Table of Contents - VU-DARE Home

Lord Jesus, my life and hope, the Lord, our righteousness and strength. Oh, may
we through Thy mercy and tenderness prevail. Remember all ours abroad.
Preserve them, and bring them safely home. Hear our cry, and spare us and Thy
people, and grant an answer of prayer in peace; also assistance in Thy service,
both for Church and schools, and help in every time of need. Amen.
N.B. the other dissertation of Heidegger 318 is also excellent, and what my friend
Theunis 319 told me of his being tempted to despair, 320 this author relates also being
common to the best of men. This evening I received a letter from Reverend
Mr. Bunschoten, who expresses his heartfelt joy on the account of my renewed
strength and success in the glorious gospel, and also informs me of the blessing of
the Lord on his person and ministry, being rejoiced to observe the desire of both
the congregations there 321 as well as in the Boght etc. to profit by his labors, and
requesting to unite my prayers with his own for direction. I am glad to hear of his
usefulness there, and the uncommon attachment of that people to this my brother.
Blessed be the Lord our God for every instance of His mercy to me and others of
the servants, as well as to the Churches throughout this continent. May our poor
labors be accepted, and we become more and more sincere and active in His
service, and for His glory in the salvation of precious immortal souls. Oh, may
the Lord of the harvest direct and dispose of this His servant, agreeable to His own
good pleasure and the greatest edification of His Churches! Restore me and my
family, Father, to former health and comforts, if it may be, and provide for me
such a colleague as the Lord will approve and bless. Amen etc.
19. This day 12 years ago I was married. Blessed be the God of Heaven and
Earth, in Jesus Christ, for all His mercies and bounties bestowed upon unworthy,
sinful me and my family. Father of mercies, pity and pardon our innumerable sins
and deal tenderly with us. O, heal our present infirmities and diseases and
especially my daughters, who are still both indisposed. Spare our lives and restore
precious health, and may we be taught to hear the Rod and fear Thy name, to love
and worship and to serve the Lord our God in sincerity and with reverence all our
days. May we live in peace and mutual harmony with all the family, and all ours
be made to know the Lord. Bless Thy Church and also Thy ordinances in the
Boght this day. Strengthen and prosper all Thy servants, both in Church and state,
and bless our land, its inhabitants’ increase, and commerce. May the Spirit of the
Lord rest upon us, and this city in particular, to Thy glory and our comfort, joy,
and salvation, in time and to all eternity, for Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son’s sake.
Amen.
20. Yesterday I went with my dear consort to hear Mr. Louw 322 preach in the
Boght, and have reason to bless the Lord for the attention of the people and the
318
Possibly his Dissertationum Selectarum Sacrorum Theologiam Dogmaticam Historicam &
Moralem Illustrantium Triakas, Ogdodekas Eikas. Zürich: David Gesner. 1675.
319
Theunis Van Woert.
320 th
Also known as salvation panic, as described in the story of Francesco Spira, popular among 17 -
century Calvinists: see Frijhoff 2002: 106-108.
321
On July 2, Westerlo reported that the Classis approved of a call to Dominee Van Bunschooten,
presumably for Niskayuna and Halfmoon [entry of June 16]. In 1788 Dominee Lupton was installed
there.
322
Dominee Peter Lowe. See entry of May 15
132