they say yes, it is well; for the apostles baptized upon faith and
not otherwise. For if the eunuch had said: I cannot believe, Philip
would not have baptized him. But he said: I believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the living God. Acts 8:37. This is my faith, too,
and nothing else. Again, when the multitude at Jerusalem heard Peter’s
exhortation, they were alarmed, and asked: “What shall we do?” Hear
the good advice: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” And they
that gladly received the word were baptized. Acts 2:37, Do your infants
also do thus? then you are the old foundation; for other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, his word and
example. The jailer rejoiced with all his house that he had become a
believer. Acts 16:34. Are your infants also believers? then it is well.
Peter preached in the house of Cornelius, the centurion of the Italian
band, and the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles as well as on the Jews.
Acts 10:44,45. Were there also infants present, on whom the Holy Ghost
fell? And this is what I asked you before we parted, when the servant
came to spread the table, and you said: That which is born of the flesh
is flesh, and this with reference to infant baptism. I then asked what
became of the Spirit, but you gave me no reply. For John says: The wind
bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst
not tell whence it cometh. John 3:8. Do children feel the Holy Spirit?
Nicodemus was a carnal man, and experienced nothing concerning the
Spirit of God; hence Christ referred him to a child as we find stated,
Matthew 18:3. To be born again through the water from carnality into
the Spirit is as Christ himself says, John 3:5. “Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.” _A man_, what else does this signify,
than, he that is carnally minded, as the aforesaid Nicodemus; for to
be carnally minded is death; it does not mean children, for they do
not feel it. But to be spiritual is life and peace, as Paul testifies.
And to the Galatians he says: If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not
under the law. 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.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there
is no law. Gal. 5:18. As also Peter says: “Wherefore laying aside
all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil
speakings, as new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that
ye may grow thereby”. 1 Peter 2:1,2. Thus do also; lay aside the great
conceitedness and presumptuousness of your heart, and build yourself
up, a lively stone in the house of God, a holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. These
sacrifices are the works of righteousness, and not human inventions,
reason, or ordinances of outward sacrifices. Behold, with this
consciousness we go on, or, this assurance is sufficient and valuable
enough to us, to forsake property and life for Christ’s sake, which is
far from being the case with you people. In short, we do not seal the
epistle of Christ before it is written; we do not sow before the field
is well plowed with the Spirit and word of God; we do not sail, before
we have favorable weather and wind; but you would have the child of
the mother before it has been borne its proper time. But we can well
wait till it has been borne its proper time and is brought forth by
the mother. Who can forbear to speak of what everybody sees? And thus
we recognize baptism in the Scriptures as a command of the Lord, and
a certain clear practice of the apostles. Moreover, we also clearly
see, what cause baptism has, why it is administered, what benefits it
brings, to what people it is adapted, and what other name it has in the
Scriptures. It is, in the first place, a grave of sin, an entering into
the church of God, a putting on of Christ, a fleeing from the wrath
of God, a washing of regeneration, and the seal of a good conscience
toward God. And he that forsakes or rejects this forsakes and rejects
the counsel and word of God.
In the sixth place, as regards this, that I spoke tartly and insolently
to you, I answer: Behold, my Lord and Master, taught me nothing else,
when he says: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matt. 7:15. Seeing you
came to me with so fair an appearance, to slay my soul, as you indeed
boasted, why then should I not speak or write the truth? For what do
you but seek to devour or tear me, to entice a poor sheep away from
Christ’s pasture. No, no! God the chief Shepherd preserve me from this.
No one shall pluck them out of his hand, but if one goes out himself,
then the case is different. Yet, you have been assiduous, and struck
your sharp fangs into my soul; and yet you call me brother. Hence I
call you a wolf in sheep’s clothing; however, be converted and become a
lamb. O friend, what have you come to?
In the seventh place, you strewed sweet roses and down before my feet,
and made the bank slippery that I might glide off, saying: Mind not
what those who deceived you without the Scriptures will say. Yet see,
is this without the Scriptures? Just as if I had relied upon the fair
words of men. No, no; had it depended on fair speeches, you would have
laid enough snares for me; your works constantly testify to this. See,
my good friend, I think that this is enough for you, namely, my own
faith and confession; and I pray you, not so to damn and condemn little
infants, and this for Adam’s transgression, lest you be condemned
and damned; since Christ, by his death, has redeemed us therefrom,
as was stated when I was with you; for Paul says: “As by the offense
of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the
righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification
of life.” Rom. 5:18. John says; “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world.” John 1:29, [Paul says] to the Galatians:
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.” Galatians 3:13.
And to the Ephesians: “That he abolished in his flesh the enmity, on
the cross.” Moreover, he has promised them his kingdom, when he says:
Suffer little children to come unto me ... for of such is the kingdom
of God. And he received them, blessed them, laid his hands on them,
and said: Except ye receive the kingdom of God as a little child,
you shall not enter therein. Mark 10:14 to 16; Luke 18:16,17; Matt.
19:14,15. Now when he says, _of such_, there is no difference, even
as Paul says; that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. But you
separate them, and say that it is only spoken to Jewish children, as
though they were Jewish children, I replied that you should prove this
to me by the Gospel; but you could not do it, and gave me no answer.
For Christ showed his divine miracles on the children of the Gentiles
as well as on those of the Jews, as, for instance, on the Gentile woman
and the centurion’s servant; and he gives this testimony concerning the
centurion, that he has not found so great faith in Israel. And enough
other such examples.
Finally, I beg you to make the best allowance for my simple writing,
for it is rustic work. If I had received better talents from God, I
should indeed desire to do better; but now I thank him for what he does
give me. Farewell.
Below there was written: I, Jan Gerritts Ketelaer van Tessel, confess
but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Spirit, and one Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. I come quickly:
hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Yea, the
Lord Jesus comes. Ephesians 4:4–5; Rev. 3:11.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM JAN GERRITS, TO HIS ACQUAINTANCES.
After all affectionate greeting, dear brethren and sisters in the
Lord, here is what you requested of me. I have complied with your
wish, according to my feeble ability, as much as in me is; for which
I most heartily thank God the Father and his beloved Son Jesus Christ,
that he does not forsake his own, but always helps them to gain the
victory; for his gracious eyes are ever upon his own, and his ears
are constantly open to their prayers. Ps. 34:15. For it is written:
When thou passest through water and fire, I will be with thee. Is.
43:2. Hence I give him alone praise and honor for his great succor
and working, which he has shown in me poor sinner, in my tribulation,
suffering and pain, yea, thus, my dear brethren, that the dogs, lions,
and bears have not been able to harm me, however much they bark,
roar and growl; for the Lord was my protector; even as I put my hope
of faith in him, that through his great grace he will also preserve
me unto the end; for if God is with us, who can harm us, and if the
Lord keeps the house (as David says), who can injure it. My friends,
I wish I could describe to you the state of my heart and mind when I
was suspended, and severely beaten for the testimony of our Lord Jesus
Christ; for his word, and his bitter suffering which he endured for us
poor sinners, was thus present with me that I thought of nothing else.
Behold, my brethren and sisters, how the Lord can keep and protect his
own that trust in him, even as the apple of his eye. I would further
inform you, my dear brethren and sisters, that they first plied me
with questions, namely, what my name was, where I was born, how old I
was, and how long I had lived in Tessel. In the second place: When I
received baptism? _Ans._ “Five years ago.” _Ques._ “Where did it take
place?” _Ans._ “I do not wish to tell you.” Then they rejoined: “You
will be made to tell,” and pointed to the executioner, saying, further:
“If you are asked concerning the truth, you certainly ought to tell
it.” _Ans._ “All that concerns the faith, I am willing to tell you; but
God has not commanded me to tell this.” In the third place they asked
me: Whether my wife was also of this persuasion? _Ans._ “No, I regret
to say.” In the fourth place: Who had administered it? _Ans._ “I do not
wish to tell you.” _Ques._ “Was it N.?” _Ans._ “God has not commanded
me to tell it; and even if I should tell you, he does not reside in
the King’s dominions.” _Ques._ “Christ, when he was placed before the
authorities, answered when he was interrogated; why then will you not
do the same?” _Ans._ “When he was asked questions that concerned the
honor of his Father, and his own divinity, he answered; otherwise, he
was silent. Anything that you may ask me concerning his law, word,
commandments or prohibitions, I am willing to confess before emperors,
kings, dukes, counts, princes, and other lords, and not to keep silent
concerning it.” He forthwith briefly said to the executioner: “Seize
him.” In short, when they laid hold of me, I fell down prostrate and
besought the Lord for his assistance. He immediately said to the
rackers: “Lift him up.” Thus, they fell upon me, and dealt with me
as the Lord our Master was dealt with, when he was divested of his
garments. They tied my hands behind my back unmercifully, blindfolded
me, drew me up, and then beat me, belaboring me as though I had been
a tree, so that the rods cracked like hemp stalks. They said: “Speak;
if you have a dumb devil in you, we will soon drive him out.” But the
Lord, blessed be his holy name, closed my mouth, so that not a single
exclamation of pain, nor any other sound, escaped my lips; for the
suffering of our Lord, as already said, and his testimony, so filled
my heart, that it is impossible to express it. In short, when they saw
that faintness seized all my members, they said: “Let him down; perhaps
the dumb devil will speak sooner then”. When they let me down, I fell
with my head against the boards; they therefore took me and set me upon
a bench, where I would have fainted again, had they not held me. They
stood there like lions and bears, demanding that I should answer their
questions; but the Lord was my help and strength, praise and glory be
to him for his grace, so that nothing escaped my lips.
Then the president said: “Have you no stout rods to drive out this dumb
devil?” He replied: “No; but I have rope.” They would have blindfolded
me again, but he said: “Let him see it.” When he struck, I thought: O
Lord, thou seest it, and closed my eyes. Yea, my friends, if they had
continued to beat as long as there was breath, I think they would have
got nothing out of me; so was the strength of the Most High with me.
When they saw that it was of no avail, they fetched the hundred pound
weight, and hung it to my feet. Then went my heart to the Lord: Keep,
keep, my treasure. In short, all their endeavors proved fruitless. Then
they asked whether I understood Latin. I replied: “Yes, as much as it
is.” _Ques._ “Do you understand French?” _Ans._ “No.” _Ques._ “Where
did you go to school?” _Ans._ “At Delft.” _Ques._ “When?” _Ans._ “At
the time when Delft was burned.” They also asked me whether I had read
the books of Menno or Dietrich Phillips? “Yes,” I said; for Boshuysen
had taken my doctrinal books, namely, the _New Creature_, by Menno,
and the _Spiritual Restitution_, by D. P. They asked me how I had come
by it. My lips were sealed. Then the order was: “Fetch water! candles!
the dumb devil must come out.” But the Lord was my preserver, for which
I cannot thank him enough. Sir. 43:30. Finally, the order was given:
Loose him; he must cool off a little; we shall give it to him better
yet. As they were leaving I told them to take heed what they were
doing; the day of the Lord should also come upon them; thus they left
me. My dear brethren and sisters, herewith I bid you my last adieu,
with the peace of Christ. I would have written more, but time does not
permit me. If it pleases the Lord, I want to stand at the stake with
him. The Lord be with you all. Amen.
ADRIAEN DEN BURRY, A. D. 1565.
After manifold persecution and fearful tyranny against the flock of
Christ, there was also apprehended, in the year 1565, at Oudenaerde,
in Flanders, a faithful brother named Adriaen den Burry, who, after
undergoing and enduring manifold temptations, and severe conflicts
against the devil and his tools, was burnt at said place, in the year
1565, and testified to and confirmed the upright and genuine faith
of the truth with his death and blood, to the true conviction of all
bloodthirsty tyrants and persecutors, and all carnal men, who seek
to walk the broad way to eternal damnation, according to the lusts
of their flesh, and to the consolation and strengthening of all true
believers, that they might follow this friend of God in true obedience,
even as he followed Christ, wherefore his name is written in the book
of life, and worthy to be recorded in this book, for long remembrance.
WILLEM DE DUYCK, A. D. 1565.
In the year 1565, at Ghent in Flanders, brother Willem de Duyck, after
much tribulation and unwavering steadfastness, being not willing to
apostatize in any wise, also had to bear witness with his blood to
the name of Christ, and suffer temporal death for it; wherefore he
shall also, at the resurrection, with all the children of God, hear
the blessed words: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:34. Then
shall he as one of the righteous enter into life eternal.
CONRAD KOCH, A. D. 1565.
This Conrad Koch was kindled with the light of the knowledge of God,
when this light, in these latter days, began to rise again, along the
river Rhine as well as in the country of Berg, and the truth of the
holy Gospel commenced to shine. Hence he sought, by the divine help,
to leave the darkness, and to walk in this brightly shining light; he
forsook popery and the worldly and ungodly life, and betook himself to
the church of the Lord, heard and laid to heart the word of the Lord,
believed the Gospel, and was baptized, according to the command of
Christ, upon faith in Christ Jesus, and confession of his sins, and
accordingly, conducted himself in a brotherly and Christian manner in
the church, and, in weakness, showed himself edifying and honorable
toward all men. But as he that walks in darkness cannot bear or endure
the light, and the envy of the adversary works in his followers, this
man was envied by the papists, and accused to the intendant of the
revenue; who was judge and ruler of the country in the name of the
prince of Juelich. Thereupon the intendant sent his servants to Houf,
where Conrad lived, and they apprehended him; he was ready, and as a
lamb, willingly went with them to Loewenburg, one of the seven castles
which, on account of their high situation, can be seen from a great
distance. There they brought Conrad into the tower, and placed him in
severe confinement, in which he remained nearly half a year; however,
he was greatly comforted by the Lord, though he had to suffer much
hunger.
The intendant ofttimes browbeat him and threatened him most severely,
that his life should be taken if he should refuse to renounce his
faith. They tried him very hard with entreaties and solicitations, then
with hunger, and also with threats to put him to death; but he remained
immovable. His heart was of good cheer.
Now when he had boldly confessed his faith, and no tortures could
intimidate him, and the time drew near that he was to die for the
truth and depart from this world, the door of his prison was opened,
and he went of his own accord, free and unfettered, from the tower
of Loewenburg to the village of Houf. His guide was Barabbas, that
is a malefactor who went with him. His departure took place in great
secrecy; and thus he came to Houf, which is some distance from
Loewenburg. But even as Christ was crucified, and Barabbas released, so
it was also here. Conrad was taken to the town-hall of Houf, where it
was proposed to him, that if he should renounce his faith, his young
life should be spared, and his liberty be given him.
Manifold wiles were employed against him with great deceitfulness. The
sophists sang things sweet and sour, saying: “Go to church at least
once a year and if they do not preach the pure and clear truth, stay
away from it thenceforth.” One of these hypocrites said to Conrad: “My
dear Conrad, though we be false, subtle and evil, it cannot harm your
soul; do you only fear God and keep peace with all men; what is it to
you if our faith is little.” Conrad replied to the magistrates: “O you
ministers of God, you must know that God wants no hypocrites. This was
seen exemplified in old Eleazar, who would rather surrender his life
than dissemble. 2 Macc. 6:24. Therefore I also hope to die before I go
into your congregation.” Conrad further said: “Christ is the head of
the church; he that would please him must show himself a member of his
body; now, one must not sever himself from Christ the captain. With
this head I want to remain, though it cost my flesh and blood.” They
asked Conrad what he thought of infant baptism. He said: “Of this I can
only think that it is also one of the Pope’s greatest abominations;
however if you can prove it by the word of God, I will suffer myself
to be instructed by the church of the Lord.” “O God,” said Conrad, “to
thee I bring my complaint; O God, what calamity this, that they put to
death those who speak the truth! They can certainly not allege that
I have committed anything criminal, and yet they malignantly seek to
kill me. O Lord, forgive them.” The mandate of the prince of Juelich
was then read to him, whereupon the judges passed sentence, upon which
the intendant broke the staff. The sentence was, that Conrad should
suffer death, if he did not recant. And when he had been thus sentenced
twice, they took him out [to the place of execution]. When he arrived
there, he began to sing: “O God, how gently thou dost chasten me.
Reach me thy gracious hand, that my flesh may now shun all sin, vice
and shame, that I may rend the old garment, and have eternal joy with
thee. Christ, I praise thee, O my supreme God, that I have lived to see
this day and hour, that I may now testify to thy name with my blood.
My dear brethren and sisters, I commend you all to the Lord. Keep the
Gospel of Christ firmly fixed in your hearts; this I leave you for an
admonition: fear God, and be valiant; be my followers, even as I am
willing to follow Christ the Lord, and to deliver up my life.” And thus
they put this pious man to death with the sword secretly, so that many
did not hear of it. When thieves and murderers are condemned there it
is customary to let the whole land know it; but the pious are murdered
in secrecy, which is a shame for the judges. Thus Conrad was beheaded
with the sword standing and proved himself a faithful witness of the
sufferings of Christ, at Houf, in the land of Berg, which belongs to
the prince of Juelich and Cleves.
In the year 1565, under the same intendant, who was a very bloodthirsty
man, also seven other persons, four brethren and three sisters, had
been previously apprehended. These four brethren were also sentenced
that they should be put to death, if they refused to renounce their
faith. But the Lord protected them, and delivered them all out of
prison unharmed in their faith, for this bloodthirsty tyrant was
smitten by God with sudden death, so that the prisoners were liberated
from prison, keeping their faith, and adhering to the truth.
HERE FOLLOW TWO LETTERS WHICH CONRAD KOCH WROTE FROM PRISON.
_First Letter._
Grace, peace and mercy from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
is what I, Conrad Koch, a prisoner in the Lord, in Loewenburg, wish my
dear brethren and sisters in the Lord. Amen.
I herewith inform you, that I had a call from the executioner, and
they tried me hard with words, but did not torture me. The Lord kept
me, so that I did not consent to them. Then they said that they would
go to dinner, and then return and torture me. But before meal time
was over yet, the intendant returned to me and told me much about the
prince’s preacher, that I should let him come and see me once more,
since he knew the errors which we held. I replied: “I do not want him;
the word of the Lord has taught me. Did I not tell you, that I want no
preacher?” He said: “It is true; but still I wish you would do my will
so much as to say that you want him to come to you. Though you do not
agree then, all right; it does not matter, so we only get rid of the
man.” I replied: “I do not want to lay the cross of Christ aside.” Then
he said: “Then I cannot alter it,” and left me.
Thus, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, did the Lord preserve
me from them. Pray the Lord faithfully for me, to keep me in his
faithful word unto the end of my life, that I may adhere to it; for I
am still of good hope, and willing with all patience to await, by the
help of the Lord, all that he shall suffer to befall and come upon me
for his name’s sake. May he not suffer more to be laid upon me, than I
am able to bear, that his name may not be blasphemed through me. Hence
help me entreat the Lord; I expect also not to forget to remember all
my dear brethren and sisters, nor all those that fear the Lord. May the
Lord come to our assistance, that we may pray according to his will, so
that we may be heard with all the pious; to this end, may the Lord help
us by his grace. Amen.
I have also been informed that our fellow-members at Cologne have been
released from prison; the Lord be praised for his great love which he
manifests toward us in these latter days, preserving us so safely from
the deceitful serpents, who come to us so subtly with fair words, which
are nothing but mere hypocrisy employed by them to seduce us from the
covenant of the Lord. From this, may the Lord preserve all those who
have accepted his covenant. Amen. Herewith I commend you to the Lord.
THE SECOND LETTER, WRITTEN TO HIS BROTHER A. OF B.
Grace, peace, and a heart steadfastly fixed upon the Lord, is what I
wish you, A. of B., my dear brother in the Lord, and I thank the Lord
for the letter you wrote me. Thanks to the Lord for it, and I also
request of you, my dear brother, that you help me to entreat the Lord,
that I may become worthy of what you wished me, and desired of me.
However, I still have a good hope, thanks to the Lord for it. I also
am still willing to suffer for his name’s sake; but may he give me
strength for it. Amen.
I also desire you, my dear brother, to wish our brother H. K. much
good in my name. May the Lord make us worthy of every good thing;
however, I cannot write you as much as I should like to see you have.
May the Lord, according to his great mercy, give us what will tend to
our salvation. Amen. And I ask you to wish all my brethren and sisters
with whom the Lord will cause you to come in contact, much good, and to
admonish them to faithfully pray the Lord, to uphold me in his faithful
word until death. I expect not to forget to remember you, as much as
shall be possible for me. May the Lord assist us to pray in true love,
so that we may be heard, and hereafter, with all the pious, inherit his
kingdom; to this end, may the Lord help us. Amen.
I also inform you, that on Halloween two priests visited me, who
desired to take me to church; and when I did not consent to it, they
commended me to the Lord; there were also three judges here, and did
their best; but the Lord preserved me, praise and thanks to him for
it, and may he preserve you and me as long as we live. Amen. O my dear
brethren and sisters, beseech the Lord diligently for me, that, since
he suffers me, unworthy servant, to be cast into prison, it may redound
to his praise, and to my salvation; this I desire with all my heart.
May the Lord come to your and my assistance.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. Amen.
I, Conrad Koch, have written this letter from Loewenburg, in prison, A.
D. 1565.
MATTHIAS SERVAES, OF KOTTENEM, A. D. 1565.
As this Matthias Servaes was an elder and teacher of the church, it
happened, A. D. 1565, that one evening he had met with some friends at
a certain place in Cologne, to minister unto them with the Gospel. But
there was a Judas, to whom this was known; the same went and fetched
the double watch, who immediately came fully armed, and entering the
house in which the meeting was held from the rear, broke up the meeting
and captured the flock, with beating, raging and fury; but those
assembled went with them like sheep, to the Beyen tower. There all
their names were taken down, and they were brought into other, separate
places. They were asked with great importunity, who their teacher was;
in response to which question, Matthias Servaes himself confessed
that he was the man. They sought to draw him from Christ and his holy
word, attempting it in various ways, with deception and subtilty, with
entreaties and threats; and as he repelled all these wiles, he was
severely tortured; however, he was not terrified by any torture or
pain, but firmly kept in his heart that which God had revealed to him.
Afterwards, in the morning, he was taken to prison, where also many
a snare was laid to catch his soul. From prison he was brought bound
before the penal court, where the imperial mandates were read to him,
and he was delivered into the power of the executioner, to be put to
death by the latter, according to the mandate.
Matthias was ready, and suffered himself to be led like an innocent
lamb to the slaughter. He lifted up his eyes toward heaven, folding his
hands, and said: “O my Father, I praise thy name, that I am counted
worthy of this.”
Much people flocked together, to see this; some of them felt sympathy
for him, and said: It is a pity indeed, that this fine man has to die
for such a deed.