PREFACE.

God’s [glory] and the love for His will, governance, and majesty is the foundation of our leadership; and in truth, it is what brings about and maintains the order, peace, and edifying unity found in this House of ChristDutch: Huys Christi. This refers to the Labadist community itself, which lived communally and viewed itself as a restoration of the early Apostolic church.. All the sincere souls whom the Lord brings to it testify that they are freer there than they have ever been elsewhere; and they cannot marvel enough at what is said regarding their coercion and bonds. I write this before their eyes, and gladly place it in their hands; and I am well assured that they will not, nor can they, say otherwise than that I speak the full truth in this, and that I testify here to only the smallest part of what they themselves would say, if they were to speak of what they feel in their hearts.

Dominie KoelmanJacobus Koelman (1632–1695), a Dutch Reformed minister who was initially sympathetic to the Labadists but later became a fierce critic, writing books to "warn" the public about their perceived errors. thinks that I would forbid those who hear us from reading his book, just as it is said that he advises against or forbids those who hear him from reading our books. As for his own work, many who have read it and become either weary or offended by it would certainly not think it a great evil done to those souls if such reading were taken away from them. Nevertheless, I can say that what Dominie Koelman thinks and says about it is not the case. Those among us who wished to read his book have read it as much as they wanted, and I would actually have difficulty making everyone read it: for some, laughing at those pretended mortificationsDutch: mortificatien. Spiritual disciplines intended to "kill" the ego or sinful nature. Here, the author uses the term sarcastically. that people say we impose on them, said earnestly that it would be by no means the least of their mortifications if I were to oblige them to read the whole thing through. And I know that many outside this House of the LordDutch: Huys des Heeren. Another synonym for the Labadist household or community. have said that one must have plenty of time and patience to spare to read such a book from beginning to end. Dominie Koelman will not easily believe this, for he has far too high an opinion of it; and certain people who flatter him, or who seek to remain in the usual track, apparently serve to give him quite different