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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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<strong>in</strong>dustry and manufactur<strong>in</strong>g skill which for ages<br />

had enriched and embellished <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands.<br />

Hav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea, <strong>the</strong> Dutch<br />

transported <strong>the</strong>ir products to foreign markets, and<br />

so laid <strong>the</strong> foundation <strong>of</strong> that world-wide<br />

commerce which was a source <strong>of</strong> greater riches to<br />

Holland than were <strong>the</strong> gold anal silver m<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong><br />

Mexico and Peru to Spa<strong>in</strong>.[1]<br />

We have seen <strong>the</strong> throes and agonies amid<br />

which <strong>the</strong> Dutch Republic came to <strong>the</strong> birth, and<br />

before depict<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> prosperity and power <strong>in</strong> which<br />

<strong>the</strong> State culm<strong>in</strong>ated, it is necessary to glance at <strong>the</strong><br />

condition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dutch Church. From and after<br />

1603, dissensions and divisions broke out <strong>in</strong> it,<br />

which tended to weaken somewhat <strong>the</strong> mighty<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluences spr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>of</strong> a free conscience and a<br />

pure faith, which were lift<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> United Prov<strong>in</strong>ces<br />

to prosperity and renown. Up till <strong>the</strong> year we have<br />

named, <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands was strictly<br />

Calv<strong>in</strong>istic, but now a party <strong>in</strong> it began to diverge<br />

from what had been <strong>the</strong> one common <strong>the</strong>ology <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Reformation.<br />

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