Doctrine of Holy Baptism and its Pure Administration

...to add to his two letters, so we must not pass them by without making the remarks about them which can be seen at the back of this book; to which have been added some of the testimonies given to Mr. de LabadieJean de Labadie (1610–1674), a former Jesuit who became a Pietist leader and founded the Labadist movement., for the reasons expressed therein.

I would not like to be as long-winded in this Preface as Reverend Koelmanoriginal: "D. Koelman"; D. stands for Dominus, a title for a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. has been in his, in which he seems even more violent and sharp than in the book itself. Nevertheless, I must still touch upon certain things here as briefly as possible, as they seem to require it.

Firstly, we believe we have reason to complain about the manner and way in which Reverend Koelman proceeds against this Work of the Lord The author's term for the Labadist community and their spiritual reforms.. There are, I believe, few who would not agree that he could and should have been more restrained and more just in what he wanted to say or write against us. And he himself would surely see that, if he were not so accustomed to a style of writing and speaking that is somewhat bitter and excessive. He thinks it is all zeal, and zeal for the truth. But must that zeal not be pure? And would his zeal not be greater if it were more modest and moderate, and less mixed with that fire which is natural to him, and which therefore certainly needs to be purified? I wish from my heart that he would pay heed to this, and I can say with truth that it is out of the love I bear for his soul—for which it is known I have had a special tenderness—having often been grieved that, through adherence to his own thoughts and certain prejudices taken over from others, he allowed himself to be carried away to speak of this Work of the Lord as he has done.

We also believe we have reason to complain that Reverend Koelman, having intended to misinterpret certain things that he could have taken better, furthermore attributes many things to us that are not so, and do not consist with the truth. The proof of this will be seen here