Copiae. Alsoo tot kennisse van de Dinaren, en by gevolg van de Gemeente, gekomen is, dat Pieter Jansz. Tw...

C O P I E S.

1 Corinthians 11:18, compared with chapter 3:4.

Since it has come to the knowledge of the ministers, and consequently the congregation, that PIETER JANSZ. TWISCK, together with certain members of our congregation, has undertaken to establish a separate meeting and subsequently to found a new congregation: to the extent that they have already, without informing the congregation, elected deacons. Such matters can be viewed by the congregation as nothing other than sectarianism and schism, which the Apostle Paul calls carnal original: "vleeſchelijck" refers to the worldly or fleshly nature of such divisions. Being, therefore, not only offensive and scandalous to common Christianity, but also inclined to cause much sorrow and uncharitable actions within our particular congregation and others.

It is for this reason that the congregation has felt compelled to admonish the aforementioned PIETER JANSZ. TWISCK, and all those (of our Brotherhood or Sisterhood) who join him or might be moved to do so in the future, earnestly and brotherly, and indeed to humbly beseech them, to sincerely observe their Christian duty and the special promise so solemnly made with their mouths to the God of Heaven: namely, to share joy and sorrow, sweet and sour with the congregation, and not to part except by death.

Furthermore, we request that if they have any just reasons for grievance against the congregation in general, or any members in particular, they may be pleased to submit these complaints either before the congregation or before the ministers of the land, whichever they deem advisable to satisfy the reasonableness or the order of the congregation and to achieve their aim. The congregation, on its part, offers to provide them with as much satisfaction as can be reasonably requested.

But if all this is rejected by them, and they still intend to proceed with their evil intent, then the congregation deems it necessary, with regret, to declare that it shall regard all those who are participants in this schism, or may become so in the future, as those who have voluntarily, without just cause, separated themselves from this congregation and, therefore, as those who no longer belong to the congregation or its oversight, and who also cannot return to it without special repentance for this, their misconduct.

Thus decided and established by the gathered Brotherhood, representing the congregation (named the Frisian Mennonites original: "Vrieſſe Doopsge-finde"), holding their meeting in the Peperstraat, in Hoorn. On the 30th of December of the year 1689.

(Printed according to the original, signed by nine of the ministers who were present.)