View source for Ostens, Jacob, (1625-1678)

Jacob Ostens, b. 1625 probably at [[Utrecht (Utrecht, Netherlands)|Utrecht]], d. 23 October 1678, at Rotterdam, whose ancestors had moved from Flanders to the [[Netherlands|Netherlands]] because of persecution, was a physician, who in 1653 was appointed preacher of the [[Flemish Mennonites|Flemish]] Mennonite congregation at Rotterdam, Holland. Since he was a man of liberal ideas (he is said to have been an anti-Trinitarian, a Spinozist, and a supporter of Collegiant doctrines) trouble soon arose with some of his co-preachers. In 1655 he and three other preachers of the Flemish congregation, Jan Ariaens van Raemburgh, [[Veerom, Gerrit Jansz (d. 1680)|Gerrit Jans Veerom]], and Huygh Jans Corenhart, left this church and joined the [[w381.html|Waterlander]] Mennonite congregation in Rotterdam. Here Ostens served as a preacher from 1655 until his death. In the Waterlander congregation too he caused some trouble because some members did not agree with his ideas and accused him of [[Socinianism|Socinianism]]. Ostens published <em>Lief de-son, omstralende de Hoedanigheyt der tegenwoordige genaamde Christenheyt</em> (Utrecht: 1651).


= Bibliography =
 Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam</em>, 2 vols. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: v. II, 2, Nos. 369-413.

Meinsma, K. O. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Spinoza en zijn Kring</em>. The Hague, 1896: 228, 341-343.

Vos, Karel. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinde Gemeente te Rotterdam</em>. 1907, reprint: 17 f., 23, 42 f.


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