Walcheren Articles
Yesterday I posted something about this new book, Introduction to Reformed Scholasticism. In the chapter on the period of high orthodoxy, there is a paragraph about a professor at the French Academy of Saumur, Josue de la Place:
De la Place, who became professor at Saumur in 1631, developed a divergent view on the imputation (imputatio) of Adam’s sin to his descendants. According to de la Place, the imputation was based on actual sins, which implied a “mediate” transmission of Adam’s sin. In France, the national Synod of Charenton (1644-1645) made pronouncements on de la Place’s views, led by opposition from Antoine Garissolles (1587-1651), who was the moderator. However, de la Place’s views also made waves outside of France. In the Swiss Confederation they were addressed in the Formula consensus Helvetica and in the Netherlands they were attacked by Samuel Maresius and others. However, de la Place’s view was accepted by Johannes Vlak, pastor in Zutphen, but it was condemned in the Articles of Walcheren of 1693. (153).
The Articles of Walcheren were prepared by a Dutch Reformed classis and addressed several errors circulating in the late seventeenth century. They are difficult to find. I have posted a .pdf containing them here. I believe this comes from the volume edited by J. N. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Documenta Reformatoria. Unfortunately, it’s only available in Dutch. Article IV specifically deals with Vlak. Article III is also worth noting for its affirmation of the imputation of the active obedience of Christ in justification. Ministerial candidates in the Walcheren classis were apparently required to subscribe this document.
