PREFACE.

when one reads our remarks on his Letter, one will undoubtedly be surprised that he often speaks with as much assurance of things that are not true as of those that are. This is a notable defect, especially when it results in wronging one's neighbor and thinking ill of him for things of which he is not guilty. We request that he pay heed to this in the future.

Among the things he says of Mr. de LabadieJean de Labadie (1610–1674), a former Jesuit priest who converted to the Reformed faith and later founded a communal pietist sect known as the Labadists., of whom he frequently speaks in a very unworthy and unbecoming manner, I cannot refrain from pointing out here that he cannot be cleared of the charge of rash judgment when he dares to say so bluntly that this faithful servant of God—who now rests in the bosom of His glory—was outside of Christ original: "buyten Christus was"; a severe theological claim suggesting that Labadie was not among the saved or "elect" during his transition between faiths. when he, leaving the Roman Catholicsoriginal: "Roomſch-geſinde." (whose errors, abuses, and idolatry he had fought as faithfully and courageously as he had their corruptions and sins), joined himself outwardly to the Reformed Church at Montauban and publicly embraced its doctrine. This doctrine he had already believed, confessed, and defended in his heart for a long time, having often been in danger of life and limb for it, and seeing the greatest in all France, both secular and ecclesiastical, rise up against him. The Reformed ministers in Picardy who publicly prayed for him in their churches as one of His servants who suffered in the midst of his enemies for His sake, were far from the opinion of Reverend Koelmanoriginal: "D. Koelman.", and took care not to view him as being "outside of Christ." I also know that he was received at Montauban as a man of God, to whom they were quickly prepared to give the right hand of fellowship A traditional gesture of formal recognition and partnership in Christian ministry, based on Galatians 2:9., after having seen the graces and gifts that God had placed in him, the light that He had shared with him, and the fiery zeal with which He had caused him to work for the advancement of His cause, and fur-