preached the Gospel of Christ.” Acts 13:14.
_Ques._ “We have heard, that you also teach wherever you go?”
_Ans._ “O Lord, what should I preach; we may have read the gospel
together.”
_Ques._ “Where did you read it together?”
_Ans._ “At the dyke.”
_Ques._ “With whom did you read it?”
_Ans._ “This I do not know.”
_Ques._ “How should you not know with whom you read it?”
_Ans._ “How should I know it, sometimes with this one, and sometimes
with another.”
They therefore mentioned the names of a good many, and said: “Do you
know this and that one?”
_Ans._ “Yes, I know them well.”
_Ques._ “Have you any books of Menno Simon and of David Joris?”
_Ans._ “No, I have no books in the house, except a Bible and a
Testament, and a little book on the faith.”
Thus they asked me many questions, and said, that so much had been
reported, how we had preached in this and that place, and that there
was no town where he had been, but they knew it better than myself.
Now, my dear brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his
grace, which is able to strengthen and keep you, and to give you an
inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32. Hence, let
every one see to it, that no one be so presumptuous as to pour water
into the living fountain; for the Lord says, John 6:44–46: “No man can
come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will
raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they
shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and
hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen
the Father.” Is. 54:13. Therefore dear brethren and sisters, let us
with one accord pray to God for wisdom, as the apostle James teaches
us, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which is
hypocrisy; hence let us follow our supreme Lord and Shepherd Christ,
and praise him through God the Father, unto whom be praise forever and
ever, Amen.
TESTAMENT WRITTEN BY DIRK PIETERS SMUEL, DECEASED IN PRISON, TO HIS
WIFE, WHEN HE WAS PREPARING TO DIE FOR THE NAME AND TESTIMONY OF JESUS;
IN WHICH HE COMFORTED AND ADMONISHED HER DILIGENTLY TO PROVIDE FOR THE
BRINGING UP OF HER CHILDREN THAT THEY MIGHT LEARN TO FEAR GOD FROM
THEIR YOUTH.
Grace and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
I beseech you, therefore, my most beloved sister and wife Wellemoet
Claes, that you present your body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to
this world. 1 Corinthians 1:3; Rom. 12:1,2. James says: “Whosoever
therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James
4:4 For the Lord Jesus says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye
shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be
sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she
is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as
she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish,
for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have
sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and
your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:20–22. Therefore let us say
with St. Paul: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all
the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in
all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved
us.” Rom. 8:35–37. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in
white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of
life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his
angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto
the churches.” Rev. 3:5,6. Hence, I beseech you, my most beloved, “See
then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming
the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is;” “for the time past of
your life may suffice you to have wrought the will of the Gentiles,
when you walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings,
banquetings, and abominable idolatries.” “Wherefore let him that
thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation
taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that you maybe able to bear it.”
Eph. 5:15–17; 1 Peter 4:3; 1 Cor. 10:12,13.
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:14), and
“Know, that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and
gold, from your vain conversation ... but with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was
foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in
these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him
up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be
in God.” 1 Peter 1:18–21. “Now, the end of the commandment is charity
out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”
1 Tim. 1:5. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven,
and said, Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also
may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is
life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:1–3. “For such a high priest
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for
the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the
law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the
oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for
evermore.” Hebrews 7:26–28.
Therefore I admonish you, my most beloved, seeing we have such “a
high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart
in full assurance of faith.” Heb. 10:21,22. John says: “My little
children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if
any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 2:1,2. “And
now ... I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is
able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them
which are sanctified.”[236] Acts 20:32.
[236] He deems eternal salvation of greater value than temporal
necessities.
The grace of our Lord be with you now and forever, Amen.
So I admonish you, my most beloved mother [wife], diligently to see to
it, that you teach the children from their youth to fear God.
A LETTER OF CONSOLATION AND ADMONITION, WRITTEN IN PRISON BY DIRK
PIETERS SMUEL, DECEASED, WHO WAS BURNT ALIVE AT AMSTERDAM, IN HOLLAND,
FOR THE NAME AND TESTIMONY OF JESUS; TO ALL LOVERS OF THE EVANGELICAL
TRUTH, A. D. 1546.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Father
of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ.”[237] 2 Cor. 1:3–5. Hence Paul says: “I desire
that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For
this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:13–15.
He himself says: “I thank thee, O Father Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast
revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy
sight.... And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth
any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will
reveal him.” Matt. 11:25,26,27.
[237] Having abundance of consolation in his sufferings, he comforts
his brethren.
He therefore says: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of
me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto
your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[238] Matt.
11:28–30.
[238] He who has not Christ in him, is poor and miserable.
Therefore, my dear brethren, seeing we have such “a high priest, let
us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without
wavering; for he is faithful that promised: and let us consider
one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is,
but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching ... For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth
unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall
judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God.” Heb. 10:21–25,30,31. For he says: “Whosoever will come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall
lose it for the Gospel’s sake, shall save it.”[239] Mark 8:34,35.
[239] He loves his brethren according to the soul; hence he
admonishes them, to seek their salvation. He that desires the
heavenly riches, hates everything which hinders him therein.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor,
and hate thine enemy. But I give you a new commandment, says Christ:
“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for
he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain
on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what
reward have ye? do not even the publicans so?” Matt. 5:43–47.
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love,
as Christ also has loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.”[240] Ephesians
5:1,2.
[240] He who seeks God in visible things, will not find him.
“Flee youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace,
with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and
unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the
servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to
teach, patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;
if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of
the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the
devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”[241] 2 Tim. 2:22–26.
[241] In God are life and peace; he that desires peace and life, let
him enter into him.
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show
out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if
ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie
not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is
earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is
confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is
first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full
of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace.”[242] Jas. 3:13–18.
[242] Pure love loves a blameless life.
“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. If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
2 John 9–11. “Beware of false prophets,[243] which come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall
know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth
evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every
tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire.” Matt. 7:15–19. “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father
also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not,
and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For
with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you
again. And he spake a parable unto them; Can the blind lead the blind?
shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his
master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” Luke
6:36–40. “He that overcometh the world, shall inherit all things; all
things are in God, and God works all in all.” 1 John 5:4.
[243] A person can have a Pharisaical holiness, without the Spirit
and righteousness of Christ.
Therefore, my dear brethren, “Let your conversation be as it becometh
the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be
absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel; and in
nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident
token of perdition, but to you of salvation.... For unto you it is
given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to
suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and
now hear to be in me.”[244] Philip. 1:27–30.
[244] The nature of God is made manifest in his children, who love
him in godly works.
“Therefore, my most beloved brethren, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened unto you: but rejoice,[245] inasmuch as ye are partakers of
Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may
be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name
of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth
upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is
glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or
as an evil doer, or as a busy-body in other men’s matters. Yet if any
suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God
on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the
house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of
them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be
saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore, 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
4:12–19.
[245] It is a joy to the godly, when they see men living in
accordance with the word of God.
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live
with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him,
he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he
cannot deny himself.”[246] 2 Tim. 2:11–13.
[246] What great boldness, through the power of God!
Therefore, my dear brethren, let us “walk circumspectly, not as fools,
but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore
be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Eph.
5:15–17.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are
Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal.
5:19–24. Yea, say the wise of this world, the heretics do not believe
that God is in the sacrament. Indeed, they are right in not believing
it, for Paul says: “He dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither
is worshiped with men’s hands.” Acts 17:24,25. “I give thee charge in
the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus,
who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep
this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of
our Lord Jesus Christ ... the blessed and only Potentate, the King
of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in
the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor
can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.”[247] 1 Tim.
6:13–16.
[247] All his delight is in speaking of God, and in strengthening men
in that which is good.
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son ... he hath
declared him.” John 1:18. Stephen said: “I see the heavens opened,
and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56.
“At the appearing of Jesus Christ; whom having not seen, ye love; in
whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even
the salvation of your souls.” 1 Pet. 1:7–9. I say that it is great
presumption for men to undertake to say that they handle God. For John,
concerning whom the Lord himself declared, that a greater was not born
of women, than John the Baptist, did not consider himself worthy to
unloose the latchet of his shoes.[248]
[248] All the pious constantly lament the vain boasting and unbelief
of the world.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto
them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto
salvation. But this is my belief: That to those who through faith in
Christ Jesus are dead from the rudiments of the world (Col. 2:20), and
have crucified the flesh with its evil affections and lusts (Galatians
5:24). Christ left the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of his death, that
they should show the Lord’s death till he come (1 Cor. 11:25,26),
as Paul says: “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup
of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of
Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body
of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are
all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not
they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I
then? that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice
to idols is anything? But I say, that the things which the gentiles
sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not
that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of
the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s
table, and of the table of devils.”[249] 1 Cor. 10:15–21.
[249] He that gives heed to the word of God will gather wisdom.
End of these letters, translated and finished the 12th of January A. D.
1614.
RICHST HEYNES, A. D. 1547.
About the year 1547, there was a godfearing woman, whose name was
Richst Heynes (so named after her husband, according to the custom
of the country), and who lived in the Ilst, not far from Sneeck, in
Friesland. She also bowed her shoulders under the easy yoke of the
Lord Jesus, hearing and following his blessed voice, avoiding that of
strangers opposed to him. The enemies of God perceiving this, very
speedily sought to hinder and stop it; to which end, they sent forth
tyrannical servants, who came as ravening wolves, and apprehended
this defenseless sheep. Her husband perceiving it, escaped with great
peril of life. She was very roughly handled, and cruelly bound,
without the least mercy or compassion, though she was pregnant, and
very near the time of her delivery, so that the midwife had already
been with her. But notwithstanding all this, they took her with them,
though her little children cried and wept piteously. They brought her
to Leeuwaerden in prison, where after three weeks imprisonment, she
gave birth to a son. The child, to the great astonishment of all who
beheld it, very plainly showed on his arms the marks which his mother
had received from the cruel fetters. They afterwards tortured her so
cruelly, that she could not lay her hands upon her head. Thus she was
maltreated with inhuman tortures, mainly for the reason that she would
not betray her brethren, for these wolves were as yet by no means
satisfied, but thirsted greatly after more innocent blood. The faithful
God, however, who is a fortress in time of need, and a shield to all
them that trust in him, guarded her lips, so that none were betrayed by
her. Hence, as nothing could move her to separate from Christ, she was
sentenced at said place, thrust into a bag, like an irrational brute,
and cast into the water and drowned. All this she as an innocent lamb
of Jesus Christ patiently and steadfastly endured for the name of the
Lord, remaining faithful unto death; hence she is worthy ultimately to
receive the crown of everlasting life from God, and to enjoy it forever
and ever.
CLAES LECKS, A. D. 1548.
Claes Leeks, a native of Ostende, was summoned to the town-house, in
the year 1548, on account of certain reports that were circulating
about him. Having arrived there, he was examined respecting his faith,
and, making a good confession, he was committed to prison. He was
a man of very good reputation, on account of the many alms which he
gave to the poor. When he was examined, he renounced the papistic,
Roman church, and also infant baptism, which he refuted with the holy
Scriptures. Thereupon, as he steadfastly adhered to his faith in God,
he was sentenced to be strangled and burned. As he was being led out
to death, the priest presented the crucifix to him to kiss it, which
he refused to do. The priest also said to the people: “Pray for this
deceiver; for he is going from this fire into the eternal fire.” To
this he simply replied: “This is what you say, but I have a better
assurance.” Thus he offered up his sacrifice as a true child of God.
ELIZABETH, A. D. 1549.
Elizabeth was apprehended on the 15th of January, 1549. When those who
had come to apprehend her entered the house in which she lived, they
found a Latin Testament. Having secured Elizabeth, they said: “We have
got the right man; we have now the teacheress;” adding: “Where is your
husband, Menno Simon, the teacher?”
They then brought her to the town-house. The following day two beadles
took her between them to prison.
She was then arraigned before the council, and asked upon oath, whether
she had a husband.
Elizabeth answered: “We ought not to swear, but our words should be
Yea, yea, and Nay, nay; I have no husband.”
_Lords_: “We say that you are a teacher, and that you seduce many. We
have been told this, and we want to know who your friends are.”
_Elizabeth_: “My God has commanded me to love my Lord and my God, and
to honor my parents; hence I will not tell you who my parents are; for
what I suffer for the name of Christ is a reproach to my friends.”
_Lords_: “We will let you alone in regard to this, but we want to know
whom you have taught.”
_Elizabeth_: “Oh no, my lords, let me in peace with this, but
interrogate me concerning my faith, which I will gladly tell you.”
_Lords_: “We shall make you so afraid, that you will tell us.”
_Elizabeth_: “I hope through the grace of God, that he will keep my
tongue, so that I shall not become a traitoress, and deliver my brother
into death.”
_Lords_: “What persons were present when you were baptized?”