Herman Witsius

This eminent servant of God was born on the 12th of February, 1636, at Enkhuizen, a town in the province of West Friesland. This town was one of the first to throw off the Spanish yoke and to proclaim its own liberty. When once enlightened with the truths of the gospel, it retained the purity of worship and, even in the worst times of Arminianism, continued steadfast in the faith. Though Enkhuizen was a place noted for trade and shipping, yet it produced men famous in almost every branch of literature.

Herman Witsius was descended from reputable parents. His father, Nicholas Wits, was a man highly esteemed by his fellow citizens at Enkhuizen. He endeared himself to all by his fidelity, modesty, justice, benevolence, and sincere piety in all walks of life. In the church he was first a deacon, and afterwards an elder; and in civil affairs, he was treasurer of the city of Enkhuizen. Witsius’ mother was Joanna, a woman of great piety and prudence, the daughter of Herman Gerhard, a highly esteemed minister of the gospel at Enkhuizen for about thirty years.

It is said that Witsius, even before he was born, was devoted by his parents to the service of God and the church; and they gave him the name of his mother’s father, earnestly praying that their young Herman might equal or even surpass his grandfather in gifts and graces, inherit his excellencies, and imitate his example. His birth, it appears, was premature, and almost cost both mother and son their lives. At first appearance, he was so small and feeble that it was thought that he could not live above a few hours. It pleased God, however, not only to preserve alive this puny infant, but to make him, in His own time, a truly eminent divine, distinguished for mental vigor, though not physically strong, and renowned throughout the whole Christian world for his valuable labors and useful writings.

His parents, while they found it necessary to take particular care of his health, did not neglect his education. In conformity with their vows and prayers, they were diligent above all to instruct him early in the first principles of the Christian religion. In his sixth year they sent him to the public school of his native town to learn the rudiments of Latin. After he had been there three years and had been promoted to the highest class, Peter Gerhard, his mother’s brother, a learned and devout man, took him to his own house and favored him with his immediate tuition. Under the care of this venerable uncle, who treated him as his own son, Witsius made such rapid progress that before he was fifteen years old he could not only speak and write the Latin language correctly, but was minutely acquainted with Greek and Hebrew. With ease he could read and interpret the Holy Scriptures in the original tongues, as well as commentaries in those languages. He had also, by this time, acquired a tolerable knowledge of logic, metaphysics, ethics, and natural philosophy, and had thoroughly studied the Compendium of Theology of Marcus Friedrich Wendelin, a German Reformed theologian who lived from 1584 to 1652. In addition, the pious conversation of his uncle, his ready command of the Scriptures in the Greek and Hebrew, and his excellent habit of applying pertinent passages to the ordinary occurrences of life, had a favorable effect upon the habits of the nephew, for it laid the foundation of that intimate acquaintance that Witsius had with the Scriptures, for which he was distinguished in the latter periods of his life. Dr. John a Marck, in his funeral oration after the death of Witsius (from which, incidentally, this material on the life of Witsius is drawn), said the following, “O rare felicity of Witsius, and notably improved! Were similar preparations made in the present age, many would enter the university far better instructed than they now are when they leave it to engage in the various pursuits of life.”

In the year 1651, at age fifteen, Witsius was sent to the University of Utrecht. Here he studied philosophy under Paul Voetius; the Oriental languages, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic, under the celebrated Johann Leusden; and theology under Gijsbert Voetius, John Hoornbeeck, Walter Bruinius, and Andrew Essenius. Maatsius, another excellent professor of divinity, died just before his arrival, and Witsius had only the sad satisfaction of hearing Hoornbeeck pronounce the funeral oration over his lamented colleague. Here Witsius applied himself with unwearied diligence to Oriental learning; and he gave a specimen of his proficiency by composing an eloquent oration in the Hebrew language on “The Messiah of the Jews and the Christians,” which, at the request of Leusden, his master, he pronounced with great applause before the university, in the eighteenth year of his age.

In the year 1654, attracted by the fame of Samuel Maresius, the eminent French professor at Groningen, Witsius left Utrecht to attend the University of Groningen, where he devoted himself wholly to the study of divinity. Under the guidance of Maresius, he engaged in the usual exercises preparatory for preaching, and performed them in the French language to the complete satisfaction of his teacher. Having continued for one whole year at Groningen, he desired to continue his studies in Leiden, but since the plague was then raging there, he decided to return to Utrecht, to build further upon the foundation he had already laid there. While now, as formerly, he heard with attention the different professors of divinity, both in public and private, he cultivated a peculiar familiarity with Justus van der Bogaerdt, a man of uncommon judgment, gravity, and piety. It was not only the admirable gifts of Bogaerdt, but especially the savor of his evangelical and vital religion, which pervaded his discourses, his prayers, and his private conversation, which greatly endeared him to Witsius.

Witsius himself acknowledged that it was chiefly by the divine blessing on the instructions of this excellent divine that he was preserved from being puffed up with head- knowledge. From him he understood how great the difference is between any superficial knowledge which scholastic studies, books learnedly written, and a close application to studies, may procure to a mind which is still destitute of sanctification, and that heavenly wisdom which is acquired by meditation, prayer, love, familiar converse with God, and by the very relish of spiritual things. These things, proceeding from the Spirit of God, internally illuminating, convincing, persuading, and sealing, gloriously transforms the whole man into the most holy image of Christ.

Thus Witsius came to the realization that before this time he had too much and too fondly pleased himself in lingering in the porch or outer court, but now, by the teaching of the Spirit, he had learned to disclaim all vain presumption of his own knowledge and humbly to sit down at the feet of the heavenly Master and receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child.

His increased attention to spiritual religion, however, was far from abating his ardor or retarding his progress in literary pursuits. About this time he wrote and publicly debated in the university, under the residency of Leusden, his “Theses on the Trinity”; in which, with great learning and ability, he proved that important doctrine from the writings of the ancient Jews and showed how far their descendants have degenerated in that article from the sentiments of their ancestors.

The time was now come that Witsius, already famous at two universities, should be employed in the public service of the church. Accordingly, having received ample testimonies from the professors at Groningen and Utrecht, he presented himself for what was called the preparatory examination at Enkhuizen in the month of May, 1656. He gave full satisfaction to the ministers and was licensed to preach the gospel. His gifts as a preacher were soon noticed, and he received the approval of the churches. At the instigation of John Boisus, minister of the French Protestant church at Utrecht, Witsius, though naturally bashful, was prevailed upon to apply to the French divines assembled at Dordt for license to preach publicly in the French language in their churches. Availing himself of the privilege, he often preached in French at Utrecht, Amsterdam, and other places.

Having received a regular call from the church of Westwouden, he was ordained on the 8th of July, 1657, in the twenty-first year of his age. For four and a half years he labored there with much zeal and success. The young people of his charge received his particular attention. By frequent catechizing and exhorting, his catechumens, both boys and girls, who were before very ignorant, could soon not only give proper answers on the principal heads of our religion, but prove their answers by suitable texts of Scripture. Many could repeat the substance of a whole sermon distinctly when examined on it, to the joy as well as the shame of their parents and older people. The growing reputation of Witsius soon attracted the notice of other churches. The church of Wormer, in the same tract of North Holland, a large congregation, but at the same time distracted by internal differences and animosities, thought they could not choose a pastor better qualified than Witsius to restore unanimity and edify their souls. Judging it his duty to accept the call of that church, he moved there in October 1661. In this new sphere of usefulness he exerted himself with exemplary discretion and fidelity, and not without remarkable fruit upon his labors. He was esteemed and loved by his people; and although the congregation of Sluice in Flanders extended an earnest call to come to them to preach the gospel both in Dutch and in French, he could not think of removing. Not long after, however, he felt he must accept a call from Goes in Zeeland, and moved there in the year 1666.

At Goes his labors were again most acceptable and useful. Enjoying favorable opportunities for retirement and study, and blessed with three excellent colleagues, of whom he venerated two as his fathers, and loved the third as a brother, he often wished to live to old age in that quiet retreat. But in November 1667, a most earnest call was given to him by the church of Leeuwarden, the capital of West Friesland, and after much mature deliberation, he accepted their call and commenced his ministry among them in April 1668. The fidelity and prudence which he showed in this important position, and the courage and firmness he displayed in a season of extraordinary difficulty, when the United Provinces were harassed and alarmed by the tumults of war and the incursions of the enemy, gained Witsius much respect. Dr. a Marck, who was then a student residing in that district, affirms that he knew no other man of God whose labors were more abundantly blessed.

His services to the church, to the nobility, and to the court were equally appreciated. He was for some time tutor to Henry Casimir, Prince of Nassau, who was cut off by an early death. He also instructed other members of the court, who made public profession of faith under his teaching.

— to be continued —

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