Hattemists

Hattemists a Dutch sect, named from Pontianus van Hattem, a minister in Zealand towards the close of the 18th century, who imbibed the sentiments of Spinoza, and was degraded from the pastoral office. He wrote a treatise on the Heidelberg Catechism. The Verschorists (q.v.) and Hattemists resemble each other, though Van Hattem tried in vain to unite the Verschorists with his own followers. "The founders of these sects followed the doctrine of absolute decrees into its farthest logical results; they denied the difference between moral good and evil, and the corruption of human nature; from whence they further concluded that the whole of religion consisted, not in acting, but in suffering; and that all the precepts of Jesus Christ are reducible to this one-that we bear with cheerfulness and patience the events that happen to us through the divine will, and make it our constant and only study to maintain a perfect tranquility of mind. Thus far they agreed; but the Hattemists further affirmed that Christ made no expiation for the sins of men by his death, but had only suggested to us, by his mediation, that there was nothing in us that could offend the Deity: this, they say, was Christ's manner of justifying his servants, and presenting them blameless before the tribunal of God. It was one of their distinguishing tenets that God does not punish men for their sins, but by their sins." — See Mosheim, Ch. History cent. 17 sec. 2, pt. 2, ch. 2; Buck, Theological Dictionary, s.v.; Paquot, Memoires pour servir a l'histoire des Pays-Bas, 9, 96-98; Hoefer, Nouvelle Biog. Géneralé, 23, 539.