Brieven. Deel 1

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XIII.
To the Most-worthy Gentlemen
of the Union of Christians
to Bedford.

Gentlemen!

Though not belonging to the Brotherhood, commonly call'd Hernhuts, your Letter lately received by them in the month of July, was communicated to me in the Protocol of their conferences, as to a well known favourer and adherer to the true principles of Christianism, and filled my soul with joy and delight by seing a new manifestation of the Grace of our Saviour in your laudable and holy association. As every endeavour for preventing the further decay of the true spirit of Christianism, and particularly for sustaining the great foundation of our faith in the expiating blood of Jesus Christ, ought to be unexpressibly dear to every one, who does not bear His name invain, so I cann't conceal my feelings and forbear my thanks to our Lord for a Society founded upon and animated by this

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only motive. But what particularly excites my applause among the means you recurr at, is the publication of your eclectic Journal, you mention, which I cannot sufficiently recommend you to support with all your forces. Nothing, dear Gentlemen, can be of such an universal influence as such periodical papers, when written to the capacity of the Public; and we have seen the irresistible effects of them in Holland as well as in Germany, on account to the Political principles as well as to the religious ones. In Holland a faction as perverse in Politics as in Religion made it-self master of the Journals and Magazines, and it was by their insidious Recensions of every Literary product, as well as by the multiplicity of pièces volantes, they dispersed therein, that they attained at last their aim, viz. of overthrowing every sound principle; the which could not fail of producing a total dissolution of the social bound, which (and not the French weapons) made us perish. In Germany the attempts of Nicolaï and his partisans are known by his Universal German Library (Algemeine Deutsche Bibliothef), which have been so successfull as to extirpate the very roots of the true Faith in the Lutheran Church, and to introduce universally on the Protestant pulpits and colleges the most horrible blasphemies of Deism ad Naturalism against the holy truths of Revelation. It is impossible, dear and worthy Gentlemen, to imagine, how far this excess is carried on in this unhappy Country, where (in the Reformed and Lutheran communions alike) the true

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word of God is not more heard of, but only in order to be confuted or laughed at with most tremendous and abominable sarcasms: the whole Religion being reduced in both communions to a mere Ethnicism, containing only the acknowledging of a superior (but very indifferent) Being, from whose providence all particulars are excluded, and who does not take so much pains as to be offended by our trespasses (the which, accordingly to the new opinions would be contradictory in Deity), in short a very Epicurean Divinity; and some obscure idea of immortality of the soul, but without the least admission of resurrection, and entirely different of that immortality, the Christian adspires at. As for me, dear Brethren, who live here, exiled from my Country by the Revolutionary Government of 1795, I cann't express, how much I am affected by this unhappy and deplorable state of the Public Church. And it is with the greatest pangs of sorrow, I experience that since my absence the public sentiments in Holland are not turned for the better. Nevertheless, I perceive, that there the Association for defending the truths of Revelation is yet subsisting, as well as the Orthodox Communion of Lutherians, (call'd of the Old-Light), who not being able to bear the infection of new principles generally intruded in the Lutheran church at Amsterdam, separated them-selves from it, some years ago, in order to preserve the purity of the Gospel-doctrine. I don 't know, Gentlemen, if you have some relations tho those two Institutions, which

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I suppose continuing in the very way I saw them beginning their course. But the principal object, which moved me to address you this Letter, is that I wished to offer you my feeble but sincere service and aid, if you should be of opinion they could be of use, with regard to the German and Dutch Literature, which I perecive your institute is comprehending also. Tho' a Dutchman, Gentleman, I believe to be possessed with a sufficient store of acquaintance of the English and German (as well as of the most other living languages), for giving a faithful and intelligible recension of any work appearing: and I dare flatter my-self, that with some light corrections, my stile in English would be found tolerable in a matter, which requires no elegance, but only precision and clearness of ideas and facility. However if you should think my English stile not fit for that purpose, I could give my Recensions and Observations in Latin or French, at your choice. If with relating to this object you are not yet better furnished, Gentlemen, I am ready to contribute all my poor means to your great and worthy aim; only begging to be supplyed with some instruction, whereby I may be directed in the choice of objects as well as in the manner of executing the intent. For instance, I would be glad, to be acquainted with your design, whether you would restrict your-self only to matters of Divinity and Religion, or rather comprehend every other object whose influence on Revelation and Religion are manifest, as for instance the Geology,

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whereof Buffon and his followers have made such are abominable and horrid abuse in order to undermine every notion of Revelated Chronology, Deluge, &c. In the same manner I ought to be informed of the bounds you think proper to fix to such a Recension, which can be put into the form of a complete examen and casu quo refutation purposely done, of the announced works; or simply as a mere exposition of their contents, and warning against their fallacity and deceitfulness. - Perhaps you will find it very singular, to receive these offerings, at such a distance, and from one, who has not the least relation with any of you, and whose abilities and sentiments you are perfectly strangers to; but however you may think about agreeing or refusing my offices, I hope you will do justice to the candour and purity of my intentions, and persuade your-selves, that no body can partake more heartily of the successes of your Institution, than the poor writer of this insignifiant Letter, who unites him-self with the prayers of every good Christian for every thing leading to the common good of the dear treasure, which is confided to us, and whereof we are once to be called to account for.

The grace of our Lord and Saviour and His holy Spirit be with you, Dear and most worthy Brethren, and rule every of yours thoughts and endeavours!

I am &c.

My direction is to Mr B. at Brunswick.