Hermannus Faukelius

Hermannus Faukelius

was born at Bruges about the year 1560. His parents were warmly attached to the Protestant cause. At twenty we find him in a theological seminary at Ghent. Here he enjoyed the instructions of able professors, among whom was Danaeus (q.v.). After leaving Ghent, where he distinguished himself as a student, he spent a short time at the University of Leyden. In 1585. he was called to serve a Protestant church at Cologne, where he labored for fourteen years amid many discouragements. On June 27, 1599, he was installed over the Reformed church in Middelburg, the chief city of Zealand, where he spent the remainder of his life. He had great reputation as a preacher. His learning was profound, his exhortations earnest and impressive, and his deportment exemplary. In ecclesiastical affairs he acted a conspicuous part. He was member and assessor of the Provincial Synod held at Tholen in 1602, and was delegated in 1607 to the Conventus praeparatorius at the Hague, where his opposition to the Arminian tendency was strongly exhibited. He assured the Convention that the churches of Zealand desired no revision of the Catechism and Confession. In 1616 the task was assigned to him, in conjunction with Bucerus and Walaeus, to make known to the scholars and to universities in other lands the condition of ecclesiastical affairs in Holland. At the organization of the Synod of Dort he was chosen one of the assessors of that famous body. At its forty-third session he was selected as one of the deputation sent to the Hague to report the proceedings of synod to the States General. During its thirteenth session he was appointed one of the translators of the New Testament. For this work he was eminently fitted. Of this he had given previous evidence in his translation of the N.T., published in 1617 at Middelburg, entitled, Het Nieuwe Testament onses Heeren Jesu Christi, uit den grieckschen overgheset, neerstelick nu oversien na de beste oversettingen, ende van veel druckfauten ghesuyvert; met nieuwe sommatien ende afdeelinghen der capittelen, midtsgaders annotatien aan den Rant tot verclaringhe van den text. In his knowledge of the Hebrew he is said to have surpassed most of his contemporaries. The historical books of the O.T. were translated by him, and neatly written out in two folio volumes, which are still preserved in the vestry of the Reformed church in Middelburg. Other important labors were also assigned him by the Synod. He was appointed one of a committee to compare the Latin, Dutch, and French copies of the Confession, in order to obtain as accurate a copy as possible. He was also a member of the committee appointed to draft articles on the five disputed points known as the Canons of the Synod of Dort. (See Dort).

He was also requested to prepare two catechetical works. Het Kort Begrip Der Christelijke Religie (Compendium of the Christian Religion) is due to his pen. This may still be found in company with the Heidelberg Catechism, Confession of Faith, etc., in the book of praise used by the Reformed Church in this country. He published a work on the Anabaptists in 1621. After his death, an exposition of the 45th Psalm, and a volume of sermons on the incarnation, circumcision, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus were issued. Various other important trusts, besides those already mentioned, were discharged by him with exemplary zeal. We find nothing alleged against him, even by Brandt, save his strenuous opposition to the Remonstrants; and even in this matter he is not charged with anything inconsistent with the dignity of his position. If he lacked in Christian charity and forbearance, it was a fault in which he does not seem to have shared more deeply than most of his contemporaries. He died May 9, 1625, and was buried under the old church in Middelburg. See Glasius, Godgeleerd Nederland, I Deel, blz. 455 en very; G. Brandt, Historie der Reformatie, en andere kerkelijke Geschiedenissen in en omtrent de Nederlanden, III Deel, blz. 27, 53, 226, 227, 233, 544, 627, 645, 648. (J. P.W.)