Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
4. De Gemeenschap der Heiligen<br />
dan was mijne blijdschap. Ik<br />
verheugde mij zoo dat ik vond die<br />
van dezen weg waren, en mijn<br />
geest was levendig en vrij wanneer<br />
ik mogt vertrouwen, dat die ik<br />
sprak, <strong>of</strong> die mij hoorden, der<br />
Genade Gods waren deelachtig<br />
geworden. Niet dat ik mijne ondervindingen<br />
stelde tot eene regel voor<br />
anderen, maar ik was verheugd in<br />
’t verborgene, dat ’t voorstel van<br />
anderen in ’t wezenlijke met mijne<br />
geestelijke gevoelens overeenkwamen,<br />
en mijne beginzels en<br />
arme pogingen in ’t Evangelium<br />
van andere meer geoeffende<br />
aangenomen wierden. Dus mijne<br />
ervaringe getoets aan ’t Heilige<br />
Woord, en de bevindinge ook van<br />
levende vroomen, ontfing ik te<br />
sterker vrijmoedigheid in ’t openbaare<br />
verkondigen en bepalen van<br />
’t wezen der zaake, ’t eennodige tot<br />
Zaligheid.<br />
5. Hierbij kan ik niet nalaten<br />
zommige mijner vertrouwde <strong>of</strong><br />
altans geliefde vrienden in mijn<br />
dankbaar geheugen te vereeuwigen,<br />
als W. Knickerbacker, Mrs.<br />
Winne, Douwe Winne, Theunis<br />
van Woert; en anderen wel bekend,<br />
die t’elkens in haare samenspraken<br />
mijn gemoed gesterkt en gesticht<br />
hebben, en welker overeenstemminge<br />
in de dingen ’s geestes<br />
mij dierbaar was. ’t Gezelschap<br />
4. The communion <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Saints then was my happiness. I<br />
rejoiced so much that I found those<br />
who were <strong>of</strong> this way, and my<br />
mind was lively and free when I<br />
could trust that those whom I spoke<br />
with or who heard me had been<br />
blessed with the mercy <strong>of</strong> God. It<br />
is not that I made my experiences<br />
as a rule for others, but I rejoiced<br />
in the hidden fact that the<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> others in essence<br />
concurred with my spiritual<br />
feelings, and that my principles and<br />
poor attempts in the Gospel were<br />
accepted by more experienced<br />
others. Thus having tested my<br />
experience against God’s Word,<br />
and also against the experience <strong>of</strong><br />
living pious people, I received even<br />
stronger candidness in publicly<br />
preaching and determining the<br />
essence <strong>of</strong> the matter, the only<br />
thing necessary toward salvation.<br />
5. Here I cannot refrain from<br />
eternalizing in my grateful memory<br />
some <strong>of</strong> my loyal or at any rate dear<br />
friends such as W. Knickerbacker, 35<br />
Messrs. 36 Winne, Douwe Winne, 37<br />
Theunis Van Woert, 38 and others<br />
well known, who every time in<br />
their conversations have<br />
invigorated and edified my spirits,<br />
and whose concurrence in the<br />
things <strong>of</strong> the spirit has been dear to<br />
me. The company <strong>of</strong> and<br />
35<br />
Wouter Johannes Knickerbocker (1712-1797), married to Elizabeth Fonda; deacon in the Church,<br />
1751-52; elder 1767-68.<br />
36<br />
In Dutch, Westerlo uses ‘Mrs.’ as the plural <strong>of</strong> ‘Mr.’<br />
37<br />
The most likely persons Westerlo is referring to here are Jan (John) Winne, who was an elder in<br />
1764 and 1765, and Peter Winne Douw (1735-1803), a member <strong>of</strong> the Committee <strong>of</strong> Correspondence<br />
in 1778.<br />
38<br />
Westerlo mentions him several times in his memoirs, but only few details are known today.<br />
22
Change language