Joshua Van Iperen
Joshua Van Iperen [1]
a noted Dutch theologian, was born at Middelburg, Feb. 23, 1726. He was descended from an old and respectable Flemish family. — His studies, in which he evinced very superior mental endowments, were pursued first at Groningen, and afterwards at Leyden, where he was permitted to enjoy the instructions and friendship of the celebrated professors A. Schultens and T. Hemsterhuys. In 1749 he was called to the pastoral charge of Lillo. Here he labored with zeal and fidelity for sixteen years. In 1752 he was made doctor of philosophy, and in 1766 was called to Veere where he remained ten years. Several of the most noted literary, scientific, and poetic societies successively elected him to membership. Zealand also appointed him a member of the commission to which was entrusted the work of preparing a new poetic version of the Book of Psalms. He took an important part in the performance of this duty. The work was approved in 1773, and still continues in use in the Reformed Church of Holland. It possesses a high degree of poetic merit. His income, both at Lillo and Veere, was small, which, with a numerous family to support, was the source of many trials and perplexities. Accepting an appointment as preacher in Batavia, in the Dutch East India possessions, he went thither in 1778, accompanied by his wife and five children. He was cordially received, and an agreeable field of labor was opened to him. He labored here with redoubled zeal and fidelity, but the climate was adverse to his health, and in 1780, after the; short space of two years, he rested from his labors on earth. A philological essay, dedicated to the Holland Society of Sciences, and published in 1755, was regarded as highly creditable to him in a linguistic point of view, and also as evincing a philosophical spirit. His History of Church Psalmody, published in 1777, is said to exhibit extensive historical knowledge, combined with good taste. He seems to have excelled in various departments of knowledge. See B. Glasius, Godgeleerd Nederland, 2, 190; H. Bouman, Geschiedenis der Geldersche Hoogeschool, 2, 190. (J. P.W.)
