their tongues. While the wicked is before you, as David says (Ps.
39:1), make not haste to speak, lest you deceive your heart; and wait
with patience until Christ speaks in you, or his Spirit, according
to his promise, through you. Matt. 10:20. And though you reply not
to every question, you need not be ashamed of it, for he who was the
wisdom of God, namely, Christ, was also not ashamed of it, as the
scriptures of the Old and the New Testament sufficiently testify. And
if you are asked concerning others who are still at large or in prison,
as to whether they are of our number or not, or whether they are
baptized or not, you may reply: “I am not imprisoned here for another,
but for myself; hence, I may speak for myself, and not for another.”
And if they then threaten you with the torture or long imprisonment,
let them threaten, let them torture; only do you firmly trust in the
Lord, and they shall not be able to do more than God, who has the
king’s heart in his power, will permit. Prov. 21:1. If it then be the
will of the Lord, that you suffer, remember that you often said: Lord,
thy will be done. And, surely, if you firmly trust the Lord, the very
hairs of your head are all numbered, and not one of them will fall from
it without the Father’s will. Matt. 6:10; 10:30; Luke 12:7.
Therefore, fear not their threats in the least, and be not terrified;
but submit to the Lord with patience and long-suffering in all that
befalls you on account of the truth. Trust God; he will not forsake you
even unto death. Amen.
But if I could see, my dear fellow members, that it might promote the
glory of God, and your, and their salvation, if you should answer all
their questions, I would not only admonish you to wait until they ask
you, but I would heartily urge you by entreaty and admonition, to tell
and confess it to them of your accord, before they ask you. But how
they herein seek the glory of God, and the welfare and salvation of
your, yea, of their own, souls, this I will leave to the consideration
and impartial judgment of every godfearing lover of the truth.
Therefore guard your lips, my beloved, as said above. I have composed a
hymn, doing it not from wantonness; hence I wish that it be sung not to
my honor, but to the praise of God.
Dear brethren, faithfully remember me in your prayers. I greet you
all with the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ; he that loves him not is
Anathema, Maran-atha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all. Amen.
THE EIGHTH LETTER OF MATTHIAS SERVAES, WRITTEN FROM PRISON TO AELTGEN,
HIS WIFE.
The grace of God be and abide with you and all fellow believers in
Christ that are with you and elsewhere; together with true peace,
friendly love, constant patience, and steadfast perseverance, to bear
unto the end all that is laid upon us of that which is still left of
the afflictions of Christ. Amen.
Further, my dear wife, whom I from the very beginning of our coming
together (of this I trust the Lord is my witness), have loved more
according to salvation than according to the flesh, and have cared for
your soul as for my own, and admonished you to that which we have now
come. The Lord be praised for it forever. For, my dear sister in the
Lord, you well know the grief I felt on account of the removal, and
though some may perhaps have thought that I took delight in it, it is
not so at all; for since that time I have often wished that, if it
be for my salvation, I might through some means be relieved from it,
whether it be through imprisonment or by death. But since it pleases
the Lord, that we are here on earth first, through suffering, to be
witnesses of his word and name; as you, in a measure, have wished
more than once, that I might through suffering be taken home to God,
and I have desired that you might be apprehended with me, as has now
happened; therefore let us also be patient, and thank the Lord, that he
has heard us, and fulfilled our prayer, and let us not pray otherwise
now than we have hitherto prayed, namely, thus: “Lord, thy will be
done.” Surrender me willingly into the hand of the Lord, whom I have
served; and be not troubled on my account. But if you should perhaps
think that we[289] may meet with much suffering yet (which, however, is
in the hand of the Lord), think also that if there is much suffering
prepared for us, there is also much more consolation in store for us,
for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5. I have not time to write more,
except this: Persevere steadfastly till you are taken hence. Then, and
not before, the crown of life is prepared. This is also written to you,
my dear sister Anna, and all that are with you. The salutation with
mine own hand. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
[289] The construction of this clause in the original seems to
indicate, with great probability, a typographical error, consisting
in the substitution, in the pronoun, of an _m_ for a _w_, and that,
accordingly, it ought to read _I_, instead of: _we_.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. Our brethren salute you all.
Remember us, and be of good cheer for this is the first inheritance
promised us here, which we must also possess, if we are to gain
the eternal, where all tears that now flow from our eyes will be
wiped away, and all sorrow be turned into everlasting joy; for our
affliction, which is but temporal and light, compared with that which
is eternal, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory, who look not at the things which are seen but at the things that
are not seen. 2 Corinthians 4:17,18. Hence turn your eyes from all that
is visible. Herewith I commend you all to the grace of God. Amen.
THE NINTH LETTER OF MATTHIAS SERVAES, WRITTEN FROM PRISON TO F. V. H.
The saving grace of God be multiplied unto you and all the pious,
through Jesus Christ; with the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
O F., my greatly beloved friend[290] in the Lord, I cannot, out of love
to you forbear to inform you how gladly I would fulfill your request,
but I lack many things, as for instance, paper and ink, and besides
am watched as closely as gold, that I might neither receive nor send
off any letters. Hence accept this brief letter in good part, for I
have written it for your good. Therefore the heartfelt admonition and
request I now address to you is, that you sincerely take heed to your
life, and order it so that it is conformable to the word of God, yea,
to the example of Jesus Christ, and consider it diligently, as you said
in conversation with me. Love God above all, and do not forsake the
assembly (Hebrews 10:25), as hitherto; for if you still love aught more
than him, you are not worthy of him. Take good heed, my friend in the
Lord; for a lip faith is of no avail, as you well know yourself; but
it must be a living faith, yea, that works by love, if we are to stand
here, and hereafter before God. May God Schadai (Ex. 3:14), work such a
faith in you, and in all who heartily desire it. Amen. As regards how
it is with me, I cannot write enough, for the Lord grants me great joy
in my heart, so that I would desire of God, if it were his will, that I
might be led bound through Cologne, and beaten with rods from street to
street, so that his name might become manifest; and that my body might
be refined on the rack, only to the praise of God, and not to mine;
which has also partly occurred. The Lord be praised, Amen; the Lord
who sealed my lips, and endued me with strength, which he still daily
increases; and who will sustain me unto the end. Amen.
[290] The word used in the original denotes a female friend.--TR.
Herewith I commend you to God. Remember us as we will you. Greet them
that are with you, to whom my salutation in the Lord is acceptable.
By me, MATTHIAS SERVAES, of Kottenem.
THE TENTH LETTER OF MATTHIAS SERVAES, WHICH HE WROTE FROM PRISON TO
MAR. WEST.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you and all believers, from God
the Father, through Jesus Christ; with the power of the Holy Ghost.
Amen. O my well beloved sister in the Lord, M. W., out of great
love, which we have mutually felt through the knowledge of God, since
we have known each other, I cannot forbear to tell you that I often
think of you, and, likewise, of all the pious; for they lie at my heart
day and night. I have been informed that you think of me with much
sorrow, and that you wished, if it could be, that the Lord had ordered
it otherwise, for which I do not pray, nor can I wish it, since I
know not how he could have ordered it better for me; for great sorrow
was resting upon me, as you also well know, and the good God has thus
delivered and relieved me from this load: and not only this, but I am
also free from all anxiety. Not that I am weary of laboring; O no, for,
if I could have been profitable to the Lord, how gladly I would have
served him, and would still gladly serve him; but I deem it better
thus, for we must go hence at some time. And I trust that the Lord will
fill my place with faithful servants who may be more fully endowed
of him than I am. For the Lord knows with what anxiety, fear and
solicitude I have served you, and esteemed myself little and unworthy
before you and God, yea, so much so that I did hardly dare lift up my
eyes in meeting. But by the grace of God I have been what I have been;
and his grace, which was bestowed upon me was not wholly in vain among
you. 1 Cor. 15:10. I also took up my ministry with many tears, as you
know; but now, thanks to the Lord, it is all joy, indeed I cannot
express all the joy.
O my dear sister, how sweet is the yoke of the Lord, how light is his
burden upon my neck! By his help I will hold still to my God, may it
cost what it will. But I desire that you and all believers entreat the
Lord for us, which we also trust to do for you. I sincerely pray that
his will be done. O my dear sister, walk steadfastly and quietly in
piety, that you may be able to stand. Grace be with you all who love
our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Eph. 6:24.
By me, MATTHIAS SERVAES, Your brother in the Lord.
FORTY-TWO PERSONS, NAMELY, THIRTY-FOUR MEN AND EIGHT WOMEN, PUT TO
DEATH FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, IN THE COUNTRY OF BERNE, PRIOR
TO AND UNTIL THE YEAR A. D. 1566.
As we were very desirous to know the present condition of our fellow
believers in Alsace, as also, what transpired among them prior to
this, with regard to the persecutions suffered, we received, through
the instrumentality of a good friend of ours, H. Vlaming, at present
residing at Amsterdam, an extract from a certain document which the
elders and teachers in Alsace drew up concerning this matter, and sent
hither. Translated from the Alsatian vernacular, the extract reads as
follows:
As regards the brethren that were executed for the faith, in the
country of Berne, there were executed from the year 1528 until the
year 1566, forty-two persons, among whom were eight women. We have in
our possession a brief abstract of their names, and surnames, as also,
in what year and on what day each of them was executed, etc.
Thus far the extract of said letter, signed, as a whole, with the names
and surnames of the elders and teachers in Alsace, which we would
insert here, did we not fear that it might even at the present day tend
to augment persecution against them, of which they are not entirely
free, as shall be shown in the proper place.
JOHN GEORGE, A. D. 1566.
In the year 1566 brother John George, a Count from Italy, having lived
in Germany for several years, as a refugee, who sojourned with the
church, and conducted himself as a very humble and excellent Christian,
went from Grossenstein back to Italy, where he had left his wife; but
there he was denounced and betrayed, so that men came from Venice, and
apprehended him. When they were on the water, on their way to Venice,
they cast him into the sea, and drowned him, dispatching him thus in
order that it might be done in quietness, lest much trouble should
arise on his account, if they should bring him to Venice, since he
was of so noble a race. Thus he had to lose his temporal life for the
faith. Through faith he forsook and abandoned all nobility of this
world, choosing rather to suffer reproach with the people of God, than
to enjoy temporal honor and distinction among his own people; and
esteeming reproach for the name of Christ great riches, far above the
treasures of Egypt or the nobility of this world; for he had respect
to the future, and the eternal reward, which will be great in heaven,
and will not be withheld from him as a witness, follower and valiant
soldier of Christ. Heb. 11:24,26.
JOHN MANG, IN THE YEAR 1567.
In the year 1567 John Mang, a hatter by trade, was imprisoned at
Senthoffen,[291] in Suabia, for the faith and the divine truth. In his
imprisonment he suffered great cold, so that he could not get his feet
warm at night. Besides this, he had to assist the ungodly in many an
assault and conflict. Finally, he fell asleep in the Lord, in prison,
having kept his faith, and patiently persevered therein unto the end;
hence he will also inherit the glorious crown of life, with all the
elect of God.
[291] Probably, Sonthofen (in Bavaria).
NICHOLAS GEYER, A. D. 1567.
In the same year also Brother Nicholas Geyer, a miller, and deacon, was
apprehended for the faith, at Innspruck, in the earldom of Tyrol. There
the Jesuits and others assailed him in many and various ways, and, in
the examination, dealt with him in a cruel and satanical manner; but
he did not suffer himself to be moved from the faith, but steadfastly
persevered as a Christian hero, and having evinced great constancy,
he was condemned to death by the children of Caiaphas and Pilate. The
priests, like the daughter of Herodias, were determined to have his
head, which they also obtained, for he was executed with the sword, and
then burnt, thus valiantly gaining the victory in Christ, in the noble
fight of faith, as a true lover of God, whom no tribulation, torture
or vexation could cause to despair. No water could quench his love, no
sword separate it, no fire consume it; but it was to him a way of God
to eternal life, for through love to God, we, by his grace, will enter
into paradise, if we do not suffer ourselves to be led astray from love.
KAREL HALLING, A. D. 1567.
Karel Halling, a native of Steenwerck, who had fled from there to
Armentiers, for the testimony of the Lord, was apprehended at the
latter place, and, as he was determined steadfastly to adhere to the
knowledge of the truth and the faith he had confessed, the lords
sentenced him to death, and he was thus burned alive for the name of
God.
ADRIAN DU RIEU, A. D. 1567.
Adrian du Rieu, called Adrian Olieux, a native of Halewijn, and
minister of the word of God, and of his church at Armentiers, was
apprehended at the latter place, for the truth, and after boldly
confessing his faith, from which no torture could cause him to
apostatize, but in which he constantly firmly persevered, was sentenced
to death, and burnt alive.
CHRISTIAN LANGEDUL, CORNELIS CLAESS, MATTHEUS DE VICK, AND HANS SYMONS,
IN THE YEAR A. D. 1567.
In the year of our Lord 1567, one Sunday morning, being the 10th of
August, Christian Langedul went out to take a letter to his brother R.
L., and then proceeded to a place called the Schelleken, whither he had
been summoned to help mediate a difference between two persons. 1 Cor.
6:5.
This meeting having been spied out, a captain named Lamotte (who was at
that time in Antwerp) came there, under the pretense of seeking some of
his soldiers, and seeing the assembly, he had his armed soldiers (who
were waiting for it) occupy the house, and immediately dispatched his
servant boy for the Margrave. In the mean time Christian spoke with
the captain, in French, to show him why they had come together, during
which some of the assembled company escaped through a back door.
When the Margrave arrived on horseback, and entered the house with his
people, he took the rest prisoners, and marched them off to prison,
where they spent the time in great tribulation and patience until
the following day, when they were examined in regard to their faith,
which four of them, namely, the aforesaid Christian Langedul, Cornelis
Claess, Mattheus de Vick, and Hans Symons, boldly confessed. They were
then so cruelly tortured and so lamentably treated that they did not
fear death so much as the torture, as Christian mentions in a letter to
his wife.
Having spent over a month in great longing, they were finally sentenced
to death. When they received information that they were to die, they
were bold and of good cheer; Christian, however, lamented greatly
on account of his wife and children (previously throughout his
imprisonment, but especially in this last night), and their grief was a
great sorrow to his heart.
On the 13th of September, being on a Saturday, early in the morning,
these four friends were brought out and, two and two coupled together,
led to the great market place before the city hall, where a circle
of soldiers had been formed. In the midst there was a hut with four
stakes, to which they were tied. Hans Symons and Mattheus went first,
and then Cornelis and Christian. While going, Christian said to the
people: “Had we been willing to speak lies, we would have escaped
this.” Mattheus said: “Citizens, that we suffer here, is for the
truth, and because we live according to the word of God.” Hans Symons
exhorted his brethren, not to fear them that kill the body, but him
who has power to cast the soul into damnation. And thus they arrived
at the place where they were to be offered up. There the executioner’s
assistant first took Christian, and placed him to a stake in the hut,
from where he called to his brethren that were still without, exhorting
them to contend valiantly for the truth, who then gave one another the
last kiss of peace. Thereupon Cornelis was also placed to a stake, then
Mattheus, and finally Hans Symons. The drums were beaten, in order that
they should not be heard to speak. The executioner strangled them, and
then set fire to the hut, and thus these four friends came to a blessed
end, according to the words of the Lord: He that endureth to the end
shall be saved. Matt. 10:22.
LETTERS OF CHRISTIAN LANGEDUL WRITTEN DURING HIS IMPRISONMENT.
_The first letter of Christian Langedul, written to his wife, Maeyken
Raedts, on the 11th of August; in which he relates the joy of his mind,
as also, on the other hand, his sorrow for his wife and children, and,
finally, how he and his fellow-prisoners were examined._
I wish you grace and peace all the days of your life, from God our
heavenly Father, through Christ Jesus, in the power of his holy Spirit.
Amen.
My chosen and most affectionately beloved wife, and sister in the Lord
because of the faith, as I hope by the grace of the Lord, and that this
relationship will exist forever. Matt. 12:50; Gal. 3:26.
Had it been possible for me, I should have written you sooner the great
grace, joy and comfort that I have enjoyed during this brief time
in prison; and I pray the Lord to let me enjoy said blessings unto
the end, to my salvation; however, the Lord knows the great sorrow
and tears I have had, and still have, and shall yet have, before my
departure comes, for you, the children, grandmother, and for all the
friends.
I have wondered, and am still unable to comprehend what a God it is
that we have; for he is the God of all comfort, who comforts me in all
my temptations; and I hope that he will also comfort you whenever you
need comfort. 2 Cor. 5:3.
My most beloved wife, be of good cheer in all your sufferings which you
have with me; for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy
to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us; for we have
thus accepted our pilgrimage, and always counted these costs. Hence
comfort yourself with the word of the Lord, as I hope you will do; and
I also have confidence in you, that you will not make me more sorrowful
than I am already; I know you to be too brave for it. Thus I hope that
the Lord will strengthen us unto the end. Always pray the Lord for us,
for we need it, for the prayer of the righteous avails much, of whom
you are one in my heart’s estimation, and I hope to see you after this
life in the eternal, where we shall part no more. And in whatever I
have at any time grieved you, forgive me for the Lord’s sake, for I
gladly forgive them everything, who have sinned against me, so that
I hope that the Lord will forgive me everything; all my sins and
weaknesses. I cannot sufficiently wonder at, nor thank the Lord enough
for what he does for me; he is too wonderfully good a God, this I now
truly realize.
Thus I inform you that we were all examined to-day before the Margrave,
and of us six we four freely confessed our faith, for it had to be:
either the soul or the body had to be sacrificed; the Lord had to be
either forsaken or confessed.
Thus, Hans Symons, Cornelis the shoemaker, and Mattheus, confessed as
also, I unworthy one, and I hope to keep it to the praise of the Lord,
but not through my own power or merit, but by the power and grace of
God; for through weakness we are made strong, this I must confess. Eph.
1:19; 2 Cor. 12:9. Hence be of good cheer in the Lord, and do the best
with the children, of whom I dare not think, for they lie heavily on my
heart.
When the Margrave examined me to-day, concerning my faith he asked me
about nothing but baptism, and I held out against him as long as I
could, by saying that I knew but one baptism according to the Gospel
and Christ’s own command and injunction; but his constant question was:
“Say yes or no, whether you are satisfied with the baptism you received
in your infancy, or whether you have received another?”
I replied that I knew nothing to say about infant baptism; but this did
not suffice, I had to confess that I had received another, and thus I
confessed it, the Lord be praised, and I have not regretted it yet,
and I hope that I shall not regret it unto the end, for it is the truth.
I must stop, since my paper will reach no further. Greet all the
friends much in the Lord, whenever you have a proper opportunity,
as also, all friends according to the flesh; especially, greet
grandmother, and comfort her as best you can, since I have great
anxiety for her sake, and for you and my children. I often think of my
sweet P., but I am glad when he is out of my thoughts. Do the best in
everything; I greet you with a holy kiss of peace. I hope the Lord will
shorten my days, because he loves me. To L. E. I hope to write yet,
when I get time; greet her much in my name. Herewith I commend you to
the Lord. Written as above.
By me, your very weak husband, Christian Langedul, from prison, in
which I am for the testimony of the Lord.
_The second letter of Christian Langedul, in which he relates how
cruelly he was tortured, and the misery of his body after the torture,
as also, his sure hope and firm confidence in the Lord._
Know, my beloved wife, that yesterday about three o’clock I had written
you a letter, which I now send you. I could not send it then, for soon
afterwards the Margrave came here to torture us; hence I was not able
to send the letter, for then all four of us were one after another
severely tortured, so that we have now but little inclination to write;
however, we cannot forbear, we must write to you.
Cornelis the shoemaker was the first; then came Hans Symons, with whom
also the captain went down into the torture chamber. Then thought I: We
shall have a hard time of it, to satisfy him. My turn came next--you
may think how I felt. When I came to the rack, where were the lords,
the order was: “Strip yourself, or tell where you live.” I looked
distressed, as may be imagined. I then said: “Will you ask me nothing
further then?” They were silent.
Then thought I: I see well enough what it means, it would not exempt me
from the torture; hence I undressed, and fully resigned myself to the
Lord, to die. Then they racked me dreadfully, twisting off two cords,
I believe, on my thighs and shins; they stretched me out, and poured
much water into my body and my nose, and also on my heart. Then they
released me, and asked: “Will you not yet tell it?” They entreated me,
and again they spoke harshly to me; but I did not open my mouth, so
firmly had God closed it.
Then they said: “Go at him again, and this with a vengeance.” This they
also did, and cried: “Go on, go on, stretch him another foot.” Then
thought I: “You can only kill me.” And thus stretched out, with cords
twisted around my head, chin, thighs, and shins, they left me lie, and
said: “Tell, tell.”
They then talked with one another of my account which J. T. had
written, of the linen, which amounted to six hundred and fifty-five
pounds; and that it was so much cash and rebate. Then the Margrave
said: “He understands the French well;” and I lay there in pain. Again
I was asked: “Will you not tell it?” I did not open my mouth. Then they
said: “Tell us where you live; your wife and children, at all events,
are all gone away.” In short, I said not a word. “What a dreadful
thing,” they said. Thus the Lord kept my lips, so that I did not open
them; and they released me, when they had long tried to make me speak.