Part 98
And in order to show that in all this they rejoiced in God, and also sought to console and strengthen their brethren, they left them the following memorial.
“Lord God, I will praise thee now and until my end; because thou hast given me faith, by which I have learned to know thee. Thou sendest to me thy divine word, which I am able to find and perceive that it is from pure grace. From thee, O God, have I received it as thou knowest. I firmly hope that it will not return unto thee void. Is. 55:11. O Lord, strengthen my heart to this. My heart rejoices because I know thy will. When I felt the heavy load of sin in me, which exceedingly troubled me (Ps. 38:6), I would have had to perish and suffer everlasting pain, hadst thou, O God, not come to me with the word of thy divine grace. Acts 10:37. For this I will now magnify and praise thy glorious name forever, because thou dost always show thyself a merciful, dear Father. Cast me not off, but receive me as thy child. Therefore I cry unto thee, help, O Father, that I may be thy child and heir. O Lord, strengthen my faith (Luke 17:5), else, if thy help should not succor me, my building should soon fall. Do not forget me, O Lord, but be with me always; thy Holy Spirit protect and teach me, that in all my sufferings I may ever receive thy consolation, so that, valiantly fighting, in this conflict, I may gain the victory. 1 Cor. 9:25–27.
“The enemy fights a battle with me in the field in which I now am; he would fain drive me from the field. But thou, O Lord, givest me the victory. He ran against me with sharp weapons, so that all my limbs quaked before the false doctrine and their constraints. But thou, O Lord, hadst compassion upon me, and didst help me, thy son, poor man, with thy grace, and powerful hand, and madest me to overcome. O God, how soon didst thou hear me; thou speedily camest with thy help, and turnedst back mine enemies; therefore I will sing praises unto thy name in my heart, and forever spread abroad the grace which has come to me.
“Now, I pray thee, Father, for all thy children; preserve us all forever from all the enemies of our souls. I must not trust in the flesh (1 Peter 1:24), which perisheth and abideth not; but I will firmly trust in thy word (Ps. 115:9), this be my consolation, on which I rely; it shall deliver me, from all my distresses, to everlasting rest. The hour of the last day, to which we all must come, is at hand. Dear Lord, help us to bear the cross to the destined place, and turn thyself to us with all grace, that we may commend our spirit into thy hands. I sincerely pray thee for all our enemies, O Lord, however many there may be; do not lay their sins to their charge; Lord, I entreat this according to thy will. Acts 7:60. And thus we (I George Blaurock, and Hans von der Reve) will depart in peace. May the good God through grace lead us into his everlasting kingdom, as we firmly trust that he will, and finish his holy work in us and give us strength to the end, Amen.”
This evidently came to pass, when these two so steadfastly and boldly died and were burned, for the truth.
HERE FOLLOWS ANOTHER CONSOLATORY ADMONITION LEFT BY GEORGE BLAUROCK TO HIS DESCENDANTS.
God administers a righteous judgment (Ps. 7:11; Rom. 2:5), which no one can set aside, and him who does not his will, he will judge. But thou, O Lord, art good, and sufferest thyself to be found gracious, and all those who use diligence to do thy will, thou acceptest as thy children. We justly give praise and thanks to thee, through Jesus Christ, for all thy benefits and goodness, and beseech thee to preserve and guard us from sin. The sinner in this life brings a severe judgment upon himself, which he shall hereafter regret; for though God faithfully warns him, yet will he not forsake his sinful life; but when the Lord shall come in his glory to judge, then shall the sinner repent; for no excuse will then avail.
He now causes his divine word to be published, and instructs men, that they should turn from their sinful life, believe in Christ, be baptized upon faith, and obey the Gospel. Therefore, ye children of men, forsake your sins, and remain no longer hardened, sick, wicked and blind; now that you can find the physician, who can heal all infirmities, and avail yourselves of his help without money. Matt. 9:12. O, how awful will it be with the sinner who now refuses help and counsel, when he shall be sentenced by God into everlasting pain, where he will have to remain and suffer forever and ever. Matt. 25:46. But thou, O Lord, art a righteous God. Thou wilt deceive no one, but wilt preserve those that sincerely love thee, from the second death.
Thou, O Lord, art a strong God, who will cast into hell, which has now opened wide her mouth, all the wicked and those who hate and afflict thy children. But thy mercy is great over those who repent, and thou, through Jesus Christ, forgivest their sins. This is what God requires: that the whole human race should fear and love him, that they should follow his Son Jesus Christ, and observe his divine doctrine. But when the sinner is exhorted to the love of God, he shows by the deed that he considers it a mockery; for this however he shall pay dearly, for God can not be deceived by appearance.
Antichrist threatens those who fear God with great severity and ignominy. Therefore we beseech thee, O Lord, strengthen thy feeble vessels: but we know, that if we patiently endure all this for thy namesake, thou, in thy faithfulness, wilt not forsake us; but dost renew and strengthen us daily, that we may continue on thy narrow way. Matt. 7:14. We cry to thee through Christ, for the sake of his bitter suffering (Is. 53), in which we recognize thy faithfulness and love; and this consoles us on our pilgrimage. Do not forsake us, thy children, henceforth unto the end; but constantly offer us thy Fatherly hand that we may finish our course; for when we have finished our course, the crown is prepared by the young man (2 Esd. 2:43) who hung on the cross for us, on which he suffered greatly for our sakes. Grant, O Lord, that we may be thankful, so that we may joyfully behold thee, our Father. O Father, through grace thou didst choose us, and didst not despise to put us into thy work; grant that, when the evening comes, that we may receive the hire with rejoicing. Matt. 20:1,8.
Through Christ thy Son make us ready for the heavenly supper, and clothe us with thy Holy Spirit. In that supper, thy Son, our Redeemer, shall serve us at the table. Luke 12:37. O, how blessed are they which are called to this supper (Rev. 19:9), and who in all sorrow adhere to Christ unto the end, even as he steadfastly suffered for us on the cross; and thus it is with all his followers on the earth; and all who shall keep their wedding garment undefiled to the end. Upon their heads the young man shall set crowns. But he who is not clothed with this garment, when the King will inspect his guests, shall be sternly reproved, bound hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness. O Lord, give us true love so to walk, that when we come we will not find the door closed, as was the case with the foolish virgins, who had no oil in their lamps, and said: “Lord, open to us,” but could not go in: but that we may happily watch with the five wise virgins, and may also enter into the glorious marriage feast of eternal heavenly joy, when the King, with his trumpets, shall call and assemble his elect. Therefore, O Zion, thou holy church of God, see that thou hold fast unto the end that which thou hast received, and keep thyself unspotted from sin, and thou shalt, through grace, receive the eternal crown. 1 Cor. 9:25: 2 Tim. 4:8.
VIGIL PLAITNER, A. D. 1529.
In the year 1529, Brother Vigil Plaitner, a minister of Jesus Christ, at Scharding, in Bavaria, was condemned and executed, after great steadfastness (Matt. 24:13), for the faith and the divine truth. He would depart neither to the right hand nor to the left, and did not love his life unto death (John 12:25), but surrendered it for Christ, in order that in the abode of the righteous above he might receive it again forever with all the saints and pious. 2 Peter 3:13.
LOUIS, AND TWO OTHERS, A. D. 1529.
In this year also a brother named Louis[228], a minister of Jesus Christ, learned and well versed in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, and experienced in the holy Scriptures, was executed with the sword, at Constance, on the lake of the same name, after being long imprisoned there. At his departure he gave many excellent instructions, so that many were astonished, and were moved to weep with him.
[228] Louis belonged to the church of the Waldenses, whose sound faith we have shown elsewhere. See the author cited below, in the same place.
JOHN HUT, A. D. 1529.
In this year, John Hut[229], a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, was apprehended for the divine testimony, at Augsburg, in Swabia, where he was brought into a tower. Finally they ceased their severe questions and tortures, and he was left lie as one dead. Then they went away, leaving a light in the prison, near the straw, by which the straw was set on fire. When they returned to the tower they found him dead. They then carried him, dead as he was, in a chair on a wagon, before the court, where he was condemned to be burned. His son, Philip Hut, fell asleep in the Lord, in the church at Heim. This John Hut composed a hymn of thanksgiving, which we sing at the memorial or supper of the Lord; besides this he composed one or two other hymns.
[229] This John Hut was also one of the old Waldensian Brethren, See _Bapt. Hist. p. 748_.
WOLFGANG BRANDHUBER, HANS NIEDERMAIR, AND MANY OTHERS, ABOUT SEVENTY IN ALL, A. D. 1529.
In this year, also Brother Wolfgang Brandhuber of Passau, and Hans Niedermair, both ministers of the word and Gospel of Christ, were apprehended, together with many of the pious at Lintz, in the country above the Enns, for the divine truth; they were condemned to fire, water and the sword, and were immediately executed, in all over seventy persons. Among these also Peter Niedermair of Hirschberg, at Gminden, was apprehended, on St. Andrew’s eve, A. D. 1529, and though, in the extreme fear of death, he was tempted in various ways, yet he remained faithful and constant. Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:22. Ultimately, through the providence of God, he was set free, after being imprisoned there for over three years.
Concerning said Wolfgang Brandhuber, writings are still extant in the church, how faithfully he taught the Christian church, and also said, that in everything which is not contrary to God, we should be obedient and subject to the authorities, and that he strictly held to the true baptism of Christ, and to the true Lord’s Supper, rejecting infant baptism, the sacrament, and other antichristian abominations and anathemas, as is shown by his writings, which are still extant.
CARIUS PRADER, WITH SEVERAL OTHER PERSONS, A. D. 1529.
About this time also Carius Prader, a minister of the church of God, in the country of Salzburg, and several other persons were shut up together in a house and burned. A hymn is still extant in the church which this Carius composed.
SEVEN BRETHREN, A. D. 1529.
These seven brethren were executed together on the same day, with the sword, for the evangelical truth, at Gmuend, in Swabia, and thus steadfastly testified with their blood to the name of Christ, A. D. 1529. The account of it is as follows:
“I could not forbear to acquaint my brethren with what is taking place here in Germany, even as it is known to many how the world rages and storms against the true believers, and how she robs the servants of God of life and property. For God, graciously looking down upon the children of men, gave them, in the midst of their blindness, his brightly shining word for a light, that believing it, we should avoid all sin and shame. Many recognized this word as the truth, accepted it with the mouth, and were called Christians, but continued nevertheless in their sinful life, supposing that the bare name was sufficient, if only the semblance existed. Afterwards the Lord so ordered it that his word did effectually work in some, so that, in the language of the prophet Isaiah (Is. 55:11), it accomplished that whereunto God sent it, and did not return unto him void, but guided many into the right way. And thus, those who sought to live faithfully, were hated, and despised as anabaptists by the rest, just as though they had apostatized from God, and turned to Belial; while they earnestly sought and desired nothing else, than to keep God’s commandments with his assistance, according to all their ability (1 Cor. 7:19); and yet they were reproachfully stigmatized as anabaptists,--they who sincerely forgave every one, assisted their neighbors by lending to them without usury, and prayed for their persecutors and enemies (Matt. 5:44), as was seen at the hour of their death, and who thus attested their faith with the deed, as was publicly witnessed, A. D. 1529, in the town of Gmuend, where the enemy employed manifold wiles with some of them, to terrify them, without being successful however. There they had apprehended a lad only fourteen years old, whom they put into the tower, where he lay very severely confined almost a year, suffering many an assault, but always remaining immovable, however frequently they came to him, to induce him to forsake his faith. With him six other brethren, pious men, were apprehended and imprisoned in the tower for life. There they together praised God (Act 16:25), and comforted one another; and God assisted them with his grace, so that they faithfully adhered to the faith, and did not allow themselves to be moved either by threats or terrors. When the time of their departure from this world drew near, their death sentence was read to them, and it was added, that if they would desist from their faith, they need have no fear, but might return home to their wives and children. The prisoners turned to their enemies, and replied: “We have committed our wives and children to God, who is well able to preserve them; hence cease these words; for we are willing and ready to die.” A ring was then drawn on the spot, as is customarily done at executions, with the sword. As this lad stood in the ring, to be beheaded, a count rode up to him into the ring, and thus addressed him: “My dear child, desist from this error, and I will give you a prebend, and always keep you with me.” The youth replied: “Should I love my life (John 12:25), and therefore forsake my God, and thus seek to escape the cross? this I must certainly not do; thy wealth can be of no help to either of us, but I expect a better in heaven”--Thus the youth fearlessly replied, adding--“in the kingdom of my Father, who has chosen me, and who can order and equalize all things as is best. Hence cease these entreaties; to him who has always fed and sustained me, I desire to show obedience also in this my last distress. To him we must call from the bottom of our heart, when the hour is at hand, that we may depart with good cheer out of this world. If we do not depart from him, he will give us the everlasting, glorious crown.”
At this, a great tumult arose among the people, with spears and other weapons, and each spoke of the matter as he understood it. And thus they died through the sword, as pious heroes, and became a sacrifice unto the Lord, as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ, A. D. 1529.
While these seven brethren were still in prison, they together, each giving his own mind, wrote and practiced the following, and sent it to their brethren.
The first made the following prayer: “Out of the depths of my soul I cry unto thee, O God; hear my cry. Send thy Holy Spirit, even as thou, O Christ, hast until now not withdrawn, but graciously imparted him to me. We rely on what thou hast commanded us; but the heathen seek to kill us.” Ps. 130:1.
The second prayed: “The flesh is weak, O Lord; Thou well knowest that it fears the least pain; hence, fill us with thy Holy Spirit, which we entreat of thee from the bottom of our hearts; so that we may continue steadfast unto the end, and cheerfully and valiantly enter upon the suffering which now awaits us, and that we may fear no agony or pain.” Matthew 26:41; 10:22.
The third prayed: The spirit is willing and ready to desire the suffering. O Lord, hear our prayers, through Jesus Christ thy Son. We also pray for our enemies, who, alas! are so ignorant, that they do not know what they are doing, and are not mindful of thy wrath.” John 15:16; Matt. 5:44; Luke 23:34.
The fourth prayed: “We beseech thee, O Father, and dear Lord, through Christ thy Son, increase thy little flock. Kindle in them and also in us thy divine life, and our hearts will rejoice; for after this our hearts do hunger and thirst.” Matt. 6:9; Luke 12:32; 2 Cor. 3:18; Matt. 5:6.
The fifth prayed: “O God, thou hast received us in grace, and made us thy ministers. Through thy divine assistance we have also willingly fullfilled thy ministry, in our weakness. Preserve us still further firm in thy word; we desire to obey thee also henceforth; come to our aid, and be our Comforter.” 1 Cor. 1:4.
The sixth prayed: “Thou Lord God art my Protector; we will cleave to thee, and then pain will not seem severe to us; though they deprive us of our life, thou hast prepared it for us forever in heaven, and though here we suffer reproach and pain, it shall not be in vain.”
The seventh said: “The body, life, soul, and all members we have received from thee, O God; these we will now offer up to thee, to the praise of thy holy name. It is only dust and ashes. We commend our spirits into thy hands. Amen.” Romans 12:1; Gen. I:7; Luke 23:46.
ANNA OF FREIBURG, A. D. 1529.
This Anna of Freiburg was zealous in the fear of the Lord and as she believed in Christ, and was baptized upon faith in him, and thus sought to arise with Christ; and walk in newness of life, the adversary could not endure it; therefore Anna was envied, accused, apprehended by his ministers, and after steadfastly suffering many torments, sentenced to death, and drowned in the water, and afterwards burned with fire. This happened at Freiburg, in the year 1529. When she was about to die, she spoke the following prayer to God, and left these admonitions to all descendants.
“Dear, Eternal, heavenly Father, I call upon thee, from the depths of my heart; do not let me turn from thee, but keep me in thy truth unto my end. O God, keep my heart and mouth; guard me, that I may never separate from thee, on account of impending sorrow and anguish, or any manner of distress; keep me cheerful and glad in my sufferings. Eternal God, my dear Father instruct and teach me, thy poor, unworthy child, that I may heed thy ways and paths. O Father, this is my sincere desire, that through thy power I may press even unto death, through all sorrows, sufferings, anguish and pain, and in this let me persevere, O God, that I may not be separated from thy love. There are many who now walk in this way; but the cup of suffering is given them to drink. We are also accused of false doctrine, in order to draw us from Christ our Lord. But O God, I lift up my soul unto thee and trust in thee in every adversity; do not let me be confounded, lest my enemy exalt himself over me in this earth. I am now imprisoned here by him, but, O God, I sincerely wait for thee with great desire, until thou wilt awaken, and deliver thy prisoners. O dear heavenly Father, make us prepared with the five wise virgins (Matt. 25:2), that we may prudently wait for the bridegroom with his heavenly hosts. O heavenly King, feed and refresh us according to the spirit with thy heavenly meats, which never perish but abide in life eternal; for if thou shouldest withdraw thy food from us, all that we do, would with ourselves be in vain and perish. But, through thy grace, we trust in thee, that we shall not fail. I do not doubt in the least, the power of God; for his judgments are honored. He will forsake no one who firmly holds to him in faith, and seeks to walk in his true ways. Heb. 13:5; Matt. 7:14. O ye Christians, rejoice (Phil. 3:1), and always be of good cheer in the Lord Jesus Christ; may he increase love and faith in us. God comfort us by his holy word, in which we may firmly trust. I commend myself to God and his church; may he be my Protector to-day, for his holy name’s sake. O my Father, let it be done through Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Thereupon she voluntarily submitted to death, and was drowned in the water, as mentioned above.
DANIEL KOPF, WITH TWO BRETHREN AND FOUR SISTERS, A. D. 1529.
Daniel Kopf, a minister of the word, was apprehended with six other persons, at Bairisch-Graitz, in Steyermark; he and two brethren were sentenced to the sword, while the four sisters were drowned. They testified with their body and life, that this is the true way (Matt. 7:14; John 14:6) to eternal life in Christ Jesus, and though the executioner, fire, water and the sword sought to turn them away, they would nevertheless adhere to it as long as breath remained in them. Of this Daniel, writings are also extant in the church, concerning baptism and other points; as well as four hymns composed by him.
FOUR BRETHREN AND FOUR SISTERS.
In the year 1529, four brethren, named Wolfgang of Mos, Thomas Imwald of Aldein, George Frick of Wirzberg, and Mankager of Fuessen; also four sisters, Christina Tolinger of Penon, a widow, Barbara of Thiers, Agatha Kampner of Breitenberg, and her sister Elizabeth, were apprehended in the Ful, in Elschland, and led up to the castle, where they died on the sixteenth of November. Each was separately examined concerning their faith in the following articles:
Brother Wolfgang of Mos confessed that on the Sunday after the feast of our Lady, it was just one year that one Michael (who was afterwards executed with fire for this matter, at Goffedaum, and testified to the truth) presented and taught to me, Wolfgang, Martin von Neck, and another, the Gospel and the word of the Lord, and then rebaptized all three of us according to the command of God. Matt. 28:19. He further said that he did not believe in infant baptism, that God the Lord had said nothing of it, nor had Christ commanded it. Matthew 15:13; 28:20; Mark 16:19. He also confessed that Christ is not bodily in the host, when it is consecrated by the priest. Furthermore, he said: That he did not believe in fast days, Sunday, and other feast days, otherwise than in the manner spoken of in the New Testament.
Thomas Imwald of Aldein confessed that he had been baptized before St. Ulric’s day, at Breitenberg by a teacher who had formerly been a priest, but had forsaken his office as priest, and whose name was George Blaurock, from Switzerland. Of the mass, also, he believed that it is nothing but a human invention and institution, and not a commandment of God. Concerning the sacrament he did not believe that the priests, by their consecrating or blessing, could bring our Lord God into the host, or change it; and he also showed them, that Christ was to be received in the word, and that the bread is only a sign and memorial. Neither does he believe in the confession as it is instituted by the priests; as it is not used according to the command of God. Again, to our Lady he assigns the position to which God has chosen her; he believes that she was a virgin and the mother of our Redeemer. He was furthermore asked whether if their number had become great, they would not have attempted to bring some one’s country or people over to their faith by force. He answered: “No, that they did not believe in compelling any one to it; since God desired a willing and unconstrained heart, and himself had constrained no one, but the Lord gave it into their minds.”