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the many deliverances, mercies, and blessings we have received and enjoyed
during the war, and not only exerted their ready minds to render habitual and
actual praises to the God of peace for the reestablishment of peace and the
confirmation of our civil rights, being raised even to independence and
sovereignty, with absolute freedom of legislation and commerce and supreme
dominion, as well as possession of the territories and all the extensive soil of the
United States, but also exhorted my people to glorify the Lord in their day and
station by believing and adorning the gospel of their salvation with a Holy
Conversation, propagating the truth as it is in Jesus Christ among their relations,
and even throughout all the continents, that His name may be known as our peace
from the rising to the setting sun. Thanks be to God in Jesus Christ, who has
caused war to cease and given me also the desire of my heart to offer unto Him
sacrifices of praises in His Sanctuary. Father of mercy, increase my strength and
confidence, and preserve my life and health for Thy service and Church and my
poor infant family. Bless my dear consort and all her children with Thy grace and
peace in the Lord Jesus Christ, and let the outgoing of this year rejoice. Prepare
us for the solemnity of Thy sacred Table, and feed us with the tokens of Thy
everlasting covenant. Oh, may we sing Thy praises for redeeming mercy and
renewing grace, and restore unto Thy people here and elsewhere our comfort,
peace. Peace. Isaiah 7.18-19. 109 Amen.
22. Through yesterday morning, indisposed of pains in the stomach, the Lord
pitied me and strengthened my body and mind in and for the service of His
Sanctuary. May I enjoy what I preached unto others from Philippians 4.7, 110 and
be useful in the propagation of God’s Kingdom. I also received a letter from
Dominee Ritzema, with thanks to the Lord for our consultation being blessed to
quiet his mind and prosper his affairs, and a book which I intend to read for my
edification. May peace also abound in my congregation and our souls be prepared
for the solemnities of the season and the Lord’s Supper be a blessing among us.
Father of mercies, sanctify and comfort Thy servants and children and let the
Earth be filled with Thy knowledge and glory. Amen.
24. Yesterday evening, in reading H. Ritzema on Acts 24-26, 111 I saw in a note
that Professor M. Bertling died already 1772 Oct., aet. 112 63. I desire to bless the
Lord for my acquaintance with this man, who had studied formerly with my
grandfather Eilardus Reiners, VDM 113 at Dalen in the province of Drenthe, and
109
On that day the Lord will whistle for the fly that is at the sources of the streams of Egypt, and for
the bee that is in the land of Assyria. And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the
clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures.
110
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
111
Helperus Ritzema (1711-1787), a graduate of the University of Groningen, wrote De Uitmuntende
Heerschappij der Zeer Overvloedige Genade Gods boven de Vermeerderde Zonde, Aangetoond uit
Romeinen V:12-21 en Proefkundig Bevestigd met Lukas XV:11-32 (Leiden, 1774).
112
[Latin] aetate, at the age of.
113
[Latin] Verbi Dei Minister, Servant of the Word of God. This information is confirmed by
Heerspink’s De Godgeleerdheid en Hare Beoefenaars aan de Hoogeschool te Groningen, Gedurende
het 250Jarige Bestaan der Akademie: “Anderhalf jaar genoot hij privaatonderwijs in het Hebreeuwsch,
Grieksch en Chaldeeuwsch van Eilardus Reiners, predikant in het nabij Coevorden gelegen dorp
Dalen.” [“For a year and a half he [= Michael Bertling] received private lessons in Hebrew, Greek,
and Chaldaic from Eilardus Reiners, minister in Dalen nearby Coevorden” [Heerspink 1875:20].
59