Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and in love. May he stablish
, strengthen and settle you who have to suffer for a little while for
Christ’s sake; and may he grant you, according to the riches of his
glory and power, to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and
that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, and you be rooted and
grounded in love, so that you may all be bound together with the
bond of love, and thus, through the uniting of the Holy Spirit, and
obedience to the Lord, according to the Gospel, be built up together
harmoniously a holy temple and city of God; this I wish you all who
love the Lord, for a cordial greeting, dear brethren and sisters in the
Lord.
Further, after all greeting, I hope to write a little again concerning
the disputation we had with our adversaries, though it is not very
much; for when we were apprehended, we resolved among ourselves, not to
dispute, unless we might all come together, which was also observed,
so that they should have nothing to lie behind our back, and that if
they should hear a word more from one than from another they might not
confuse the simple. On account of this they were much incensed, and
said that they all depended on me. They often came to dispute; but
we would not, unless we might all come together, and in the market
place. This angered them much, and they said: “Where was it ever seen
that a disputation was held in the market-place? you people want to
introduce new doctrines.” Finally, we consented that we would dispute
in prison, provided we might all come together; but they would not have
it otherwise than each separately, and this we would not do. Thus they
came twice or three times, and we had some conversation with them each
time, in order that they might not say that we refused to hear them.
Our conversation was about the three persons, and the incarnation. The
first question he put to me was whether I did not believe that if men
believed in Christ Jesus, and henceforth forsook all evil they would
be saved. I said: “Yes; all who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God, who died for us, and through this faith show obedience to the
Gospel, shall be saved.” “Well then,” said they, “if they believe
that children may be baptized, they will be saved, according to your
own words.” I said: “My lord, it seems to me, that you are like the
scribes; they sought to censure Christ by subtlety, and it appears to
me that you do the same.” Matt. 22:15. “Yes,” said he; “Christ knew
how to answer the scribes, and so will you, if you have the Spirit
of Christ.” I said: “If they show obedience to the Gospel, they will
not baptize children, nor cause them to be baptized; for it is not
instituted or commanded of God, to baptize children; but you people
have planted it, and whatever men have planted shall be rooted up of
God, and thus it will go with your infant baptism.” Matt. 15:13. He
forthwith said that the Anabaptists believe that Christ brought his
flesh from heaven. I said that it was a lie; “are you not ashamed (I
said) to sit here and lie in this manner in my presence?” He said:
“What you believe, I know not; but others believe thus.” I said that
it was a lie; “I have never heard,” I said, “of any that held such a
faith; yet I have had more intercourse with them than you have; are you
not ashamed to sit here and lie thus in my presence?” Then he became
very boastful; three or four other priests and the Bailiff were also
sitting there, and they said: “Jells, talk decently.” I said: “Then do
not lie so.” I spoke loudly, that my comrades should hear it.
He then asked: “What is your faith, then?” “I believe with all the
apostles, that he is the Son of God, as Peter confessed (Matt. 16:16;
John 20; 6:69), visible and invisible; that the Word by which all
things were made became flesh in Mary, through the power of the Most
High.” He asked whether the Word became flesh like Lot’s wife became a
pillar of salt, or the water, wine. I said: “No.” He asked: “How then?”
I said: “It became man, and it continued to be the Word; that is, the
Word which was invisible became visible; that which was impalpable
became palpable; that which was impassible became passible.” He said:
“Was the Word not God?” I replied: “It is God and man.” “Did God die?”
he said. I replied: “He died according to his humanity, as Peter says:
‘put to death according to the flesh, but quickened according to the
spirit.’” 1 Pet. 3:18.
I then asked him, how he confessed the unity. He confessed three
persons and one God. I asked whether the Holy Ghost were a person. He
said: “Yes.” I said: “When Mary was greeted by the angel, that she
should conceive, and she did not know how this should come to pass,
as she had never known a man, the angel said: The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee. Luke 1:26. Now, if the Holy Ghost is a person, then
one person conceived another. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is
written that when the apostles received the Holy Ghost, he sat upon
each of them. Acts 2:3. But a person can sit only upon one man. And
in the first chapter (v. 7) of the Book of Wisdom it is written that
the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world. To what person would you
compare him?” He did not know what to say. He then said: “I do not
consider them persons such as Pieter, Klaes and Jan.” I said: “To whom
then do you compare them?” They then exchanged a few words in Latin,
and said: “We only call them persons: did you think that we considered
them three human beings?” I said: “Yes.” He said: “If you have taught
men so, you must confess that you have slandered us, and that you are
a false teacher.” I said: “I am no teacher; I have enough to do to
teach myself.” I added: “You call them persons; are they not such?
why then do you call them three persons.” He said: “It amounts to the
same thing.” I said: “It does not; a person is a human being, and you
certainly cannot compare them to human beings.” Then he said: “God the
Father is not the Son; the Son is not the Father; the Holy Ghost is
neither the Father nor the Son. And these are three; the one is what
the other is not, and though they are three, yet are they but one God.”
I said: “This is also my faith, and in accordance with it I know but
one person, that is Jesus Christ, who was visible and palpable; but
the others I do not know what to compare them to”. On this point we
agreed, and he let go his persons. He then asked again whether God had
died. I said: “You have sat here and acknowledged to me that you do
not consider the Word to be the Father, nor the Father to be the Word,
though they, according to the Godhead, are one God; but you regard
them as three witnesses; and two of these witnesses did not become man,
but the Word, by which all things were made, became flesh, as John says
in the first chapter [of his gospel]. Although this Word became man, it
therefore does not cease to be one God with the Father; else it could
not be God and man.”
Then he said: “Jelis, you err.” And they adduced Rom. 1:3; in their
Testament where it read: “Who became of the seed of David according
to the flesh, is declared to be the Son of God with power, according
to the Spirit.” I said that in rendering it _became_ they had
mistranslated the word; that it ought to read: _born of the seed of
David_. “Go,” I said, “and examine the Testaments which you had printed
thirty or thirty-six years ago; see whether in them it reads thus.
I have read it therein: _born_, as it ought to be; but you have now
caused it to be altered thus, to deceive the simple hearts.” This made
them very angry. I then said: “Say it as it ought to be: _born_; for a
woman can certainly not make a child.” Then he said: “Became or assumed
is the same thing; as it is written: ‘He took not on him (the nature
of) angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.’” Heb. 2:16. I
said: “This also is changed; it ought to read: He receiveth not angels;
but he receiveth the seed of Abraham as his children; and believers are
counted for the seed (Rom. 9:8); for Paul says (1 Cor. 11:8), that the
man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.” They said: “This is
spoken of Adam and Eve.” I said: “Here God has plainly shown that the
man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man, which is in direct
opposition to your belief. Paul speaks still more fully on generation;
for he says: ‘As the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by
the woman; but all things of God.’ v. 12. This certainly has reference
to generation, for Adam was not by Eve.” He said that it had to be
understood so. I said: “I do not understand it so.” We had many more
words yet concerning the promises; but I have not the space to write it.
All these words I had with the parish priest of St. Martins, a very
crafty customer, craftier than any one I ever heard; all the others are
as nothing compared to him. Written in haste, in the dark, with ink
made of coals; bear patiently with it. The day before we were delivered
to the secular lords, we were brought before the Dean of Ronse. He
asked us whether we had come to a determination. I said: “I am always
determined to eschew evil, and to do that which is good, as far as I
know.” There were three or four Judges present, and the under-bailiff.
He said it was great arrogance that I pretended to be wiser than all
the world; there were Ambrose and Augustine, and other holy men: and
they understood it so. I said: “I do not pretend to know anything;
but I know the faith to be the truth, and herein I want to abide.”
Farewell; I commend you to God.
Your weak brother in the Lord.
JELIS STRINGS.
HEYNDRICK EEMKENS, A. D. 1562.
In the year 1562 there was apprehended at Utrecht, for the testimony
of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, a brother named Heyndrick Eemkens,
a tailor, who, after all solicitations and pains suffered, finally
received word that he was to die, at which he rejoiced that he should
also have the privilege of being a witness for the name of the Lord.
This message was brought him by the pastor of the Buer church and a
Franciscan monk named Friar Jan van Herentals, who in a few words
informed him of it, and then left him. He said to friar Jan: “You need
not come again to-morrow, for I do not need you.” In the morning he
was brought out from his prison into another room, where he had many
words with the monk, who forthwith condemned him. Thereupon he replied:
“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.” Luke 6:37. The monk said:
“You confessed that you did not believe that Christ assumed flesh from
Mary.” He replied: “I have said it once in my confession; shall I tell
you again?” and he referred him to John 1.
The monk then asked him whether he would not confess to him. He
answered: “I have confessed to God.” The monk said: “Have you lived
to be so old without ever confessing?” “No,” said he, “I have indeed
confessed to men; but God knows I heartily regret that I submitted so
long to your confession.” The monk then asked him whether he did not
want to hear a mass. He replied: “I have read so many, that I loathe
the mass; and even though I do not want to have it, yet if you want
to read it, nevertheless, how can I prevent it? Hence, if you want to
do it, do so, but not on my account; for I do not wish it.” Then the
monk asked him whether he would not have the sacrament; but he said:
“No, but if I could partake of the Lord’s Supper, as instituted and
commanded by the Lord, and observed by the apostles and their churches,
this I should heartily desire, and thank the Lord for it, but your
deception I do not want.” Upon this the monk again damned him two or
three times.
The thief-takers then came, and wanted to give him something to drink,
but he refused it. Then came one of the jailer’s daughters, a wanton
girl, and wanted to put it into his mouth with a spoon, as they were
sitting and drinking with the thief-takers, but Heyndrick said to her:
“I have certainly told you that I do not want it; hence, let me in
peace, if it is possible.” Thereupon one of the thief-takers said: “Do
you want to go out of this world on an empty stomach?” He said to him:
“I thirst for the true wine, of which I shortly hope to drink.” But
the monk said: “God does not put new wine into old bottles.” But he
said to the monk: “Because I have become renewed, therefore you hate
me,” Much more was said yet, which has been forgotten, since he himself
could not write. This was written by one who was present when Heyndrick
spoke with the monk. Though he was not a brother or fellow member with
Heyndrick in the church, yet his friendly disposition prompted him to
write down what he remembered of it, just as he saw and heard it, for
the remembrance of all lovers of the truth; and the following was seen
and heard not only by him, but also by all the citizens generally, who
can with him testify to it.
When Heyndrick had ascended the scaffold, he began to speak much to the
people, saying, among other things: “Good citizens, repent, and believe
only the Gospel and not the traditions of men.”
When they led him to the lords, to hear his sentence, he again turned
his face to the citizens and said that all the practices observed were
only human traditions, and that whoever would not follow them had to be
the reproach and offscouring of all men, yea, must thus suffer death.
Matt. 15:6; 1 Corinthians 4:13.
The sentence having been read, many of the people, who pitied him, and
did not wish to see him die, went away. But Heyndrick Eemkens fell upon
his knees and face, on the scaffold, to pour out his earnest prayer
before the Lord. When the executioner saw him fall down, he drew his
cloak from his shoulders, and pulled him up by his shirt, so that he
could not finish his prayer.
Heyndrick then said to the people: “Dear citizens, repent, for it is
more than time. Live according to God’s commandments and the words of
the holy Gospel.” And he called again with a loud voice: “This is the
narrow way, and the strait gate;” and named the chapters where it was
written, and many other Scriptures having the same bearing. He then
stepped of his own accord, with a glad heart, upon the bench where he
was to be strangled and burnt, and said again: “This is the strait
gate, press through it; through this pressed the men of God, for he
that fights steadfastly unto the end shall be saved; of this I have no
doubt.” With great courage he put his body and neck to the stake, and
said again with a joyful heart: “Dear citizens, repent; believe the
Gospel and not men; for this is the narrow way which a Christian must
walk.” The executioner then took a chain, putting it around his body,
and fastened a little bag of gunpowder to his neck, so that it hung
over his breast. Heyndrick spoke boldly to the very last, but his words
could not be understood very well, for the executioner took a cord,
laid it around his neck, and twisted it tightly. Heyndrick closed his
eyes, just as though he had fallen into a swoon, and he was not seen
to move any more, save that he cast up his eyes to heaven once more,
and then immediately lost consciousness. Thereupon the executioner drew
away the bench from under his feet, and seizing a fork, thrust the same
into a bundle of straw and held the latter to a pot with fire standing
on the scaffold, until it caught fire, whereupon he applied it to the
gunpowder. The blaze flashed up to his eyes but did not burn his hair.
He lifted up his hands to heaven once more, after which he showed no
further sign of life.
Thus did Heyndrick Eemkens offer up his sacrifice, as a valiant witness
of the Lord, on the 10th of June 1562, about between 10 and 11 o’clock,
A. M.
GEORGE FRIESEN, A CABINET-MAKER, AND WILLIAM VAN KEPPEL, A. D. 1562.
This George Friesen, a cabinet-maker, and William van Keppel, formerly
a mass priest, were both apprehended at Cologne, A. D. 1562, for the
evangelical truth. When William was sought and found he willingly
went with his captors, who first took him into a tower of the city,
where, however, he did not remain long, since they removed him into the
count’s dungeon, whither those were taken who were condemned to death.
In this dungeon he found said George Friesen, who was his brother in
the Lord, and also a prisoner, and whose company was a great comfort to
him.
Manifold were the nets spread and the snares laid, to catch their
souls; but the principal ado and clamor was about infant baptism,
which their adversaries claimed to be right; but as they could not
prove it by the word of God, they employed human wisdom, but to God
be the praise, with this they could not move these men. Now the lords
entreated them, now they severely threatened them with torture and
death; but the prisoners rejoiced in it. The others said things sweet
and things bitter, but this could not move the prisoners, for through
the help of the Lord their hearts stood firm as a wall.
The count offered to give George money, and his servant-maid to wife,
if he would renounce his faith. But George would adhere to the truth
and said to the count: “Your servant-maid, riches, or money cannot
take me to God, but I have chosen something better, for which I hope
to strive.” There also came to William a subtle individual, who made
him fair promises and said that he would take him to England, who would
soon have drawn the net of delusion over his head if the Lord had not
succored and preserved him.
When the last hour arrived that they were to be prepared for the
offering, for which they greatly longed, they were both brought out of
prison--the count’s dungeon--to the house of the count, into a hall,
at one o’clock in the night. There much arrogant and scornful language
was used against them, and they were much tormented, to which George
said nothing, William, also, answering but little. This continued half
the night, till break of day or twilight, when the two prisoners were
hurriedly taken to the Rhine, where they were to be drowned.
When George saw how hurriedly they were taken to the Rhine in the early
morning, he called to the count, saying: “Sir count, what becomes of
the promise you made us? for you said that you should put us to death
in broad daylight.” But no one paid attention to these words, but they
were hurried to the place where they were to be put to death, namely
the Rhine. And thus were fulfilled the words of David, Where he says:
“They have privily slain the upright.” Ps. 11:2. May the Lord forgive
them, for they know not what they do.
When they were taken out on the water, in a boat, William divested
himself of his clothes, and laid his hands upon his feet, to be bound
thus; for he thought that he was to be drowned and get home first. But
this was not to be his fate; they made him put his clothes on again,
and told him that he should wait.
And thus George was compelled to be the first one, to be made ready
for an offering. When he was ready for death, he took brotherly leave
from William, and they kissed each other with a holy kiss of love. Then
George was thrown over-board, and drowned in the Rhine, thus testifying
with his death that he was a partaker of Christ’s sufferings, to
receive at his hands, through grace, the crown upon mount Sion, and
rejoice forever with him. 2 Esd. 2:43.
After George was drowned, the executioner said to William: “Put on your
clothes; I will take you to the shore, and there behead you.” William,
through the grace of God, was willing and ready for it, and said: “You
may do with me whatever God wills and permits.”
When they came on shore, they set William at liberty. The executioner
said to him: “Go your way.” Whether they did this because William had
been a priest, and they would have had to desecrate him, before putting
him to death, and whether they therefore rather released him, than go
to such trouble is not known.
AN ADMONITION WHICH GEORGE FRIESEN SENT FROM PRISON.
I proclaim unto you, O men, one and all, a new message and glad
tidings, through the word of the Lord, which is, that you shall turn
from your sinful life to God that your sins may be forgiven; cleanse
your hearts, and forsake the world and its false show to which it lends
so beautiful an aspect.
Behold, I proclaim unto you much joy, which I experience, as Christ the
Son of God promised, saying: “I will not leave you comfortless.” Those
who trust in me, them will I help bear their sorrow, and deliver them
out of all distress. For he himself bound up our putrefying wounds,
and healed them, which none other could do. Luke 10:34. He healed us
without merit on our part; when we were yet enemies, he washed us with
clean water, and sent us the Comforter, the Holy Ghost--as the faithful
gracious Savior Christ promised--who shall bring to our remembrance all
that we have heard. Rom. 5:10; Ezek. 36:25; John 14:16. If we firmly
abide in him, and bring forth good fruits, he will give us a mouth and
wisdom, as his divine word says, if we diligently live according to
his will; yea, such a mouth he will give us, that none of the wise of
this world, who are yet in sin, and fail of the truth, shall be able to
contradict us. Luke 21:15.
I daily find that, as the raging waves of the sea, driven by fierce
winds, cast up their mire and dirt, and cannot rest, so it is also with
these; if there were anything good in them, it would come to light.
Isaiah 57:20. Now, even as the flowers of the field drop off, so it
goes with those who consider too late; for the grass withereth, and the
flower fadeth; but the word of God abideth forever. Is. 40:8.
I find still another matter which concerns me greatly, namely, that so
many shall knock and say: Lord, open unto us, and let us enter in also;
to whom the Lord shall say: I know you not; and that it will avail them
nothing to say: Did we not believe that thou art the true God, and that
he whom thou anointedst, and whom the Jews mocked is thy Child? Luke
13:25, If they persist in their evil deeds, anguish shall come upon
them, so that they shall cry, woe, woe, upon all the priests of Baal
who have deceived them here, and who now sit in Moses’ seat, persecute
Christ, and honor Baal, saying: Do according to our words, and not
after our works; by which they show that they do not walk aright. Matt.
23:2. O generation of vipers, who hath made you believe that you shall
escape the wrath of God and the damnation of hell? Can the Lord not say
to them: If you were so wise as to know me, why then did you not seek
me by following the kingdom of my Father. Therefore, depart from me,
all ye hypocrites, to the devil and his angels, into the lake of fire,
and eternal damnation. Matt. 7:23. But you, brethren and sisters, who
are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9), make
yourselves sincerely ready in these latter times, for the marriage
supper; and do not suffer yourselves to be deprived of the food that
is set before you, lest you perish with hunger; cling firmly to Jesus
Christ; see that you lose not those things which you have wrought; and
let no one lead you astray on this earth, nor be afraid of the princes
of this world; for when they shall appear before the face of Christ,
they will all be put to shame. 2 John 8; Matt. 24:4; 10:28.
Betake yourselves now to the Lord, for now is the right time; and let
not the world confound you, lest you be deceived. Watch, you that
are on the ocean, lest you perish; believe in the Lord with all your
heart, and you will weather the tempest. May the King of kings, to whom
all things are known, uphold us with his mighty hand, that we may on
account of no adversity depart from him, but may faithfully adhere to
his word even unto death. Hereby I will gladly resign my life at this
time, and enter this narrow way through Christ; by his help I will
gladly bear his yoke, and in this yoke alone pull my plow. O God, that
I might be so fortunate as to see the work begun in me brought to such
a happy end, to the salvation of my soul and to thy glory, and this
solely through thy power--richer or more highly exalted as a mortal
I could not become! I should praise and magnify thee for it through
Christ thy Son. Dear brethren and sisters, I have written this in my
severe imprisonment, and give it to you for an admonition. I George
Friesen have composed this in the night, while others slept; I hope
that daylight will soon shine brightly. O Lord that thou wouldest
speedily come to me in prison, deliver me from my chains, and free me
from my bonds, and protect me from the wicked--O then I should stand
well before thee! My brethren, if you would rejoice in the spirit, and
herein understand me thoroughly, then beware of sin, and you will see
clearly. And if you would spiritually understand the divine law, go to
the Lord, and he will help you in it.
MARTIJNTGEN AELMEERS, A. D. 1562.
In the year 1562 there was apprehended at Honschote, in Flanders, a
young girl named Martijntgen Helmeers, of Steenwijcke, because she had
been baptized upon her faith, and ordered her walk and conversation
according to the doctrine of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.