View source for Jager, Jan de (1719-1802)

Jan de Jager was a minister of the Hamburg-Altona Mennonite Church, b. 10 March 1719, d. 12 May 1802, the oldest son of [[Jager, Henrick de (1690-1749)|Henrick de Jager]], who gave him an excellent education in the "learned languages," astronomy, anatomy, and botany. From his twelfth to his twenty-second year he lived with his uncle, in order to be introduced into "trade."

Three years after his first marriage he was chosen as a probationary minister, having been in a sense bequeathed to the church, together with [[Karsdorp, Gerrit, Jr. (1729-1811)|Karsdorp, Jr.,]] by the "dying lips" of his father. It was even harder for the son to accept the office than it had been for the father. He did not preach a sermon until a year later, and his installation as a full preacher was postponed repeatedly until a year after the death of his first wife. He had meanwhile refused remuneration in order not to be bound. He was too adventuresome to be suited to a permanent pastorate. He spent much time in [[Friedrichstadt (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)|Friedrichstadt]], the home of his second wife, so that the congregation had to have several ministers at the same time. Nevertheless Hoekstra stated in Jager's funeral sermon that his preaching was stirring and appealing, based on the conviction that faith is profitable, disbelief harmful, because on them depend life and death.

Extant are the following sermons preached by him: a sermon in verse, "Vaderlijke Ontboezeming aan myne kinderen," and the following printed funeral addresses: (1) "Die Aufmerksamkeit einer Gemeinde auf den Tod ihrer Lehrer bei dem seligen Absterben des . . . G. Karsdorp" (1750); (2) "De zalige hope en verwachting eener godvruchtige Ziele in Leven en in Sterven ter gelegentheid von het zalig overlyden van ... J. Ris over Ps. 39, 8" (Hamburg, 1784).
= Bibliography =
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. <em>Mennonitisches Lexikon</em>, 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 387.

Karsdorp, Gerrit and S. Hoekstra. <em>Stand- en Gedachtenisrede. </em>1802.

<em>Naamlijst der tegenwoordig in dienst zijnde predikanten der Mennoniten in de vereenigde Nederlanden</em>. (Amsterdam, 1804): 70.

Visscher, H. and L. A. van Langeraad. Biographisch Woordenboek von Protestantsche Godgeleerden in Nederland, A-L v. I Utrecht, 1903-: IV, 488.
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