BRILL, JAKOB. – Dutch false mystic, born in Leyda on 21 January 1639, died there on 28 January 1700. He adhered to various Protestant mystical tendencies, such as those of G. Voetius and J. Cocceius, eventually arriving at a mystical pantheism under the influence of Pontiaan van Hattem.
Of his writings, in which he insists especially on personal religious experience and inner freedom, we mention: De Weg des Vreedes; De Ware en valsche kennis van Jezus Kristus; De gronden van een goed leven. They were all published in a large volume at Amsterdam in 1705. In his doctrine he prefers individual inner inspiration to written revelation, the Christ whom he feels within himself to the historical Christ of the Gospels.
BIBL.: J. van Leeuwen, De Antoninamen..., in Archief voor Kerkelijke Geschiedenis, 19 (1848), pp. 116–59; G. A. Wumkes, s. V. in Nieuw Nederland. Biogr. Woordenboek, VI, Leyda 1924, p. 203. Anselmo Musters