Part 178
Not long after the above there were also apprehended at Ghent three brethren and one sister, namely, Christoffel Buyze, Laurens van Rentergen, Joost Meerssenier, and Grietgen Baets. These, in order to follow Christ, gladly took up his cross, and had to suffer much reproach, temptation, and pain in the narrow way; but in all this they courageously persevered, and could in no wise be induced to apostatize, so that they finally had to lay down their lives for the name of Christ, and with him press through the strait gate, in order that they might take the kingdom of God by force, where they in the new Jerusalem, shall have him for an everlasting light, and shall with all those who have valiantly contended for the truth, live in everlasting and imperishable joy.
OLD PIETER, JAN WATIER, JAN VAN RAES, WOUTER DENIJS, FRANCAIS THE CARPENTER, AND KALLEKEN, THE WIDOW OF ANPLEUNIS VAN DEN BERGE.
As the Jews did to the Shepherd, so their successors do still to his sheep, which was evident in the year 1569, when they, having come from Kortrijck to Meenen, apprehended there a brother named old Pieter; but not yet satisfied with this, they returned on the Friday before Easter, in the night, and apprehended Jan Watier, Jan van Raes, Wouter Denijs, Francais the Carpenter, and Kalleken, the widow of Anpleunis van den Berge (which latter had previously been offered up). These were so tightly bound that it was pitiful to behold. Jan Watier said: “If there is any one here from Komen, greet my wife, and tell her to fear God.” These were then conducted to Kortrijck, where they lay for three weeks, so closely guarded that no one could come to them, to comfort or speak to them. They were also very severely tortured, in order that they should mention others: but God kept their lips. The old man, Jan van Raes, was put on the rack twice, but he nevertheless betrayed no one. When John Watier was led back to prison, it was a lamentable sight to behold how he had been tortured, all his limbs appearing to have been broken.
When they were led to the court, they said: “Now truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Is. 59:14. There they (the five brethren and one sister) comforted and cheered one another with the word of God. 1 Thess. 4:18. There the innocent were sentenced to be burned, and delivered to the hangman or executioner. Longing for their Father’s land, to be in peace with him forever, they boldly came forth, and Pieter sighed and cast up his eyes, saying: “O Lord, succor thy servant, and strengthen him in his last extremity; and do not account this as sin to them, but convert them; for they know not what they do.” Jan Watier said to the lords: “If we have done amiss to you in anything, do forgive us; we gladly forgive you all that you have done amiss to us; but let the innocent blood you have shed satisfy you, and do not shed any more.” Pieter said to the people: “If you would enter into life, seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all that you further need shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:33. He further said: “This is the strait gate by which we enter in; here we are going home, where we shall be this evening.” Wouter Denijs said: “O Lord, reprove them with the hammer of thy divine word, that they may perceive, whom they have pierced, and be converted.” John 19:37. Pieter again said: “These members, which God has given me, I will gladly surrender for his honor; for hereafter, when I rise, he shall give them to me again.” 2 Macc. 7:11.
When they had all finished their prayer, and were standing bound at the stakes, they confidently exclaimed: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Thus all these six friends passed through the conflict, as faithful regenerated children of God, and elect sheep of Christ, who remained steadfast unto the end, and with their sacrifice took their blessed departure out of this world.
Wouter Denijs also wrote several letters from prison, three of which have come into our hands, and follow here.
THE FIRST LETTER OF WOUTER DENIJS, TO HIS WIFE.
A cordial greeting to you, my beloved wife and children, and to father, and to my brothers, sisters and all my friends according to the flesh, and to all that are known to me, who fear God from a pure heart. This fear, from a pure heart, may the Almighty God grant you through his Son Jesus Christ.
My beloved wife, and my children, whom I love next to God, lay this to heart, for I have written it with great diligence. Behold, I think (and know nothing to the contrary) that you will receive nothing further from me; hence if you would be saved let my words abide in your ears, I therefore pray you from the depths of my heart, through Jesus Christ, always to instruct and admonish my and your children with great diligence in the fear of God, as long as the Lord will let you remain together. I further request you, always to restrain them, lest they rule over you. You have such a striking example in some whom I will not mention here, not deeming it best; but I will let it be as it is; every one will give an account of himself. Romans 14:12. Therefore, my dear and beloved, I pray you for Christ’s sake, to walk in the fear of the Lord; and use more diligence in seeking your salvation, than you have hitherto done; and be not ashamed to ask questions in matters pertaining to salvation, but let us be ashamed before the Lord of our misery and nakedness; for when the Lord visits us, every one would like to be found glorious and spotless, and blameless in weakness. For when one gets into bonds, it is such a blessed thing to have peace in one’s conscience; or even if one should be laid upon his death-bed. Hence Peter admonishes us: “Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:19. And the apostle exhorts us that every one should seek to excel in good works. Tit. 3:8. And Christ says in his Gospel: He that forsaketh not lands and house, father and mother, wife and children, yea, his own life, is not worthy to be my disciple. Luke 14:26.
Therefore, every one that would be saved must obey his Savior, as the word of the Lord everywhere declares. Hence use diligence to hear and follow the word of God; for, without the word of God salvation cannot be found, however grandly the false prophets boast themselves. For from the beginning of the world the righteous had to suffer from the unrighteous, and be persecuted, for if the Prince of our salvation himself suffered, being an example and pattern unto us, that we should follow him; we may well see that the servant is not better than his Lord. Hence let every one that would be saved make entreaty to the Lord, from the depth of his heart and with tears, without ceasing. And I pray you, my dear wife, to teach our children to read and write, if it be possible for you, in order that they may be able to search for themselves. John 5:39.
Thus, my dear and much beloved wife, whom next to God I loved above all men, lay this to heart, and let the same be done by all that shall see it or hear it read. And I pray you, brother and sister, and all who truly know Christ, and love his appearing, that, when they attain to years of understanding, you will exercise an oversight and care not only over mine, but all that are in like condition; and charge Hansken at Proentken’s, occasionally to admonish Pieter, and to search whereunto we are called, and for what testimony his father was burned at Wervijke, in Flanders. Acts 23:11.
And I beseech every one that would be saved, not to neglect the grace of God. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation; let every one take heed now. On the twenty-first day of April, about eleven o’clock, I received a letter here, which was welcome to me. However, I will pass this by, and go on. Know that we are still of good courage, and had I been able, I would have sent you something; but this I send you all as a greeting, and for a remembrance to my children, and I request of you who remain there, to keep this till they attain to their understanding, if it be possible for you, if peradventure the Lord should grant grace, and knowledge of the truth, as I trust he will do. I entreat every one from the depth of my heart, and with tears, before God, to excuse my weakness kindly and in love. I deplore it before God and men, that I have not been more of a light, and that the talent which I have received has gained so little profit.
Hence every one may take good heed, and always be watchful; for I testify before God and men, that I have not lightly come here. Therefore let every one take heed, I pray you, that you do not lightly receive this; for, know that I have not lightly written it; with this warning I acquit myself of all responsibility. Let every one take heed.
Written by me, your husband and dear friend,
WOUTER DENIJS.
THE SECOND LETTER OF WOUTER DENIJS AND HIS FELLOW-PRISONERS, TO HIS BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN THE LORD.
The unfathomable grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all dear brethren and sisters, and all dear friends who desire to walk in the true and pleasant fear of the Lord; and with the overseers of the true bride of Christ; this we wish as a heartfelt greeting, namely, we brethren and sisters, Jan van Raes, Francais the carpenter, Jan Watier, of Komen, Old Pieter, Wouter Denijs, and Kalleken van den Berge, who are in bonds here at Kortrijck for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Further, dear friends, we inform you in regard to our first examination, that we were sharply and severely examined concerning our brethren, leaders and teachers, as to who they are, where they live, and what their names are.
Hence we pray you, dear friends, that you do not lightly inquire concerning one another’s names or places of abode; for when we get into bonds, we have to suffer great distress on account of it; but the Lord be praised forever, who has hitherto kept our lips; however, we are greatly threatened with the torture. We therefore kindly ask you, diligently to entreat the Lord for us, and for all our brethren that are in bonds at Ghent, Antwerp, and all other places; that the Lord may strengthen them. And we heartily ask you, to see to our wives and children, and to admonish them in the fear of the Lord, as you should like to have done to yours; and to see that you protect their property as well as you can. And know that it is still our purpose to fight through by the grace of the Lord. Kallaken, and Stijntgen and Jaentgen, her two daughters, are confined together, and greet you much; and as regards their purpose it is also tolerably well with them. But we pray you, dear friends in the Lord, diligently to search his word, and to admonish one another while you are out of bonds; for I fear that they will yet greatly scatter the church, since they are still thirsting much for blood, even more than the judge. For as Jannes and Jambres vehemently withstood Moses, so do these violently resist the truth. They intend to scatter the whole flock at Meenen. Hence let every one keep as quiet as he can, and if you receive any warning, whether verbal or otherwise, heed it; for if I, Wouter Denijs, had heeded it three or four nights, I would perhaps not be imprisoned. But I thank the Lord for his grace; I thought it should cause me far more sorrow; but now I find that the Lord is wonderful and mighty in his deeds; he who does not leave his children comfortless, for which I can never fully praise or thank him. Pieter heartily asks the church to forgive him; for what he said was spoken from great consternation, and the man is wonderfully sorry on account of it, and has wept many a tear because it happened. We kindly pray you, to remember us in your prayers, as being imprisoned with us, for we now much need the prayers of the saints. And do not lightly receive our letter, for we have good reason to write this, since we are far more ardent in remembering our fellow-prisoners than we were before we were in bonds. For you may know how this letter was written, namely, with a little stick cut off of a counter, and with ink made of red earth. Further, dear friends, I heartily pray you to admonish Ariaenken, my wife. Though matters now thus stand with her, I trust in the Lord, that she will not remain under the subjection of Egypt with her carnal friends, since she has been spoken to. I hope for the best.
No more, but farewell; we commend you to God, and to the word of his grace.
Written by me, Wouter Denijs, commenced on the nineteenth, and finished the twentieth, by the grace of the Lord, to whom be praise and honor forever. Amen.
A THIRD LETTER OF WOUTER DENIJS AND HIS FELLOW-PRISONERS.
Let every one take heed, though I do not write much or very learnedly, which is something that is not in me. Receive this from me in good part, as I trust you will do. These greetings and warnings I send to those indicated in my preceding letters, and further to those who are principally of my acquaintance, and to all that walk in the fear of God, and love his appearing, and desire to follow this; and I admonish every one to be diligent in searching the word of God. Exhort one another in love, and copy this for my dear and beloved wife, and preserve these three letters: this I heartily pray you. Take further solicitations for your salvation, and let it be read to you occasionally. Grieve not on my account, but grieve before God because of your sins. Think not within yourselves, that you are without sin, but always have an humble estimate of yourselves before the Lord; for James says: If any man think that he serveth God, and bridleth not his tongue, this man’s religion is vain. James 1:9. Therefore, my beloved, comfort yourselves in the Lord, and think that he has called me hereunto; and I trust by his power, through the help and strength of him who counts me worthy for this, not to depart therefrom for any torture. And I firmly trust that the Lord counts, and shall make, me worthy for it; and I shall firmly trust in him with a pure heart unto the end; for I may well say hitherto, that the Lord is showing me, and five or six others with me, such abundant grace, that it were impossible for me to describe it with the pen; for we scarcely know of our bonds, but are together in fervency of spirit. Hence I admonish you all to pray with greater diligence than I have sometimes done, for the prisoners, as the apostle exhorts us. Let, therefore, every one be diligent to pray in love; for we find that they that are in bonds pray much more fervently for those who are out of bonds. Thus I will conclude writing. Let every one be quick to see how the life and doctrine of the learned and wise of this world accord with the life of our Lord, Christ Jesus, our Savior.
Herewith I commend you to the faithful Creator, and to the word of his grace.
Written by me, WOUTER DENIJS, And my fellow-prisoners.
COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN FROM PRISON, AT ANTWERP, BY A YOUNG WOMAN, NAMED NELLEKEN JASPER, OF BLIJENBERG, WHO LAID DOWN HER LIFE AT THE FORMER PLACE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DIVINE WORD.
Grace and peace be from God the eternal and Almighty Father, through Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins into the hands of the enemies, and received much suffering from sinners, that he might deliver us from this evil and perverse world, according to the will of his Father. To him be praise, and honor forever and ever. Amen.
This bleeding and crucified Jesus Christ I wish all dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, and all those that fear God from the heart, as a cordial greeting, and endowing of your mind. Further, my heartily beloved friends, and chosen in the Lord, please know that my mind is still unchanged, and desire to adhere to the eternal truth all the days of my life, as long as there is breath in my body. I am of good cheer; praise, glory and thanks be to the Lord evermore for the great grace which he shows me, for I have from the very beginning been of such good cheer. Yea, he gives such joy into my heart, that I cannot express it, and I cannot fully thank the Lord for the great benefits he shows me.
Know further, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, that I was before the lords. There were four of them: the Margrave, two judges, and the clerk of the criminal court. When I entered the room, I did reverence to them, and the Margrave said: “Well, my daughter how are you?” I replied: “Very well, sir.” The Margrave asked me whether I had not sat myself tired. I answered: “Yes, my lords, if it were your pleasure to make away with me, it would be very welcome to me.” The Margrave said: “How so, my daughter, you must not speak thus; you must give up your opinion, and the King will pardon you.” I said: “You have put my father and mother out of the way, and the two boys, but me you have left sitting here, which greatly grieves me.” The Margrave said: “How so, my daughter; if I should have put you out of the way with your father and mother, it would not seem good to me; since you are not yet baptized, the King will pardon you.” The judges asked: “Is she not yet baptized?” “No,” replied the Margrave. I said: “No; it is true, I am not yet baptized; but if I were released this evening, I should have it done to-morrow, if it were possible.” Then they sighed over me, and I said: “The two boys were likewise not baptized.” They replied: “It is true; they would not desist from their opinion; efforts enough were made in regard to them.” I said, “I will likewise not depart from my faith.” They told me that I should then not fare better. I said I was well satisfied with it; though they should roast me on a gridiron, or boil me in oil, yet I trust by the grace of the Lord not to depart from the truth, as long as there is breath in me; “and for this,” I said, “I am of good cheer and would rather see it to-day than to-morrow.” I firmly hope and trust in the Lord, that he will help me, and have fixed my confidence in his word, where he says: “O my chosen, fear thou not: I shall preserve thee in the fire and in the water, and I shall not suffer thee to be tempted above that thou art able to bear.” Then they said: “Daughter, you are deceived; your father and your mother deceived you; they compelled you to it; you were under their subjection; you did it through fear; but now you are free from them, and have your own free will; hence, let it go; the King will pardon you; you are young yet;” and other similar words. I said that I wanted to keep what I had. They said that I should advise with myself. I told them that I had my advice with me, and had sufficiently advised with myself.
They told me to think that they also had a soul, and wanted to be saved. I told them that there were many who would be willing to rejoice with Christ, but few that wanted to suffer with him. They said that it did not depend on suffering. I said that Christ himself had to suffer: how much more we? They did not reply to this, but said: “Forsake your opinion; we shall send you learned men into a little room alone;” and asked me what learned men and ecclesiastics I wanted. I told them that I did not want any, but that I wanted to keep what I had. They said that I must be forever damned if I should die in this condition, and that my father and mother, and brothers, were glad if they could be here and repent. I told them that I knew better. We had many more words, which it would take me too long to write; besides, I have forgotten much of it. Thus, my affectionately beloved brethren and sisters, whom I love from my inmost heart, it is my heartfelt prayer and request of you, that you would entreat the Lord in my behalf, that I may finish it to the praise of the Lord, and to my eternal salvation. Amen.
Dear friends, I must yet pass through a great wilderness, for it is desolate and perilous here; yea, I must yet tread through thistles and thorns; but the crown of life is prepared for us; for it is the right truth, and no other shall ever be found. O my dear lambs, do not depart from the Lord; he will not permit you to be tempted above that you are able to bear; for he is a faithful succorer, a strength in weakness, and a comforter in sorrow to those that are afflicted in heart. Let us nestle close into his arms, and cast all of our care upon him, for he cares for us, and will himself watch over us; that we may partake of the supper with all the saints in heaven, where Christ himself will gird himself, and serve at the table. Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the mighty word of his grace; may the peace of God rule in your hearts. I heartily greet all our dear brethren and sisters, and all those that fear God from the heart, with the peace of God.
By me, Nelleken Jasper, a maiden of Blijenberg, your unworthy sister in the Lord; the 12th of December, A. D. 1569. Send me a letter occasionally; for it will be very welcome to me.
NOTICE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.
It is a fact known to those who have read with attention the history of Holland for the years 1533, 1534, 1535, and some of the following, that the external condition of the so-called Defenseless Anabaptists (_Weerloose Doopsgesinden_) was very sad and at the same time in a state of confusion; not only through the severe persecutions by which they were scattered into every quarter, but especially also through the insurrection of such as, without being defenseless, also taught the baptism of adults; because these by falling into abominable practices, furnished cause that all those who opposed infant baptism were looked upon by the authorities, as though they also had part or guilt in such improper and abominable doings. And since all who taught the baptism of adults were indiscriminately called Anabaptists, and under this name persecuted alike, it was sometimes scarcely possible for those who saved their lives by flight, to know when some were apprehended or put to death, whether they were of the number of their defenseless brethren and sisters, or not; as also, how many they were, and what were their names.
For this reason there were in those years, and, as may be inferred from history, also in later times, and in divers places, many pious witnesses put to death, whose number and names have not been ascertained so clearly, that they could be placed among the number of their fellow combatants in this book, to serve as patterns of utmost fidelity in the confession of the truth, to succeeding generations.
In this number there have also been embraced up to the present time various men and women who were put to death at Amsterdam; whose sentences came into our hands, while this Bloody Theatre was being reprinted; they were obtained from the book of sentences from said city of Amsterdam, preserved in the archives there. From these sentences it is clearly evident that they were not put to death on account of insurrection or any other misconduct, but simply because they departed from Romish institutions, opposed infant baptism, and had adopted the baptism which is administered upon confession of sins, and faith in Christ our Lord.
Hence we deem it our duty, to make known here also these persons, and to place them with those with whom they in their lifetime valiantly fought unto the end under one banner of Christ Jesus our Lord; and with whom they also rest from their labors, till the time that they shall together, in the resurrection, be made partakers of the incorruptible crown of glory.