An exact survey of the affaires of the United Netherlands. Comprehending more fully than any thing yet extant, all the particulars of that subject. In twelve heads, mentioned in the address to the reader.

SECT. 3.

Their present state in point of Religion.

Trav.

IT was so indeed, when Queen Elizabeth pittied, the French Protestants relieved, and the German Princes assisted them upon the bare ac∣count of their being Professors of the Gospel; besides that, that Notion extraor∣dinarily inspired their Populacy, no∣thing rendring men more daring in this World than their Engagements for ano∣ther; when that which restrains and mo∣derates Passions inflames them.

I. But 1. Since the Dutch have never been esteemed really devout, and now think it not worth their while to pre∣tend it; and are only Jewes of the New-Testament, that have changed only the Law for the Gospel, since they are so

much Christians as to tolerate Jewes, and banish Catholiques; and so much Protestants, as to silence Arminians, and indulge twelve sorts of Anabaptists; the common saying being, that A man may be what Devil he will there, so he pusheth not against the States.

II. Since the Quarrel is not Religion, so much as Trade, so much their Faith, as their Interest; and they can clap a League with the Turk that they may in∣vade an Ally, and the best Protestant Prince in the World.

III. Since the ve••y variety of their Religions endanger their Countreymen with seditions, than any Enemy yet hath done by Invasions; to instance no fur∣ther than the Remonstrant and Anti-re∣monstrant controversie, which if not sea∣sonably allayed, by the grave Councils, and potent Engagement of King James of blessed memory, 1617, 1618, 1619. had taken away their very Place and Nation: Every ambitious or discon∣tented Person, having the opportunity of making himself the Head, or at least of a dissenting Party; into whose Con∣sciences, by the fundamental constitu∣tion

of the Government, no man dares look, untill they grow so prevalent that none can controul their Practices, Schism being established there by a Law, and their Government made precarious and contemptible, as exposed to the restless Importunity of every Sect and Opinion; yea, and of every single Person who shall presume to dissent from the Publick, who finding that by being troublesom to the Government, that they can arrive to an indulgence, will, as their numbers increase, be more troublesom; that so at length they may arrive to a general toleration, and at last cry for an esta∣blishment; besides that the variety of Religions, when openly indulged, doth directly distinguish men into Parties, and withal gives them opportunities to count their numbers; which consider∣ing the animosities that out of a Religi∣ous Pride will be kept on foot by the se∣veral Factions, doth tend directly and inevitably to open disturbance, when there is no security that either the Do∣ctrine or the Worship of the ••everal Par∣ties, who are all governed by a several Rule, shall be consistent with the peace

of the State,—whereof there are these four degrees; Ministers, Doctors, Elders, and Deacons.

IV. Since the Ministers cannot at all in this, or any other case assist the Go∣vernment, being 1. Poor, and stipendia∣ry, being allowed seldom above 50l. a year. 2. Chosen and settled with the consent of the people (about which mat∣ter, there are not there a few Blastings and Factions—about 1. The Right of Presentation. 2. The Examination of the person presented. 3. The Con∣tract between him and his Patron. 4. The time of Presentation. 5. The Or∣thodoxness and Piety of the man Pre∣sented. 6. The Churches Right of re∣fusing their Presented Minister, or to turn him out, &c.) 3. Unlearned, there being no encouragement to be Excel∣lent; the Pedant and the Doctor sitting together at the Ordinary, right at the rate of an Equall Common-wealth, after they have performed their Sermon and Common-place, and with Prayer and fasting are sent abroad, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbitery, and the lifting up of the hands of the people.

V. Since they have such clashings a∣mong their Ruling Elders, and such ado with their 1. National Synod. 2. Their Ecclesiastical Senate. 3. Their Provin∣cial Conventions twice a year. And 4. Their Ecclesiastical Conventicles, where∣of 16. in a Province once a month.

VI. Since a man knoweth Sunday amongst them by no other Token than by their Playing and Mustring; since God may be more safely offended there than the States-General; their Repub∣lick, being to them more than Heaven: Liberty is their God, War their Heaven, Peace their Hell, the Spaniard their De∣vill, Custom their Law, and their Wills their Reason:—Since when they must in Heathen Kingdoms part with their trade or Religion, they will say they are no Christians, but Hollanders.

VII. Since its the Protestant States and Princes that they have most disob∣liged, I mean Sweden, Denmark, and England.

VIII. Since they have so little regard to Religion, that when the Christian Ministers in Turkey were sent for to con∣sult about Moses his Body, the Dutch

Merchants said they had none.

These Particulars being warily put together, I may conclude that they have lost their Interest in point of Religion.

Gent.

Nay, when they pretend to no more Religion there, than 1. To Pray. 2. Read. 3. Preach. 4. Expound. 5. Ca∣techise. 6. Baptize. 7. Receive the Com∣munion the first Sundayes in April, July, October, and January, after 18. dayes warning. 8. To marry a Widow with∣in six months, a Maid at 14, with an Exhortation. 9. To make a sick mans Will. 10. To go before a dead bo∣dy, without either Prayer, Sermon, or so much as the tinkling of a Bell. 11. To admonish, suspend, excommunicate, 1. By praying for the guilty person. 1. On Sunday, without naming either him or his fault. The 2d. Naming him. The 3d. Naming him and his fault, for which he is excluded, till he confesseth it before the Congregation, and the Pul∣pit:—And all these things with that indifferency, that if men will, they may use them, and submit to them; if not, they may let them alone: Inso∣much as there is not a more ridiculous

Meeting in the World, than their Paro∣chial Sunday meetings; where they do what they please indeed for an hour or two, and the people do what they please all the Week:—I think we may wave that Point, and see what is—