account of four articles of the faith. _First_, That the priest cannot
forgive sins. _Secondly_, That he does not believe that a man can bring
down God from heaven. _Thirdly_, That he does not believe that God or
Christ is bodily in the bread which the priest has upon the altar; but
that it is the bread of the Lord. _Fourthly_, That he did not hold to
the belief that water baptism possessed any saving power. As he would
not renounce these articles, he was most severely tormented, so that
the prince felt great compassion for him, and personally came to him
in the prison, and earnestly admonished him thereto, promising that
he would call him his friend all his lifetime. Thus also the tutor of
the prince, earnestly admonished him to recant, and likewise made him
many promises. Ultimately his wife and child were brought before him in
prison in order, on this wise to move him to recant. But neither was
he to be moved in this way; for he said that though his wife and child
were so dear to him that the prince could not buy them with all his
dominion, yet he would not forsake his God and Lord on their account.
Many priests and others also came to him, to persuade him; but he was
steadfast and immovable in that which God had given him to know. Hence
he was finally sentenced to the fire and death.
Having been delivered into the hands of the executioner, and led into
the middle of the city, he said: “To-day I will confess my God before
all the world.” He had such joy in Christ Jesus, that his face did
not pale, nor his eyes show fear; but he went smilingly to the fire,
where the executioner bound him on the ladder, and tied a little bag
of powder to his neck, at which he said: “Be it done in the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;” and having smilingly bid
farewell to a Christian, who was there, he was thrust into the fire by
the executioner, and happily offered up his spirit, on the eighth day
of February, A. D. 1527. The sheriff however, surnamed Eisenreich von
Landsberg, while returning home from the place of execution, traveling
on horseback; purposing to apprehend others of the brethren, died
suddenly in the night, and was found dead in his bed in the morning,
having thus been removed through the wrath of God.
NOTE.--It is known that Balthasar Pacimontanus opposed infant baptism,
and was therefore burned at Vienna, A. D. 1527. See _second part of
Jacob Mehrning’s History of Baptism, page 777, ex Bellarm., Tom. 3,
lib. 1, de Bapt., cap 8_.
MELCHIOR VET.
This Melchior Vet. was a companion of George Blaurock, who was of the
same faith with him, and also served with him in the Gospel. He was
burned in the time of Michael Sattler, at Drache, for the testimony of
the faith and of the divine truth, which he boldly confessed.
MICHAEL SATTLER, A. D. 1527.
After a long trial on the day of his departure from this world, the
articles being many, Michael Sattler[226] requested that they should
be read to him again and that he should have another hearing. This the
bailiff, as the governor of his lord, opposed and would not consent
to it. Michael Sattler then requested permission to speak. After
a consultation, the judges returned as their answer, that if his
opponents would allow it, they (the judges) would consent. Thereupon
the town clerk of Ensisheim, as the attorney of said Governor spoke
thus: “Prudent, honorable and wise Sirs, He has boasted of the Holy
Ghost. Now, if his boast is true, it seems to me, it is unnecessary
to grant him this; for if he has the Holy Ghost, as he boasts, the
same will tell him what has been done here.” To this Michael Sattler
replied: “Ye servants of God, I hope my request will not be denied;
for said articles are as yet unknown to me.” The town clerk responded:
“Prudent, honorable and wise Sirs, Though we are not bound to do this,
yet in order to give satisfaction, we will grant him his request that
it may not be thought that injustice is done him in his heresy, or that
we desire to wrong him; hence let the articles be read to him.”
[226] He was also one of the Waldensian brethren, as Jacob Mehrning
writes. _Bapt. Hist., 2d. part, page 748._
ARTICLES OR CHARGES AGAINST MICHAEL SATTLER.
First, That he and his adherents have acted contrary to the mandate of
the Emperor.
Secondly, He has taught, held and believed that the body and blood of
Christ are not present in the sacrament.
Thirdly, He has taught and believed that infant baptism does not
conduce to salvation.
Fourthly, They have rejected the sacrament of extreme unction.
Fifthly, They have despised and contemned the mother of God and the
saints.
Sixthly, He has declared that men are not to swear before the
authorities.
Seventhly, He has commenced a new and unheard of custom in regard to
the Lord’s Supper, placing the bread and wine on a plate, and eating
and drinking the same.
Eighthly, He has left the order, and married a wife.
Ninthly, He has said that if the Turks should invade the country, no
resistance ought to be offered them; and if it were right to wage war,
he would rather take the field against the Christians than against the
Turks; and it is certainly a great matter, to set the greatest enemies
of our holy faith against us. Thereupon Michael Sattler requested
permission to confer with his brethren and sisters, which was granted
him. Having conferred with them for a little while, he began and
undauntingly answered thus: “In regard to the articles relating to me
and my brethren and sisters, hear this brief answer:
“First, That we have acted contrary to the imperial mandate, we do not
admit; for the same says that the Lutheran doctrine and delusion is not
to be adhered to, but only the Gospel and word of God. This we have
kept; for I am not aware that we have acted contrary to the Gospel and
the word of God; I appeal to the words of Christ.
“Secondly, That the real body of Christ the Lord is not present in
the sacrament, we admit; for the Scripture says: Christ ascended into
heaven and, sitteth on the right hand of his heavenly Father whence he
shall come to judge the quick and the dead; from which it follows, that
if he is in heaven, and not in the bread, he may not be eaten bodily.
Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9; Col. 3:1; Acts 10:42; 2 Timothy 4:1.
“Thirdly, As to baptism we say: Infant baptism is of no avail to
salvation; for it is written, that we live by faith alone. Again: He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Peter likewise says:
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not
the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans
1:17; Mark 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21.
“Fourthly, We have not rejected the oil; for it is a creature of God,
and what God has made is good and not to be refused; but that the pope,
the bishops, monks and priests can make it better, we do not believe;
for the Pope never made anything good. That of which the epistle of
James speaks is not the Pope’s oil. Gen. 1:11; 1 Tim. 4:4; James 5:14.
“Fifthly, We have not contemned the mother of God and the saints; for
the mother of Christ is to be blessed among all women; for to her was
accorded the favor of giving birth to the Savior of the whole world.
But that she is a mediatress and advocatess, of this the Scriptures
know nothing; for she must with us await the judgment. Paul said to
Timothy: Christ is our Mediator and Advocate with God. As regards the
saints; we say that we who live and believe are the saints; which I
prove by the epistles of Paul to the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians;
and in other places where he always writes: To the beloved saints.
Hence we that believe are the saints; but those who have died in faith
we regard as the blessed. Luke 1:28; Matthew 1:21; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor.
1:2; Eph. 1:1; Revelation 14:13.
“Sixthly, We hold, that we are not to swear before the authorities: For
the Lord says: Swear not; but let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay,
nay. Matt. 5:34; James 5:12.
“Seventhly, When God called me to testify of his word, and I had read
Paul, and also considered the unchristian and perilous state in which I
was; beholding the pomp, pride, usury, and great whoredom of the monks
and priests, I went and took unto me a wife, according to the command
of God; for Paul well prophesies concerning this to Timothy: In the
latter time it shall come to pass that men shall forbid to marry, and
command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received
with thanksgiving, 1 Cor. 7:2; 1 Tim. 4:3.
“Eighthly, If the Turks should come, we ought not to resist them;
for it is written: Thou shalt not kill. We must not defend ourselves
against the Turks and others of our persecutors, but are to beseech God
with earnest prayer to repel and resist them. But that I said, that if
warring were right, I would rather take the field against the so-called
Christians, who persecute, apprehend and kill pious Christians, than
against the Turks, was for this reason: The Turk is a true Turk, knows
nothing of the Christian faith; and is a Turk after the flesh; but you,
who would be Christians, and who make your boast of Christ, persecute
the pious witnesses of Christ, and are Turks after the spirit. Ex.
20:13; Matt. 7:7; Tit. 1:16.
“In conclusion: Ye ministers of God, I admonish you to consider the
end for which God has appointed you, to punish the evil, and to defend
and protect the pious. Whereas, then, we have not acted contrary to
God and the Gospel, you will find that neither I nor my brethren and
sisters have offended in word or deed against any authority. Therefore,
ye ministers of God, if ye have not heard or read the word of God,
send for the most learned, and for the sacred books of the Bible, of
whatsoever language they may be, and let them confer with us in the
word of God; and if they prove to us with the Holy Scriptures, that we
err and are in the wrong, we will gladly desist and recant and also
willingly suffer the sentence and punishment for that of which we have
been accused, but if no error is proven to us, I hope to God, that you
will be converted, and receive instruction.” Wis. 6:4; Acts 25:8; Rom.
13:4; Acts 25:11.
Upon this speech the judges laughed and put their heads together, and
the town clerk of Ensisheim said:
“O you infamous, desperate villain and monk, shall we dispute with you?
The hangman shall dispute with you, I assure you.”
Michael said: “God’s will be done.”
The town clerk said: “It were well if you had never been born.”
Michael replied: “God knows what is good.”
_Town Clerk_: “You arch-heretic, you have seduced the pious; if they
would only now forsake their error, and accept grace.”
_Michael_: “Grace is with God alone.”
One of the prisoners also said: “We must not depart from the truth.”
_Town Clerk_: “You desperate villain and arch-heretic, I tell you if
there were no hangman here, I would hang you myself, and think that I
had done God service.”
_Michael_: “God will judge aright.”
Thereupon the town clerk said a few words to him in Latin, what we do
not know.
Michael Sattler answered him: _Judica._
The town clerk then admonished the judges and said: “He will not cease
from this talk to-day; therefore my Lord Judge, proceed with the
sentence; I will commit it to the law.”
The judge asked Michael Sattler whether he also committed it to the law.
He replied: “Ye ministers of God, I am not sent to judge the word of
God; we are sent to bear witness of it, and, hence, cannot consent to
any law, since we have no command from God concerning it; but if we can
not be discharged from the law, we are ready to suffer for the word
of God whatever sufferings are, or may be imposed upon us all for the
sake of the faith in Christ Jesus our Savior, as long as we have breath
within us; unless we be dissuaded from it by the Scriptures.”
The town clerk said: “The hangman shall convince you; he shall dispute
with you, arch-heretic.”
_Michael_: “I appeal to the Scriptures.”
Then the judges arose, and went into another room, where they remained
for an hour and a half, and determined on the sentence. Matt. 6:10;
John 16:2; 1 Cor. 4:5; John 1:8; Job 27:3; Acts 25:11.
In the meantime, some in the room treated Michael Sattler most
unmercifully, heaping reproach upon him. One of them said: “What have
you in expectation for yourself and the others, that you have so
seduced them?” With this, he also drew forth a sword which lay upon
the table, saying: “See, with this shall they dispute with thee.” But
Michael did not answer upon a single word concerning his person, but
willingly endured it all. One of the prisoners said: “We must not cast
pearls before swine.” Matt. 27:14; 7:6.
Being also asked, why he had not remained a lord in the convent,
Michael answered: “According to the flesh I was a lord; but it is
better so.” He did not say more than what is recorded here, and this he
spoke fearlessly.
The judges having returned to the room, the sentence was read. It
was as follows: “In the case of the Governor of his Imperial Majesty
_versus_ Michael Sattler, judgment is passed, that Michael Sattler
shall be delivered to the executioner, who shall lead him to the place
of execution, and cut out his tongue; then throw him upon a wagon, and
there tear his body twice with red hot tongs; and after he has been
brought without the gate, he shall be pinched five times in the same
manner.”
After this had been done in the manner prescribed, he was burned to
ashes as a heretic. His fellow brethren were executed with the sword,
and the sisters drowned. His wife, also, after being subjected to many
entreaties, admonitions and threats, under which she remained very
steadfast, was drowned a few days afterwards. Done the 21st day of May,
A. D. 1527.
A LETTER WRITTEN BY MICHAEL SATTLER, IN PRISON, TO THE CHURCH OF GOD AT
HORB.
My beloved companions in the Lord! grace and mercy from God our
heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, and the power of their
Spirit, be with you beloved of God, brethren and sisters.
I can not forget you; though I am not present with the body (Col. 2:5),
yet I continually care for and watch over you, as my fellow members,
lest the body be taken away, and the whole body [the church], with
all its members be overwhelmed with sorrow, especially at this time,
when the ferocity of the ravening wolf has risen to such a pitch, and
increases in power, so that he has aroused also me to fight against
him; but eternal praise be to God, its head is completely broken, and I
hope that his whole body shall soon be no more, as is written.
Dear brethren and sisters, you well know with what ardent love I
admonished you the last time I was with you, that you should be upright
and godly in all patience and in the love of God, by which you may be
known among this adulterous and ungodly generation, as shining lights
(Matthew 5:14) whom God the heavenly Father has illuminated with his
knowledge and the light of the Spirit. With like fervency I now beseech
and admonish you; that you walk surely and prudently towards those that
are without as unbelievers, that our office, which God has imposed upon
us, may in no wise be profaned and justly reproached.
Remember the Lord, who has given you the talent, for he shall require
it again with usury. That the one talent may not be taken from you, put
it to usury, according to the command of the Lord, who has given you
the talent. Matt. 15:19.
I say to you through the grace of God, that ye be valiant, and walk
as become the saints of God. Consider what the Lord metes out to idle
servants; namely, to utterly lukewarm and slothful hearts, unfit and
cold for all love to God and the brethren. You have experienced what I
now write.
Be admonished by this, lest God let a like punishment come upon you.
Beware, beware of such as act contrary to the command of God lest ye
learn their abominations; but reprove it with strict attention, and
excommunication, according to the command of Christ, yet with all love
and compassion for their cold hearts. Matt. 18:17. If you do this, you
shall readily see how the flock of God dwells among the wolves (Acts
20:29), and shall witness a brief and speedy separation of those who
will not walk in the right paths and living ways of Christ, namely,
through crosses, misery, imprisonment, self-denial, and ultimately
through death. Then you can present yourselves to God your heavenly
Father, a pure, godly, true church of Christ, which is cleansed through
his blood (Eph. 5:26), that it may be holy and unblamable in the
sight of God and men, separated from all idolatry and abomination,
and redeemed, that the Lord of all dominion may dwell in it, and that
it may be a tabernacle unto him. Beloved brethren, understand whether
what I write unto you be truth, and use diligence to walk according
to it. Let no one divert you from your aim, as has been the case with
some even until now; but go straight on in all patience, without
deviating, that you do not take up the cross which God has laid upon
you, only to lay it down contrary to the honor and praise of God, and
to the transgression and violation of his eternal, true, just, and
life-giving commandments.
Do not become weary, if you are chastened of the Lord (Heb. 12:5); for
whom God loves he chastens, even as a father that is well pleased with
his son. To what will you have recourse, if you would flee from God?
What can help you if you forsake God? Is it not God who fills heaven
and earth? Does he not know all the secrets of thy vain heart, and the
lasciviousness of thy reins? All things are manifest to him, and there
is nothing concealed from him. Vain man, whither will you go, that God
shall not see you? Why do you flee the rod of your Father? (Heb. 12:8).
If you will not be chastened according to the will of the Father,
you cannot inherit his riches. Why do you love a short and transient
rest more than the godly and moderate correction and chastisement of
the Lord to your salvation? How long will you eat flesh of the fat of
Egypt? How long will you be carnally-minded? (Rom. 8:8). The flesh
perishes, and all its glory; the word of the Lord alone abides forever.
Beloved brethren, mark what I write to you; for it is necessary,
since you see that there are but few who will endure the chastening
of the Lord; for by far the greater number when they suffer a little
in the flesh, become faint and weary, and do no longer look unto
Jesus, the Captain and Finisher of our faith. They also forget all his
commandments, and esteem the jewel which the calling of God every where
presents and points out to those that overcome of small value; but they
regard this temporal rest, which is before their eyes as far better and
more profitable, than the eternal for which we must hope. Moreover,
there are some who, when this is presented to them, accuse God, though
very unjustly, of not being willing to keep them under his protection.
You know whom I mean, take heed that you have no fellowship with them.
Furthermore, dear fellow members in Christ, be admonished that you
forget not charity, without which it is not possible for you to be a
Christian flock. You know what charity is, from the testimony of Paul
our fellow brother, who says: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind;
charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in
the truth; heareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things.” 1 Cor. 13:4–7. Understand this passage, and you
will find the love of God and the love of your neighbor; and if you
love God, you will rejoice in the truth, and believe, hope and endure
all that comes from God. In this way the aforesaid failing will be
removed and avoided. But if you love your neighbor, you will not punish
or excommunicate with fire, you will not seek your own, think no evil,
not vaunt yourselves, and, finally, not be puffed up; but will be kind,
just, liberal in all giving, humble and compassionate with the weak and
imperfect. Rom. 13:8.
This love has been adulterated by some brethren (I know who they
are); they have not been willing to edify one another by love, but
are become puffed up and unprofitable with the vain knowledge and
understanding of things which God would have remain hidden to all but
himself alone. 1 Cor. 8:1. I do not censure nor reject the grace and
revelation of God, but the puffed up make use of this revelation. What
would it profit, says Paul, if I should speak with the tongues of men
and of angels, and understand all mysteries and knowledge, and have
all faith, tell me, what profit is all this, if love be not exercised?
You have experienced what such presumptuous speaking and ignorance has
produced; you still daily see their false fruits, though they have
given themselves to God.
And let no man remove you from the foundation which is laid through
the letter of the holy Scriptures, and is sealed with the blood of
Christ and of many witnesses of Jesus. Hear not what they say of their
father, for he is a liar; and do not believe their spirit, for he is
entirely swallowed up in the flesh. Judge what I write to you; take
these matters to heart, that this abomination may be separated far
from you, and that you be found humble, fruitful and obedient children
of God. Beloved brethren, marvel not that I treat this matter with
such earnestness; for I do so not without reason. The brethren have
doubtless informed you that some of us are in prison; and afterwards
when the brethren at Horb had also been apprehended, they brought us to
Binzdorf. At this time we met with various designs of our adversaries.
Once they threatened us with bonds; then with fire, and afterwards
with the sword. In this peril I completely surrendered myself into
the will of the Lord, and together with all my fellow-brethren and my
wife, prepared myself even for death for his testimony; and then I
thought of the great number of false brethren, and of you, who are but
few, namely, a little flock; and also, that there are but few faithful
laborers in the Lord’s vineyard (Matt. 9:37); hence I deemed it
necessary to stir you up by this admonition, to follow after us in the
divine warfare, in order that you may comfort yourselves with it, that
you may not become weary of the chastening of the Lord.
In short, beloved brethren and sisters this letter shall be a farewell
to all of you who truly love and follow God (others I do not know); and
also a testimony of my love which God has given into my heart towards
you, for the sake of your salvation. I did indeed desire, and it would
have been profitable, I trust, if I had labored a little while longer
in the work of the Lord; but it is better for me, to be released, and
to await with Christ the hope of the blessed. The Lord is able to raise
up another laborer to finish this work.
Pray that reapers may be constrained into the harvest; for the time of
threshing is nigh at hand. Luke 10:2. The abomination of desolation
is manifest among you; the chosen servants and handmaidens of God are
marked with the name of their Father on their foreheads (Rev. 13:16);
the world rises up against those who are delivered from its error; the
Gospel is proclaimed before all the world, as a testimony against it;
therefore it will be necessary that the day of the Lord do not tarry.
You know, my most beloved fellow members, that it becomes us to conduct
ourselves in a godly and Christian manner. 2 Tim. 3:12. Take heed,
watch and pray, lest your wisdom bring judgment upon you. Pray without
ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) that you may stand worthy before the Son of
man. Remember your forerunner Jesus Christ, and follow him through
faith and obedience, with love and patience. 1 Peter 2:20. Forget
that which is carnal, that you may in truth be called Christians, and
children of the Most High God. Endure the chastening of your father in
heaven, and turn neither to the right nor to the left, that you may
enter by the door (John 10:1), and will not have to walk in a strange
path, in which sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and whosoever loves and
makes a lie, must go. Rev. 22:15. Remember our assembly, and strictly
follow that which was resolved on therein; and if anything has been
forgotton, pray the Lord for understanding. Be liberal towards all
that are in want among you (Heb. 13:3), but especially towards those
who labor among you in the word, and are driven about, and cannot eat
their bread in peace and quietness. Forget not to assemble yourselves
together, but give diligence that you constantly meet together, and be
united in prayer for all men, and in breaking of bread; and this with
the more diligence, because the day of the Lord is approaching. Heb.
10:25. In this assembling you will make manifest the hearts of the
false brethren, and will speedily rid yourselves of them.