A Dictionary of All Religions and Religious Denominations/Hattemists

HATTEMISTS derive their name from P. Van Hattem, a minister in the province of Zealand, in the seventeenth century. He interpreted the Calvinistic doctrine concerning absolute decrees, so as to deduce from it the system of a fatal and uncontroulable necessity. He denied the difference between moral good and evil, and the corruption of human nature. Hence he concluded, that mankind were under no sort of obligation to endeavour after a regular obedience to the divine laws; but that the whole of religion consisted, not in acting, but in suffering; and that all the precepts of Christ are reducible to this one-that we bear with patience the events that happen, and make it our study to maintain tranquillity of mind. He also affirmed, that Christ had not satisfied the divine justice by his death and sufferings; but had only signified to us thereby that the Deity was propitious towards mankind. He maintained farther, that this was Christ's manner of justifying sinners: and also that God does not so properly punish men for their sins, as by them. See Necessarians.