abraham kuyper - sphere sovereignty.pdf

7/25/2019 Abraham Kuyper - Sphere Sovereignty.pdf

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S P H E R E S O V E R E I G N T Y

( A p u b l i c a d d r e s s d e l i v e r e d a t t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n o f

t h e F r e e U n i v e r s i t y , O c t . 2 0 , 1 8 8 0 )

b y

D r . A b r a h a m K u y p e r

T r a n s l a t e d b y G e o r g e K a m p s

T h e m e n u p o n w h o m r e s t s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h i s I n s t i t u t i o n a s s i g n e d t o m e

the honor of inaugurating their school for higher education by introducing it to

the authorities and the people. In so doing, I ask that you grant me an unstinted

measure of benevolent listening and charitable judgement. A request, the earnestness

of which will be evident if you consider that I am not to deliver an inaugural

oration nor a rectoral discourse, but that, barred from the quiet hiding-place of

scientific research, the nature of my- task drives me to that treacherous terrain of

public life, where nettles and thorns on all hedges burn and wound at every step.

Indeed, we cannot conceal, nor would any of us disguise the fact that we were not

urged to this task, like Maecenases, because of love for the

abstract sciences

the urge to this risky, if not presumptuous endeavor was the deep-grained sense of

duty, which impressed upon us that what we were doing must be done, for Christ's

sake, for the Lord's Name, because of a high and holy importance for our people and

our land. Thus our action was not at all ingenious; we are thoroughly convinced

that the interest which, amid favorable and adverse rumors, anticipated this

Institution's founding and now attends it at its opening, is not in any sense related

to our persons, but proceeded exclusively from the public's impression that the

Netherlands were witnessing an event that might well leave its traces in the future

of the nation. For, if a higher criterion could have induced us to

acquiesce in

the

existing conditions, why would we have undertaken this task? Most mildly stated

, our undertaking implies a protest against the present environment and a suggestion

t h a t s o m e t h i n g b e t t e r i s a v a i l a b l e a n d e v e n t h a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n c a u s e s a c e r t a i n e m b a r r a s s m e n t a n d d i f f i d e n c e , i f o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e s e m b l a n c e o f p r e s u m p t i o n w h i c h


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- 2

-

which follows it like a shadow. This could cause offence; this could hurt; there-

fore I hasten to assure you that (whether we look at the might of learning, influence,

and gold which oppose us, or whether we humbly consider our own importance and

smallness), no lofty conceit but a quiet humility is expressed in the assurance

of our words.

We should- have preferred to remain in the background; it wo uld have

b e e n m u c h m o r e c o m f o r t a b l e

to

s e e o t h e r s t a k i n g t h e l e a d . H o w e v e r , s i n c e t h i s c o u l d

n o t b e , s i n c e

w e m u s t a c t , w e c a m e t o t h e f o r e f r o n t , i n d e e d n o t i n d i f f e r e n t t o m e n ' s

f a v o r o f a v e r s i o n , b u t o r d e r i n g o u r

l i n e o f c o n d u c t

e x c l u s i v e l y i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e

d e m a n d s o f t h e c r i t e r i o n o f G o d ' s h o n o r .

Y o u a r e n o w w a i t i n g f o r m e t o t e l l y o u w h a t t h i s s c h o o l w h i c h w e a r e i n t r o d u c i n g

e x p e c t s t o a c c o m p l i s h i n t h e l i f e o f t h e N e t h e r l a n d s ; w h y i t b r a n d i s h e s t h e l i b e r t y

c a p o n t h e t i p o f i t s l a n c e ; a n d w h y i t p e e r s s o i n t e n t l y a t t h e b o o k o f R e f o r m e d

r e l i g i o n . P e r m i t m e t o l i n k u p t h e a n s w e r t o t h o s e t h r e e q u e s t i o n s e n g e n d e r e d b y

t h e o n e c o n c e p t ) f " S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y " b y p o i n t i n g t o t h i s

S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y

a s t h e

h a l l m a r k o f o u r i n s t i t u t i o n

i s its

national

significance,

in its

scientific

purpose, and

in its Reformed character.

I .

The first part

of my discourse then will be to present our Institution in its

national significance. -- The life of our nation, too, is also engaged in strug-

gling through a crisis in this awesome century, a crisis which is experienced in

common with all involved nations, a crisis which pervades all of reflective

humanity. Every crisis affects a life, and during the process of illness either

promises a renewal of youth or threatens destruction by death. Now

I

ask, what is

the affected life in this case? What is at st ake in this crisis, also for our

nation? And who would repeat the answer of former times, as if the struggle were

c o n c e r n e d w i t h p r o g r e s s o r p r e s e r v a t i o n ; w i t h o n e - s i d e d n e s s o r v e r s a t i l i t y ; w i t h i d e a l o r r e a l i t y ; o r w i t h r i c h o r p o o r ? T h e i n a d e q u a c y , t h e d i s p r o p o r t i o n , t h e


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s h a l l o w n e s s o f e a c h o f t h e s e d i a g n o s e s i s t o o a p p a r e n t t o d o s o . " C l e r i c a l "

a n d " l i b e r a l " t h e n b e c a m e t h e w a t c h w o r d , a s i f i t w e r e a q u e s t i o n o f m i s u s e o r

p u r i f i c a t i o n o f s p i r i t u a l i n f l u e n c e . F i n a l l y t h i s s c r e e n w a s a l s o c o n t e m p t u o u s l y

o v e r t u r n e d , a n d f r o m t h e c e n t e r t o a c o n s t a n t l y w i d e n i n g c i r c l e t h e r e a l i z a t i o n

p e n e t r a t e d - - a r e a l i z a t i o n w h i c h o r i g i n a l l y w a s u n d e r s t o o d o n l y b y t h e l e a d i n g

p r o p h e t s o f o u r c e n t u r y - - t h a t i n t h e p r e s e n t w o r l d c r i s i s w e a r e n o t c o n c e r n e d

w i t h n u a n c e s , w i t h i n t e r e s t s , o r w i t h j u s t i c e , b u t w i t h a l i v i n g p e r s o n , w i t h H i m

who once swore that He was a King, and Who, because of that Sovereign King-pretension

gave His life on the cross on Golgotha.

"The Nazarene our holy inspirer; inspiring ideal; ideal genius of piety " has

long been the candid cry; but history has challenged that praise as being a contra-

diction of the Nazarene's own claim. Nothing less than Messiah, Anointed therefore

Sovereign of all kings, and 'possessing all power in heaven a nd on earth', was the

pronouncement of his calm and clear god-man consciousness. Not a hero of faith, not

a martyr, but King of the Jews, that is, Bearer of the Sovereignty; this was inscribed

upon His cross, as a criminal presumption, which demanded his death. And because

of that Sovereignty, because of the existence or non-existence of that power of the

One born of Mary, the spirits that think, the powers that rule, and the nations that

participate are as turbulent now as they were in the first three centuries. That

King of the Jews, the saving truth to which all peoples respond with AMEN, or....the

principial lie, which all peoples ought to oppose, that is the problem of Sovereignty

which, even as it was once presented in the blood of the Nazarene, has again rent

apart the world of our spiritual, our human, our national existence.

What is Sovereignty? Do you not agree with me when I describe it as: the

authority that has the right and the duty to exercise power to break all resistance

to its will and to avenge such resistance? And does not that ineradicable national

s e n s e c o m e t o e x p r e s s i o n i n y o u t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l , a b s o l u t e S o v e r e i g n t y c a n n o t r e s t i n a n y c r e a t u r e b u t m u s t c o i n c i d e w i t h G o d s M a j e s t y ? I f y o u b e l i e v e i n H i m a s P l a n n e r a n d C r e a t o r , a s E s t a b l i s h e r a n d D e t e r m i n e r o f a l l t h i n g s , y o u r s o u l m u s t


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4

a l s o p r o c l a i m t h e T r i u n e G o d a s t h e o n l y a n d a b s o l u t e S o v e r e i g n . P r o v i d e d , a n d

t h i s I w o u l d s t r e s s , p r o v i d e d t h a t o n e a l s o a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t t h i s e x a l t e d S o v e r e i g n

d e l e g a t e d a n d d o e s d e l e g a t e H i s a u t h o r i t y t o h u m a n b e i n g s ; s o t h a t o n e a r t h o n e

a c t u a l l y d o e s n e t m e e t G o d H i m s e l f i n t h i n g s v i s i b l e , b u t t h a t s o v e r e i g n a u t h o r i t y

i s

a l w a y s e x e r c i s e d t h r o u g h a n o f f i c e h e l d b y m e n .

A n d i n t h a t a s s i g n i n g o f G o d ' s S o v e r e i g n t y t o a n o f f i c e h e l d b y m a n t h e e x t r e m e l y

i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : h o w d o e s t h a t d e l e g a t i o n o f a u t h o r i t y w o r k ? I s t h a t a l l -

e m b r a c i n g S o v e r e i g n t y o f G o d d e l e g a t e d u n d i v i d e d t o o n e s i n g l e m a n ; o r d o e s a n

e a r t h l y S o v e r e i g n p o s s e s s t h e p o w e r t o c o m p e l o b e d i e n c e o n l y i n a l i m i t e d c i r c l e ;

a c i r c l e b o r d e r e d b y o t h e r c i r c l e s i n w h i c h a n o t h e r i s S o v e r e i g n ?

T h e a n s w e r s t o t h i s q u e s t i o n w i l l v a r y , d e p e n d i n g u p o n w h e t h e r o n e i s w i t h i n t h e

s p h e r e o f R e v e l a : i o n o r o u t s i d e o f i t .

F o r o f o l d t h e a n s w e r t o t h a t q u e s t i o n

b y t h o s e i n w h o s e w o r l d o f t h o u g h t t h e r e

w a r

n o

r o o m f o r . s p e c i a l r e v e l a t i o n

h a s a l w a y s b e e n :

" i n s o f a r a s f e a s i b l e

u n d i v i d e d ,

but penetrating ill circles."

"Insofar as feasible", for God's Sovereignty over that which is above is outside

of man's reach; fis Sovereignty over nature is outside of man's power; His Sovereignty

over destiny is cutside of man's disposal. But for the rest, yes, without "Sphere

Sovereignty", the state's unlimited rule; disposing of persons, their life, their

rights, their conscience, and even their faith. It was then many gods, and therefore,

because of the vis unita fortior, the one unlimited State was more imposing, more

majestic than the divided might of the gods. And because of this the State, embodied

in Caesar, itself became God. The god-State which could not tolerate any other gods

beside itself. Thus came the passion for world-dominion. Divas Augustus with

Caesarism as the Worship service. A profoundly sin ful idea, which was not analyzed

until eighteen centuries later, also for thinking minds, in Hegel's system of the

tate as den gegenwartigen Gott .

n the other hand, not insofar as feasible, but in the absolute sense this


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S o v e r e i g n t y i s t o b e d e l e g a t e d u n d i v i d e d a n d u n b r o k e n " T h i s i s J e h o v a h ' s d e c l a r -

a t i o n t o I s r a e l t h r o u g h t h e m e d i u m o f t h e i n t e r p r e t e r s o f M e s s i a n i c p r o p h e c y . A n d

t h a t m a n - M e s s i a h m a d e H i s a p p e a r a n c e , w i t h p o w e r i n h e a v e n ; w i t h p o w e r o v e r n a t u r e ;

w i t h t h e p r e t e n s i o n o f p o w e r o v e r a l l p e o p l e ; w i t h p o w e r , i n a l l p e o p l e , a l s o o v e r

c o n s c i e n c e , a l s o o v e r f a i t h ; e v e n t h e t i e s b e t w e e n m o t h e r a n d c h i l d m u s t g i v e w a y

w h e n H e d e m a n d e d o b e d i e n c e . H e r e t h e n i s

a b s o l u t e

S o v e r e i g n t y ; d o m i n a t i n g

a l l

visible and invisible things all that is

b o t h s p i r i t u a l a n d m a t e r i a l ; a l l p l a c e d

in

th

h a n d s

of

o n e

m a n . N o t o n e o f t h e k i n g d o m s , b u t t h e a b s o l u t e K i n g d o m . " T o

b e K i n g , f o r t h a t p u r p o s e I w a s b o r n , a n d f o r t h a t p u r p o s e I c a m e i n t o t h e w o r l d . "

" A l l

power in heaven and on earth is Mine." "One day all enemies shall be subdued

Lento Me, and all knees shall bow before Me " That is the Sovereignty of the Messiah,

which the prophet once foretold; which the Nazarene claimed; which He initially

demonstrated in the performance of miracles; which is descr ibed by His apostles,

and which the church of Christ confesses on the authority of the apostles, undivided

but delegated; or rather, assumed to be returned eventually. For when once that

perfect harmony breaks through, the Sovereignty will be transmitted from the Messiah

to God Himself, no will then be "all in all".

But behold now the glorious Freedom idea That perfect and absolute Sovereignty

of the sinless Messiah at the same ti me contains the direct denial and challenge

of all absolute Sovereignty on earth in sinful man; because of the division of life

into spheres, each with its own Sovereignty.

Our human life, with its material foreground, which is visible, and its spiritual

background, which is invisible, obviously is neither simple nor uniform, but forms

an infinitely structured organism. It is so structured that the individual exists

only in groups, and the whole can reveal itself only in those groups. One may refer

to the parts of this one great instrument as wheels, spring-driven on their own axles,

o r c a l l t h e m s p h e r e s , e a c h f i l l e d w i t h i t s o w n e x c i t i n g l i f e - s p i r i t - - t h e n a m e o r f i g u r e i s u n i m p o r t a n t - - p r o v i d e d t h a t o n e a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t , a s i n n u m e r a b l e a s t h e c o n s t e l l a t i o n s i n t h e f i r m a m e n t , v a r i o u s c i r c l e s e x i s t i n t h i s l i f e , w h o s e


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c i r c u m f e r e n c e i s i r a w n w i t h a f i r m s r a d i u s f r o m t h e c e n t e r o f a s p e c i f i c p r i n c i p l e ;

the apostolic "every man in his own orde r", (I Cor. 15). Even as one sp eaks of

" m o r a l w o r l d " , a " s c i e n t i f i c w o r l d " , a " w o r l d o f c o m m e r c e " a n d a " w o r l d o f a r t " , s o

o n e m i g h t s p e a k w i t h e v e n m o r e j u s t i f i c a t i o n o f " a c i r c l e " o f t h e m o r a l , " a c i r c l e "

o f t h e d o m e s t i c , " a c i r c l e " o f t h e s o c i a l l i f e , e a c h w i t h i t s o w n d o m a i n , a n d

b e c a u s e e a c h c o n s t i t u t e s i t s o w n d o m a i n w i t h

i t s o w n S o v e r e i g n w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s

o f t h a t d o m a i n .

T h u s t h e r e i s a d o m a i n o f n a t u r e , i n w h i c h t h e S o v e r e i g n e x e r t s p o w e r u p o n

m a t t e r a c c o r d i n g t o f i x e d l a w s . B u t t h e r e i s a l s o a d o m a i n o f t h e p e r s o n a l , o f t h e

d o m e s t i c , o f t h e s c i e n t i f i c , o f t h e s o c i a l , a n d o f t h e e c c l e s i a s t i c a l l i f e ; e a c h o f

w h i c h o b e y s i t s o w n l a w o f l i f e , a n d e a c h s u b j e c t t o i t s o w n h e a d . T h e r e i s a d o m a i n

o f t h o u g h t i n w h i c h n o l a w m a y p r e v a i l e x c e p t t h e l a w o f l o g i c . A d o m a i n o f c o n s c i e n c e

w h e r e n o n e m a y e x e r c i s e s o v e r e i g n r u l e e x c e p t t h e H o l y O n e . A n d f i n a l l y , a d o m a i n

o f f a i t h w i t h i n w h o s e l i m i t s o n l y t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s S o v e r e i g n ,

a n d t h r o u g h t h a t f a i t h

c o n s e c r a t e s h i m s e l f w i t h h i s w h o l e b e i n g .

Now in all of these spheres or circles the cogwheels engage one another, and it

is precisely because of the mutual interaction of these shperes that there is an

emergence of that rich, many-sided, multi-formed human life ; but in that life there

is also the danger that o ne sphere may encroach upon the neighborin g sphere; thus

causing a wheel to jerk and to break cog upon cog, and interfering with the progre ss

of the whole. Fence the reason for existence of a special sphere of authority in the

Authority of the State, which must provide for these various spheres, insofar as they

emerge into the visible realm, a felicitous interaction, and to keep them within

the pale of justice; and which also, since one 's personal life can be depressed by

the group in whose midst one lives, must shield the individual from the domination

of his sphere. A Sovereign who, as the Scriptures state so tersely, "establishes the

t h r o n e b y r i g h t e o u s n e s s , w h e r e a s w i t h o u t r i g h t e o u s n e s s i t w i l l f a l l a n d d e s t r o y i t s e l f . T h u s t h i s S t a t e S o v e r e i g n t y , a s t h e p o w e r w h i c h p r o t e c t s t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d d e t e r m i n e s t h e m u t u a l r i g h t e o u s r e l a t i o n s o f t h e v i s i b l e s p h e r e s o f l i f e b e c a u s e


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i t h a s t h e r i g h t t o c o m m a n d a n d t o c o m p e l , r i s e s f a r

a b o v e

a l l o f t h e s e . B u t i t

d o e s n o t o b t a i n

w i t h i n

a n y o f t h e s e s p h e r e s .

T h e r e

a n o t h e r a u t h o r i t y r u l e s , a n

a u t h o r i t y w h i c h , w i t h o u t a n y e f f o r t o f i t s o w n , d e s c e n d s f r o m G o d , a n d w h i c h i t

d o e s n o t c o n f e r b u t

a c k n o w l e d g e .

A n d e v e n i n d e f i n i n g j u s t i c e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

t h e m u t u a l r e l a t i o n s o f t h e s e s p h e r e s , t h i s S t a t e S o v e r e i g n m a y n o t u s e h i s o w n w i l l

o r c h o i c e a s a c r i t e r i o n , b u t h e i s

b o u n d

b y t h e c h o i c e o f a H i g h e r W i l l , a s e x p r e s s e d

b y t h e n a t u r e a n d

r a i s o n d ' e t r e

o f t h e s e s p h e r e s . H e m u s t

m a k e t h e w h e e l s t o t u r n

a s t h e y a r e d e s t i n e d

t o t u r n . N o t t o o p p r e s s l i f e n o r t o b i n d f r e e d o m , b u t t o

make possible a free exercise of life for and in each of these spheres, is not this

a beckoning ideal for every noble State Sovereign?

Thus these two credos stand in clear-cut opposition to each other.

He whose life proceeds from the R evelational sphere (and who live consistently

in that sphere) confesses, as a matter of course, that all Sovereignty rests in

God, and therefore can proceed only fro m Him; that this Sovereignty of God has

been conferred upon the man-Messiah in the absolute sense and undivided; and that

therefore man's freedom is safe in the hands of this Son of Man, anointed to be

Sovereign, because, along with the State, every other sphere of life knows th at

supremacy derived from Him, i. e.,it possesses sphere sovereignty.

On the other hand, those who do not perceive the reality of such a special

revelational sphere and therefore deny it, insist that there must be absolute sep-

aration between the problem of Sovereignty and the problem of faith; they conse-

quently assert that any Sovereignty, other than that of the State, is unthinkable;

they therefore zealously promote the embodiment of the Sovereignty idea, in its

purest sense, in the Supreme State; and accordingly they cannot grant to other life

spheres a more generous freedom than that which is

permitted

or

granted

by the State.

I called these pronouncements

C r e d o s

a b o u t S o v e r e i g n t y ; l i f e c o n v i c t i o n s n o t s y s t e m s b e c a u s e t h e c h a s m w h i c h s e p a r a t e s t h e m i s n o t t o b e f o u n d i n a d i f f e r e n t a r r a n g e m e n t o f t h o u g h t b u t i n a r e c o g n i t i o n o r d e n i a l o f t h e f a c t s o f l i f e . F o r u s


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- 8 -

w h o s e l i f e p r o c e e d s f r o m R e v e l a t i o n , t h a t M e s s i a h l i v e s , t h a t C h r i s t r e i g n s , a n d

a s

Sovereign he is seated upon the throne of God's power more actually than you

are seated here.

C o n v e r s e l y , h e w h o

does not c o n f e s s

this must

c o n t e s t

it as an

a n n o y i n g s e l f - d e c e p t i o n w h i c h s t a n d s i n t h e w a y o f t h e p e o p l e ' s d e v e l o p m e n t ;

a f a t a l d o g m a ; a s e n s e l e s s v i s i o n l T h u s t h e y a r e d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s e d c o n f e s s i o n s ,

w h i c h w e r e i n d e e d c o n c e a l e d a s i d e a g a i n a n d a g a i n b e h i n d a s e r i e s o f h y b r i d s y s t e m s ;

m i x t u r e s o f m o r e o f t h i s a n d l e s s o f t h a t o r t h a t o r p e r h a p s a n e q u a l a m o u n t o f

e a c h .

But

as principial

c r e d o s ,

f r o m w h i c h t h i s s a l l o w n e s s d e r i v e d i t s b a s i c t i n t ,

t h e y a l w a y s a n g r i l y b r o k e t h r o u g h t h i s u n p r i n c i p l e d p l a y d u r i n g c r i t i c a l t i m e s ,

a n d w i t h r a i s e d v i s o r w e r e r e a d y t o r e s i s t a n d t o o f f e r c o m b a t , a s t h e o n l y t w o

g i g a n t i c a n t i t h e ; e s w h i c h r e n d l i f e a t i t s r o o t , a n d a r e t h e r e f o r e d e s e r v i n g o f

o n e ' s r i s k i n g h i ; l i f e c h i l e h e i s d i s t u r b i n g a n o t h e r ' s l i f e .

" S p h e r e S o v

e

r e i g n t y "

d e f e n d i n g i t s e l f a g a i n s t " S t a t e S o v e r e i g n t y " - t h a t i s t h e

c o u r s e o f

w o r l d h i s t o r y p r i o r t o

t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f

t h e

M e s s i a n i c S o v e r e i g n t y ,

For the Royal Child of Bethlehem does indeed cover that "Sphere Sovereignty" with His

His shield, but He did not create it. It existed of old. It was as essential

part of the order of creation; in the plan of human life; it was there before

State Sovereignty came into existence. But after it appeared that State Sovereignty

suspected Sphere Sovereignty of being its permanent adversary, and within those

spheres the power to resist was dissipated by the violation of their own rule of

life, i.e.,by sin. Thus ancient history presents to our view among all peoples the

shameful spectacle that, after persevering, and sometimes heroic struggle, freedom

in one's own sphere perishes, and the power of the State, turning into

C a e s a r i s m ,

gains the upper hand. Socrates, drinking the poison cup; Brutus, plunging the

dagger into Caesar's heart; the Galileans, whose blood Pilate mingled with their

s a c r i f i c e s ; a l l o f t h e s e a r e t h e w i l d , h e r o i c p a r o x y s m s o f a f r e e o r g a n i c l i f e , w h i c h f i n a l l y c o l l a p s e s u n d e r t h e i r o n f i s t o f t h a t C a e s a r i s m . W h e n t h e a g e o f a n t i q u i t y d r a w s t o a c l o s e t h e r e i s n o m o r e f r e e d o m ; n o n a t i o n s ; n o s p h e r e s . A l l


9/28

i n t o x i c a t i o n o f a n e m a s c u l a t i n g o p u l e n c e s e r v e d a h u m a n i t y s u n k i n i g n o m i n y t o

r e m o v e t h e o f f e n s e o f t h a t i g n o m i n y f r o m i t s h e a r t .

I t w a s J e s u s t h e N a z a r e n e w h o t h e n , b y s u p e r h u m a n p o w e r , t h e p o w e r o f f a i t h ,

a g a i n c r e a t e d w i t h i n t h e " a l l o f

o n e k i n d " i n t h e i r o n r i n g a f r e e s p h e r e a n d

w i t h i n t h a t s p h e r e a f r e e S o v e r e i g n t y . G o d i n t h e h e a r t , o n e w i t h G o d , H i m s e l f

G o d , H e r e s i s t e d C a e s a r , b r o k e d o w n t h e i r o n g a t e s , a n d p o s i t e d t h e s o v e r e i g n t y

o f f a i t h a s t h e b a s i s u p o n w h i c h a l l S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y r e s t s . N e i t h e r P h a r i s e e

nor disciple understood that, aside from the salvation of the elect. His "Finished"

also included a liberation of the world, a world of freedoms. But Jesus discovered

it. Hence the Basileus on His cross. He appeared as Sovereign. He contended with

the intruding "Prince of this w orld" for the ruling power over that world , as its

Sovereign. And His followers had hardly foamed their own sphere before they also

collided with State Sovereignty. They succumbed. Their blood flowed. But the

sovereign principle of faith of Jesus can not be washed away with the ir blood. Deus

Christus or Divus Augustus'. will be the Shibboleth that will determine the fate of

the world. And Christ triumphs, and Caesar topples and all the liberated nations

again appear with their own kings, and within t he dominion of those kings with their

own spheres, and in those spheres their own freedoms. That was the beginning of that

glorious life, crowned with knights' honor, and in increasingly rich organism of

guilds, orders, and free communion exhibiting all the energy and all the glory that

are part of sphere sovereignty.

That was more apparent in our beloved fatherland than elsewhere. It seemed that

the land, divided into polder spheres, unitedly co uld defend Sphere Sovereignty

against State Sovereignty. Philip experienced that, when the singers of the Souter

songs and the leaders of the hedge preaching clashed with State Sovereignty. It was

experienced also in the following century by the Stuarts and the Bourbons, when the

m m o r t a l n a v a l h e r o w h o s e m a u s o l e u m w e s e e b e f o r e u s , o u r g r e a t D e R u y t e r , r e s i s t e d t h e r i s i n g r o y a l i s m o f C h a r l e s a n d L o u i s o n a l l s e a s a n d b r o k e i t o n a l l s h o r e s .


10/28

" I a m , n e x t t o G o d , t h e s k i p p e r o f m y s h i p " e x p r e s s e d t h e u n e x t i n g u i s h a b l e s e n s e

o f

f r e e d o m t h a t i n s p i r e d h i m a n d t h e e n t i r e p h a l a n x o f o u r n a v a l h e r o e s , a n d i n

seaman's language proclaimed

on all seas the legal team "Sovereign in my own sphere".

B u t a l a s , e r e a c e n t u r y h a d p a s s e d , o u r n a t i o n s u f f e r e d a d e c l i n e ; H o l l a n d

s a n k a w a y i n t o s i n ; a n d t h e l a s t s t r o n g b u l w a r k o f f r e e d o m r e m a i n i n g o n E u r o p e ' s

m a i n l a n d s u c c u m b e d w i t h o u r r e p u b l i c . T h u s t h e c u r r e n t o f r o y a l i s m i n c r e a s e d . I t

b e g a n t o t r e a d u p o n t h e l a n d s , t o t r a m p l e u p o n t h e p e o p l e s , a n d t o t o r m e n t t h e n a t i o n s ,

u n t i l f i n a l l y i n t h e m o s t i n f l a m m a b l e o f t h o s e n a t i o n s t h e f i r e o f r e v e n g e w a s

k i n d l e d , p a s s i o n s f l a r e d , a n d t h e p r i n c i p i a l R e v o l u t i o n t o o k t h e c r o w n e d h e a d o f

t h e S o v e r e i g n a n d p l a c e d t h e c r o w n u p o n a s o v e r e i g n p e o p l e . A t e r r i y f i n g e v e n t ,

b o r n o f t h i r s t f o r f r e e d o m b u t a l s o o f h a t r e d f o r t h e M e s s i a h , a n d w h i c h o n l y

s e r v e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e h a r a s s m e n t o f f r e e d o m F o r t h e S o v e r e i g n o f t h a t o n e

b a l l o t i n g d a y , t h r o u g h t h e m e d i u m o f t h a t b a l l o t b o x , i n v o l u n t a r i l y p l a c e d h i m s e l f

o r t h e n e x t d a y u n d e r a b s o l u t e g u a r d i a n s h i p ; f i r s t o f t h e J a c o b i n s , t h e n o f t h e

N a p o l e o n i c

C a e s a r a n d t h e a p p e a l i n g i d e a l o f t h e s t a t e

h u r r i e d l y r e a l i z e d i n

F r a n c e ; e v e n t u a l l y a d v o c a t e d a s j u s t a n d

"vernunftmssig" by G ermany's group of

philosophers.

Thus freedom was again cast down in disgrace, and once more a single Sovereignty

threatened to swallow all other Sovereignties. W hat saved the day at that time?

No, not the restoration spirit of the Congress of Vienna. Not the monarch

i d o l i z a - t i o n o f V o n H a l l e r a n d D e M a i s t r e . N o t t h e h i s t o r i c a l s c h o o l , w h i c h r a t h e r s t i f l e d

every higher principle by reason of it physiological v iews. Nor even the pseudo-

constituitional system with its "roi fainant" and its tyrannizing factions. Its

was the Messiah, the Sovereign seated at God's right hand, who by means of the most

marvelous

Revival

that ever awakened those nations again sent among those nations a

spirit of grace, prayer, and faith. For thus there came again in to existence a sphere

all its own in which a Sovereign other than an earthly p ower was worshipped. A

p h e r e w h i c h r e c k o n e d w i t h t h e s o u l ; w h i c h p r a c t i s e d m e r c y ; w h i c h i n s p i r e d t h e s t a t e s n o t a s s t a t e s m e n b u t a s c o n f e s s o r s o f t h e E v a n g e l . N o t b y p o l i t i c a l


11/28

m a n i p u l a t i o n b u t b y m o r a l s t r e n g t h t h e r e w a s t h u s b o r n i n t h e s o u l a h o p e o f t h e

n a t i o n s ; a n d t h u s , a l s o i n o u r f a t h e r - l a n d , t h a t p a r t o f t h e p e o p l e t h a t p a y s

h o m a g e t o t h e M e s s i a h , t h e p a r s C h r i s t i a n a , b e c a m e a n a t i o n a l p a r t y , n o t b y d e s i g n ,

n o t t o r u l e , b u t t o s e r v e . N o t a f a c t i o n , i . e . , a c o n c e i v e d d e l i b e r a t e g r o u p ; n o t

a f r a c t i o n , i . e . , a p i e c e b r o k e n

o f f ; b u t a p e o p l e ' s

p a r t y , i . e . , p e o p l e ' s p o r t i o n ,

a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n p a r t e s d i l a b i , " f a l l i n g a p a r t i n s e g m e n t s " , o f t h a t w h i c h

c o n s t i t u t e s t h e w h o l e . A l l o f t h i s i n o r d e r t h a t , i f p o s s i b l e , b y m e a n s o f t h i s

t e m p o r a r y d i v i d i n g t h e w h o l e , t h e g l o r i o u s p e o p l e ' s u n i t y m a y a g a i n b e i n s p i r e d

t o s e e k a h i g h e r i d e a l . B i l d e r d i j k d r e w t h e o u t l i n e o f t h a t s p h e r e , w h e n h e

u p r o o t e d t h e

People's Sovereignty with the axe of his s ong; Da Costa sounded the

keynote with his hymn to the Sovereign Messiah; and finally Groen van Prinsterer

wrote the constitutional credo, with his eloquent formula "Sphere Sovereignty".

And by virtue of this principle descended fro m God there has been, for a period

of thirty years, a wrestling upon our knees, a seeking of those that strayed away,

and evangelization with the "passion des mes". In keeping with that principle,

one institution after another has arisen as a house of mercy, to adorn our heritage.

For the sake of that principle men have been reviled, rest has been re nounced, and

gold has been offered upon the a ltar. It has been zealously preached to the people;

prayer has been offered before the throne; its cause has been pleaded in the courts.

"Sphere Sovereignty, under Jesus' sovereign supremacy " This is what united this

sphere of the brethren, in spite of other things that might have separated them.

Hence a restless exertion, which steeled our little strength; a rowing against the

stream, which stimulated our courage; a pressa uber ior, which caused the compressed

spring to recoil without fail. And thus a gradual growing in spontaneity above

our compatriots, whose superiority in many other respects we humbly acknowledge.

Thus we contended for the indivisibility of sovereign authority. For the

S t a t e s G e n e r a l a s n e x t t o a n d j o i n t l y w i t h , n o t i n o r u n d e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t . T h u s w e m a i n t a i n e d , n o t a d e t e r r i n g t h e o r y , b u t G o d s s o v e r e i g n v e n g e a n c e , u p o n h i m w h o d a r e d t o s h e d m a n s b l o o d . T h u s o u r p r o t e s t w a s r a i s e d a g a i n s t c o m p u l s o r y


12/28

1 2

i n o c u l a t i o n o f o u r c h i l d r e n . T h u s w e p r o p h e s i e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f

the Church. And thus, finally, our fight was concentrated i n the fight about

t h e

p u b l i c s c h o o l , w h e n i n t h a t s c h o o l t h e s o v e r e i g n t y o f c o n s c i e n c e , t h e s o v e r e i g n t y

o f t h e f a m i l y s p h e r e , t h e s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e p e d a g o g i c a l s p h e r e , a n d t h e s o v e r e i g n t y

o f t h e s p i r i t u a l s p h e r e w e r e t h r e a t e n e d . A n d b e c a u s e a p r i n c i p l e , s o w i n g s e e d

a c c o r d i n g t o i t s h i n d ,

c a n n o t r e s t u n t i l a l l i t s g e r m s a r e b u d d i n g i n s c i e n t i f i c a l l y

o r d e r e d c o h e r e n c e a n d a n a t i o n a l p a r t y t a k i n g a s t a n d f o r s u c h a p r i n c i p l e m a y n o t

d e s i s t e r e i t h a s c u l t i v a t e d t h e f r u i t o f s c i e n c e f r o m t h e r o o t o f f a i t h , a n d

b e c a u s e s u c h a n e n c o m p a s s i n g s c i e n c e c a n b e c u l t i v a t e d o n l y i n a s c h o o l w i t h U n i v e r -

s i t y a s p i r a t i o n s , - - i t

h a d t o c o m e ;

i t h a d

t o c o m e w i t h l o g i c a l

c o n s i s t e n c y , u r g e d

b y a d r i v i n g i n n e r ' f o r c e , t o w h a t h a s t o d a y b e c o m e a r e a l i t y , n a m e l y t h e l a u n c h i n g

o f t h i s i n d e e d s m a l l a n d u n s e a w o r t h y v e s s e l , b u t w h i c h , c h a r t e r e d u n d e r t h e

S o v e - r e i g n t y o f K i n g J e s u s , e x p e c t s t o d i s p l a y i n a l l p o r t s o f l e a r n i n g i t s f l a g

" S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y " .

I I

" S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y " i s a l s o t o b e p r e s e n t e d a s t h e e m b l e m o f o u r

s c i e n t i f i c

purposes. I wool also vies: this from the practical side. No abstract scholastic

dryness, but adhe

r

ence to principle, depth of insight, clarity of judgement, in

one word, sanctified intellectual power, as a power to resist superior power that

would limit the freedom in and of our human life.

Do not forget that every State power is inclined to look upon freedom with

suspicion. The carious spheres of life cannot do wi thout the State sphere, for

even as space cannot limit space, so in the visible sense one sphere cannot limit

the other, unless the State limits their boundaries by law. The State is the sphere

of spheres which encloses our human life in an encompassing whole, wherefore (not

for its own benefit but for the benefit of all spheres) it seeks to strengthen its

a r m ,

a n d w i t h t h a t o u t s t r e t c h e d a r m o p p o s e s a n d a t t e m p t s t o b r e a k e v e r y a s p i r a t i o n o f t h o s e s p h e r e s t o w a r d e x p a n s i o n . E v e n n o w , o b s e r v e t h e s i g n s o f t h e t i m e s . D i d n o t M o m m s e n , i n t h e v i g o r o u s i m a g e o f C a e s a r t h a t h e p r e s e n t e d , i n d i c a t e t h a t


13/28

- 1 3 -

t h e r e t u r n t o t h e i m p e r i a l i s t i c l i n e d r a w n b y t h a t C a e s a r w o u l d b e t h e d i r e c t i v e

f o r t h e s t a t e s m e n ' s w i s d o m o f o u r c e n t u r y ? D o e s G e r m a n y ' s c h a n c e l l o r p r e s e n t a

f r e e d o m - . l o v i n g f i g u r e t o y o u ? W a s i t t h e m a n w h o s u f f e r e d s u c h i n e x p r e s s i b l y d e e p

h u m i l i a t i o n a t S e d a n a t t h e h a n d s o f t h a t c h a n c e l l o r ? F r e e d o m - l o v i n g o r t y r a n n i c a l ,

w h a t i s y o u r i m p r e s s i o n o f t h e p e o p l e ' s t r i b u n e t h a t h a s r e p l a c e d t h e m a n o f S e d a n

i n F r a n c e ' s c a p i t a l c i t y i n i n f l u e n c i n g t h e p e o p l e ?

A n d t h a t

had to be

b o t h a s a m e a n s o f d i s c i p l i n e a n d

a s

a

c u r e f o r

t h e c o w a r d l y

a n d e m a s c u l a t e d n a t i o n s w h i c h m a d e p o s s i b l e t h i s a s s u a l t u p o n t h e i r f r e e d o m b e c a u s e

o f t h e a t r o p h y o f t h e i r m o r a l r e s i l i e n c e . T h e S t a t e h a p p e n s t o b e t h e s u p r e m e

power on earth. There is no earthly power above the State that can compel the

Sovereign to administer justice. Therefore, whether it be because of a base lust

for power or a noble solici tude for the common good, every State will eventually

drive the iron band so tightly around the staves as the elasticity of the staves

permits. In the final analysis therefore it depends upon the life spheres them-

selves whether they will blossom in an air of freedom or groan under the yoke of

the State. If they possess moral resilience they cannot be pushed; they will not

permit themselves to be put in a straitjacket; but servility forfeits even the right

to complain when it is shackled. But here is the sore spot; the threat to freedom

by sin within the sphere is equally as strong as the threat by State power at its

boundaries. When a man wants to drive the iron band around the staves, he lights

a fire within the circle of staves, and the fire within causes the staves to

shrink more than the hammer blows from without. Thus it is with our freedoms.

Within every life sphere a flame of passion is smouldering and smoking; the sparks

of sin leap up, and that unholy fire undermines the moral vitality, weakens the

resiliency in every sphere, and eventually causes the toughest staves to shrink. In

every successful assault upon freedom the State can therefore be only an accomplice;

t h e c h i e f c u l p r i t i s t h e c i t i z e n , f o r g e t f u l o f h i s d u t y , d e v o i d o f t h e p o w e r o f p e r s o n a l i n i t i a t i v e , b e c a u s e h i s m o r a l v i g o r w a s w e a k e n e d i n a l i f e o f s i n a n d s e n s u a l p l e a s u r e s . A m o n g a p e o p l e s o u n d i n i t s n a t i o n a l c o r e , a n d l i v i n g a s o u n d


14/28

- 1 4 -

l i f e i n i t s v a r i o u s s p h e r e s , n o S t a t e c a n w r e s t j u s t i c e w i t h o u t e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e

people's strong moral opposition, under God. It was only when discipline

d e p a r t e d ,

o p u l e n c e e n t e r e d , a n d s i n b e c a m e b r a z e n , t h a t t h e o r y w a s a b l e

t o

b e n d t h a t w h i c h

w a s w e a k e n e d , a n d N a p o l e o n c o u l d c r u s h t h a t w h i c h w a s m o u l d e r i n g . A n d i f G o d h a d

n o t p o u r e d v i g o r i n t o t h o s e l i f e l e s s l i f e s p h e r e s , a g a i n a n d a g a i n , a l s o b y m e a n s

o f d e p r e s s i o n , i n o r d e r t o c h a n g e a t o m s i n t o d y n a m o s ( a s a n e w

p h i l o s o p h y h a s

i t ) ,

t h e l a s t s p h e r e w o u l d l o n g s i n c e h a v e b e e n b r o k e n d o w n , a n d t h e o n l y r e m a i n s o f

f r e e d o m w o u l d b e t h e " s i c t r a n s i t " o n i t s t o m b .

A m o n g t h e m e a n s o f d e f e n c e w h i c h G o d g r a n t e d t o m o r e e n l i g h t e n e d p e o p l e s t o

m a i n t a i n t h e i r f r e e d o m s w e a l s o f i n d s c i e n c e o r l e a r n i n g . A m o n g t h e H o l y S p i r i t ' s

i n t e r p r e t e r s t h e m a n o f T a r s u s s t o o d o u t a s t h e s c i e n t i f i c a l l y t r a i n e d , a n d L u t h e r

d r e w h i s f r e e d o m o f t h e R e f o r m a t i o n n o t f r o m t h e m e d i t a t i v e J o h n , n o r f r o m t h e

p r a c t i c a l J a m e s , b u t f r o m t h e P a u l i n e t r e a s u r e c h e s t . I r e a l i z e t h a t l e a r n i n g

c o u l d a l s o b e t r a y f r e e d o m , a n d i n d e e d d i d b e t r a y i t m o r e t h a n o n c e , b u t t h a t w a s

i n s p i t e o f , a n d n o t b y

virtue

o f , i t s s a c r e d m i s s i o n . T a k e n i n i t s r e a l f o r m ,

God sent it to to as an angel of light. For is it not the

l a c k o f

c l e a r c o n s c i o u s -

n e s s

that robs the lunatic, the idiot, an d the drunkard of his human aspect? And

to come to a clear consciousne ss, not only of self, but also of tha t which exists

outside of self, is that not the essence of science? God's reflection concerning

His thoughts for,

about,

and in us? The life consciousness not onl y of an indivi-

dual, but of humanity of all ages To be able to contemplate that which is, and

thusto summarize in our understanding that which is reflected in our consciousness,

is God's gracious arrangement for our human existence. To possess wisdom is a

divine trait in our being. Indeed , the power of wisdom and science extend s so far

that the course of things usually is not according to reality, but according to how

man imagines that reality. Who would say that ideas are unimportant? Those ideas

s h a p e p u b l i c o p i n i o n ; t h o s e o p i n i o n s f o r m t h e s e n s e o f j u s t i c e ; a n d a c c o r d i n g t o t h a t s e n s e t h e c u r r e n t o f s p i r i t u a l l i f e i s t h a w e d o u t o r c o n g e a l e d . C o n s e q u e n t l y , o n e w h o e x p e c t s h i s p r i n c i p l e s t o e x e r t a n i n f l u e n c e c a n n o t c o n t i n u e t o f l o a t i n


15/28

15

a n a t m o s p h e r e o f f e e l i n g ; d o e s n o t a d v a n c e w i t h f a n c y ; i n d e e d o n l y a r r i v e s a t

t h e h a l f - w a y p o i n t w i t h h i s c o n f e s s i o n ; a n d o n l y o b t a i n s a h o l d o n t h e p u b l i c

i f h e a t t a i n e d p o w e r a l s o i n t h e w o r l d o f t h o u g h t , a n d i f h e w a s a b l e t o t r a n s f e r

h i s i n n e r u r g e , t h e " D e u s i n n o b i s " , f r o m w h a t h e s e n s e s t o w h a t h e k n o w s .

P r o v i d e d , a n d t o t h a t I c l i n g t e n a c i o u s l y , p r o v i d e d t h a t t h i s s c i e n c e r e m a i n

" S o v e r e i g n i n i t s o n s p h e r e " , a n d d o e s n o t d e g e n e r a t e u n d e r S t a t e o r C h u r c h

g u a r d i a n s h i p .

Science, too, creates its own life sphere, in which Truth is Sovereign, and

under no circumstances may violation of its vital law be tolerated. To do so woul d

not only dishonor science, but would also be sin before God. Our consciousness

is as a mirror within us, in which images are reflected from three worlds: the

world

around

us, the world of o u r o w n b e i n g ,

and the invisible world

of the spirits.

Reason demands that: 1) each of these worlds be per

mitted to reflect those images

according to their own nature, i.e., observation and perception; 2) to catch the

reflections with a clear eye, i.e.,to view those images until we understand them;

3) to make a harmonious summary of that which our eye has caught, i.e., to understand

what we have seen in its coherence, as being necessary and beautiful. No contem-

plation therefore, but reflection in us. Science that prod uces wisdom. From life

for life, ending in adoration of the only wise God

Spinoza grasped the Sovereignty of science in its own sphere, and therefore

our admiration for Spinoza's character is as great as our disapproval of the insipid

Erasmus, measured by moral standards. In the case of Spinoza, both organ and perceptio

were faulty, wherefore his conclusion was necessarily false. But the fact that,

seeing what he saw and as he saw it, he declined steadfastly to lend his name to a

violation of Sovereignty of science in its own sphere, that is not censurable for a

true Reformed person, but he considers it far superior to the wavering instability

w hi ch te m t ed ma n w ho kn ew wh at S i no za ne ve r k ne w. to a r ee

t o a n u n p r i n c i p l e d c o m p r o m i s e W e m u s t t h e r e f o r e i n s i s t t h a t t h e C h u r c h o f J e s u s C h r i s t m a y n e v e r


16/28

f o r c e i t s s u p r e m a c y u p o n s c i e n c e . A t t h e r i s k o f s u f f e r i n g a t t h e h a n d s o f

s c i e n c e , t h e c h u r c h m u s t u r g e t h a t s c i e n c e n e v e r b e c o m e a s l a v e , b u t m a i n t a i n

the Sovereignty which

i s i t s d u e i n

its own sphere, and live by the grace

o f

G o d . T h e r e i s i n d e e d a s a t a n i c d a n g e r t h a t s o m e w i l l d e g e n e r a t e i n t o d e v i l s o f

p r i d e , a n d w i l l t e m p t s c i e n c e t o a r r o g a t e u n t o i t s e l f t h a t w h i c h i s o u t s i d e o f

i t s s p h e r e . H o w e v e r , a h i g h s t e e p l e c a n n o t b e s c a l e d w i t h o u t f a c i n g

t h e d a n g e r

o f a s e r i o u s f a l l , a n d f u r t h e r , w h a t w e s t a t e d a b o u t t h e t y r a n n y o f t h e S t a t e c a n

a l s o b e a p p l i e d t o t h e t y r a n n y o f s c i e n c e ; i t c a n n o t a r i s e u n l e s s t h e c h u r c h d e c l i n e s

s p i r i t u a l l y ; a n d a l s o , w h e n t h e r e i s a s p i r i t u a l a w a k e n i n g i n t h e c h u r c h i t w i l l

u r g e s c i e n c e ,

w h i c h c h a s t i s e d

i t i n

G o d ' s N a m e , b a c k t o i t s o w n p r e c i s e c o n f i n e s .

N o t w h o l l y , t u t a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e s a m e m a y b e s a i d o f t h e S t a t e . N o t w h o l l y ,

f o r a l s o i n t h e s p h e r e o f s c i e n c e , w h e n t h a t s c i e n c e a s s u m e s t h e f o r m o f a v i s i b l e

o r g a n i s m i n t h e s c h o o l s , t h e S t a t e r e m a i n s t h e a b s o l u t e m a s t e r p l a n n e r w h o h a s b e e n

g i v e n t h e p o w e r t o d e f i n e i t s r i g h t f u l s p h e r e . B u t e v e n t h a t S t a t e p o w e r , e r e i t

c r o s s e s t h e b o u n d a r y i n t o t h e s p h e r e o f s c i e n c e , w i l l

d e f e r e n t i a l l y u n l o o s e

t h e

latchet of its shoes, and lay aside a sovereignty which would not be seemly on that

terrain. Science as servant of the State, such as the Ghibellines played off

against the Guelphs; France's bureaucracy misused i n its attempt to dominate the

people; and Gelman reaction sought to create for itself by the shame of Gttingen;

this is the prostituted self-debasement which forfeits every valid claim to moral

influence. But even though, as in our government circles, the State is animated by

a more noble nature, and though scie nce, as in our country, is too proud to st oop,

nevertheless that science will prosper and flourish only if, also in the life of

the University, it will again base itself upon its own root, and growing into a

life of its own will outgrow State guardianship. Thus the schools of the prophets

in Israel and the schools of the Chokmali in Jerusalem stood independent in the center

o f t h e n a t i o n . T h u s , i n d e p e n d e n t , t h e s c h o o l s o f t h e a n c i e n t G r e e k p h i l o s o p h e r s a n d t h e i r i m i t a t o r s i n R o m e t o o k t h e i r s t a n d . T h u s , i n d e p e n d e n t , t h e s c h o o l s o f t h e f i r s t C h r i s t i a n s c h o l a r s a p p e a r e d a t o n e t i m e . A n d e q u a l l y i n d e p e n d e n t w e r e t h e


17/28

a n c i e n t U n i v e r s i t i e s o f B o l o g n a a n d P a r i s . N o t a s t h e s h a p i n g o f a c a d r e o f t h e S t a t e

i n t o w h i c h t o p o u r k n o w l e d g e , b u t k n o w l e d g e w h i c h m a n i f e s t e d i t s e l f i n l i f e , a n d

c r e a t e d i t s o w n i m a g e i n t h a t l i f e . I t w a s t h a t i n d e p e n d e n t i m a g e w h i c h e n a b l e d t h e

U n i v e r s i t y t o b e a c t i v e i n t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e R e f o r m a t i o n , a n d i t w a s n o t u n t i l

t h e c l o s e o f t h e p r e v i o u s c e n t u r y t h a t t h i s i n d e p e n d e n t c a d r e w a s c o n j u r e d i n t o a

" b r a n c h o f t h e S t a t e " w h e n t h e n e w - f a s h i o n e d U n i v e r s i t y p e r m i t t e d i t s e l f t o b e

a t t a c h e d a s a n o r g a n o f t h e S t a t e

This came about, not because of personal arbitrariness,but because of the press of

events; because of the enervation of the nation s; and it would border on the absurd

to demand that the State would now suddenly relinquish its hold on the University world.

At present the masses display too little desire for science; there is too little gener-

osity on the part of the wealthy; and too little energy in the circle of graduates to

make such an attempt. For the present the State must continue its support, provided,

and this we insist, provided there is a striving in the direction of liberation, and

science again grasps "Sphere sovereignty" as its ideal.

Is it unscientific, therefore, that our School should venture to take its first

timid step in that better direction? At the State university the scale of equity is

weighed down by so many burdens. We cannot repeat often enough that money creates

power for the one who gives, and over the one who receives. Hence the arts (except

music) can never elevate the people's freedom permanently because of their need of

gold. Who can gauge the influence which, because of those State funds, has been

wrought upon the destiny of our nation and the course of science by one single appoint-

ment such as that of Thorbecke, Scholten, or Opzoomer? Where is the spiritual cri-

erion that can guide the State in making its influential choice for the higher, most

critical sciences? Moreover, to compel the Jew and the Roman Catholic to contribute

to the support of a theological faculty, which in reality is and must be Protestant,

w o u l d s e e m t o b e n o t i n k e e p i n g w i t h a s e n s e o f j u s t i c e . A n d i f t h e l a w o f t h e l a n d , a s w e h e a r d e a r l i e r , i n c l u d e s o u r f r e e , u n b u r d e n e d i n s t i t u t i o n i n t h e s p h e r e o f j u s t i c e , i s t h e r e n o t t h e n a g l o r i o u s p r o p h e c y f o r s c i e n c e a n d l i f e i n a U n i v e r s i t y s u p p p o r t e d


18/28

- 1 8 -

b y t h e p e o p l e ?

Indeed, here is a group which was given the sobriquet of obscurantists

less than thirty years ago, and which is now exhausting its strength in the interest

of the cause of learning The least esteemed of the "non-thinking" segment of the

n a t i o n , w h o c o m e : t i n n i n g f r o m t h e p l o w a n d t h e s h o p t o g a t h e r f u n d s f o r a U n i v e r s i t y .

E l s e w h e r e t h e r e i , a z e a l f o r p r o g r e s s t o c o m e f r o m

a b o v e ;

s c i e n c e i s t o b e b r o u g h t t o

t h e p e o p l e . B u t : _ s n o t t h i s s o m e t h i n g s u p e r i o r ,

a g r o u p o f p e o p l e w h i c h i s w i l l i n g

t o c u r t a i l i t s p l e a s u r e s i n o r d e r t h a t s c i e n c e m a y b l o s s o m ? I s t h e r e a m o r e p r a c t i c a l

s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f c o m b i n i n g s c i e n c e a n d l i f e ? I s i t n o t e s s e n t i a l t h a t

s c i e n t i s t s w h o s u b s i s t o n f u n d s s u p p l i e d b y t h e p e o p l e g r o w t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e p e o p l e ,

a n d s h o w a n a v e r s i o n t o a l l a b s t r a c t i o n s ? A n d i n a d d i t i o n t o t h a t , i s n o t

g i v i n g

i n i t s e l f a p o w e r ; i s n o t t h e a b i l i t y t o p a r t w i t h m o n e y a m o r a l a s s e t ; w h o t h e n w i l l

r i g h t l y v a l u e t h e m o r a l c a p i t a l t h a t w i l l a c c r u e t o o u r p e o p l e t h r o u g h t h i s c o s t l y

I n s t i t u t i o n ? C o m p l a i n t s h a v e b e e n m a d e a b o u t l a c k o f c h a r a c t e r , b u t w h a t c a n

b e m o r e

helpful in forming character than

s u c h f r e e i n i t i a t i v e o n t h e p a r t

o f v i g i l a n t

citizens? And if elsewhere the wheel of the University shoud turn by the compelling

power of the recipients and the readiness of the paymasters, we will not be envious;

for if, in our ca;e,it is the

struggle

for life, it is precisely in that struggle that

the power of glorious devotio n is generated. In the money entrusted to us th ere is

a value other and greater than t he intrinsic worth of the metal; prayer, and lo ve,

and sweat adhere to the gold which flows into our coffers.

I I I

We have seen that "Sphere Sovereignty" was the

stimulus that gave birth to our

Institution; it

was

frankly stated that "Sphere Sovereignty" is also among us the

royal condition :for the blossoming of all science. It now remains for me to

plead

for a disputed demand, namely that we

be granted "Sphere Sovereignty" for our

principle,

t h a t : . s t h e

Reformed

principle. However, when I mention that name, I would

i m m e d i a t e l y r e f u t e a c h r o n i c m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a n d d i s p e l e v e r y s u s p i c i o n t h a t w e i n t e r p r e t R e f o r m e d a s b e i n g a n y t h i n g o t h e r o r l e s s t h a n t h e r e a l , t r u e C h r i s t i a n i t y .


19/28

- 1 9 -

E v e n a s t h e m e r c h a n t s p e a k s o f n e t w e i g h t , t h e m i n t e r G f f i n e g o l d , t h e s i l v e r s m i t h o f

h a l l m a r k ,

t h e S c r i p t u r e o f

p r e c i o u s

s p i k e n a r d , a n d a c e r t a i n n e w s p a p e r i n t h e c i t y

o n t h e S p a a r n e c a l l s i t s e l f t h e

u p r i g h t ,

s o w e a l s o i f w e w i s h e d t o b e e c c e n t r i c ,

c o u l d s p e a k o f a " n e t " C h r i s t i a n i t y , a " f i n e " C h r i s t i a n i t y , a " p r e c i o u s " C h r i s t i a n i t y ,

a C h r i s t i a n i t y c a r r y i n g a ' h a l l m a r k " ; b u t w e w i l l p a s s b y s u c h s t r a n g e t e r m s , a n d r a t h e r

s p e a k , a c c o r d i n g t o u s a g e a n d t h e d e m a n d s o f h i s t o r y , o f

R e f o r m e d ,

i n o r d e r t h a t w e

m a y d r a w a s h a r p d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n i m i t a t i o n , a d u l t e r a t e d ,

s t u n t e d a n d t h e C h r i s t

ianity that is Scriptural. To speak merely of "Christ ian" is meaningless, for that

could also be "Roman Catholic" or "Remonstrant". None of the modernists have yet

a b a n d o n e d t h e " C h r i s t i a n n a m e " . H a s i t n o t b e e n

observed that men who consider it an

honor to deny the existence of God displayed the false banner" Christian" over the

entrance of a de-Christianized school, and that this was done in a session of the

States Gerneral? Something must be added. W e cannot escape the confusion of tongues

at a lesser cost. And since also in the spiritual realm Sphere Sovereignty is

applicable, and it is therefore not the prerogative of the individual to coin names

for principles or to define those principles, but that right is reserved for the direct-

ing organ which is the bearer of historic life in that sphere, it was not for us to

choose another name. Neither were we authorized to confess our principles arbitrarily,

but we had to present the "Reformed name" which we bore as sons of the Netherlands

Reformation, and to comprehend in that name not what we pleased but the church's

lawful judgment, namely a courageous and unconditional confession of the canons of

Dordt. This does not mean that we reject our Lutheran brethren. To look

down upon other Christians would be culpable. We merely ask that we be not compelled

to exchange that which we consider finer for something less fine, and that we be

permitted to rebuild, according to the pure R eformed style, the Reformed temple which

had fallen into ruin.

I n t h i s d i s c o u r s e I a l s o c o n t e n d e d f o r t h i s , a n d t h e r e f o r e p l a c e d G o d ' s S o v e r e i g n t y i n t h e f o r e g r o u n d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e d e m a n d s o f S c r i p t u r e a n d C a l v i n ' s t e a c h i n g , b e c a u s e t h i s s o v e r e i g n t y s t i m u l a t e s l i f e t o i t s r o o t s , a n d o v e r c o m e s a l l f e a r


20/28

o f m e n a n d o f S a t a n h i m s e l f . A n d i f a n y o n e s h o u l d a s k w h e t h e r t h i s S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y

i s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e h e a r t o f t h e S c r i p t u r e s a n d f r o m t h e t r e a s u r e o f R e f o r m e d l i f e ,

I w o u l d b e g o f h i m f i r s t t o f a t h o m t h e d e p t h s o f t h e o r g a n i c p r i n c i p l e o f f a i t h o f

t h e S c r i p t u r e s , f r t h e r t o t a k e n o t e o f H e b r o n ' s t r i b a l l a w f o r D a v i d ' s c o r o n a t i o n ; t o

n o t i c e E l i j a h ' s r e s i s t a n c e t o A h a b ' s t y r a n n y ; t h e r e f u s a l o f

t h e d i s c i p l e s t o y i e l d t o

J e r u s a l e m ' s p o l i c e r e g u l a t i o n s ; a n d n o t l e a s t , t o l i s t e n t o t h e i r L o r d ' s m a x i m c o n -

c e r n i n g w h a t i s G o d ' s a n d w h a t i s C a e s a r ' s . A n d t o u c h i n g u p o n R e f o r m e d l i f e , d o y o u

n o t k n o w C a l v i n ' s " m a g i s t r a t u s i n f e r i o r e s " ? I s n o t S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y t h e b a s i s o f t h e

e n t i r e p r e s b y t e r i a l c h u r c h o r d e r ? D i d n o t a l m o s t a l l R e f o r m e d n a t i o n s i n c l i n e t o w a r d a

c o n f e d e r a t i v e m o d e o f e x i s t e n c e ? D i d n o t t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e c i t i z e n s e x p a n d m o s t l u x u r i

antly in the Calvinist nations? And can it be denied that domestic peace,

d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n , a n d a u t o n o m y o f m u n i c i p a l i t i e s a r e b e s t g u a r a n t e e d e v e n n o w o n t h e

p r o m i s e s

o f t h e i s s u s d e C a l v i n ?

T h u s i t i s e n t i r e l y i n l i n e w i t h t h e R e f o r m e d s p i r i t t h a t w e n o w a s k f o r S o v e r -

e i g n t y f o r

o u r

on

p r i n c i p l e

i n o u r o w n s c i e n t i f i c s p h e r e . W e m a y n o t

m a k e a c o m p a c t

o f n e u t r a l i t y

with science that proceeds from another principle, and be seated at the

same table. For although I

do not deny that among the non-Christian authorities there

exists a fear of God

a n d

of His justice, a fear which Calvin honored even in the case

of pagan tyrants, yet such a pious trait is nothing more than the foundation and at

most a section of wall, but without roof or windows. Or, to present a clearer picture,

of what use is an erected tower which lacks the spire, and therefore the carillon, the

clock, and the weathervane, in short everything for which it was built? More accept-

able would be that other proposal,for a large State academy, for which the authorities

would furnish nothing but auditoriums equiped with lecterns and also musea and

laboratoria, in which every scholar had the right to appear, and every sphere the right

to place its scholars. It would be a sort of Centr al Station, where all lines would

converge, but each with its own direction and administration. But even then the royal


21/28

- 2 1 -

e v e r y s p h e r e o f l i f e t h a t w a s e n d o w e d w i t h i t s o w n p r i n c i p l e . F o r t h e r e h a s e x i s t e d a

G r e e k s c i e n c e , a n A r a b i c s c i e n c e , a S c h o l a s t i c s c i e n c e , a n d , a l t h o u g h w e h a v e n o k i n -

s h i p w i t h t h e m , e a c h i n i t s o w n s p h e r e w a s d u l y c o n s i d e r e d a n d w e l l t h o u g h t o u t b y

g i a n t i n t e l l e c t s , a n d n o n e o f u s c o u l d s t a n d i n t h e i r s h a d o w . L i k e w i s e , C a t h o l i c a n d

n o n - R o m a n - C a t h o l i c U n i v e r s i t i e s . T h e s u c c e s s i o n o f p h i l o s o p h e r s w h o a p p e a r e d w i t h

a n d a f t e r K a n t e s t a b l i s h e d s c h o o l s o f s c i e n c e w h i c h , d e p e n d i n g u p o n w h e t h e r t h e y

s t r e s s e d t h e s u b j e c t i v e o r t h e o b j e c t v e , w e r e m u t u a l l y e x c l u s i v e . H o w c o u l d o n e p r o -

m o t e

a

m a r r i a g e b e t w e e n a

Monist and an Atomist? Indeed, the power of a principle is

so compelling and dominating that it is generally conceded that Hegel's intellectual

power was able to produce individual systems for every area, --theological, juridical,

physical, etc., so that anyone studying cri minal law in Hegel's school and civil law

in Herbart's school would find his sense of justice totally confused.

And if this impossibility of cooperation i n the weaving of a garment is apparent

when there is a differenc e in thought principle, how much more imperative is the

necessity of Sphere Sovereignty in the case of a life principle As indicated by

Fichte's example, if only a thought principle is involved it is possible to re-

turn to what was originally rejected. But that cannot be done in the case of a

rife principle. That is rooted in facts. Or, to put it more strongly, in a living

person. In a person whose appearance Precipitated a world crisis. For if you inter-

rogate this living person, this Grist, or His authoritative interpreters, what do you

learn? Does that Rabbi in Nazareth state that his science is wedded to that of

those earthly sages? Do the apostles tell you that a post-graduate course at Jeru-

salem or Athens will gradually and naturally lead to His higher knowledge? No, the

reverse is true. That rabbi will impress upon you that his treasure of wisdom had been

hidden from the wise and prudent, and revealed to babes. And the scientifically

t r a i n e d P a u l d r a w s a g u l f b e t w e e n h i s e a r l i e r a c q u i r e d s c i e n c e a n d t h e l i f e p r i n c i p l e t h a t

has since been implanted

a

u l f s o w i d e , s o d e e p , a n d s o i m p a s s a b l e t h a t h e t e r m s t h e t h o u g h t s p h e r e o f t h e o n e f o o l i s h n e s s , a n d t h e l i f e s p h e r e o f t h e o t h e r w i s d o m .

hall we then pretend that we can cultivate on one root that which, according to


22/28

J e s u s ' d i v i n e s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i s r o o t e d d i f f e r e n t l y ? W e s h a l l n o t a t t e m p t i t ,

Gentlemen Rather, considering that a principle is the beginning of

s o m e t h i n g , a n d

t h e r e f o r e o n e ' s d i s t i n c t

p r i n c i p l e

p r o d u c e s s o m e t h i n g d i s t i n c t , w e s h a l l m a i n t a i n a

d i s t i n c t S p h e r e S o v e r e i g n t y f o r o u r p r i n c i p l e , a n d a n o t h e r f o r t h a t o f o u r o p p o n e n t s ,

i n t h e e n t i r e s p h e r e o f t h o u g h t . T h a t i s t o s a y , e v e n a s t h e y , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r p r i n c i p l e

a n d t h e m e t h o d s u i t e d t o t h a t p r i n c i p l e , e r e c t a h o u s e o f s c i e n c e w h i c h s p a r k l e s , b u t

n o t t e m p t u s , s o a l s o w i l l w e , f r o m t h e r o o t o f o u r

p r i n c i p l e , a n d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e

m e t h o d w h i c h f i t s

o u r p r i n c i p l e , p e r m i t a t r u n k t o g r o w w h o s e b r a n c h e s , l e a v e s ,

a n d b l o s s o m s a r e n o u r i s h e d b y i t s d i s t i n c t l i f e

sap.

W e c l a i m t o h a v e d i s c o v e r e d

s o m e t h i n g w h i c h o u r o p p o n e n t s l a b e l a s s e l f - d e c e p t i o n . S o b e i t ; t o b e c o n s i d e r e d f o o l

f o r t h a t r e a s o n i s a s n e e d f u l f o r u s a s w e a r e u n a b l e t o r e f r a i n f r o m s a v i n g w i t h t h e

p o e t o f P r o v e r b s : " t h a t t h e g o d l e s s o f o u r a g e d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d w i s d o m . " W e d o n o t

s a y t h a t

he

i s i n f e r i o r t o u s

in knowledge. He

m a y b e o u r s u p e r i o r i n t h a t r e s p e c t .

B u t w e d o s a y , w i t h P r o v e r b s , t h a t h e l a c k s w i s d o m b e c a u s e h e d e n i e s t h a t w h i c h i s f o r

u s a n

a s s u r e d

f a c t i n C r i s t ,

a n d a l s o s t a t e s t h a t h e h a s n o t f o u n d i n h i s s o u l w h a t

w e

c o n s c i o u s l y g r a s p e d i n o u r s o u l . F a i t h i n G o d ' s

W o r d ,

o b j e c t i v e l y i n f a l l i b l e i n t h e

S c r i p t u r e s , a n d s u b j e c t i v e l y o f f e r e d t o u s b y t h e H o l y S p i r i t , b e h o l d t h e l i n e o f

demarcation. This does

not mean that the knowledge of others is based upon intellec-

tual certainty, end ours only upon faith. For all knowledge pr oceeds from faith of one

or another. One leans upon God, proceeds from one's ego, or holds to one's ideal. The

man does not exist who believes nothing. At least, one who had no facts to begin with

could not find Even a starting point for his thinking; and how can the man whose think-

ing lacks every starting point ever investigate anything scientifically?

Indeed, we purpose therefore to build alongside of what others built, without

anything in common except the outdoors, the view from the windows, and a press which,

like a mail carrier, maintains the communion of thought. For we also acknowledge that

the mutual struggle between thoughts is possible and necessary, but never concerning

anything except starting point

and

i r e c t i o n . W h e n o n c e t h e s e h a v e b e e n d e f i n e d y o u r l i n e i s d r a w n p r o v i d e d y o u d r a w a s t r a i g h t l i n e a n d d e p e n d i n g u p o n w h e t h e r y o u a r e t o t h e r i g h t o r t h e l e f t o f t h a t l i n e y o u r v i e w s w i l l n o t c o i n c i d e a n d a n y a r g u m e n t


23/28

3

t h a t m i g h t b e a d v a n c e d w i l l l a c k t h e p o w e r o f c o n v i c t i o n . E v e r y o r g a n i c a l t h i n k e r

w i l l r i g h t l y r i d i c u l e a l l a t o m i c p r e t e n s i o n t h a t a l l g r o w i n g p e r s o n s m u s t t h i n k

t h r o u g h e v e r y s y s t e m a n d s e a r c h t h r o u g h e v e r y c o n f e s s i o n , a n d t h e r e a f t e r c h o o s e w h a t

h e c o n s i d e r s b e s t f o r h i m . N o b o d y c a n o r w i l l d o t h a t , b e c a u s e n e i t h e r t i m e n o r

i n t e l l e c t u a l p o w e r i s a v a i l a b l e f o r i t . A n d o n l y t h e u n w i s e c a n f a n c y t h a t h e d i d i t

o r b e l i e v e t h a t o t h e r s d i d i t , i f h e h i m s e l f d o e s n o t u n d e r s t a n d s c i e n c e . S u c h s a m -

p l i n g o f a l l s y s t e m s m e r e l y f e e d s s u p e r f i c i a l i t y , r u i n s t h i n k i n g , s p o i l s c h a r a c t e r ,

a n d

makes the brain unfit for more solid la bor. Believe me, not a cursory gla nce at

all houses, but a careful examination of one well-built house from basement to attic

will enhance one's knowledge of building construction.

Our science will therefore not be"free" in the sense of "detached fr om its prin-

ciples". That would be the freedom of a fish on dry land, of a flower uprooted from

the soil, or if you will, a Drents day-labo rer taken from the environment of his

village and suddenly set down in"Fleet Street" or on the "Strand". Sternly and inex-

orably we bind ourselves in our own house to a definite rule of life, being convinced

that domestic life flourishes best when controlled by definite rules. For the most

generous freedom in the realm of science is this, that the door will be opened for

those who would leave; that no outsider will enter your house to lord it over you;

but also, that every one can build f reely on the foundation of h is own method, and the

results which he produced serving as the cornice.

Finally, if you ask whether we desire this in dividual scientific development

not only for theology, but for all disciplines, and if possibly you can scarcely

control a smile when you hear scoffing references to "Christian medicine" and

"Christian logic", -- hear our reply to that objection.

Or do you think that we, confessing God's revelation as it was again reformed

after the deformation, as the start ing point of our striving, would limit drawing

from that source to the theologians, and that physicians, jurists, and philologists

w o u l d s c o r n t h i s f o u n t a i n h e a d ? D o y o u f e e l t h a t t h e r e e x i s t s a s c i e n c e , w o r t h y o f t h e n a m e , w h o s e p r o f e s s i o n a l k n o w l e d g e i s s e p a r a t e d f r o m o t h e r s i n p i g e o n - h o l e s ?


24/28

W h y s p e a k o f a m e d i c a l f a c u l t y I t i s n o t a s i c k m a n u r i a l t h a t m e d i c a l s c i e n c e

seeks to benefit hygienically, but a man created after God's image. Judge for

y o u r s e l v e s , t h e n , w h e t h e r d e p e n d i n g u p o n y o u r v i e w o f t h a t m a n a s a m o r a l b e i n g ,

with a higher destiny for soul and body, bound to God's Word, or not so

v i e w i n g

him, whether you ought to tell him of approaching

d e a t h o r t o k e e p i t f r o m h i m ;

w h e t h e r y o u o u g h t t o r e c o m m e n d o r a d v i s e a g a i n s t a n e s t h e s i a f o r a w o m a n i n t r a v a i l ;

w h e t h e r y o u o u g h t t o c o m p e l v a c c i n a t i o n o r l e a v e i t t o a p e r s o n ' s f r e e c h o i c e ;

w h e t h e r y o u o u g h t t o a d v i s e p a s s i o n a t e y o u t h a s t o s e l f - c o n t r o l o r i n d u l g e n c e ;

w h e t h e r y o u s h a l l c u r s e t h e f e r t i l i t y o f t h e m o t h e r w i t h M a l t h u s o r b l e s s i t w i t h

t h e S c r i p t u r e s ; w h e t h e r y o u m u s t g u i d e t h e m e n t a l l y d e r a n g e d p s y c h i c a l l y o r

a n e s t h e s i z e h i m p h y s i c a l l y ; i n s h o r t , w h e t h e r y o u c o n d o n e c r e m a t i o n ; p e r m i t

v i v i s e c t i o n u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y ; a n d w h e t h e r y o u w o u l d h a l t t h e s p r e a d o f s y p h i l i t i c

p o i s o n i n s o c i e t y , a t t h e

c o s t o f

v i o l a t i n g a u t h o r i t y a n d h u m a n d i g n i t y b y m e a n s

o f t h e m o s t d e t e s t a b l e o f a l l m e d i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n s . - - W h a t s h a l l I s a y o f t h e

s t u d y o f l a w ? T h i s d e p e n d s u p o n

w h e t h e r o n e s e e s m a n a s a s e l f

d e v e l o p i n g

p r o d u c t

o f n a t u r e o r a s a s i n n e r w o r t h y o f c o n d e m n a t i o n ; w h e t h e r o n e s e e s j u s t i c e a s a

f u n c t i o n a l l y d e v e l o p i n g n a t u r a l o r g a n o r a s a t r e a s u r e c o m i n g d o w n t o u s f r o m G o d

a n d b o u n d t o

His Word; whether there was not another purpose in

c h o o s i n g c r i m i n a l

law, and another guideline in choosing international law. If, aside from science,

the Christian conscience shows resistance to the prevailing political economy, to

the current business practices, and to the rapacious nature of social relationships;

if in civil life our Christian people urge a return to decentralization by way

of "Sphere Soveleignty"; and if in constitutional law there appear three for one,

separate "Christian schools"; is it possible then to think of one chair in the

faculty of law

-

hat would not be harmed by these contrasting principles? -- I will

readily grant you that, if our faculty of the natural sciences would strictly

limit itself to measuring and weighing, the wedge of principle could not enter its

d o o r s . B u t w h o w o u l d d o t h a t ? W h i c h p h y s i c i s t o p e r a t e s w i t h o u t h y p o t h e s e s ? W h a t m a n w h o p r a c t i c e s h i s s c i e n c e a s a m a n a n d n o t a s a m e a s u r i n g d e v i c e d o e s n o t v i e w


25/28

- 2 5 -

w h a t h e s e e s t h r o u g h s u b j e c t i v e l e n s e s , a n d d o e s n o t a d d b y d o t t e d l i n e t h e

i n v i s i b l e p a r t o f t h e c i r c l e , a l w a y s a c c o r d i n g t o s u b j e c t i v e o p i n i o n ? T h e m a n

w h o f i g u r e s t h e c o s t o f t h e p r i n t e d p a p e r a n d t h e d r o p s o f i n k t h a t w e r e u s e d i n

p r i n t i n g , i s t h a t m a n a b l e t o a s s e s s t h e v a l u e o f t h e b o o k t h a t y o u p u b l i s h e d ,

y o u r p a m p h l e t , o r y o u r b o o k o f

s o n g s i n

a h i g h e r s e n s e ? I s t h e v a l u e o f t h e m o s t

b e a u t i f u l p i e c e o f e m b r o i d e r y t o b e r a t e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c o s t

o f a f e w s t r a n d s

o f s i l k ? O r , i f y o u p r e f e r , i s n o t a l l o f c r e a t i o n o p e n b e f o r e t h e e y e s o f t h e

n a t u r a l

s c i e n t i s t

l i k e o n e

e n c h a n t i n g p a i n t i n g , a n d i s

t h e v a l u e a n d b e a u t y o f

that work of art to be judged by the gold frame around it, the yards of canvas under

it, and the pounds of paint on it? -- And what shall I say about the faculty of

literature?Of course, leaning the "reading" of words and "declension" of words

has nothing to do with being for or against the Messiah. But if I, continuing,

unlock the doors of Hellas' palace of art, or enter Rome's world of power, does

it not concern you whether I recall the spirit of those nations in order to banish

the spirit of Christ, or place them in subjectio n to the spirit of Christ, both

according to human and divine evaluation? Does not the study of Semitic languages

take on another aspect, depending upon whether I view Israel as the people of the

absolute

revelation, or merely as a people with a genius for piety? Does philosophy

remain the same, whether it pursues the "ideal b eing" or joins us in confessing

the Christ as the ideal "made flesh "? Will world history arrive at the same resul t,

regardless whether one identifies the cross with Socrates' cup of poison or views

it as the central point of all history? And finally, will the history of the

fatherland kindle the same fire in the heart of youth, regardless whether it is

unfolded by Fruin or Nuyens or Groen van Prinsterer (oh that he were still alive)

in all its heroic beauty?

How could it be otherwise? Man as a fallen sinner, contrasted with man as a

s e l f - d e v e l o p i n g p r o d u c t o f n a t u r e , w i l l a p p e a r a g a i n a s t h e s u b j e c t t h a t t h i n k s o r t h e o b j e c t t h a t p r o m p t s o n e t o t h i n k , i n e v e r y f a c u l t y , e v e r y s c i e n c e , a n d w i t h e v e r y r e s e a r c h w o r k e r . O h , t h e r e i s n o t o n e p a r t o f o u r w o r l d o f t h o u g h t


26/28

t h a t c a n b e h e r m e t i c a l l y s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e o t h e r p a r t s ; a n d t h e r e i s n o t a

s q u a r e i n c h i n t h w h o l e

d o m a i n o f o u r

h u m a n l i f e o f w h i c h C h r i s t , W h o i s S o v e -

r e i g n o f a l l , d o e s n o t c r y : " M i n e "

N o w , w e d e c l a r e t h a t w e h a v e h e a r d t h a t c r y , a n d o n l y i n r e s p o n s e t o t h a t

c r y h a v e w e a p p r o a c h e d t h i s t a s k w h i c h s u r p a s s e s o u r h u m a n s t r e n g t h . W e h a d

h e a r d b r e t h r e n c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h e i r t r a g i c i m p o t e n c e . B e c a u s e t h e i r l e a r n i n g d i d

n o t f i t t h e i r p r i n c i p l e a n d l e f t t h e m d e f e n c e l e s s , t h e y c o u l d n o t p l e a d t h e i r

p r i n c i p l e w i t h t h e p o w e r c o m m e n s u r a t e w i t h t h e g l o r y o f t h a t p r i n c i p l e . W e h a d

h e a r d t h e s i g h s o f o u r C h r i s t i a n p e o p l e w h o , i n t h e s h a m e o f t h e i r s e l f - a b a s e m e n t ,

a g a i n l e a r n e d t o p r a y f o r c a p t a i n s t o l e a d t h e m , f o r s h e p h e r d s t o t e n d t h e m , a n d

f o r p r o p h e t s t o i n s p i r e t h e m . W e r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e g l o r y o f t h e C h r i s t m a y n o t

t h u s r e m a i n t r o d d e n t i n d e r s c o f f e r s ' f e e t .

s

s u r e l y a s w e a d o r e d H i m w i t h t h e l o v e

o f

o u r

s o u l s w e m o s t a g a i n b u i l d i n H i s N a m e . A n d i t w a s o f n o a v a i l t o l o o k u p o n

o u r l i t t l e p o w e r o r t h e s u p e r i o r m i g h t o f o u r o p p o n e n t s , o r t h e p r e p o s t e r o u s n e s s

o f s u c h a d a r i n g a t t e m p t . T h e

f i r e c o n t i n u e d t o

b u r n i n o u r b o n e s . T h e r e w a s O n e ,

mightier than we, Who urged and spurred us on. We could not rest. In spite of

ourselves we had to go forward. Even the fact that some of our br ethren, advising

against building at this time, preferred living in with Humanism, was a painful

source of shame, but increased the inner urge, because the hesitation of such men

was an increasingly strong threat to the future of our life principle.

Thus our small School came upon the scene, embarrassed to the point of blushing

with the name "University"; poor in funds; not well supplied with scientific man-

power, and lacking, rather than receiving men's favo r. What will be its course,

how long its lire? Oh, the thousand questions relative t o its future cannot crowd

pour thoughts and misgivings more strongly than they have raged in this heart Only

b y k e e p i n g o u r s a c r e d p r i n c i p l e i n v i e w d i d o u r w e a r y h e a d r i s e f r o m t h e w a t e r s a f t e r e v e r y w a v e t h a t e n g u l f e d u s . I f t h i s c a u s e b e n o t o p f t h e M i g h t y O n e o f J a c o b h o w c a n i t e n d u r e ? F o r I d o n o t e x a g g e r a t e w h a t w e a r e v e n t u r i n g i n t h e e s t a b l i h m e n t o f t h i s S c h o o l r u n s c o n t r a r y t o a l l t h a t i s c a l l e d g r e a t c o u n t e r t o a w o r l d o f


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- 2 7 -

scholars, counter to an entire century, a century of great charm. Therefore,

feel free to look down as low as your inner self deems proper upon our persons,

our strength, our academic significance. "To esteem God as

e v e r y t h i n g and man as

n o t h i n g " is the Calvinist

c r e d o

that gives you the full right to do so. I would

only ask this one thing: though you may be our fiercest opponent, do not withhold

the tribute of your respect from the

e n t h u s i a s m that inspires us. For that con-

fession from which we swept the dust was at one time the soul's cry of a

d o w n t r o d d e n

nation; those Scriptures before whose authority we bow have in the past, as God' s

infallible witness, comforted the sorrowing of your own generations; and was not

that Christ, Whose Name we honor in this institution, the Inspirer, the Adored one

of your own fathers? Therefore, even if we suppose, in line with Your

c r e d o

and

in accordance with what has been written in the study and echoed in the market-place,

that the Scriptures are finished and Christianity is o

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