PREFACE.

The love of God and of His will, government, and glory is the foundation of our governance, and in truth, it is that which brings about and maintains the order, peace, and edifying unity found in this House of ChristDutch: Huys Christi. The Labadists lived in communal "houses," most notably at the Walta State estate in Wieuwerd, where they attempted to recreate the lifestyle 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 wonder 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 say otherwise than that I speak the full truth in this, and that I here testify only to the smallest part of what they themselves would say, were they 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' desire for reform but eventually became their fiercest critic, writing several books against their "separatist" tendencies. thinks that I would forbid those who hear us from reading his book, just as it is said that he advises against or forbids reading our books to those who hear him. As far as his [book] is concerned, many who, reading it, have become either weary or offended by it, would certainly not think that a great evil was 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 so. Those among us who have wanted to read his book have read it as much as they wished, and I would indeed have difficulty making everyone read it; for some, laughing at those pretended mortificationsDutch: mortificatien. Spiritual exercises intended to "kill" the sinful nature. Koelman accused Labadist leaders of using these as a form of psychological abuse; Yvon counters that reading Koelman's boring book is the real "penance." which it is said we impose on them, said earnestly that it would be, for them, at least one of the greatest mortifications if I were to oblige them to read it all the way through. And I know that many outside this House of the Lord have said that one must have plenty of time and patience to read such a book from beginning to end. Dominie Koelman will not be able to believe this well, for he has far too high an opinion of it; and certain people who flatter him, or who seek to remain in the common track, apparently serve to give him very different...