for the provinces of Holland and Zealand. In 1613, at the age of 30, he became the Chief Magistrate of Rotterdam. In 1619, Prince Maurice of Nassau sentenced him to life imprisonment for his support of the Arminian faith.
Three years later, with his wife’s help, he escaped to France hidden in a linen chest. Hugo Grotius (or Huig de Groot in the Dutch language), published De Jure Belli et Pacis (On the Law of War and Peace), in 1625, which was a study of the laws of mankind in reference to individuals, nations and states. From 1635 till his death he served as the Swedish ambassador to France. President James Madison described him as:
1583HG001
In his work, On the Law of War and Peace, 1625, Hugo Grotius stated:
<Among all good men one principle at any rate is established beyond controversy, that if the authorities issue any order that is contrary to the law of nature or to the commandments of God, the order should not be carried out. For when the Apostles said that obedience should be rendered to God rather than men, they appealed to an infallible rule of action, which is written in the hearts of all men.> 1583HG002
<If it were not permitted to punish certain Criminals with Death, nor to defend the Subject by Arms against Highwaymen and Pyrates, there would of Necessity follow a terrible Inundation of Crimes, and a Deluge of Evils, since even now that Tribunals are erected, it is very difficult to restrain the Boldness of profligate Persons.
Wherefore if it had been the Design of CHRIST to have introduced a new Kind of Regulation, as was never heard of before, he would certainly have declared in most distinct and plain Words, that none should pronounce Sentence of Death against a Malefactor, or carry Arms in Defense of one’s Country.> 1583HG003
1583HG004
In the closing remarks of The Rights of War and Peace, 1625, Grotius wrote:
<May God, who alone hath the power, inscribe these teachings on the hearts of those who hold sway over the Christian would. may He grant to them a mind possessing knowledge of divine and human law, and having ever before it the reflection that it hath been chosen as a servant for the rule of man, the living thing most dear to God.> 1583HG005
Hugo Grotius stated:
<He knows not how to rule a kingdome, that cannot manage a Province; nor can he wield a Province, that cannot order a City; nor he order a City, that knows not how to regulate a Village; nor he a Village, that cannot guide a Family; nor can that man Govern well a Family that knows not how to Govern himselfe; neither can any Govern himselfe unless reason be Lord, Will and Appetite her Vassals: nor can Reason rule unlesse herselfe be ruled by God, and (wholy) be obedient to Him.> 1583HG006
In his Commentary on the Law of Prize and Booty, 1603, Hugo Grotius stated:
1583HG007
In his work, The Truth of the Christian Religion, 1627, Hugo Grotius wrote:
<There is no reason for Christians to doubt the credibility of these Books (of the Bible), because there are testimonies in our books out of almost every one of them, the same as they are found in the Hebrew.
Nor did Christ, when He reproved many things in the teachings of the Law, and in the Pharisees of His time, ever accuse them of falsifying the Books of Moses and the Prophets, or of using supposititious or altered books.
And it can never be proved, or made credible, that after Christ’s time the Scripture should be corrupted in anything of moment, if we consider how far and wide the Jewish nation, who everywhere kept these Books, was dispersed over the whole world.> 1583HG008
1583HG009
—
American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:.
1583HG001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). James Madison, commenting on Hugo Grotius in Examination of the British Doctrine, 1806. Verna M. Hall, Christian History of the Constitution of the United States of America: Christian Self-Government (San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1966, 1980), p. 250. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987; 6th printing, 1993), p. 62.
1583HG002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius, 1625, The Rights of War and Peace, (Amsterdam, 1933), 1:4.1.3. William Vasilio Sotirovich, Grotius’ Universe: Divine Law and a Quest for Harmony (New York: Vantage Press, 1978), p. 51. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987; 6th printing, 1993), p. 63.
1583HG003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius, 1625, The Rights of War and Peace. Verna M. Hall, Christian History of the Constitution of the United States of America-christian Self-Government with Union (San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1962, 1979), p. 251. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987; 6th printing, 1993), p. 64.
1583HG004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius, 1625, The Rights of War and Peace, II:23:3.4. William Vasilio Sotirovich, Grotius’ Universe: Divine Law and a Quest for Harmony (New York: Vantage Press, 1978), p. 58. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987; 6th printing, 1993), p. 64.
1583HG005. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius, 1625, The Rights of War and Peace, (Amsterdam, 1933), III:25.8. William Vasilio Sotirovich, Grotius’ Universe-Divine Law and a Quest for Harmony (New York: Vantage Press, 1978), pp. 7-8. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987; 6th printing, 1993), p. 65.
1583HG006. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius. Verna M. Hall and Rosalie J. Slater, Teaching and Learning America’s Christian History (San Francisco, CA: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1975), p. 69. Gary DeMar, God and Government-A Biblical and Historical Study (Atlanta, GA: American Vision Press, 1984), p. 12.
1583HG007. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius, 1603, Commentary on the Law of Prize and Booty, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1950), p. 8. William Vasilio Sotirovich, Grotius’ Universe-Divine Law and a Quest for Harmony (New York: Vantage Press, 1978), p. 46. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987, 6th printing 1993), p. 63.
1583HG008. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius, 1627, The Truth of the Christian Religion. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, OR: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, Bulverde, Texas), p. 200.
1583HG009. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Hugo Grotius, 1627, The Truth of the Christian Religion. William Vasilio Sotirovich, Grotius’ Universe-Divine Law and a Quest for Harmony (New York: Vantage Press, 1978), p. 27. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987; 6th printing, 1993), p. 63.
This post originally appeared at https://americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/hugo-grotius-april-10-1583-august-28-1645