History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

of the devil;" whilst another Lutheran,
Bugenhagius, declared that "they ought not to be
considered as Christians;" and they received
intimation from the king that he would "sooner
suffer Papists than them in his dominions; " and
they were compelled, at a most inclement season,
to embark for the north of Germany, where the
same persecutions awaited them, the fondness for
the dogma of con-substantiation on the part of the
Lutheran ministers having almost stifled in their
minds the love of Protestantism.[1] But William of
Orange was an earnest Calvinist, and the opinions
adopted by the Church of Holland on the subject of
the Sacrament were the same with those received
by the Churches of Switzerland and of England,
and hence the coldness of Germany to the great
battle for Protestantism on its borders.
William, therefore, seeing England irresolute,
France treacherous, and Germany cold, withdrew
his eyes from abroad, in seeking for allies and aids,
and fixed them nearer home. Might he not make
another attempt to consolidate the cause of
Protestant liberty in the Netherlands themselves?
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