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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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<strong>in</strong>terest taken <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se questions marked an age<br />

more erudite than religious, and an <strong>in</strong>tellect which<br />

had become too subtle to be altoge<strong>the</strong>r sound; and<br />

<strong>the</strong> prom<strong>in</strong>ence given <strong>the</strong>m, both <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> discussions<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> schools and <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>istrations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pulpit,<br />

reacted on <strong>the</strong> nation, and was productive <strong>of</strong><br />

animosities and dissensions.<br />

Never<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong>se evils were sensibly abated<br />

after <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Synod <strong>of</strong> Dort. The<br />

founta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> truth were aga<strong>in</strong> purified, and peace<br />

restored to <strong>the</strong> churches and <strong>the</strong> schools. The<br />

nation, aga<strong>in</strong> reunited, resumed its onward march<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> path <strong>of</strong> progress. For half a century <strong>the</strong><br />

university and <strong>the</strong> pulpit cont<strong>in</strong>ued to be mighty<br />

powers <strong>in</strong> Holland <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essors and pastors took<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir place <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> first rank <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ologians. Abroad<br />

<strong>the</strong> canons <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Synod <strong>of</strong> Dort met with a very<br />

general acquiescence on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Protestant<br />

Churches, and cont<strong>in</strong>ued to regulate <strong>the</strong> teach<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and mould <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ology <strong>of</strong> Christendom. At home<br />

<strong>the</strong> people, imbued with <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bible, and<br />

impregnate with that love <strong>of</strong> liberty, and that<br />

respect for law, which <strong>Protestantism</strong> ever<br />

574

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