803. The doctors who teach in their high schools are devoted students of the mysteries of present-day faith, especially those who in Holland are known as Cocceian*. Since the inevitable product of these mysteries is the dogma of predestination, and this was in addition established by the Synod of Dort, predestination is sown and planted as seed in a field taken from the fruit of any tree. That is how it is that laymen have a great deal of conversation about predestination, but in different ways. Some grasp it with both hands, some only with one hand and a smile, while some throw it from them like a wounded** snake; for they know nothing of the mysteries of the faith from which that viper was hatched. The reason for this ignorance of theirs is their pre-occupation with business; the mysteries of that faith touch their understandings without penetrating them. So the dogma of predestination is in the case of laymen, and also in the case of the clergy, like a statue of a human figure placed on a rock in the sea, with a great sea-shell in its hand glittering as if made of gold. On seeing it as they sail past some sea-captains dip their sail in salute and out of respect; some merely wink at it and greet it, and others whistle at it as at something ridiculous. It is also like an unfamiliar bird from India perched on a high tower; some swear it is a dove, some hazard the guess that it is a cock, and others assert with oaths that they are sure it is an owl.