Ondersoek en antwoord [...] op 't request door de gedeputeerden der Noordhollandsche synode tot Edam

same Synod, show with all respect how by D. Balthasar Bekker, Minister at Amsterdam, and Doctor in Holy Theology, a certain treatise entitled The World Bewitched original: "de Betoverde Weereld" has been made and divided into four Books: of which the third and the fourth have so far remained with the Author; but the first and the second have come to light this year; first printed at Leeuwarden in octavo a standard book size, and afterward reprinted in Amsterdam one and another time: both those Books, and especially the second, being very offensive and harmful Books; and in which the Author uses such language regarding the Holy Writers, of the Dutch Translators, and of the Ministers of the Holy Gospel, as if his intention and aim had been to entirely darken the luster of the Word of the Lord, to take away all belief in the New Dutch Translation among the people, and to bring the blessed work of the Ministry into a deep contempt among the Christian World; as may appear from the Extracts and the Appendices original: "Bylagen" attached hereto.

In the first place, I have no need of any other proof than their own words to show that these two Deputies commit a gross offense not only against me, but even against the Synod. For they first accuse themselves—though covertly and by consequence—yet with truth; and afterward they accuse me explicitly, but with untruth here. Themselves: because they say that they do this, as is proper, in consequence of the Resolution of the North Holland Synod; indicating that they exceed their bounds if this their conduct, as well as the content and style, does not agree with the Resolution from which all their right to do such a thing must arise. But now the text of the Resolution does not say that they shall request the banning of my book from the State by Petition: but only to employ all "appropriate services" original: "bequame officien" toward its suppression. But I have, I believe, already shown beforehand how inappropriate a service this is. But had they wanted or been able to refute it, and thus to better instruct me: that would have been, without doubt, the most appropriate service that could be devised. But they have not made the least effort toward that. They have found this service most appropriate for themselves; and in this they have shown that they are very...