The Origin of Reformed Pietism on the European Continent

CHAPTER THREE THE ORIGIN OF REFORMED PIETISM ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT A. GENERAL BACKGROUND The section of Europe to which reference is made in this chapter covers not only the various provinces of the Netherlands but also those territories of western Germany in which the Reformed faith made a significant contribution to the religious life of the people. Geographically this area extends from the eastern border of the Netherlands to the Weser River and from the North Sea to the Main and the lower Neckar. In East Friesland, which borders on the Netherlands and the North Sea, the Reformed Church consti tuted a significant minority of the population. Since the city of Emden had given refuge to the persecuted Calvinists of the Nether lands during the wars of independence close ties of sympathy and mutual respect existed throughout the seventeenth century between the Reformed people of East Friesland and the Netherlands. South of East Friesland the counties of Bentheim, Lingen, Steinfurt, Tecklenburg, and Rheda were centers of the Reformed faith. Southeast of the Netherlands were the duchies of Cleve, Julich, and Berg, as well as the counties of Mark and of Meurs, in all of which strong Reformed congregations could be found. To the southeast were the Reformed territories of Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, and the Palatinate which formed a chain reaching close to Frankfurt on Main and the lower N eckar. Included were the counties of Ziegen hain, Wittgenstein, Siegen, Dillenburg, Diez, Wied, Katzenellen bogen, Solms-Braunfels, Isenburg, and Hanau as well as the cities of Marburg and Offenbach. It is important to realize that the Reformed churches within these various territories were united in spirit. During the seventeenth century they found themselves in the theological orbit of the Netherlands. Most of them were represented at the Synod of Dort in 1618. Their theological faculties 1) were sensitive to the intel- 1) These were connected with the three universities of Duisburg, Marburg, and Heidelberg. While Heidelberg suffered heavily as a result of the Thirty 1 JO ORIGIN OF REFORMED PIETISM ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT lectual influences which eminated from Utrecht, Leyden, and Franeker. While it is true that Reformed churches in these territories differed markedly from one another with reference to details of church government they were aware of the fact that theirs was a common faith and a common heritage. Hence it was relatively easy for both professors and preachers to move from county to county or from the German provinces to the Netherlands. This consciousness of community which transcended political boundaries was not only accepted but deliberately fostered by the Pietists. To them piety was the important thing and boundaries, whether political or ecclesiastical, were simply barriers which had to be overcome. The chain of historical events which form the background to this chapter need only be given in outline. Under Charles V of Spain Lutheranism had made considerable inroads upon the population of the Netherlands. Soon it had found a powerful rival in the Anabaptist movement which, both in its sane and its radical aspects, seemed especially attractive to the lower classes. Calvinism did not enter the religious picture of the Low Countries very prominently before the second half of the century. It then became the religion of the middle class. When Philip II took over the reigns of government in 1555 he determined to put an end to the politically disconcerting heterogeneity which Christianity presented in these provinces. For that reason be appointed his sister, Margaret of Parma, as regent and gave her as adviser Cardinal Granvella, the bishop of Arras. This Spanish domination was increasingly resented by the people of the Netherlands whose champions were William of Nassau, the Prince of Orange, together with the counts of Hom and Egmont. In order to quell the rising opposition against the oppressive Spanish rule the notorious Duke of Alva entered the Netherlands in 1567 with a large army. His ruthless reign of terror, one of the worst in history, gradually led to outright rebellion. During the struggle which ensued many of the Calvinists fled east and settled in German territories. In 1571 they organized themselves at Emden into the Synod of the Churches of the Nether lands Which Sit Under the Cross. Having previously adopted the Belgic Confession they now also acknowledged the Gallic Confession, Years' War some of the high schools could also boast of excellent theological faculties. Chief among them were Herborn, Bremen, Burgsteinfurt, Lingen, Hamm, and Hanau. .

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