LECTURE V. RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF HOLLAND AND BELGIUM SINCE THE REFORMATION. BY WILLIAM K. TWEEDIE, MINISTER OF FREE TOLBOOTH CHURCH, EDINBURGH. τ The Author of the following Lecture embraces this opportunity to express the sanguine hope, that the time is fast approaching when the friends of truth and godliness will be found banded in a widespread league against the rising power of Popery. All history, and experience past and present, combine with the word of God to shew, that that system is unchangeably the enemy of Jehovah's truth, and therefore of man's soul; and if the necessity for opposing its progress which now exists, does not compel evangelical Protestants to combine against it, Protestantism will fall,—and, we may add, it will deserve its doom: Study Popery where you will,-in Rome,-in Germany,-in France,-in Tahiti,-in America, in Ireland,-in Oxford, it is everywhere the same antichristian scheme, the counterfeit or caricature of Christianity,– the antagonist of saving truth; and amid many warnings to the believer, in the days in which we live, to flee to the Rock that is higher than we, it would be one source of encouragement did we find that the friends of truth are alive to their coming danger, and preparing to meet it when it comes, in the strength of Him who alone can turn the battle from the gates. One of the Belgic missionaries exclaims amid exhausting toils, "What a privilege to be employed in labouring for the ruin of Rome!"-and all Christians should labour and pray at least for its conversion. 271 LECTURE V. RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF HOLLAND AND BELGIUM SINCE THE REFORMATION. Present aspect of the World regarding Religion.-HOLLAND— Reformation there-Persecution-Instances-The Progress of Truth-Reformed doctrine at last established-Subsequent declension-The causes-Present state of Religion in Holland -Of Education-The Revival-A Secession-Persecution.-BELGIUM-The atrocities perpetrated there at the Reformation-Instances of Martyrdom-The Reformed doctrine at last proscribed-Popery thoroughly dominant-Revival commenced -The causes-Its progress-The Evangelical Society of Belgium-Its agency-The opposition encountered-The success -Instances-Our duty-Conclusion. THE most superficial observer of the times in which we live, cannot but have noticed the prominent importance that is now given to religion. For no small portion of the past century, it was treated as a subordinate thing, and even appeared satisfied with the treatment which it received. In some secluded corners it was raised to the rank, or allowed to exercise the controul, which is its right; but looking far and wide over the face of Christendom, we cannot but notice that, for half a century at least, religion was regarded as an inferior and secondary thing. One nation expunged it from their statute-book; they decreed its non-existence; and if they could, they would have utterly erased it from the |