Claesz, Claes (17th century)

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Claes Claesz was an elder in the Flemish congregation at Blokzijl, Dutch province of Overijssel, in the first half of the 17th century, who enjoyed the regard of the moderate branch. He endeavored by lenience and a conciliatory attitude to unite the various branches of the Mennonites of Holland. Gifted with foresight he was always able to maintain an impartial and moderate attitude and to turn to account the good points of his opponents. Among his bitterest opponents were P. J. Twisck, Vincent de Hondt, and Jan Luies. These would have no part in unification, since in their opinion Claesz did not exercise the ban strictly enough. In a meeting at Middelstum on 18 September 1628 Jan Luies and Claesz fell into arguing, and the result was the separation of the Groninger Old Flemish. In reply to the violent polemic of Herman Faukelius, a Reformed preacher at Middelburg and well-known opponent of the Mennonites, entitled Babel, dat is verwerringhe der Wederdooperen onder malcanderen over meest alle stucken des Christelijcken Geloofs en Leere, he wrote Bekenntenisse van de voornaemste Stucken des Christelijken gheloofs en der Leere (Amsterdam, 1624, 2d edition Utrecht, 1650). It contains 23 articles and forms a valuable confession of faith of the Mennonites. Others of his writings are the following: Eenvuldige vertrouwinge, Waer inne naectelijck uyt de H. Schrifture aengewesen wort, dat Gods Gemeente, niet op eeniger menschen vroomheyt, oude gewoonten, traditien, ofte lange belevingen, Dan alleen op den hoecsteen Christum, Sijne heylsame leere, ende onberispelijck leven ghefondeert staet (Amsterdam, 1610); Copye eens Briefs of Voorlooper, om niet ligtvaardig te oordeelen (Amsterdam, 1613). In reply P. J. Twisck published Vreeds-Beletzel, which Claesz answered with Vreeds-Beletzel van P. J. Twisck. beantwoordt en wederleyt (Amsterdam, 1629); Predikatie of verklaringhe over Luc. I0. 25-28 (Amsterdam, 1624), a sermon of 104 pages, but according to Maatschoen doubly worth reading; Onschult, ende bestraffinghe des onschriftmatighen oordeels, 'twelck by Jan Luyes . . . (Amsterdam, 1627); Schriftuerlijk tractaet over het wederaennemen der boetvaerdighe buytengetroude (Haarlem, 1634); Propositie of Voorstelling dat de eens geloofs gezinde Christenen niet behooren gescheiden te blyven (Haarlem, 1634). A letter to Vincent de Hondt is added to this book. In addition Claesz was the author of a number of hymns, several of which are printed in Stapel's Lusthof, 1681.

Claesz was one of the signatories of the union of the Flemish, which came into being at Dordrecht in 1632.

Bibliography

Catalogus der werken over de Doopsgezinden en hunne geschiedenis aanwezig in de bibliotheek der Vereenigde DoopsgezindeGemeente to Amsterdam. Amsterdam: J.H. de Bussy, 1919: 104, 185, 198.

Cate, Steven Blaupot ten. Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinden in Groningen, Overijssel en Oost-Friesland, 2 vols. Leeuwarden: W. Eekhoff en J. B. Wolters, 1842: v. I, 60-63.

Doopsgezinde Bijdragen (1876): 38; (1897): 118; (1900): 90; (1883): 6, 8.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 358.

Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: v. I, Nos. 558, 573, 589; II, 1239.

Kühler, Wilhelmus Johannes. Geschiedenis van de Doopsgezinden in Nederland II. 1600-1735 Eerste Helft. Haarlem: H.D. Tjeenk Willink & Zoon n.v., 1940: 76 f., 82 f., 192.

Schijn H. and G. Maatschoen. Uitvoeriger Verhandeling van de Geschiedenisse der Mennonisten. Amsterdam, 1744: 439-482.


Author(s) Jacob Loosjes
Date Published 1953

Cite This Article

MLA style

Loosjes, Jacob. "Claesz, Claes (17th century)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Claesz,_Claes_(17th_century)&oldid=119625.

APA style

Loosjes, Jacob. (1953). Claesz, Claes (17th century). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Claesz,_Claes_(17th_century)&oldid=119625.



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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 617. All rights reserved.


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