a prisoner, has confessed, without torture and iron bonds, before the
count of Boussu, Knight of the order of the Golden Fleece, the lord of
Cruyningen, as commissaries from his Royal Majesty, and the court of
Holland; that he, the prisoner, after the tumult and uproar in this
city of Rotterdam had taken place, went to the city hall, to see what
was going on there, and that as he ascended the steps of the city hall,
a crutch was thrown at his neck, whereupon he picked it up, went with
it into the city hall, where the servants were still in the tower,
and threw it up from below at the servants; all of which are things
of bad example, and must not go uncorrected, but must be punished, as
a warning example unto others; therefore, the aforesaid court, after
mature deliberation, in the name of the King of Spain, of England, of
France, etc., as Count of Holland, Zeeland and Vriesland, has condemned
and does sentence by these presents, the aforesaid prisoner Jacob
Theunis, to appear in audience, and there to ask, with uncovered head,
on his knees, the forgiveness of the court, on behalf of his Royal
Majesty and justice, and to declare that he is sincerely sorry that
he threw the crutch at the servants, in the city hall: and that after
this is done, he is to be brought upon the scaffold erected in front of
the city hall of this city, and to remain standing there until after
the execution of the rioters. Done at Rotterdam by Sir Geraerdt van
Assendelft, Emskerk, etc., first President of the council, Guiljand
Zeegers, lord of Wassenhoven, etc., Knight, Sir Cornelis Zuys, Aernout
Sassebout, Cornelis van Weldam, Dominicus Boot, Damas van Drogendijk,
Quintijn Weytszoon, and Aernout Nicolai, Councilors of Holland, and
pronounced on the 21st of April, 1558, after Easter.
Whereas Avicenna Jans, born at Delft, at present a prisoner, has
confessed, without torture and iron bonds, before the count of
Boussu, Knight of the Golden Fleece, and the lord of Cruyningen, as
commissaries of his Royal Majesty and the court of Holland, that he,
the prisoner, at the time of the tumult and uproar which recently
occurred in this city of Rotterdam, stood at the house of Kors Goverts
Brouwer, and that after said uproar was almost over, he, intending to
go home, in his consternation went eastward, and again passed the house
of the aforesaid Kors, and having seen that the condemned and strangled
man, who had been cut down from the stake at which he had been
strangled, was brought to the house of the aforesaid Kors Goverts, he,
the prisoner also went into the house; and that, while the strangled
man was yet lying in the street near the door, and because some of the
other bystanders had said to him: “Take the man (meaning the strangled
man) further back,” he, the prisoner, also seized hold of him; and that
after the strangled man had been lifted up and carried into the house,
he, since some had told him to see whether there was yet life in the
strangled man, tapped the soles of his feet, and afterwards, in the
evening, returned home from the aforesaid house--
Here the account in said book of criminal sentences abruptly ends; so
that it remains uncertain what was further done in the matter.
THOMAS VAN IMBROECK, THE 5TH OF MAY, IN THE YEAR 1558.
At Cologne, on the Rhine, a godfearing brother, named Thomas van
Imbroeck, a printer’s servant, was apprehended for the truth, in the
year 1557, and imprisoned in a tower. When afterwards examined in
regard to baptism and marriage, he met them with the word of God, in
such a manner that they desisted from examining him further and put him
into another tower. His wife wrote him a letter exhorting him to fight
valiantly, and to adhere firmly to the truth. For these comforting
words he affectionately thanked her, and showed by many Scriptures
that the righteous have always suffered, and that he stood with a good
conscience void of offense before God, to follow them, forsake wife,
children, and all visible things, and take up the cross of Christ, and
follow him, for which he prayed God that he might be found worthy.
Afterwards there came to him two priests, who disputed with him
concerning infant baptism; but they disagreed among themselves; for the
one would have that the infants that died unbaptized were damned, while
the other admitted that they were saved. They insisted that he should
become converted. But he said: “That which I maintain, the Scriptures
have taught me, and if any one will teach me a better way from the
Scriptures, I will gladly follow him.” They said: “You despise our
church, and refuse to be taught by us.” He replied: “That I contemn
your church and do not come under your communion, is for the reason
that you do not keep your church pure; for perjurers, whoremongers,
and the like are pious brethren among you.” They also asked him why
he did not have his children baptized. He answered: “The Scriptures
teach no infant baptism, and those that are to be baptized according
to the word of God, must first believe.” Then they said that he was
a heretic, but were not able to prove it. He was then brought to the
rack, where he was sharply examined, but not tortured, though the
executioner had everything ready for it; for the lords were not agreed
among themselves. This happened three different times. After this he
was brought into the house of the count, who would gladly have set him
at liberty had he not so greatly feared the imperial decree and the
displeasure of the bishop. Thomas, however, was bold, of good cheer,
and ready to lay down his life for the name of Christ, and to adhere
so firmly to the truth and the love of God, that neither fire, water,
sword, nor any other thing should move him therefrom. When they took
him away from the house of the count, he suffered much temptation all
night from the count’s people and others, who undertook to teach and
instruct him, but all in vain; for they were such as were themselves
not instructed or taught of God.
Finally he was brought before the high court, where he was condemned
to death, in presence of the count, who then; for the first time,
pronounced judgment, staining his staff with Christian blood. Thus he
was beheaded, as a pious witness of Jesus Christ, for his steadfast
continuance in the faith, on the 5th day of March, 1558, being
twenty-five years old.
From his prison he wrote letters to his wife and brethren, and also a
confession of his faith regarding baptism, of which a special book has
been published, all of which is very instructive and comforting for
the godfearing, as you shall see by the following part, which is here
presented to you.
_A letter by Thomas van Imbroeck, written from prison to his wife and
brethren._
Much grace and peace from God the heavenly Father, who is a true
Father; for he shows his fatherly faithfulness to all his children,
according to his promise, when he says: I will be a Father unto them,
and they shall be my sons and daughters. May this Father so speak to
your hearts, that you may believe me with a good conscience, that you
are his children, and it will not fail you.
This grace I wish you, my dear wife, and also the wife of my Lord (you
understand whom I mean), through the Author and Finisher of life,
Jesus, to whom alone we must take refuge, that we may become conformed
to him in this world, according to the words of the prophet, who says:
“He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no
beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our
faces from him.” Is. 53:23.
But what says the Scripture: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted
him, and given him a name which is above every name ... and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Father.”
Hence I deem it necessary for us, O wife of the Lord, to reflect on
this; for though we are now the reproach of all men, yea, as the filth
and offscouring of every one, so that they say: “Away with him, for he
is not fit to live;” they shall in due time confess and say: “Behold,
how are they now numbered among the children of God, and their lot is
among the saints. We accounted their life madness, and their end to be
without honor.” Wis. 3:5,4. Now we sigh, but when he shall come for
whom we wait; then they shall sigh, and be distressed with great pain;
who shall be without hope; for their worm shall never die, and their
fire shall not be quenched.
Hence, there is a great difference between the pious and the ungodly;
for the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God, and there shall
no torment touch them, for their hope is full of immortality. Wis.
3:1,4.
This, my brethren, we are to consider well; for if we look back, we
still look upon deadly or mortal things, and there cannot apply to us
the comforting words of Paul, where he says: “Our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen.” 2 Cor. 4:17,18.
Now I know that wife and children are visible, and though they are dear
to me, yet I will count them but dung, and say: “Henceforth know I no
man after the flesh; but the knowledge of the spirit abideth forever.”
Philip. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:16. And thus I hope to know you all when we
shall appear together in the eternal joy, which is prepared from the
beginning for them that are not ashamed of Christ; but this is not to
be ashamed, when we, as malefactors, go without the gate, for Christ’s
sake, and help him bear his reproach, without the camp. Heb. 12:13.
Hence I desire that the rich seek no excuse, and say: “Yea, I cannot
forsake everything, it would create great wonderment and sensation
before the world, if I should so completely forsake my rank. Yea, they
should imagine that they were doing too much in this. Ah no! he who is
over all, God blessed forever, humbled himself much more than this;
for he was King over all, and Lord of the whole world, even as David
in spirit calls him Lord: he came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister unto all; for he became the servant of us all, that he might
make us free. Rom. 9:5; Philip. 2:7; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; Matt.
20:28; John 8:36.
If we therefore have received freedom through him, let us be grateful,
and not cast it from us; for it has a great reward, though some say we
ought not to serve God for the reward. This view, I say, is not right;
for I say with Paul: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we
are of all men most miserable.” 1 Cor 15:19.
Yet, let no one think, that he shall be justified and saved by his good
works alone; for this we must wholly ascribe to the grace of God, and
to the merits and innocently shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
works the good in us.
Therefore, my dear brethren, beware of such spirits; for they would
experience greater perfection, but fail in those things which are
least. Adhere to the doctrine you have learned. One thing I desire and
request: that the simple may be better and more thoroughly instructed,
lest your labor be burned in the fire; for the scripture says not in
vain: “In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to
succor them that are tempted; for experience brings perfect wisdom,
even as Paul says: Blessed be ... 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; yea, through
him, I say, we shall gain the victory; for he is our life, and to die
is gain for us, since he says: “Though you were dead, yet shall you
live.” Heb. 2:18; 2 Cor. 1:3–5; John 11:25; 2 Tim. 2:11.
Hence it is good to die with Christ; for he was raised up by the glory
of his Father, and, hence, will draw unto him all that the Father
has given him. Rom. 6:4; John 12:32. Therefore, my brethren, and my
dear wife, let us be valiant; for the apostle says: “My strength is
made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9. Hence I deem it good, to be
in weakness, (mark) if it be followed by being in reproach, distress,
persecution, and fear for Christ’s sake.
Yea, if the Lord should count me worthy to testify with my blood to his
name, how greatly would I thank him, for I hope not only to bear these
bonds with patience, but also to die for Christ’s sake, that I may
finish my course with joy; for I would rather be with the Lord, than
live again in this abominable, wicked world; however, his divine will
be done. Amen.
And if anything should be defective yet in my life, that I may not have
been diligent enough (which I confess), may the Lord blot it out and
purge it, through the fire of his love and mercy, in the blood of Jesus
Christ through which everything must be purified, and purged. 1 John
1:7.
Dear brethren, I desire that you will all pray to God for me, that he
will keep us, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
_Another letter by Thomas van Imbroeck, written in prison to his wife._
May grace, peace and mercy from God the heavenly Father, and the pure
love of his Son Jesus Christ, be perfect in your heart, my dear wife,
that you may thereby be drawn from all visible things to the invisible
and eternal, through the help and co-operation of his Holy Spirit, who
is the Governor and Guide of the children of God; to him be glory and
praise forever and ever, Amen.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for his great
and unspeakable grace, which he has imparted to us through his gracious
goodness, and has drawn us into the kingdom of his Beloved Son, through
whom we have received redemption from all our sins, in his blood. Eph.
1:3.
Hence it is right and just that we ought not to cease constantly to
serve him with great humility as grateful and obedient children,
and not disesteem the grace which has been given us, but diligently
consider why and for what purpose it has been given us, namely, that
we should use it and get gain by it, that we may hear the sweet voice
which says: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.”
Matt. 25:21.
Be admonished by this, that the merchant sold all that he had, and
bought the field in which lay the treasure. Matt. 13:44. Thus you
should also think now, that you willingly give your husband to the
Lord, like Jephtha, who offered up his daughter to the Lord; or
remember also Abraham, the pious father of all the faithful, who did
not become weak in faith, but willingly delivered up his son Isaac to
show obedience to the mighty God, who gives life and breath to all men,
Judg. 11:39; Heb. 11:17.
Remember also patient Job, who in his trial with all meekness said:
“Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return
thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the
name of the Lord.” Job 1:21.
O, James may well say: “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have
seen the end of the Lord.” Jas. 5:11. And also Paul says: “Consider him
that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.” Heb. 12:3
He knew no sin; but we must confess that we deserve more punishment
than we suffer, though the same is profitable, as is written that he
chastises us for our benefit, and that all things work together for
good to us. Rom. 8:28.
Hence I desire of you, my dear friend, that you be of good cheer in the
Lord, and do not grieve, for I have well perceived that you have lost
flesh and become emaciated. Rejoice with me, and thank God that we are
not bastards, but that he receives us as a Father, yea, as children and
fellow heirs of his kingdom, who here on earth receive like reward with
his Son, and this for the sake of his testimony.
Why should we not suffer the evil, seeing we have received the good
from him? However, if we would sorrow, we have cause enough for it,
for godly sorrow I mean; for we may with truth lament, that we are
still very unfit; even as you write me, that you cannot pray well,
even as I also, alas! am imperfect. Jas. 4:3. But the reason of it,
in my opinion, is this, that we are not sufficiently displeased with
ourselves, and also, that we do not perceive the thorns that are in our
flesh.
May the Lord have compassion upon us, and open the eyes of our
understanding, so that we may hate sin, even as God himself hates it;
for then he takes pleasure in us, even as also holy David when he says:
“Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me, for my
bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed; but thou, O Lord, how
long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’
sake. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim;
I water my couch with my tears.” Ps. 6:2–4,6.
But where are the tears which we have shed, my dear wife, over our past
sins, when our souls were wounded even unto death, yea, sunk in hell?
True, we sing: “I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever
before me:” but it were far better for us, to lament from deep distress
of heart, and to pray with a broken, contrite and fervent heart, if we
experience the same, now that tribulation and suffering happen to us in
the flesh.
Thus also Esther learned to pray, where she says: “O my Lord, thou
only art our King: help me, desolate woman, which have no helper but
thee; deliver us and help me; for thou knowest all things; O Lord, thou
knowest that I hate the glory of the unrighteous, and abhor the bed
of the uncircumcised, and that I abhor the sign of my high estate.” 2
Esther 14:3,15.
We must observe here that the pious woman had an aversion for the
costly apparel, and hated it more than she loved it. Do you also beware
of it, and reprove it sharply in those whom you see given to it: for it
proceeds not from a humble heart. The proverb says: “Don’t put moths
into the fur;” neither must we give the flesh occasion for sin, since
it is, alas! evil enough without that. Gal. 5:13.
Therefore, my dear sister, do not respect persons; for the faith of
Jesus does not suffer respect of persons (Deut. 1:17; Jas. 2:1); but
reprove that which is evil with all kindness and humility, out of love,
and show yourself in all things a pattern of good works and sobriety to
all women, with piety and silence; for he that bridles not his tongue,
deceives his own heart, and his religion is vain.
Hence I affectionately exhort you, while you have time now, that you
will use all diligence; for it is not enough, that we confess the name
of the Lord with the mouth in prison, but we must first demonstrate
our confession in power; for we know that he who transgresses out of
prison, sins just as much as he that sins in prison, though through
weakness, while the other, sins from wantonness.
Therefore take heed to yourselves, and be always prepared; for we know
not the hour. Watch therefore, and keep your garments clean, lest
you walk naked, and your shame become manifest. Be always ready for
conflict; for David says; “Many are the afflictions of the righteous:
but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones:
not one of them is broken.” Ps. 34:19,20. “He saveth the poor from
the sword of the ungodly, and the needy from the hand of the mighty.”
Job 5:15. Job further says: “Happy is the man whom God correcteth:
therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: for he
maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.”
5:17,18.
Paul also says, that he wants to know Christ, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death; if by any means (he says) I might attain
unto the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:10,11. Hence we must
mourn with him, that we may also rejoice with him. Does not Christ say:
“Blessed are they that mourn and lament; for they shall be comforted;
yea, the tears shall be wiped away.” Matt. 5:4. And the Lord does not
forsake the widow that is oppressed, as it is written: “He hears the
prayer of the distressed and oppressed, and he does not despise the
prayer of the widows, if they pour it out before him with lamentation
and sighing; yea, their tears ascend to heaven, and the Lord will hear
them.” Sir. 35:24.
Therefore let us be resigned, and say within ourselves: O Lord,
Almighty King, all things are in thy power; if it is thy will to
restore unto me my husband, there is none that can resist thy will.
Thou hast made heaven and earth, and all that is contained in the
circuit of heaven. Thou art Lord of all things. Thou preservest us
as the apple of thine eye, and hast said through the mouth of David,
that we shall cast our burden upon thee; for thou wilt sustain us,
and never suffer the righteous to be moved. Ps. 55:22. Then will your
prayer be fulfilled, as you write me, that you cannot pray otherwise
than only: Lord, thy will be done. And I wish to God for you, that
this may be found in you in truth, and not as Israel cried to the
Lord, when they drew near him with their mouth, and magnified him with
their tongues; but their heart was not right with him, and they were
not found faithful in his covenant. Is. 29:13. But they that keep his
commandment, shall pray, and whatsoever they shall ask (in accordance
with his will) shall be granted unto them. John 15:16.
Hence be of good courage, and bring up your children in good manners,
and in the fear of God, that their natural propensities may be
mortified; and take an example from yourself, how you bring them up in
their weakness, with great labor and trouble, and give the breast to
them to whom the Lord has commanded milk to be given.
You are also to give them the rod, according to the command of the
Lord, when they transgress and are obstinate: for this is also food for
the soul, and drives out the folly which is bound up in their hearts.
Prov. 23:13,14. Remember the words of Sirach, where he says (Sir.
7:26): “Shew not thyself cheerful to thy daughter, nor laugh with her,
lest she become bold against thee, and thou have to bear shame on her
account in the end. But teach her the law of our God, that she may
put her hope in the Almighty and Most High, and may never forget the
benefits bestowed upon us through Christ.
I also pray you, that they, as far as possible, be kept away from
intractable children; do not allow them to run about in the streets,
but keep them with you as much as possible, that you may have joy and
sorrow with them; and forget not the kind of widow mentioned by Paul in
his letter to Timothy (1 Tim. 5:4); but place your hope firmly in the
Lord, and wait for him with patience.
Now I understand that you would gladly die; but when I was still with
you, and we lived together in peace, then life was no cross for you.
Remember therefore now what I often told you, namely, that it is good
for the believer to have tribulation and distress, that we may learn to
say with Paul: “We groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with
our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall
not be found naked. For we that are in this body, are burdened, and
willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the
Lord, than to walk in his absence in much affliction.” 2 Cor. 5:2.
Alas! friend, how few there are that say this; I mean among those who
enjoy peace and rest.
Therefore thank the Lord, that he has given this grace, and perhaps
removed me from your sight for the best; for he is a jealous God; he
will be loved the most, and have sole possession of the human heart.
And you have also asked him to remove from your path everything that
might be in the way of your salvation. Hence think that he is proving
us both, and let us willingly take the yoke upon us, and count it all
joy. Jas. 1:2. For what are the sufferings of this world? Nothing but
a dream, as David says: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of
Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with
laughter.” Psalm 126:1.
Thus it is with us as with a woman in travail; when the child is
brought forth, she would not surrender it, because of the former pain.
So also we, when we have been delivered from the child, we would not
take the whole world for it.
Hence take good heed, that you be not startled or frightened, that
the child may be born in due time. Take food and nourishment from the
husband Christ, that you may have strength for labor; and neglect not
to receive the true food, the word of God. Remember Israel, who were
satiated with bread from heaven. May the Lord give you a sound soul,
and a fervent stomach of love, so that the food may be well digested.
Amen.
May the grace of the Lord be increased unto you, my dear wife. Be
always subject to the godfearing, and associate with the pious, and
pray God to keep me in the truth; for truth abides and is strong
forever; it lives, and will forever prevail.
Greet all the saints with the kiss of love, and all who love the Lord
Jesus, and tell them to be kind; for God is the Hero and Captain, who
so faithfully succors in time of need. He is like a shower upon the
parched earth in a dry summer. Thus he refreshes the afflicted souls,
that thirst for him; he is a shadow from the heat of the sun. Matt.
11:28; Is. 55:1; 25:4.
Tell the brethren to take care of the novices, and to pray earnestly
for me. I will also pray for them, as much as is in my power. Remember
my bonds. The Lord be with your spirit. Amen.
Your dear husband, _Thomas van Imbroeck_, imprisoned for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.