Part 114
Jacques replied: “O no my lady, believe; if it were permitted among us, to resist the evil with the carnal sword, know, that no seven men should have brought me here, and I should have kept out of your hands, for there would have been power to do it.”
_Lady._ “I know there are such sects, who are very wicked and kill the people, and also have their goods and wives in common.”
_Jacques._ “O no, my lady, we are quite unjustly charged with these wicked things, and occasion is thereby sought, to persecute us; but we must suffer and endure all this with patience.” Matt. 5:11; Acts 21:38; 2 Tim. 2:3.
_Lady._ “Was it not your people, who with great dishonor took up arms against the government at Amsterdam and Muenster?”
_Jacques._ “O no, my lady; for those people erred greatly; but we regard it as a doctrine of the devil, to seek to resist the authorities with the external sword and violence, and would much rather suffer persecution and death from them, together with everything that is inflicted upon us.” Rom. 13:1; 1 Pet. 2:13; Tit. 3:1.
_Lady._ “Nevertheless, it is imputed to you, and they who make uproar do very wrong; however, I believe what you say concerning it.”
_Jacques._ “My lady, do we not read much of this character, how wicked men spoke evil of the apostles themselves, and the whole band of Christians, and, by many wicked things, sought to incite the authorities to vengeance against them, though it was all falsehood?” Acts 28:22; 24:5; Luke 2:34.
_Lady._ “Do you not believe that all are damned who are not baptized according to your way?”
_Jacques._ “O no, my lady, for judgment with regard to this belongs to God alone, who shall reward every one according to his works, as is clearly evident in many places of the holy Scriptures. Moreover, the water has not power to cleanse us from sin, as Peter says, but is merely a sign of all obedience.” 1 Peter 3:21; Matt. 3:15.
_Lady._ “When you are baptized, tell me, can you still sin?”
_Jacques._ “Yes, my lady, for this appears very clearly from the words of Paul; since we are still clothed in a weak and sinful body, and sin in many things. Rom. 7:14,18; Gal. 5:17; Jas. 3:2. But we must constantly crucify and mortify it, and not practice or fulfill the works of the flesh; or the righteousness of God will condemn us to eternal death.”
_Lady._ “Wherein do you still differ with the inquisitor, let me hear once?”
_Jacques._ “My lady, because I will in no wise accept his doctrine, unless he first clearly prove to me that it accords in every respect with the word of God; otherwise he labors in vain; for my faith is founded on the pure word of God alone. As regards the practice of infant baptism, we contradict it with reason, since it is not a command of God Almighty, but much rather the invention of men, seeing infants have not the least knowledge or discernment of what is required or comprised in baptism. But Christ in his love for such innocent ones has promised them the kingdom of God through grace, without requiring any of these conditions. Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Matt. 18:3. My lady, I find that popery is infected with many other errors besides this; for they seek to make Christ come into the bread, or that the bread should become changed into his flesh and blood; which we in no wise believe, but regard as an exceedingly gross error and absurdity. But we believe that Christ truly ascended to heaven, and sits on the right hand of his Father. Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9. Thus we do not believe that there is any salvation in their flour, mass, purgatory, or any of their services for the dead, and all like human inventions, of which they have a great number, and all of which are nowhere recognized in the holy Scriptures, but excluded therefrom. Gal. 1:14; 1 Tim. 4:2. But, on the contrary, we call upon God and seek our salvation in him, and not in any creature, that we may not corrupt God’s own glory, and give it to any of his creatures.” Jer. 13:16; Josh. 7:19.
The provincial having come, he began to speak, and said: “Will you not believe in the sacrament, which Christ himself instituted?”
_Jacques._ “My lord, Paul says that the bread is broken in remembrance of him, and that the cup of blessing is the communion of the blood of Christ.” 1 Cor. 11:24; 10:16. Thus he ended his words.
_Lady._ “I consider this the worst thing in you, that you will not have the children baptized; for all Germany and every kingdom regards your doings as heresy.”
_Jacques._ “My lady, it is indeed true that we are everywhere despised, and, like the apostolical band, evil spoken of in all the world; but do not think that such shall therefore perish at the last day.” 1 Cor. 4:9; Matt. 5:11; 2 Pet. 2:2.
_Lady._ “My dear child, behold, I pray thee, come over to our side, and repent, and you shall get out of this trouble, and I promise to procure your release.”
_Jacques._ “My lady, I thank you very much for your affection and favor towards me; but I will not change my faith, to please mortal man; unless it be proven to me with the Scriptures, that I err; for I have given myself entirely to God, to be his friend, and herein I hope to live and die.” Galatians 1:10; Phil. 3:8; John 15:14.
_Lady._ “My son, behold this multitude of men; I have compassion for you, and entreat you, repent of your baptism and do not remain so obstinate; if you, so young a child, should die for this cause, it would be a heavy cross for my heart; hence see that you are released, and may go home.”
_Jacques._ “My lady, I can not see that there is any crime at all in my baptism, seeing I herein have not followed my own, but the holy institution of our Lord Jesus Christ; had I been able to find another, better way to the kingdom of God, it would not have happened; for I was inclined with my whole heart to seek the Lord my God.” Isaiah 56:6.
_Lady._ “Should they then all err, so many learned men that have been before you; do you dare be so presumptuous as this?”
_Jacques._ “My lady, in Israel four hundred prophets were against the single Micaiah, who alone spoke the truth, and was kept imprisoned on bread and water; which King Ahab experienced in his distress, but too late.” 1 Kings 22:27; 2 Chronicles 18:5.
The lady finally said: “I find many good things in you; but your greatest error I consider to lie in your baptism, which does not seem to me to be of God.”
In this manner she had him brought before her many times; but as he, young in years, but old in the knowledge of Jesus Christ (Wis. 4:8; 1 Corinthians 14:20), had built his foundation upon the rock Jesus Christ, he valiantly repelled all the subtle devices of Satan--whether consisting in many severe threats, or in fair promises of the kingdom of this world (Matt. 4:8)--with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; and as nothing could move him to forsake Christ, he was condemned to death by the rulers of the darkness of this world (Eph. 6:12), and thus testified and confirmed the true faith of the truth with his death and blood, and, through grace, obtained the crown of everlasting glory.
Concerning this, see a hymn in the _Gulden Harp_, beginning: _Tot Leeuwaerden op eenen dagh._
HANS VAN MONSTER, AND BARTEL, AND OLD JACOB, PUT TO DEATH IN THE CASTLE OF BERCHEM, NEAR ANTWERP.
As it has from the beginning been abundantly heard and seen, that the truth is envied and trampled upon by its enemies and haters, and that its pious confessors have had to suffer from them in manifold ways; so, among many other examples, it was verified, at a certain time after Mary van Beckum and her sister had been offered up at Delden, in the case of a faithful brother named Hans van Monster, who lay imprisoned for the truth, in the castle of Berchem, near Antwerp. And since Jesus very earnestly teaches and recommends to us the visiting of the sick and imprisoned, in their tribulation (Matt. 25:36; Heb. 13:3), a single man named Old Jacob, and another by the name of Bartel, moved by the spirit and brotherly love, went from Antwerp to Berchem, to comfort their brother, according to their ability, in his tribulation. When they arrived there, the enemies watched them, supposing that old Jacob was a teacher and elder; for at that time the blood-thirsty papists had put a reward of three hundred guilders upon teachers, to be given to any who should deliver them into the hands of the executioners; and as old Jacob was very eloquent, and could defend himself very ably with the word of God, they hoped to earn said money by him, in which, however, they failed, as Jacob was no teacher. Nevertheless, they kept them, and imprisoned them with their fellow-brother; and as they together were built upon the immovable rock Christ Jesus, they remained steadfast in all these tempests; and since no torment could induce them to depart from the truth, they were together put to death in the castle of Berchem, valiantly offering their lives for the truth, and are now waiting with all the saints of God, the blessed resurrection unto eternal life. Rev. 6:11; 1 Thess. 4:16.
In the beginning of the conversion of the beforementioned Bartel, and another, named Gerrit, it occurred that these two young men were present when Mary van Beckum and her sister were offered up in the castle of Delden; and they testified that they heard Mary van Beckum declare publicly before the people, when she was placed at the stake, to be burned: “You shall see this stake at which I am to be burned grow green, by which you may know that it is the truth for which we here suffer and die.” These two young men, who heard this themselves, some time afterwards went of their own accord to the stake, and saw it flourish. Terrified thereby, they went together to Antwerp, to inquire for such people; and having come to an elder by the name of Hendrick van Aernem, and Jan Lubberts of B., they related the above to them. Thereupon Hendrick van Aernem replied: “I would not dare repeat this after you.” They said: “Should we not tell what we have heard and seen ourselves?” Thus they adhered to their assertion concerning what had occurred with regard to Mary van Beckum, and, accordingly, lent their ears to the truth, repented, became converted, and united with the church of God. Afterwards Gerrit went to Amsterdam, where he resided until his death; but Bartel lost his life for the truth, as has been heard.
TWO YOUNG GIRLS, ABOUT A. D. 1550.
About the year 1550, it happened in the bishopric of Bamberg, that two young girls espoused and received Christ by faith, were baptized upon their faith, according to the doctrine of Christ, and arising from sin, sought to walk in newness of life with Christ. On this account the antichristians sought to hinder them in this good resolution, and to quench their good intention as much as lay in their power. They therefore cast these two young lambs into prison, where they tortured them with great severity, and sought also with other unchristian means to cause them to apostatize; but as they were firmly built upon Christ, they remained faithful and steadfast during the entire trial. Col. 2:7; Rev. 2:10. Hence, the authorities, who herein generally follow the advice of the false prophets, condemned them to death; at which they were joyful and undaunted. When they were led out to execution, their persecutors, by way of reproach and mockery, placed wreaths of straw upon their heads; whereupon one said to the other: “Since the Lord Christ wore a crown of thorns for us, why should not we wear these crowns of straw in honor of him? the faithful God shall for this place a beautiful golden crown and glorious wreath upon our heads.” Thus these two young branches armed themselves with patience, according to the example of their Captain Jesus, remained faithful unto death, died steadfastly, and obtained, through grace, the glorious crown with God in heaven.
To these girls their adversaries accord the praise, that they died quite undauntedly and steadfastly, and that they had the true foundation and ground of the Christian faith in their Redeemer Christ Jesus, whom they openly confessed, and called upon in their distress, wherein they steadfastly died with a firm hope; so that doubts were entertained among their adversaries, as to whether they themselves were not in greater error before God, than these young girls, though they were Anabaptists.
He that wishes may read, with regard to this account, Johannes Manlius, printed at Frankfort, A. D. 1550.
A LAD OF FIFTEEN YEARS, A. D. 1550.
At the same time a lad of fifteen years was put to death, suffering it with great steadfastness, at Leeuwaerden; whose faith is compared to that of the aforementioned two young girls put to death at Bamberg. See _Ondergang, page 1130, col. 1_.
OF A DECREE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INQUISITION, A. D. 1550.
It appears that at this time the bitterness of the Romish clergy increased and broke forth more and more, against those who sought to follow the evangelical doctrine of Jesus Christ; so that they prevailed upon the Emperor, through decrees, to revive the inquisition over the consciences of the inhabitants of the Netherlands, which for a time had seemingly abated, and to introduce it with greater rigor than before; which was accordingly done in the manner prescribed, which caused great dissatisfaction and sorrow to the common people of said countries. In regard to this, a certain author writes thus:
“Though many severe decrees had been published before at different times, for the oppression of the evangelical believers, whereby many thousands were miserably put to death for the faith, in the Netherlands; yet the hatred and ill-will of the people increased to an unwonted degree, in the year 1550, in consequence of the decree in regard to the inquisition, issued by Emperor Charles V., at Brussels, on the 29th of April; for thereby it was declared, that it was the intention, from that time forth publicly to introduce the spiritual inquisition, but to have the cruel and bloody mandates nevertheless rigorously executed by the secular power.” _Chron. van den Ondergang, page 1129, col. 1_, compared with _Eman. de Met., lib. 1_. _Pieter Bor., lib. 1. Oorspronch der Nederlantsche Beroerten, old edition, fol. 5, 6._
_Further Observation._--Though the writer says in the sequel, that some magistrates would not publish this decree concerning the inquisition, and that some, by humble petitions to the Emperor, obtained a mitigation; yet it had come so far, that actual means were secretly employed to carry out this purpose, through the inquisitors; in consequence of which, the minds of the people became the more agitated and disaffected, so that many emigrated from the cities of Brabant, particularly from West Flanders. _See the authors cited._
REYER DIRCKS, A BOATMAN, BURNT AFTER DREADFUL TORTURE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT AMSTERDAM, IN HOLLAND, IN THE YEAR 1550.
At this time, also Reyer Dircks, a pious hero and valiant soldier, of Jesus Christ, though of small repute in the eyes of the world, who gained his livelihood with a little boat on the river Amstel, enlisted under the bloody banner of his Savior, and united with the cross-bearing church, contemptuously called Anabaptists. Having been with them about three years, he virtually experienced that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and that the violent take it by force; inasmuch as he could not enter the spacious halls of the blessed palace of God without pressing through the strait gate, so that his flesh, yea the whole body, remained on the posts, and this in the fire, as food for the birds and wild beasts.
He was imprisoned at Amsterdam, in Holland, and, though he was most miserably tortured, he nevertheless refused to depart from his faith, and the promise which he had made to God in baptism. He was then condemned to death as a heretic, and very cruelly executed with flaming fire.
The foregoing may be clearly seen from the following sentence, which was read on the day of his death, in the court at Amsterdam, by the ecclesiastical rulers.
_Sentence of Death of Ryer Dircks._
Whereas Ryer Dircks, boatman, citizen of this city, did, about three years ago, embrace the doctrines, errors, sects, and heresies of the Anabaptists, and is holding pernicious views with regard to the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith, the ordinances of the holy church, and the written laws and decrees of his Imperial Majesty, our gracious lord, and, moreover, persists in his errors and heresies, notwithstanding the instruction given him in the true faith; therefore, my lords of the court, having heard the demand made by my Lord the Bailiff, in the name of his Imperial Majesty, concerning the aforementioned Ryer Dircks, as also his confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of the case, condemn said Ryer Dircks, pursuant to the aforesaid decrees, to be executed with fire by the executioner; and, furthermore, declare his property confiscated for the benefit of his Imperial Majesty, as Count of Holland, without derogation and prejudice to the privileges of this city.
Thus pronounced, and committed to the executioner for execution, this sixteenth day of August, A. D. 1550, in the presence of the Bailiff, all the burgomasters, and all the judges, with the exception of Jan Dunen.
Ryer Dircks was examined by torture the ninth of July, A. D. 1550.
Extracted from the book of criminal sentences, in the keeping of the secretary of the city of Amsterdam.
N. N.
A SMITH AT KOMEN, A. D. 1551.
In or about the year 1551, a smith was apprehended for the divine truth, at Komen, in Flanders. He freely confessed his faith, and as he would not depart from it, he was sentenced to death in two ways, namely, if he recanted, he was to be executed with the sword; otherwise to be burned alive. To this end, two-fold preparations were made; but seeing the multitude, and fearing trouble, the authorities kept the brother in prison. Hence, some climbed to the top of the prison and broke through the roof, to see what was being done with the doomed man. At last, one knocked at the door of the prison, desiring to know whether the brother was alive or dead. Having been admitted, he immediately returned with blood on his hand, which he showed to the people, saying: “He is dead! He is dead!” The dead man was then brought out on a ladder, with his head lying between his legs, and the ladder placed upon the wall of the churchyard, where the priest made a long speech (a sermon probably), saying among other things, that he had renounced his heretical belief, and re-accepted the Roman church and her saving faith; and “holding now a good resolution,” said he, “he was instantly executed, lest he might fall back into his old error.” But it was firmly believed that the priest slandered the dead man, and this the more so, since after relating the sentence, he said that he obstinately adhered to his previous confession. Thus God constrains the wicked, in the telling of their lies, themselves, unawares, to reveal the truth of the matter.
GILLIS AND ELIZABETH, A. D. 1551.
On the 21st of July, A. D. 1551, two pious Christians, a brother by the name of Gillis, and a sister named Elizabeth, were sentenced to death as heretics, pursuant to the imperial decree, at Ghent, in Flanders. They were not led forth to death at the usual time, but at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Having ascended the scaffold, they prayed to God. In the meantime, the executioner unlaced the gown of Elizabeth, which, when she arose, fell down, so that she stood there in her shift and linen trousers, which the executioner, by way of mockery, had made her put on. Feeling greatly ashamed on this account, she immediately went to the stake, and then said: “I thank thee, O Lord, that I am worthy to suffer for thy name. I now stand at the touchstone, at which God’s elect are tried. O Lord, strengthen me, and delay not.”
Gillis said: “Dear sister, be patient in your suffering, and comfort yourself in God; he will not forsake you.”
“O dear brother,” said she, “I will never depart from him.”
Gillis then cried: “O Lord, forgive them their sins, who inflict death upon me; for as they do not know thee, they know not what they do.”
Finally they cried out: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands we commend our spirits.” And thus, through fire, they died a blessed death well pleasing unto God.
JORIS, WOUTER, GRIETGEN AND NAENTGEN, IN THE YEAR 1551.
On account of the severe and great persecution which was carried on everywhere in the Netherlands, against the true Christians, four pious believers, among others, named Joris, Wouter, Grietgen and Naentgen, fled, in the year 1551, from Lier in Brabant, to Ghent in Flanders. They had not resided long in the latter place when they were betrayed by a Judas, and brought prisoners from their houses to the castle of the count, where they joyfully thanked God, and sang praises to him, because they were counted worthy to suffer for his name. When assailed by the monks and other sophists, they freely confessed their faith, from which no subtlety could turn them; but they valiantly withstood, with the truth, the seducers who sought to murder their souls, and were then condemned to death by virtue of the imperial mandate, because they had apostatized from the Roman church, contemned infant baptism, and had been baptized upon faith. They were sentenced to be burned at the stake without being strangled. They thanked the lords, and Grietgen said: “My lords, save three stakes; we can all four die at one; for we are spiritually of one mind.” Rom. 12:16. They were joyful in the Lord, and thanked God greatly. Naentgen said: “This is the day for which I have longed so much.” Eight monks then came, to torment them; however, they did not accept their advice, but Grietgen said: “Take off your long robes and teach yourselves, before you undertake to teach others.” They were led to death like sheep to the slaughter, the monks accompanying them, to whom they said: “Stay back; let us in peace, for we know you well, and do not wish to hear you.”
Having ascended the scaffold, Joris said to the people: “Be it known to you, that we do not die for theft, murder, or heresy.” At this the monks became enraged, and contradicted it.
They then fell upon their knees, prayed to God, and arose and kissed each other with the kiss of peace. But when they with glad countenances addressed the people, the monks, to hinder them, went and stood before them; but one of the people cried out: “You furious antichristians, stand back, and let them speak.”
Wouter said: “Citizens of Ghent, we suffer not as heretics or Lutherans, who hold in one hand a beer-mug, and a testament in the other, thus dishonoring the word of God, and dealing in drunkenness; but we die for the genuine truth.” The executioner then hung each of them by a rope to a stake, but did not strangle them. They then strengthened each other, saying: “Let us fight valiantly, for this is our last pain; hereafter we shall rejoice with God in endless joy.” Matt. 25:23. As they were hanging in pain, before the fire was kindled, Joris fell through the rope, and Wouter cried: “O brother, be of good cheer!” “O Lord!” exclaimed Joris, “in thee do I trust; strengthen my faith.” Luke 17:5. The fire then commenced to burn, and they cried out: “O God Father, into thy hands we commend our spirits.” Thus they offered up their sacrifice according to the will of the Lord, and their faith was tried like gold in the fire, and found good, and so accepted of God.
CATHARINE BURNED AT THE STAKE, A. D. 1551.