in a house and adheres to the
genuine unaltered Augsburg Confession, prepared and established by the
Ministers and Deputies there, in the year of Christ 1597." The
congregation dates from about 1588, and built its first church in 1632,
before which time it worshiped in a house arranged for its use, but not
having the form of a church. This constitution was revised in 1614, and
in 1644 it was accepted as the general constitution for the Lutheran
churches in the Netherlands. In 1682 it was materially changed and
brought in the shape which it afterwards retained. The original form of
1597, with the changes made in 1614 and 1682 indicated in foot notes, is
given in full in the "Geschiedenis der Amsterdamsche Luthersche
Gemecnte, door F. J. Domela Nieuwenhuis, Amsterdam, 1876, 8vo. pp. 298,
124." Appendix pp.32-62. It is very full and minute in its provisions
and covers thirty octavo pages. A German translation of the edition of
1682 is given in Benthem's Hollaendische Kirch und Schul Staat,
Francfurt, 1698. It is divided into two parts.

Part I. Chapter I. Of Doctrine. "The pastors of this congregation shall
regulate and determine all their teaching and preaching by the rule of
the divine Word, the biblical, prophetical and apostolical writings, and
according to our Symbolical Books, to wit:--the unaltered Augsburg
Confession, delivered to Charles V., Anno 30, the Apology of the same,
the Smalcald Articles, and Formula of Concord, together with both
Catechisms of Luther throughout, and shall not teach or preach anything
contrary to the same, be it privately or publicly, nor shall they
introduce or use new phrases (forms of statement) which are at variance
with the same, or contradict them. In like manner in all points in
dispute between us and others, they shall be guided and governed by the
aforesaid Scriptures and also the aforesaid Symbolical Books, and shall
decide and judge them by these alone, and shall plainly declare the
foundation and understanding thereof to the congregation. They shall
also order and direct all their preaching to the edification of the
congregation, in such wise that the Word of God may be taught purely and
clearly, the true doctrine be distinguished from the false and the true
doctrine be urged on the people so that they may understand how to guard
themselves against false teaching and teachers." This chapter is long
and defines the whole obligations of the preachers of the Word. Chapter
2. Of t