Prefatory note by Mr. R. R. Sinclair, of London, as follows:—
During a stay in Holland in 1947, we spent some time at Barneveld and our host and hostess (Mr. and Mrs. Kieboom) took us to visit a number of the Lord’s people, and one Saturday evening we spent with the Pastor of the Reformed Congregation, Rev. J. Fraanje, and his family. We found Mr. Fraanje, who was then 69 years of age, a most interesting and energetic minister of the Gospel. Owing to the scarcity of ministers it was his custom to leave home every Monday evening after taking a young people’s class in the late afternoon and frequently not returning home until Saturday night. In the course of that particular week he had preached nine times including two Communion services. As he mentions in his address, he has never been to school, as his parents objected to vaccination and without this no child was allowed to attend. As a result he is unable to write and uses a caligraphy of his own for the noting down of the heads of his sermons, etc., whilst his literary work—and he is the author of various books—and correspondence are dictated to others. He is able to read the Bible fluently and being endowed with great natural ability and an excellent memory is highly esteemed as a preacher of the Gospel.
We were advised to be ready in good time on Sabbath morning as the first Service begins at 9.30 a.m. and in order to get a seat we would have to be at the church at 9 o’clock. Imagine our surprise then to find the church well filled at that hour and queues of people forming outside each door who were only admitted after the older people and young families had taken their seats. The gallery on either side of the church was occupied by the young people—boys on one side—girls on the other. The Services, of which there are three each Sabbath, last two hours, and resemble our own in some respects, psalms only being used in Praise. There was an
average attendance of approximately 1,000 at each Service and we found this number not unusual throughout Holland. In Barneveld itself there are two other congregations with similar attendances.
There seemed, on that Sabbath morning, a wonderful quietness and peace over all; it reminded one of the Sabbaths at home of one’s childhood when it was so still and peaceful with no disturbing sound. To man and beast it was a Sabbath of real rest and quiet with none of the dreadful noise and hustling to and fro that one sees in our towns on the Sabbath day. A further memory was revived by the dress of the people. Almost everyone was in black—and what memories were recalled as the people were coming out of the churches! There was almost no room to walk in the streets, whilst many of them had come miles. Again, I was reminded of what Sabbath used to be at home, the streets well thronged when the churches came out, although in this case, the number of cyclists of both sexes and all ages was an unusual feature to us.
At the time of writing (May, 1949) we were very sorry to hear that Mr. Fraanje was seriously ill with diabetes and had been receiving hospital treatment. In a letter from his son he states, “I am not sure of it anyway. I don’t believe my father will be preaching again—his health and strength decrease day by day, but the first five weeks being in the hospital, the sweetness of God’s mercies upon him were new every day. Well, we were supposing mostly the Lord is preparing him for the eternal salvation. He got lots of spiritual food out of Zechariah xiii. 7, 8 and 9, and out of Daniel ix. 26. Now the last days he was speaking about Psalm xxxvii. 8 and 9, and out of Galatians iii. 14.”
Mr. Fraanje has been a minister for 40 years, of which he has spent 30 years in Barneveld.
The following introductory address (which has been translated by his son Joost) was delivered by him upon the occasion of his 25th anniversary, in 1937.
THE ADDRESS.
We should make this night in connection with our 25th Anniversary the words of David, out of Psalm cxxxix. 17, to be our words, “How precious are Thy thoughts, O God.”
In 1878—59 years ago—I was born in Biezelinghe, in the Province of Zeeland, and have been married for 29 years. That was from the Lord and that was enough for me. 33 years ago the Trinity God was stronger than I and I got knowledge that I got a portion in Christ by free grace. Two years later the Lord called me for the work of His Church.
Between the two villages Biezelinghe and Schore, I was ploughing on the land of a farmer, John Schelling. I was there alone that afternoon and, whilst my horses were eating and resting, it pleased God to call me—the least of all on earth—which was born under the Judgment of God and brought to God under the Judgment and called me under the Judgment to the service of the Church of Jesus Christ on earth.
29 years ago I preached my first sermon in Goes in a very wonderful way, and 25 years ago I was ordained in the town of Terneuzen, by Rev. van Oordt, who is now present. I have been over 19 years in Barneveld. When we, this evening, look back over the past 25 years we can say with solemnity, “How precious are Thy thoughts, O God.”
I know I have never been out of the mind of God. The Lord says in Jeremiah xxix. 10 and 11, “For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Therefore God has not forgotten to think of me. It says in Thess. v. 9, “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Born in sins and unrighteousness, I lived for 17 years just like a fish in the water, a bird in the air and cattle in the field. I was working at the time as a labourer at Jan Rottier’s when something wonderful happened on the field, and from then until my twenty-first year I had some works of God. If it was common strivings or salvation strivings, it was not then made clear, but at the latter date something else happened. My own flesh and blood—the world and Satan gathered together—I shall never forget. It was on Christmas that I took two elders of Krabbendijke to the train who had visited my uncle who was unwell. It did not appear to me that my sins were very serious—just as if they were nothing and the grace so big that I could continue to sin. Oh, here I stand and declare to my sorrow with shame that I have to say that then I loved my sins and then what happens. I fall again into sins and now it seems that the sins were so big in my eyes and the grace so small that I saw no other way than to take my life or always live in sin; because it appeared to me that it was only the common strivings of the Spirit and the result of upbringing and parental warnings. Three times I tried to drown myself but every time just when I was prepared to act a man came along and so being interrupted, the temptation passed away. I then resolved to continue living in the world which I did until my 26th year; so living, fighting against God and His Commandments.
On the first Sabbath of January, 1902, it appeared to me as if my heart were set on fire of Hell. I drank in sin as water but on the 2nd and 3rd Sabbaths something happened in me which only Eternity can declare. Then comes the 4th Sabbath. Rev. Kersten and his father-in-law and the old elder Corn. Vossen came to visit my sick uncle. My father said to me, “Rev. Kersten shall preach tomorrow in Goes.” Then there was something in my heart I can’t express in words. You, Rev. Kersten, lived there in Meliskerke. We did not know each other. Feeling very hopeless, I went to church. He took his foreword from Psalm xxv. 8, “The Lord is true and merciful. So He is and remains for ever.” And preached from Catechism Question 9. “Does God do no wrong to man when He asks him in His Law what he cannot do?” Answer: “No. Because God created man that he was able to do it but man believed Satan and by his own free willing disobedience lost all ability to do the right.”
Then went an arrow into my heart. I went home and lay down in the barn for five days and nights without food or water under the cursing and thundering of Sinai. I became in the Godly court the biggest sinner and a monster of godlessness. I had robbed myself of salvation and God of His honour. There I struggled, prayed and shouted. I felt lost and knew it. Then God revealed Himself to me and got the victory over me. I loved God more than my own life and salvation. God cut me off. The
word given to Abraham, “and the smoke went up over the land like the smoke of an oven,” came to me, shewing me that I was no better than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah for I was carrying in my heart the same sins even though I had not done them in deed. I was willing to sign with my own blood that it was the right of God to cast me away eternally but it pleased Him to give me His glory and grace in my heart.
After my struggle I tried to stand up but sank down as I was so full of the love of God. When He said, “Live in your blood. Live!”—then shouted my tired soul, “Oh what is it that I found grace in Your eyes when I was a stranger?” So it pleased God to reveal Jesus as the end of the Law for righteousness. There I saw the Lord Jesus Christ under the Law and above the Law as Advocate with the Father on my behalf. He fulfilled the Law for me and by His sacrifice He glorified the Law and overcame it. Oh, that Christ glorified the Law was a wonder to me but that He put the power of the curse of the Law away was still greater. Then came the love of Christ. He washed me in His blood and then the Father said, “Your debts are all forgiven.” He forgave me by His grace and gave me a right to eternal life. I shall never forget that word that God would restore His righteousness to me.
I got the right of living in the substitute who had paid my debts and in the heart of the Father and their godly communion, and there came that lovely Third Person to me who convinced me and regenerated me, and who witnessed with my spirit that I was a child of God. It appeared just to me as if I saw the High Priest with the plate on his breast and my name on that plate and so He took me up in His eternal love and forgave all my sins. Oh, that peace with God in Trinity!
To my sorrow, I have never been to school. I will not blame my parents for they are in Eternity, for they were of those who did not believe in vaccination and so I was prohibited by law.
It pleased God Who had taken me up into His communion to teach me in the twelve Articles of Faith. He was my Creator, Judge and Father. I was His creation—a sinner and became His child for Christ’s sake. Then I got the second Article “I believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God.” Christ whom I honour just as we honour the Father. After that the Third Person, the dear Holy Ghost, Who convinces, regenerates, discovers, leads the elect and also lived in me. I saw the Church as a Holy Christian Church of which I was a member and should stay a member for Eternity with all the elected host—all sins forgiven.
When reading the last two Articles on Eternal Life, my mother took my hand and said, “Joe, what are you doing?” “Oh, mother,” I said, “I see forgiving of sins, resurrection of the body and I shall live in Eternity.” I sank down in the love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Oh, dear people, then Jesus said “You are all beautiful.” He starts praising me to the Father as His own Work and Blood.
Then began my Christian life—went about among God’s people—sometimes even without any felt presence of God. I went many times to see my spiritual adviser, Rev. Roelofsen. One day he said to me, “You should come to church and become a member in Communion.” This gave me great concern and I had many strivings on the subject.
Then I asked the Most High what I should do. About fourteen days later I was lying in the horses’ stable weeping and crying when God spoke to me what Jesus said to the disciples of John, “The blind shall receive their sight.” I went back again to the Rev. Roelofsen and told him I was prepared to agree to his suggestion. On the following Sabbath I went three times to church at Goes. In the evening I stayed at a meeting in his house and as I went home from the meeting, all alone, something happened of which I do not like to tell you everything. Between the railroad and the ditch I had a struggle with Satan when I lost my hat that I never saw back again—in that struggle I lost all faith in my conversion and holiness and saw I had been resting on that, but now I saw that myself and my feelings were nothing but Christ was all in all. There self had to die and Christ to live. His death was my life and His life my death because I should live in Him alone. From that time I had to live and to die in holiness. So the Lord gave me as a poor fool a place in His heart, in His church and among His people. There is the freedom of the glorifying of the children of God. About this I should like to be able to write a book; if I shall do it I do not know.
“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God. How great is the sum of them,” (Psalm cxxxix. 17).
So God called me in the field where I was ploughing. You people understand that this calling did not remain hidden and without struggle. When the Lord was with His grace in my heart then I was able to believe that I should be a minister but some other times it was impossible for me to believe it, for God blessed me in my worldly work. When I was 20 years old I had no work, only an old horse and an old waggon; but at that time I had a team of horses and a nice waggon, so I asked the Almighty to take from me the calling of a minister, but a short time after I was made willing to submit my will to His and say, “Lord, if You will have me, take me, I am quite willing.”
I then went to Rev. Roelofsen. When I came in he asked me, “What is the matter with you? Tell it to me and my wife for last night I was not in bed between 12 and 4 a.m. and it appeared to me you were in bonds, but at 4 o’clock I felt your bonds were broken. I understood it by the words, ‘In the day of trouble I shall be with him and he shall glorify me.'”
He had spoken the truth. I shall yet be an old man and serve the Lord in His Church. I told him all that had happened and he then said, “We shall put you in for examination first by the Consistory.” And some time after approval, he allowed me to speak in Goes but between these times I had many struggles. On one Sabbath evening I went home and Satan said to me, “Now we are here both alone and you shall not go a step further or ever speak a word.” Oh, that night there on a pile of gravel in my struggle I saw again that, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost,” (Matt. xviii. 11), and the Lord gave me light in these words. I got a verse to preach about and took my foreword from Isa. lxv. 1, “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not.” I preached about that and the Lord helped me.
I was born on the island of South Beveland; reborn there, and thought I would end my days there too, but the Lord sent me away, first to Terneuzen with these words, “Stand up and let us go from here.” In this place I preached a short time but not yet as a minister, but the Session and the Presbytery both wished to have me ordained as a minister. In the old Pastorie (Manse) there, upstairs in the small study room, the Lord took all my objections away, so after much discussion the Synod in Middleburg examined me. The chairman was Rev. van Oordt, and he later ordained me at Terneuzen when he preached from the words, “And the Lord worked with them.” I shall never forget when I was ordained. From Terneuzen I went to Rotterdam where I experienced great joy and pleasure in my spiritual life. Then I went to Goes and thence to Barneveld. After many struggles I was made willing by the Lord to come to Barneveld out of Acts xxvii. I do not like to speak all that happened in my soul at that time—many of the promises then given have been fulfilled to me, and many others have still to be fulfilled. I shall not go into prophecy but pray and look upon the Throne of Grace.
Last night it pleased God to wake me about 3 a.m. and I have been alone in my study until 5 o’clock, and many things have happened. I saw myself far from home and the practice of godliness; speaking many times about Faith but experiencing little in practice. There it pleased Him again to shew Himself to me. Oh, Barneveld, what am I to my wife, my children and the congregation? Who has sinned so much as I? How is it possible you have borne me such a long time, Barneveld, Session, ministers and all? God called me to be a minister in such an exceptional manner that at first I thought this should be the usual procedure and so I was against the usual long course of study, but God shewed me I was wrong and has forgiven me.
Here I stand, brethren, through sin I lost all right to every mercy but God has washed me clean and made me holy in His eternal blood and righteousness. On this last night God was again to me full of mercy and grace—such a sinner as I am.
A sermon then followed from II. Cor. ii. 14, “Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the saviour of His knowledge by us in every place.” Returning thanks unto God in triumph.