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43 - About the constraint upon conscience practised in Holland. A conversation between D.V.C. and N.V.L., 7 November, 1579

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2012

E. H. Kossman
Affiliation:
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands
A. F. Mellink
Affiliation:
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands
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Summary

Derick Volckertsz Coornhert (1522–90), a Haarlem notary of Christian humanist conviction, is the best known advocate of religious toleration in the Netherlands in the second half of the sixteenth century. His independence over problems of faith and ethics frequently brought him into conflict with the ministers of the Reformed Church. He held this conversation with the Haarlem burgomaster Niclaes van der Laan.

c.: We have now agreed that Moses never commanded that heretics should be killed and that such a command is not to be found in the Old Testament generally, either in clear and explicit terms or couched in the form of a metaphor or a story. We see too that when Paul expressly mentioned a heretic, he clearly indicated how he should be punished, namely by keeping out of his way and avoiding him after admonishing him once or twice. This is undeniably a law on the punishment of heretics given to us by the apostle inspired by the Holy Ghost. Moses never wrote down a law about this. Nevertheless you do not hesitate to ignore the clear evangelical law about heretics given by Paul and to look for one in Moses, or even to invent one which is not there. This is what the Ebionites did. It means ignoring and failing to keep God's law, rejecting the Holy Scripture and following one's own pleasure and human reason. Is this what you want to be called following God's commandments? Obeying God and seeking God's honour? What else is this than despising God, repudiating His Word, offending, defaming and humiliating His Name?

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1975

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