began, and have so long been doing, the way would not have been narrow.
But our Savior had to enter through suffering and anguish into his own
glory,--how then will we enter by the broad way? For narrow is the way,
says the Lord, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,
and still fewer who rightly walk in it. Matt. 7:14. The good Father did
indeed show me this way, but my evil flesh was too powerful and forced
me away from it. Nevertheless, I hope to be saved through the grace
of the Lord; for Paul says: “Though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing.” Eph. 2:4; 1 Cor. 13:3.
Consider what this charity is, and you shall be able to accept for the
best whatever the Lord sends you. How should I be able to express it,
love is the nature of God: may it be with you and us all. I give it to
you as an affectionate salutation. May the good and merciful Father
shed it abroad into all our hearts, through his beloved Son. Amen.
Salute all dear friends in the Lord. Pray the Lord for me; all that he
gives me, I will impart again. 3 John 14; 1 Thess. 5:25.
_Another testament of John Claess, to his wife, A. D. 1544._
Know, my dearly beloved wife, that it is my will and testament to you
in no wise to depart from the word of the Lord, but always to comfort
yourself with it; for the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, if
we continue in the faith. O let us thereby overcome, and not turn away,
and we shall receive the crown which the good Lord has promised unto
all that love his appearing. 2 Tim. 4:8. If we desire to remain here,
we do not love his appearing; but if we ask him for the Holy Spirit,
the same will teach us in all things, and comfort and strengthen us
through his grace. O let us pray; for through prayer we must receive
everything. Hence, my dear wife, take no thought for the things that
concern the body; but seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you. Herewith I commend you to
God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to strengthen and keep
you in all temptation. The grace of the Lord be with you and us all.
Amen. Bring up my dear children in the admonition of the Lord, this is
my will to you; and associate with the good, for they prosper. Care not
for temporal things; for that which is visible must perish. What you
can get take with you, and commit the rest to faithful friends; and
remove with your little ones far enough to be out of danger, from men.
Bring them up in the admonition of the Lord, and keep with those that
fear the Lord. Deut. 6:20. My dear wife, be well contented; if the Lord
had taken me away by a sudden sickness, it would have been your duty to
thank him; do so now. I leave you this as a testament. Watch every day
of your life for the appearing for our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Tim. 6:14.
The grace of the Lord be with you. Amen.
_A testament to his children, and then to his wife._
My dear little children, Claes Jans and Gertrude Jans, I leave you this
as a testament when you come of age. Hear the instruction from your
Father. Hate all that the world and your carnal nature love, and love
the commandments of God. 1 John 2:16. Let this instruct you, for it
teaches: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself;” that
is, let him forego his own wisdom and earnestly pray: “Lord, thy will
be done.” Luke 9:23; Prov. 3:5; Matt. 6:10. If you do this, the Holy
Spirit will teach you all that you ought to believe. Believe not what
men say, but obey the commands of the New Testament, and ask God to
teach you his will. Trust not to your understanding, but trust in the
Lord, and let all your counsel be in him, and ask him to direct your
paths.
My children, how you are to love God the Lord, how you must honor
and love your mother, and love your neighbor, and fulfill all other
commandments required of you by the Lord, the New Testament will
teach you. Matt. 22:37,39. Whatever is not contained therein, believe
not; but obey everything that is embraced in it. Associate with those
who fear the Lord, who depart from evil, and who do every good thing
through love. O, look not to the multitude or the old custom, but to
the little flock which is persecuted for the word of the Lord; for
the good do not persecute, but are persecuted. When you have given
yourselves to this, beware of all false doctrine; for John says:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,
hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both
the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9. The doctrine of Christ is: Love,
mercy, peace, chastity, faith, meekness, humility and perfect obedience
to God. Gal. 5:22,23.
My dear children, surrender yourselves to that which is good, and the
Lord will give you understanding in all things. I give you this as my
last farewell. Regard the chastening of the Lord; for if you do evil,
he will punish you in your souls. Job 5:17. Hence desist, and cry to
the Lord for help, and hate that which is evil, and the Lord shall
deliver you, and you shall prosper. May God the Father, through his
beloved Son Jesus Christ, give you his Holy Spirit, that he may guide
you into all truth. Amen. John 16:13.
I, John Clæss, your father, have written this while in prison for the
word of the Lord. May the good Father grant you his grace. Amen.
MY DEAR WIFE, I request you to bring up my children, in all good
instruction, to have my testament read to them, and to bring them up in
the Lord, according to your ability, as long as you remain with them.
And I desire of you, that you love neither yourself nor your children
more than the Lord and his testimony. Luke 14:26. Suffer not your flesh
to overcome you. 1 Peter 2:11. If they do not tolerate you in this
city, remove into another. Matt. 10:23. But this I earnestly request
of you: always keep with the good; for blessed is he that associates
with them. He who has always been the helper of the lowly, that is, the
good Father, will help you. Luke 1:48. If you cannot stand alone, take
a husband that fears the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:2); but whatever you do,
forsake not the Lord for a little mess of pottage. Gen. 25:34. May your
excuse be never so great, but not for all Amsterdam forsake the Lord.
By his grace I will not forsake him for the whole world, and do you
also likewise. Matt. 16:26. O let us press our way through by force; I
must, through the grace of the Lord, lose my flesh; forsake yours also.
Matthew 11:12; 16:25.
My dear wife, if we should consider suffering, we would never get out
of it; but we must look beyond it to the eternal reward. I joyfully
comfort myself in the Lord; do so also. The Lord might have taken me
from my bed and you would have had to content yourself; how much more
now, for you know not how long you will remain here? Therefore do as
the Lord counsels you; be always ready for his appearing, and you shall
be able to overcome all things, to those that overcome everlasting rest
is promised. Rev. 21:7.
A firm faith, a sure hope of the eternal reward, and a burning love to
God and our neighbor be with you and me, and us all. Amen. Matt. 21:21;
1 Peter 4:8.
Write to me immediately how you are, and I shall be the more comforted
if you comply with my request. Pray; the Lord will be entreated; this I
now experience. Pray together all of you, that the will of the Lord be
done in me and in us all. Amen. Matt. 6:10; 7:11.
_A testament of John Clæss to his brothers and sister after the flesh._
Know, my dear brothers, Cornelis Clæss, and Gerritt Clæss, and my dear
sister Adriaentgen Clæss, that I affectionately desire of you, that
you turn to the Lord, and forsake all your pride, covetousness, and
all wickedness, as also all bad company, and be quiet, and associate
with the good. Search the word of the Lord, and ask him for his Holy
Spirit, and the same shall instruct you in everything which is needful
for you. This will come to pass, if you deny yourselves and forego your
own will; for the Lord says: “If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Therefore die
unto all your lusts, and you shall never die, for the wages of sin is
death. Col. 3:5; Rom. 6:23. But ask God for his Holy Spirit, who will
so change your minds, that you will hate evil and shun it. O my most
beloved, hate that which is evil, and love the good, and God, who alone
is good, will be with you. But if you will continue in your wicked
sensuality, I testify to you from the mouth of the Lord, that you will
condemn yourselves. Rom. 8:13. But I am persuaded better things of you,
though I thus speak. Heb. 6:9. O, keep what the Lord hath made known to
you, namely: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them,” and it will be well with you, and you shall prosper in
every good thing. To this end may the good God help you, through Jesus
Christ his beloved Son. Amen.
_Another Testament of John Claess, to all his Kindred._
Be it known to you, dear brothers and sisters, cousins and relatives,
and all my kindred, that I do not suffer as a thief, murderer or
evil-doer, but for the ordinance which the apostles of the Lord taught
and instituted, namely the ordinance of the holy church, made fifteen
hundred years ago, which Jesus Christ enjoined upon his dear disciples,
and sealed with his blood, and which the apostles preached and taught,
and confirmed with their blood. 1 Pet. 4:15; Mark 16:15; Heb. 9:14;
Acts 2:14; 7:58; 12:2. My dear friends, do not be dejected or cast
down on my account, because men say that I died as an Anabaptist and
heretic. There is but one baptism given, and that upon faith; before
faith God has not commanded baptism. Now some one might ask: What!
ought infants not to be baptized? No; but they are nevertheless saved
through the merits of Jesus Christ, and are baptized in his blood; for
it is written: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:22. This is done through pure grace, without
any sign. Acts 15:11. But my dear friends, the Lord has commanded to
preach the Gospel, and they that believe it, are to be baptized. Mark
16:16. He also commanded that the believers should observe his Supper,
in remembrance of him, in such a manner as he instituted, and the
apostles practiced it. Matt. 26:26; Acts 2:42. Besides these, he did
not command them anything; no mass, no infant baptism, no auricular
confession, nor any other outward worship. But he commanded to love God
alone, to obey his word, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Luke
10:27. O where are they to be found who do this? Search the word of
God; there is no Christian who does not know this. You cannot maintain
thereby, what they teach, namely, that you should continue in the holy
church. You must know what the holy church is, namely, the assembly of
believers born by the word of God (1 Pet. 1:23); for you well know that
no one can come into this world without being born, so no one can come
into the future world, unless he is born again as Peter declares: “not
of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which
liveth and abideth forever.” John 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:23. O well for him
who is born of it! they that are thus regenerated, practice the true
baptism and the true Supper. They also separate themselves from all who
teach a scandalous doctrine, or live disorderly; they do not destroy
their bodies, for this is not taught in the word of God; but they
avoid their company until they repent (2 Thess. 3:6); for they are the
Christian church, the community of the saints; they have forgiveness of
sins; for there is none other name given in heaven or on earth whereby
they can be saved, but the name of Jesus; that is, through his merits.
Acts 4:12. They believe and live only according to his ordinances. He
did not kill those who did not believe in him, neither did his holy
church do this. But he and his own have been slain from the beginning,
and thus it shall continue. Rev. 13:8. By this you shall know who are
his own. Not those who boast of his name, and maintain their cause
with the sword; but those that live according to the example of their
Lord, and confirm their cause with the word of God, which is the
sword of the true believers. 1 Pet. 2:21; Eph. 6:17. Now some might
say: What has become of the forefathers, who did not know better? We
leave this to God. It might also be said that the Lord promised to
be with us even unto the end of the world. Matt. 28:20. He is always
with believers--but never with unbelievers--namely, with his word and
the right use of his signs, that is, baptism and the Supper, and will
always be with those who walk aright, and live conformably to his word.
Dear friends, at the time of the apostles there arose seven different
sects among them, but the true doctrine was therefore not to be
rejected. Now, though many wicked miscreants have arisen under the
Gospel, the word of God has not depreciated: he that would be saved
must submit to it. Romans 9:6. In the time of the righteous Tobit all
Israel worshiped golden calves, which king Jeroboam had caused to be
made; he [Tobit] alone adhered to the Lord his God, and did what he had
commanded him.
Friends, look not to the multitude, but to the word of God, which will
not deceive you. “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh
flesh his arm; but blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord.” Jer.
17:5,7. I trust in this, that he prays to his Father, not only for
those who were with him, but also for all them who shall turn to him
through the word. John 17:20. May the good Father, through his only Son
Jesus Christ, give you a true understanding, that you may henceforth
learn to know him. 2 Tim. 2:7.
ACCOUNT OF THE SENTENCE PASSED ON JOHN CLAESS, AND THE OLD MAN NAMED
LUCAS LAMBERTS OF BEVOREN, ALSO CALLED GRANDFATHER; AND HOW THEY DIED.
When John Claess, and Lucas Lamberts, an old man of eighty-seven years,
called grandfather, came into court, they greeted each other with a
kiss.
John Claess said to the grandfather: “My dear brother, how do you feel?”
The grandfather replied pleasantly with a glad countenance: “Quite
well, my dear brother.”
Then said John Claess: “Fear neither fire nor the sword; O what a
joyful feast will be prepared for us before the clock strikes twelve!”
Upon this they were separated.
The bailiff then said: “You are rebaptized.”
John Claess answered: “I was baptized upon my faith, as all Christians
ought to be, according to the Scriptures; read this.” Matt. 28:19.
They said to him again: “You belong to the accursed Anabaptists, who
originate strange sects, opinions, errors and contention among the
people.” Acts 16:20; 17:6.
_John Claess_: “We are not such people; we desire nothing else than
the true word of God; if I am to suffer therefor, I demand the seven
judges.”[234]
[234] We have in our possession the original sentence of these
two persons; but as the gist of the same is given here, it is not
necessary to adduce it verbatum.
He was then asked whether he did not confess that he was rebaptized
four years ago or thereabouts.
John Claess replied: “Three years ago or thereabouts I was baptized as
all Christians ought to be.”
The court said: “You acknowledge it then?”
_John Claess_: “Yes.”
_Court_: “Well, since you confess it, we have full power from the seven
judges.”
_John Claess_: “Can I not obtain the full court? it is granted even to
thieves and murderers, why should it not be granted to me?”
The four judges then went out to pronounce the sentence.
Lifting up his voice, John Claess said: “O merciful Father, thou
knowest that we do not desire revenge” (Rom. 12:19), and he wrung his
hands, saying: “O merciful Father, grant them thy Spirit, that thou
mayest not count this to them as wickedness.” Acts 7:60.
The four judges now returned into the court, and sat down to declare
the sentence, saying: “John Claess, a native of Alkmaar, who has taught
the people false doctrines, errors and new opinions--”
Upon this John Claess answered: “It is not so.”
The lords of the court then forbade John Claess to speak, and good John
Claess observed silence, that he might hear his sentence. They then
proceeded with their sentence, and said to the clerk: “Read his crime.”
He read that he had caused to be printed at Antwerp six hundred books,
which he had concluded with Menno Simon, and scattered abroad in this
country, containing strange opinions and sectarianisms, and had kept
school and held meetings, to introduce errors among the people (Acts
17:6), which is contrary to the decree of the Emperor, and our mother
the holy church, and which it is not proper for my lords of the court
to tolerate, but to correct.
Here John Claess reproved them as before, saying: “They are not
sectarianisms, but it is the word of God.” Acts 24:14.
Then the lords of the court said: “We sentence you to death, to be
executed with the sword, the body to be placed on the wheel, and the
head upon a stake; _we_ do not sentence you, but the court does.”
As John Claess went out of the court, he said: “You citizens bear
witness that we die for no other reason than for the true word of God.”
This occurred in the court. Having ascended the scaffold, John Claess
audibly addressed the people with these words: “Hear, ye citizens
of Amsterdam: be it known unto you, that I suffer not as a thief or
murderer, or because we have sought the property or life of others.
However, do not understand me as justifying or exalting myself; but I
come with the prodigal son, and depend only on the pure word of God.”
Upon this the executioner struck him on his breast. John Claess turned
around, and exclaimed with a loud voice:
“O Lord, forsake me not, now or in eternity. Lord, thou Son of David,
receive my soul.”
Thus the dear brother John Claess confirmed the word of God with his
crimson blood, his head then being placed upon a stake, and his body
on the wheel, as food for the birds and wild beasts. And the old
grandfather of eighty-seven years, also willingly, for the truth of
Christ Jesus, yielded his hoary head and beard to the sword of these
tyrants. They now rest together under the altar.
A NUMBER OF BELIEVERS BAPTIZED ACCORDING TO THE COMMAND OF CHRIST,
HAVING ASSEMBLED TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, ARE PUT TO DEATH AT
ROTTERDAM, IN THE YEAR 1544.
As saint Paul, through the spirit of God, foretold that all who will
live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, so it was also
verified in the city of Rotterdam, about A. D. 1544, where a number
of the pious followers of Jesus Christ had assembled together in the
name of the Lord, to converse with each other about the word of God,
and thus to edify and strengthen one another in the accepted truth of
the holy gospel; also to pray with an humble heart and with one accord
to the great God of heaven and earth, for forgiveness and remission
of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and thus to give praise and
thanks with one mind to his most adorable name. Eph. 5:1; Heb. 10:24;
3:13; 1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 15:16; Acts 1:14.
This good exercise in godliness the papists, who hate the truth,
sought to prevent and stop as much as lay in their power, so that said
godfearing assembly fell into their hands, having been betrayed by a
woman who came to the house to borrow a kettle. The defenseless sheep
having thus fallen into the claws of the wolves, these, according to
their nature, treated them in the most cruel manner, in order to draw
them away from the truth; all of which they willingly suffered and
endured in patience for the name of Jesus, in the firm hope of his
imperishable kingdom. Therefore, since they could by no tortures be
brought to apostatize, they were sentenced to death, which sentence
was executed in the following manner: The men were beheaded with the
sword at the said place, while the women, in the most cruel manner were
thrown into a boat, and thrust under the ice until death followed. Thus
these two assemblies, or classes of people, that is the church of God,
and the congregation of Satan clearly evinced of which spirit they
were children (1 John 3:10; Luke 9:55); which can easily be seen by
their fruits and nature. The anti-Christians by this, that, as ravening
and devouring wolves, they were born by nature to seize and destroy.
The congregation of Jesus Christ by this, that, as humble sheep and
lambs, dumb, and with no desire for revenge, they were thus led to the
slaughter, and willingly gave their bodies for the name of the Lord.
Matt. 7:15; 10:16; Ps. 44:22; 1 Peter 4:13. Therefore, these sheep
shall, at the reappearing of the great Shepherd, hear, together with
all faithful servants, the joyful voice: “Enter into the joy of your
Lord.” Heb. 13:20; Matt. 25:23.
Among those that were thus offered, there was also a young maiden
of but fourteen years. She composed the hymn in the old hymn book,
beginning thus:
_Emanuel die is uytgetogen, uyt sijns Vaders rijck in’s werelts
pleyn._[235]
[235] Emanuel went forth from his Father’s kingdom into this world.
FRANCIS OF BOLSWEERT, A. D. 1545.
At Bolsweert, in Friesland, there was a true lamb of Christ, named
Francis, who lived uprightly in the fear of God. Job 1:1. He was
therefore apprehended, and conveyed in a sleigh to Leeuwaerden, where
he was asked before the council, why he would not swear, nor observe
the Supper with them in the church. He answered: “My lords, Christ
teaches us that we must not swear at all; and because you people are
unbelieving and unclean, I will not keep fellowship with you.” At these
words the lords were offended, and said: “We are neither thieves nor
murderers; what uncleanness then have we? but it seems to us, that you
hold a false doctrine, and of such heretics there are still more, all
of whom we intend utterly to exterminate.” Francis said: “My lords, be
not angry; but you high priests, show me the false doctrine which I
hold, and this from the Bible, for I have brought one with me; come and
instruct me from it.”
The lords then counseled with the priests of Jezebel, and said: “He
has despised our mass; he contemns our customs, and we have a strict
mandate, to which we must be obedient, and according to that he must
die.” Thus he was sentenced to be burned to ashes on Palm Sunday eve,
A. D. 1545. For this sentence he undauntedly thanked the Lords and
said: “I will forgive you all this from my heart, wishing that the
Spirit of God would enlighten you unto reformation, that you may repent
and live according to the word of God; I now go to the holy city, and
the inheritance of my Father.” He was then led to death, as a sheep
to the slaughter. Many that saw it wept; but he said: “Weep not, but
prepare yourselves to die unto your sins, for this is the true way to
enter into life.” He also spoke many other comforting words.
After he had openly prayed: “Lord God, receive my soul and guide it
into thy peace,” the executioner commenced his work. Having stripped
him of his clothes, and fastened him to the stake, he was about to
strangle him with a rope, when the rope broke, and he fell down. This
frightened the executioner, and he endeavored quickly to burn him
to ashes with much peat and wood; but God manifested his miraculous
power, so that the fire lost its natural force, and the body could not
be burned entirely; on which account the lords became angry at the
executioner, and said that he had not brought enough wood; but it was
the will of God that he should thus be received into the number of the
martyrs.
OSWALD OF JAMNITS, A. D. 1545.