Protector, and plant a valiant spirit into your heart, like the
Maccabean mother with her seven sons. 2 Macc. 7. Pray the holy Lord
for wisdom and understanding, and in all your concerns pray God with
supplication in the Spirit, that you may bring up all our olive plants
(Ps. 128:3) to his honor and the magnifying of his holy name, so that
they may not be required at your hands. So far you have done your best
with admonishing and chastising; keep them thus with the Lord’s help.
Always submit yourself to the elders of the church; for they watch
for your souls [as they that must give account,] that they may do it
with joy. Heb. 13:17. And if you need counsel or help in any matter,
consult with the elders, as we have hitherto done. Use hospitality and
forget not to communicate. 1 Peter 4:9; Heb. 13:16. Think often of
the poor, afflicted widow (Matthew 12:42,43), who threw but two mites
into the treasury;--Verily, said Christ, she hath cast more in, than
they all--that you may be found a true widow before the Lord, who has
washed the saints’ feet, relieved the afflicted, brought up children in
the fear of God, and diligently followed every good work. 1 Tim. 5:10.
Pray the Lord diligently to rule you with his divine Spirit, since he
is the true Comforter of all the children of God; that you may live
your widowhood to his praise and honor, as long as it is his pleasure.
I sincerely thank you people much for the love you have shown me in the
kind exhortation you have sent me. I have also very earnestly prayed
the Lord for you, and hope to do so as long as I shall be in this
temporal life. Remember me also in your prayers, until I have put off
this mortal clothing. 2 Esdras 2:45.
Herewith I commend you people to Almighty God, and to the word of his
grace, and take leave forever until at the resurrection of the just.
Then, I trust, we shall meet in one fold. Then shall we hear the sweet
voice of our Bridegroom: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt.
25:34. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection;
on such the second death hath no power. But we shall be priests of God
and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years; for Christ is
the resurrection and the life, and we must be partakers of him, if we
are to hear that voice. Rev. 20:6; Rom. 8:11.
Salute me the friends much in the Lord, especially those of Meenen,
and Claes Moykaert and Janneken his wife; and greet Victor Martens--I
saw him at Dordrecht, when I lay in the den of lions--and greet all
that fear the Lord, and exhort them to diligence, that we may all
meet together in the new Jerusalem. The God of peace be with you.
Philippians 4:9. Greet your sister much and all that are with her.
_Written by me, Joris Wippe, your husband and brother in the Lord, in
bonds at the Hague, in Holland._
THE THIRD LETTER OF JORIS WIPPE, TO HIS CHILDREN, WHEN HE WAS RETURNED
FROM THE HAGUE TO DORDRECHT.
My dearly beloved and obedient children, I wish you an honorable,
virtuous and godly life in the fear of God, all the days of your life,
to the praise of the Father, and the salvation of your souls, as an
affectionate greeting. Amen.
My most beloved sons, all three of you, you are well aware now, I
trust, that I am in bonds here for the testimony of Christ our Savior,
to the praise of his Almighty Father, and wait with patience daily,
when it pleases him, to offer up my body and soul to the magnifying of
his holy name. I entreat you, my dear sons, with aged Tobias, that you
will honor your poor bereaved mother, who is deprived of everything
for the name of the Lord, all the days of your life; for she brought
you forth with great suffering and pain, which I well know, and has
with great care and diligence helped to bring you so far with the
help of the Lord. Tob. 4:3. I have also been your protector hitherto,
with great care and diligence to bring you up in the fear of God, to
his honor. Now it is the will of the Lord, that we must part; but let
it not grieve you. For if you pursue virtue, and walk in the fear of
God, and keep his commandments all the days of your life, we shall
hereafter meet in one fold (John 10:16) with all God’s chosen children,
at the resurrection of the just. And I admonish you with Tobias, that
you will fear God all the days of your life, never consent to sin,
nor transgress God’s commandments; and that you will eat your bread
with the hungry, and give alms of that which the Lord gives you. In
short, I give you the same testament which Tobias gave his son; you
are able to read. I pray that you will often read it. And all that
our holy fathers commanded their children, I also leave unto you; may
you diligently observe it. And I now bless you all my obedient, most
dearly beloved children, with that God with whom Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob and all God’s chosen friends, blessed their children. Further, I
admonish you Joos, as my eldest son, that you and Hansken, my second
son, will be the protectors of your poor mother, in the fear of God,
all the days of your life. And I also charge you, Barbertgen, my dear
daughter, to be obedient to your mother, and to help care for all your
little sisters, and for Pierken. Learn also to read, and be diligent in
every good work, that you may spend your life in holiness and in all
the fear of God, like Sarah, the wife of young Tobias (Tobit 3:15), and
associate not with the wanton and frivolous daughters of this world,
whose end will be destruction; but be sober, honorable and just in all
your dealings, so that you may be prudent, being adorned with every
virtue, and that when Christ our Bridegroom comes you may be ready with
the five wise virgins, to enter with the Bridegroom into the kingdom
of his Father. And now I charge you, Joos and Hansken, that together
with Barbertgen, your obedient sister, you will care for your three
little sisters, and for Pierken, and teach them to read and to work,
so that they may grow up in all righteousness, to the honor of God and
the salvation of their souls. Be diligent to work with your hands that
which is honorable, remembering the words of the apostle: “It is more
blessed to give than to receive;” so that you may not be burdensome to
any through idleness. Eph. 4:28; Acts 20:35. Remain with your mother as
long as it please the Lord, and in all things show yourselves a pattern
of good works. Tit. 2:7. But if ye be servants, I exhort you, to be
obedient to your lord or master, and to please them in all things,
not answering again, not purloining, but showing good fidelity in
all things; that you may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all
things. For the grace of God [that bringeth salvation] hath appeared
to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works. Tit. 2:9–14. I admonish you all, my dear
children, that you will do this; and comfort your mother, and often,
when you have time, read to her a chapter or two. And spend the time
which God gives you, in all sobriety and righteousness, with prayer
and supplication to God, that he would keep you from the evil. Have no
fellowship with the children of this world, that you may not become
partakers of their evil deeds; always walk with wise men, and you shall
become wise, namely, strong and very bold, so that you may eschew evil.
Do all things according to the law of God, and depart neither to the
right nor to the left; neither add nor take away therefrom, so that
you may walk wisely whithersoever you go. Be not terrified; for the
Lord your God is with you wherever you go, and will be your Protector.
Always speak the truth, and let not your mouth become accustomed to
lying, for the mouth that belieth, slayeth the soul; but when you
speak, speak the word of God, and the Lord your God will bring you from
righteousness to righteousness; for nothing is hid before him; his eyes
are as a flame of fire. Zech. 8:16; Lev. 19:11; Rev. 1:14.
Herewith I take leave from you forever, my dear children, until at
the resurrection, and commend you all to Almighty God and to the word
of his grace. Amen. And may God’s Spirit ever be present with you, to
comfort and strengthen you in all righteousness.
_Written by me, Joris Wippe, your father, imprisoned at Dordrecht, in
the Vuylgate, for the testimony of Jesus Christ._
HANS SMIT, HENDRICK ADAMS, HANS BECK, MATTHIJS SMIT, DILEMAN SNIJDER,
AND SEVEN OTHERS, A. D. 1558.
In the year 1558, brother Hans Smit, a minister of the word of God,
was sent forth by the church to seek and gather those that were
eager for the truth. Acts 13:3. When he therefore, being divinely
called, undertook to travel through the Netherlands, he, together
with five brethren and six sisters, was apprehended in the city of
Aix-la-Chapelle, on the ninth of January. While they were assembled
there in a house, to speak of the word of God, and were engaged in
prayer, many servants and children of Pilate came there in the night
through treachery, with spears, halberds, and bare swords, and well
provided with ropes and bonds, and surrounded the house, and bound and
apprehended these children of God. They even took with them a mother
with her infant that lay in the cradle. But the prisoners were valiant
and comforted one another, to be undismayed, since they were imprisoned
for the truth of God; and being thus of good cheer, they began to
sing for joy. They were very soon separately confined, in which the
sisters rejoiced, and sang, so that the people were astonished. In
the morning they were brought before the Judge, who talked with each
separately, and then remanded them to prison, when he perceived their
steadfastness. However, the next day the minister was again summoned
before the lords, that he should tell them, how many he had baptized,
who they were and where the church held their meetings. But he told
them, that they should know that he would rather lose his life (John
15:13) than by telling this become a traitor, whereupon he was tortured
and racked for about a quarter of an hour, to which he willingly
submitted, himself taking off his clothes, and going to the rack. When
they could accomplish nothing by it, they went away, but soon returned,
and said: “You must tell us what we have asked you, or we shall torture
you so as to rack your limbs asunder.” They also questioned him with
regard to infant baptism. He replied that infant baptism was a human
institution, and that as such he regarded it, and not as the true
Christian baptism.
They also asked him what he thought of the sacrament. He replied: “I
think much of it; but that which the priests use is not at all the true
supper of Christ, but a piece of idolatry.”
Thereupon they bound him hand and foot, and tied to his feet a large
stone weighing little less than a hundred pounds, and thus drew him
up, so that the ring on the stone broke, and the stone remained on the
ground. But they took a rope, fastened it to the stone, in place of the
broken ring, and hung the stone to his foot, and left him suspended
thus for some time; however, they could not accomplish their purpose.
Hence they let him down, and put him in prison until Sunday morning,
when the lords came from the city with seven priests, who asked him
concerning his calling; whereupon he said that he had not put himself
into the ministry, but God and his Spirit in his church: for as God
sent his Son, and the Son the apostles into all the world, so he
still sends his ministers through his Spirit, that they should first
preach the word of God, and then baptize such as hear, understand and
believe it, but not young infants. They also asked him concerning the
magistracy, whether he regarded it as Christian or not. He replied
that in the first place he regarded them as ministers of God, but
that they were deceived and wrongly taught by the priests, and not
incorporated into the Christian church. They also inquired of him the
origin of the magistracy. He replied that office and power are of God.
They then asked him, whether they were Christians. He answered that if
they denied and forsook themselves, took up the cross, abandoned their
tyranny and pomp, and followed Christ, they could be Christians, not
otherwise. They also interrogated him with regard to swearing. He said
that Christ had forbidden it. And much more, which it would take too
long to write.
Finally they asked him concerning the incarnation of Christ. He said
that he believed that Christ was true God and true man, sin alone
excepted. At last they told him, that if he would renounce his baptism,
and confess that he had erred, they would show him favor. But he
replied that he had taught the pure truth, so he would adhere to it.
Thereupon they said that he was in their city, and that he could not
do so there; and that if they did not punish this, the King or the
new Emperor should punish them on their bodies; thus they defended
themselves like Pilate. But the brother said that it would go hard
with them for this; for though God forgave every sin, yet he should
judge the innocent blood, and they should not think that they should
escape punishment, if they killed him, since the matter should come
before Christ, who should judge it, and take care of it, at his day.
After this they put him back into prison, where they left him until
Monday evening, when the Judge came again, with several others, and
also a monk, to dispute with him. But they did not accomplish much,
for he put the monk to utter confusion, so that the latter was glad
to get away. Many other monks and priests were sent yet, to dispute
with him; but they were all put to shame and derision, and were not
able to cause this pious man to apostatize. Shortly after they were
brought forth again and examined; but God continually gave them bold
utterance, and wisdom, so that they could find no fault, or cause of
death in him, save only that they did not sufficiently esteem the
Emperor. At one time they brought to brother Henderick alone a subtle
serpent and blasphemer, and said: “You don’t want any ecclesiastics
(monks and priests); hence we have brought to you a learned layman, to
instruct you.” But Henderick said that he did not want to be instructed
by him, unless he were sufficiently instructed by God and his word,
since he did not want to seek life from the dead. This learned man
then wanted to prove infant baptism, asserting that the apostles had
ordained it. But Henderick replied and spoke to him in such a manner
that he had to confess openly, that no infants were baptized in the
days of the apostles, and that they had no faith during their infancy.
This, Henry wrote upon the table with a piece of chalk, and called
upon the obstinate lords to bear witness to it, and also how he had
been silenced. He further said: “Thus will all your learned men be
confounded before the word of the Lord.”
Several of the lords said that if these should be put to death, they
should leave home. Once the brethren and sisters were all twelve left
together from four o’clock in the morning until ten in the evening.
They were joyful and of good cheer, and conversed with one another from
the word of God, and began to pray and praise God.
Brother Hans, as the minister, led them in prayer, as loud as he could,
so that the people ran together and listened. But when the lords
heard of this, they sent the Bailiff thither, who asked them why they
had made such a loud noise. They replied that they had been praying;
however, they had concluded just before he came. Brother Matthias said:
“We will call upon God whether anybody opposes or not.” In the evening
about ten o’clock they were separated again, and led away. On their
way through the city, they joyfully sang, and made known their faith.
Some of the councilors were blood-thirsty, and desired to put them to
death; but others were opposed to it; for they felt persuaded, and
confessed, that they were innocent. The executioner came at least five
times, expecting to execute them, but his intention was frustrated each
time. They intended to execute the minister and brother Henderick (who
had defended themselves and contradicted the most) first, if perhaps
the others might be deterred thereby. When the minister heard that he
was to die, he commenced to sing joyfully and thanked God for it, and
earnestly besought him to count him acceptable.
The 23d of August was the day fixed for the execution of the minister,
Hans, and brother Henderick. They were brought before the court into
the vault near the pillory. Much people flocked together, also some
who were their friends, and had sent them food and drink. They went
smilingly through the people to the place of execution, and seeing the
great concourse of people coming from every direction, the minister
said: “O what a beautiful feast-day we shall have, since so much people
are coming.” They were very joyful, and hoped to get into paradise the
same day, to their brethren and sisters that had preceded them, and
to all the pious, of whom he had known very many. Revelation 6:11.
There also came two monks, who sought to mislead them with false
doctrine. For a while the minister contradicted them, showing them
how deceitfully they dealt; but finally he refused to speak with them
any longer, and said: “I will adhere to the truth, and the hour of my
departure is at hand; I have something else to attend to now, than to
talk with you.” When the time had come that sentence was to be passed
upon them, the seven judges could not agree in the sentence, and sent
word to them, that they would send them another learned man to instruct
them, whom if they should hear, they would defer the matter for their
best; otherwise they would have to put them to death, though they did
not like to do it. But Hans and Henderick boldly said that they would
remain steadfast, and depart from the truth neither to the right nor
to the left, and that on their account they need not spare them or
delay any longer, but might pass sentence; but if they thereby sought
more accusation against them, they acquiesced in what it pleased the
Lord to do. The lords put their heads together, and dismissed the
people assembled. When the two men perceived that sentence was not
passed, they were sorry, since they had completely resigned themselves
to death, and thought that they had contended long enough against the
wiles of the serpent. Thus the multitude dispersed, each going to his
own, like people that had lost a battle. When evening came, they had to
go back to prison, which caused them sorrow, since they had hoped now
to seal the truth with their blood; but they had to wait for another
time. Their being taken back to prison, caused much thought among the
people; some said that God opposed the matter, and had frustrated it.
One of the councilors had firmly resolved that their execution should
take place at the end of eight days, and not be deferred any longer;
however, this also proved futile; for they remained in prison until in
autumn, and had to suffer and be tempted much yet; after which they
were condemned and executed.
Hans Smit, as the minister, was first executed. When being led through
the city, he sang joyfully; he did not speak much afterwards, but
went briskly to the place of execution, as a patient, dumb lamb.
There he was strangled at the stake with a rope, and then bound fast
with a chain, and singed with fire. Thus he offered his sacrifice, on
the 19th of October, A. D. 1558. Three days after, the others were
brought forth, and sentenced to death, namely, Henderick Adams and
his brother-in-law, Hans Beck. There was one among the councilors at
Aix-la-Chapelle, who was always violently opposed to the brethren,
and hence it happened on one occasion, when they were disputing with
Henderick, and the latter would not be moved, that this councilor
became angry, and said: “Away with them, away with them, to death and
the fire; for all is lost on them; no pardon should be offered them
any more,” etc. But brother Henderick said to him: “You will not live
to see my death;” which was verified, for he died three days before
Henderick, on the same day that the minister Hans Smit was executed.
When on his death-bed, and near his end, he fell into great despair,
plucked out his beard, and cried out most dreadfully, declaring that
he had judged many persons, and had certainly sinned therein, and that
God would punish him for his blood-thirstiness. He also said many other
things of a similar character. Ps. 55:23.
Now when brother Henderick Adams and the other brother were led to
death, the executioner bound his hands so tightly, that his fingers
turned black; but he lifted up his hands to God, praising him, that he
was counted worthy to suffer this. In the mean time the bonds on his
hands became loose. They were tied again, just as hard as before; but
it was of no avail; for when he lifted up his hands again, the bonds
fell off as before, which occurred several times, so that the Judge
became angry, and said to the executioner, that he should bind them
fast; but the executioner replied: “You can easily see that binding is
of no use here.” The last time Henderick flung the bond away among the
people, so that he was not bound any more, and said; “It is not God’s
will, that I should be bound.” He also said that such violence was
contrary to God, and continued to speak boldly unto the end. Thereupon
these two brethren, Henderick Adams and his brother-in-law were (like
previously the minister) strangled at the stake, with a rope, and then
bound to the stake with a chain, and singed with fire; which took place
on the 22d day of the month of October, A. D. 1558. A great number of
people were present on this occasion, as was also the case afterwards
when the brethren Matthijs Smit and Dileman Snijder were executed, on
the fourth of January, 1559. Thus all five valiantly and steadfastly
testified with their blood to the divine truth, though some of them had
not yet become united with the church.
The sixth brother that had been apprehended with the others, through
much disputation with the ungodly, apostatized from his faith; but
after he was released he sincerely bewailed his apostasy, earnestly
and truly repented, and again joined the church. The six sisters that
had been apprehended at the same time, were severely scourged with
rods, and then allowed to go their way, and thus returned joyful in the
Lord, and constant in faith, to their fellow-believers that were known
to them.
GOTTHARD OF NONENBERG AND PETER KRAMER, A. D. 1558.
Gotthard of Nonenberg and Peter Kramer were both of them faithful men,
who walked to edification among the brethren in the duchy of Berg,
where the truth of the gospel began to shine again at that time, and
very many came to the faith and knowledge of the truth. Thus these
two men were called and chosen ministers of the church and providers
for the poor [Deacons], which office they assumed, and for a time
faithfully discharged, and as they sought to live godly in Christ
Jesus, the consequence was that they had to suffer persecution, as also
appeared, since both were apprehended in one night, and brought to
Winnick. There the steward took them, to vent upon them his arrogance,
and to treat them with contumely. But they firmly resolved in their
hearts, to adhere to the truth.
They lay there in prison a long time, and had to endure many
temptations and conflicts in order to make them forsake the truth, in
which case they should be free to return to their wives and children;
and their lives should be spared. But the love which they had for
their Lord would not permit them to abandon the truth, and turn to the
doctrines of men. They much rather forsook their wives and children,
and their temporal possessions, yea, finally, even their lives, flesh
and blood, which they would rather give for a spoil, that they might
enjoy the crown, and that their names might be found in the book
of life. When the time for their trial had come, they were brought
before the learned, who employed many subtle stratagems against them.
But these men, with the divine help, repelled all their subtle and
insidious wiles undauntedly and fearlessly, and sought no other counsel
or way; but as Christ had gone before, so they endeavored to bear his
cross after him; whereupon they were sentenced to be executed with the
sword.