Gijsbertus Voetius (1589–1676) is perhaps the linchpin of Dutch Reformed theology in the 17th century. To shift metaphors, he is the Grand Central Station of Reformed orthodoxy in the Netherlands. In one way or another all the various trains seem to run through or connect to Voetius. If you have not heard of his name you are not alone. If you have not read his work, you are not alone. For most English readers, Voetius is all but hidden. Unless you are reasonably fluent in Latin or unless you have access to Beardslee’s Reformed Dogmatics (in which there is a portion of one of his works) or the fragments that appear in the English translation of Heppe’s Reformed Dogmatics, or perhaps you may have run across the English translation, Spiritual Desertion, it is difficult to have read much of Voetius.

We will not likely have his works in English any time soon but there is a project afoot to translate a portion of his Politicae Ecclesiasticae, specifically, the section on the use of musical instruments and song in public worship. The organizers have set up a GoFundMe page to raise the funds to support the project. The goal is $3,000 and they are not quite half-way there. Yes, I have contributed and I hope you will too.

The recovery of the classical Reformed theology, piety, and practice is a long term project and getting the sources into English is an essential part of that project. This portion of Voetius’ great work should be eagerly anticipated.