Hendrik Janson van Barrefelt
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    Hendrik Janson van Barrefelt

    Hendrik Janson van Barrefelt(c. 1520–c. 1594)

    Dutch weaver-turned Christian mystic and spiritual writer, best known under the pseudonym 'Hiël.' He moved through several radical religious currents of his time—at one point aligning with Menno Simons and later joining Hendrik Niclaes's 'Family of Love'—before a reported vision in 1573 led him to break away and write independently, inspiring followers sometimes called Hiëlists. Hiël's writings emphasize finding Christ inwardly, reading Scripture in a deeply interior key, and keeping distance from the authority and ceremonials of the visible church.

    Read by Alcott (see Alcott's Library)

    1 title in the Cabinet

    A Spiritual Journey

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    A spiritual journey of a young man, towards the land of peace, to live therein essentially in God, who met in his journey with three sorts of disputes, with some proverbs or sentences, which the old-age spake to the young man. Also a spiritual dialogue, whereunto is annexed a round or chorus-dance, whereunto the vain heathenish lusts, with their wicked confused loose minds and thoughts (as well in confusion as in a shew of holiness) assemble from all corners of the earth, ...

    The Dial's edition: London, 1659

    A spiritual allegory following a young man's journey toward inner peace in God. Includes proverbs and sentences which the Old-Age spake to the Young Man, as well as a spiritual dialogue with a 'Round or Chorus-Dance' annexed. Translated out of Dutch. Listed in The Dial as A Spiritual Journey.

    Full textSurvives at Houghton Library

    Read by Alcott (see Alcott's Library)