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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 28<br />

Disorganisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Prov<strong>in</strong>ces<br />

IN proportion as <strong>the</strong> Reformed Church <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands rises <strong>in</strong> power and consolidates her<br />

order, <strong>the</strong> Prov<strong>in</strong>ces around her fall <strong>in</strong>to<br />

disorganisation and weakness. It is a process <strong>of</strong><br />

selection and rejection that is seen go<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Low Countries. All that is valuable <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands is drawn out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> heap, and ga<strong>the</strong>red<br />

round <strong>the</strong> great pr<strong>in</strong>ciple <strong>of</strong> <strong>Protestantism</strong>, and set<br />

apart for liberty and glory; all that is worthless is<br />

thrown away, and left to be burned <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fire <strong>of</strong><br />

despotism.<br />

Of <strong>the</strong> Seventeen Prov<strong>in</strong>ces seven are taken to<br />

be fashioned <strong>in</strong>to a "vessel <strong>of</strong> honour," ten are left<br />

to become a "vessel <strong>of</strong> dishonour." The first<br />

become <strong>the</strong> "head <strong>of</strong> gold," <strong>the</strong> second are <strong>the</strong> "legs<br />

and feet <strong>of</strong> clay." Notwithstand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> efforts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Synod <strong>of</strong> Middelburg, <strong>the</strong> peace at large was not<br />

534

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