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has been referred;-if such a course is pursued, who would take the trouble to deal with matters in dispute in order to remove them? We know of no better way than the one now proposed to move Rev. Arondeus to a true reformation of his conduct, and at the same time to save the church. Should he, as we earnestly hope, by our common long-suffering with him, be brought to a better state of mind, and the flames of contention quenched, with peace restored; how pleasant would be your peace of conscience at such results, and how great will your satisfaction be! But if our counsels make no impression, we foresee only evils and miseries, with a complete scattering of several congregations; and what else can you expect from such things, than grief and remorse when it is beyond your power to remedy matters. Have compassion therefore upon the unhappy Rev. Arondeus, and the pitiable condition of your churches, which call upon you to prevent, as speedily as possible, their ruin. Men and Brethren, be disposed to make and consummate a Christian peace. It is never too late to do this and be reconciled with one another if we would possess peace of conscience and atonement with God in Jesus Christ. Do not reject our counsel, Brethren. Take counsel of the Rev. Coetus and submit yourselves to them in whatever they propose to you in our name. Take counsel of the Lord, and act in this matter as you will wish you had acted, in that Great Day.

And now, Brethren, we, who were obliged to act in this way to satisfy our own consciences, commend you to Him who is able to incline your hearts to that which is well-pleasing in His sight. May He move you to follow our advice in love, and cause light to come forth out of darkness. May He not deal with you according to your sins, nor reward the churches according to their iniquities, but cast all your sins in the depths of the sea. May He graciously grant that the churches may rejoice in peace, and of those congregations which are now to be described as Marah,bitterness, that "The Lord is there." (

Amsterdam,

Dec. 5, 1752.

) Signed as above.

1752

1752

ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.

The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. T. Frelinghuysen, Dec. 5, 1752.
Vol. 30, page -
No. 169.

To Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen of Albany,

Worthy Sir and Brother:

After answering your letter of May 1st 1751 in the beginning of September, 1752, and which letter of ours we trust, was delivered to you by your brother, we received your subsequent communication dated June 23, 1752. From this we perceive with chagrin the distempers in the church of Claverack. You ask the question whether we recognize Rev. Van Hoevenberg as a lawful minister in the Province of New York. This question is based on a document from three members of the Coetus, which says that, for weighty reasons we will in no wise trouble ourselves further about that gentleman. We wish that you had consulted on this matter the Rev. Coetus of New York, which is better able than ourselves to judge of the circumstances concerning the church of Claverack, and which would not have refrained from giving you suitable advice. As it is, we have only little to reply. We fully recognize Rev. Van Hoevenberg as a minister in Surinam, but not in the Province of New York, since no dismission from his ministry in Surinam has been brought before us. Further, we cannot at present say anything more about that gentleman. We wish you all wisdom and light to guide your judgement, to enable you to preserve peace, and to quiet the distempers which have arisen, in order that the Kingdom of Christ may break forth with power not only in your own church but in many others. We are with all esteem,

In Classis at Amsterdam,

Dec. 5, 1752.

Signed as above.

1752

ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.

The Classis of Amsterdam to the Consistory of Rhinebeck,
Dec. 5, 1752. Vol. 30, page, No. 170.

To the Worthy Consistory of Lower Rhinebeck on the Flats,
Worthy Sirs and Brethren :-

We received your letter of Feb. 26 of the present year (1752) a few days ago. This contained the announcement that you had called Rev. E. T. van Hoevenberg as your pastor, formerly pastor at Paramaribo in Surinam. You request a copy of his dismission from there, as well as a certificate of his examination and call to Surinam. We reply:

1. That Rev. Eggo Tonkens van Hoevenberg was selected in 1743 by the Noble and Honorable Gentlemen of the Society of Surinam, and was by us called ecclesiastically to become pastor at Surinam. He was then examined by us for ordination and properly qualified and ordained on April 1st 1743. This declaration we deem sufficient to stop the mouths of those who deny his lawful call and ordination as minister to Surinam.

2. As to your request for his ecclesiastical dismission and that he might be transferred to you, we reply: That the Consistory calling Rev. van Hoevenberg and desiring him as their pastor is obliged according to the Church Order to obtain the dismission and proper certificate as to his doctrine and walk from the worthy Consistory of Parimaribo in Surinam. This is not only because that Consistory is best qualified to do such a thing, but also because custom requires that a dismissal from the Consistory must precede action by the Classis.

We trust that the God of peace may dwell among you; that all things among you may be done among you in good order and to general edification, and that many among you may be added to the Church of such as shall be saved. With all esteem,

Signed as above.

Amsterdam, Dec. 5, 1752.

1752

ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.

The Classis of Amsterdam to the Consistory of Claverack,
Dec. 5, 1752. Vol. 30, page, No. 171.

Worthy Brethren :

To the Elders at Claverack:

We received your letter of Feb. 24, 1752, a few days ago. We learn therefrom with sorrow of the disturbances which have arisen among you in connection with Rev. van Hoevenberg. We wish you had referred yourself to the Coetus of New York, which would not have refused advice to you, and would also be in better condition to judge of your affairs than we. However, to comply with your request so far as possible we reply:

1. That Rev. E. T. van Hoevenberg in 1743, on the selection of the Hon. Gentlemen of the Society of Surinam, was called to be pastor in Surinam; that he was examined for ordination by us and qualified and ordained on April 1st, 1743.

2. Whether he was forbidden the pulpit in Surinam, you may inquire of those there.

3. We have never forbidden him the pulpit nor the adminis tration of the sacraments.

4. In reference to the fourth question, Whether or not you did right, and to which you desire a straightforward answer, and not to quibble about the meaning-we say that the question is obscure, and it is very difficult to answer clearly and plainly an obscure question.

(1) If the question is-Whether you have done right in allowing Rev. van Hoevenberg to administer the sacraments in a single instance, we answer: It is no crime to allow a minister who is elsewhere in service, if nothing is known to his injury, to occupy the pulpit and administer the sacraments.

(2) But if the question is, Whether it is right to employ permanently, for the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments, a minister of another congregation, we must answer that, according to Church Order, this may not be done. Such minister must first be provided with a proper dis

1752

This must be obtained

missal and testimonial of commendation.
in this case, from Surinam, by the worthy Consistory which now
desires him as their pastor.

We hope you will use all proper prudence in this, in order to do all things according to good Church Order, that all discord may be avoided and peace and edification be preserved. The God of Peace be with you. We are with all esteem,

In Classis, Amsterdam, Dec. 5, 1752.

[The last letter in Vol. 30.]

Signed as above.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.

The Committee, Revs. Haeghoort, Goetschius and Verbryck, to the Classis of Amsterdam, Dec. 6, 1752, N. S., on the Muzelius case at Tappan. Vol. xxiii. 299-305. Reference xxiv. 16.

[See March 3, 1753.]

Portfolio "New York", Vol. ii.

Very Rev. Classical Assembly, Much Beloved Fathers and Brethren in Christ
Jesus:-

The critical condition of the church at Tappan, caused by the singular obstinacy of Rev. Muzelius, obliges us to give to your Revs., a second time, an account of our very troublesome church affairs. It may be known to your Revs. by this time that Rev. Muzelius was, by direction of the Coetus, made a minister emeritus at Tappan on the 21st of February, 1750. This was done with a view, probably, of saving his Rev. as well as the church. But alas! one sees now that the mild measures did not have the desired effect. Rev. Muzelius behaves in such a hot-headed way, that, at the two meetings of the Coetus last held, the church brought in very grave complaints against him, so that the Rev. Coetus deemed it necessary to ask the neighboring ministers to help the church in its need.

We, therefore, in conscience bound to prevent, to the extent of our little ability, all faction and offenses in the churches, have now for two days been occupied with these affairs so painful to us. Having carefully investigated everything, in an impartial spirit and in the fear of God, and fervently praying for the Lord's assistance and blessing, we cannot find otherwise than what we hereby, with all submission, report to your Revs.

After Rev. Muzelius was made emeritus, he not only went back to his former habitual drunkenness, which was very offensive, and to his irreligious ways, but he also continues to create great and serious factions in the church. This he does by preaching and baptizing children in private localities, although most kindly and fraternally exhorted and warned by the local consistory and minister, and many a time also by the Rev. Coetus not to do this. Not more than twice in two years and more, has he been seen in attendance at public worship. Yet the Rev. Coetus charged him to lead a life in the observance of the duties of religion as well as a godly life, as an orderly member of the church ought to do. Nevertheless, he does not cease insulting the consistories and ministers by word and deed. Before he left (his office) he caused the church great loss, by burning up, or breaking down, or otherwise damaging the fence about the church-land, the house, and the barn. Yesterday we kindly summoned him to appear before our committee (lit. assembly) to present the complaint he made to the Coetus last year; and to defend himself

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