HOFSTEDE, PETRUS: Dutch theologian; b. at Zuidlaren (10 m. s.s.e. of Groningen), province of Drenthe, Apr. 16, 1716; d. at Rotterdam Nov. 27, 1803. He studied theology at Groningen and Franeker, and in 1739 became preacher at Anjum, in the province of Friesland. Then he was appointed preacher in Steenwijk and in Oost-Zaandam, until

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in 1749 he received a call to Rotterdam. In 1770 he became also professor honoraraus at the university and lectured on church history and archeology.

In 1767 there appeared at Paris a political novel &lisaire, by J. F. de Marmontel, in which the author defended not only entire freedom of religion, but preached the doctrine that it is of no consequence what a man believes if he only lives in a -virtuous manner. The work caused a sensation, and after being translated into Dutch in 1768, was attacked by Hofatede in his De Belisarius van den Heer Marmontel beoordeeld . . . (Rotterdam, 1769). He calls Marmontel a Pelagian naturalist, because he admits the truth of revelation, but denies its necessity for salvation; because he taught that all virtuous pagans are saved; and because, according to his view, reason is entirely sufficient for salvation. He appealed to Scripture against Marmontel and undertook to prove that a closer investigation would leave little of the virtues of those pagans who have been praised most. Hofstede's work appeared in three editions in one year, and a German translation was published in Leipsic and Wesel. Being attacked by liberal theologians, especially by the Remonatrants, for statements concerning the sins of Socrates and other pagans, he now found it necessary to combat with all his powers the views of the Liberals. He contributed considerably to De Nederlandsche Bibliolheek, an orthodox periodical, founded in 1774. His principal work is Byzonderheden over de Heilige Schrift (3 parts, 1766-75), in which he shows himself a keen exegete, a good scholar, and a capable archeologist. In God,geleerde en Geschiedkundige Verhandeling over het klein getal der egte MartelOs,rs (appended to the second part of his Byzonderheden) he tried to prove that in the first centuries as well as in later times there were few who revealed the true character of a martyr. In OoatIndische kerkzaken (2 arts, 1779-80) he developed a good plan for presenting Christianity to the inhabitants of the East-Indian colonies.

(S. D. van Veen.)

Bibliography: J. P. de Bie, Hat Imen en de werken van Petrua Hofstede, Rotterdam, 1899. Consult also C.Bepp,

Johann Stinstra en sifn tiyd, 2 vols., Amsterdam, 1865- 1866; J. Hartog, in Geloof en Vriyheid, 1875; 8. D. van Veen, in the Historische Avonden collection of the Gron- ingen Historical Society, 1896, pp. 242-264.