command of Christ, namely, because Christ says: “Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
John 3:5. In this passage he would also include the children, namely,
in the expression, _a man_.[321] I then made him read that chapter, in
a Bible which was there, namely: “There was a man of the Pharisees,
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night,
and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from
God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be
with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, Except a man born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
I then asked him, whether he knew and understood what it was to be born
from above; and also said, that a child could not be born from above;
but that Christ thereby meant persons that had understanding. “Yes,”
said he, “and infants too,” and fell back on his old proposition,
and held fast to it, namely:“Except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit,” etc. And he also quoted Paul and Titus, that Christ
cleansed his church with the washing of water by the word. Eph. 5:26.
Thereupon I answered that Paul thereby did not mean children. He would
also establish it with John’s epistle, namely, that there are three
witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and
these three are one; and three witnesses on earth: the spirit, the
water, and the blood: and these three are one (1 John 5:7,8); to which
he added, that infants must be cleansed from original sin through
baptism. I told him, that infants are cleansed from their original sin
through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Paul says: Even as by
the unrighteousness of one man death entered into the world, so grace
much more abounded by Christ Jesus; and as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ are all made alive again. Rom. 5:17; 1 Cor. 15:22. Also, that
the prophet says, that the child shall not bear the iniquity of its
father. Ezek. 18:20. He said: It is true, this grace has come upon all
men: but that children must nevertheless be baptized, if they were to
be saved; and he made a great many words which had a fair semblance.
Then I asked him, whether infants were saved by the water. He replied:
“When they are baptized with water, they receive the Holy Ghost,” and
are then redeemed by the blood of Christ; which he established with the
three witnesses on earth, namely, the spirit, the water, and the blood;
and upon this he strenuously insisted. I told him, that he rejected and
disesteemed with his infant baptism the blood of Christ, with which he
was not well satisfied. I then asked him, whether baptism was not a
burial of sin. He replied: “Yes.” I said, again, that infants had not
committed sin, and that they were simple and innocent. But it was all
of no avail; children must be baptized, for this had been practiced
from the time of the apostles. I asked him again, whether the apostles
had baptized children. He answered, that they had baptized entire
households, among which there might probably also have been infants.
I said, that the households had addicted themselves to the ministry
(1 Cor. 16:15), which children could not do, but it is necessary to
minister to them; nevertheless he adhered to what he had said. I asked
him, if there were a woman that had two infants, and one of them were
baptized, and the other died without baptism, what he held in regard
to this. He answered: “The baptized infant would be saved, and the
unbaptized one not.” I said, that the blood of Christ had more efficacy
than their baptism, and that they also baptized those to whom it did
not belong; for Christ has commanded to baptize believers, and not
infants, and has also commanded the baptized to keep his commandments.
I also said that they were dear with baptism, but that it had no
efficacy. He therefore made many words, for he wanted to establish
infant baptism also with circumcision. But I proved to him, that the
figure was not applicable thereto: also, that only the male children,
and not the female, were circumcised. But it was all of no avail, it
had to be a figure of baptism, and as the uncircumcised soul had to
be cut off from the people of Israel, he said, so should also the
unbaptized be damned; which I contradicted him with divers Scriptures.
He said: “Joos, it seems to me, that you understand it better than you
pretend; for I have certainly proved to you plainly enough that infants
must be baptized.” I answered him and said: “My lord, think not that I
would contradict you against my mind and understanding, when I am in
such severe confinement.” And thus we had to be poor and miserable men;
and we had many other words together regarding baptism; but we could
not agree on this point. When he had waited a little with speaking, he
said: “Joos, you have suffered yourself to be lamentably deceived.”
I told him, that I had the truth, nor had I suffered myself to be
deceived; asking him, whether it was not his opinion, that we should
from this fire go into the eternal. “O,” said he, “that is beyond a
doubt.” “I have a better hope,” said I, “and should fain see also you
come to a better knowledge.” When he heard this, he ceased a little, as
though he were startled and terrified, and he pitied us greatly, and I
saw that he meant it from the heart.
[321] Any one. Dutch version.
We further had some words concerning the incarnation of Christ, who he
said had assumed flesh and blood from Mary. I told him, that he should
prove it to me. He quoted Rom. 1:3, that he was David’s son according
to the flesh. I said: “I confess this too.” He then quoted Paul to
the Hebrews, where he says: “He taketh not on angels, but he taketh
on the seed of Abraham.” Hebrews 2:16. He also quoted Matt. 1, of the
generation. Thereupon I asked him, whether he did not believe that
the Word became flesh. He replied, “Yes, for Christ assumed flesh and
blood from Mary.” I quoted to him Luke 1, that the angel came to Mary,
saluted her and said, that she should conceive in her womb, and bring
forth a son, who should be called Jesus, and the Son of the Highest.
Mary answered and said to the angel: “How shall this be, seeing I know
not a man?” The angel answered and said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God.” I added also Matt. 1, that the angel appeared
to Joseph in a dream, saying: “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is
of the Holy Ghost.” I also quoted Paul, where he says: “The first man
is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.” And
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians
15:47,50. But no matter what I proved to him, he persisted that Christ
must be of the nature of Mary, so that after many other words which
we had together, concerning the incarnation of Christ, we could not
agree. He then took up the Supper, saying that it was true flesh and
blood, which he would establish with the words of Christ, where he
says: “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood,
ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal life.” John 6:53,54. I replied to him, that Christ did
not speak these words with reference to the Supper. He rejoined: “Is
it not written: Take, eat; this is my body?” (Matt. 26:26). I replied,
that it signified his body: for it is also written: I am the true vine
(John 15:1) though he was not a natural vine. Moreover, Paul states it
clearly, where he says: “I have received of the Lord that which also
I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he
was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it,
and said, Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you; this
do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup,
when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood:
this do ye, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often
as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death
till he come,” (mark, till he come). 1 Corinthians 11:23–26. Hence, I
said, he is not present there bodily, as you say, my lord. I also told
him of the paschal lamb, proving to him, that it was a true figure of
the Supper; but we could agree in no point. The subject of monasteries
was also brought up all of which I called sects, and asked him, whether
God’s children must not all be spiritual. He answered: “Yes.” I asked
again, why they were not all of one kind since there were many and
various monasteries manifestly differing from one another in caps and
ceremonies. He answered and said that the Holy Ghost wrought manifold
gifts, with which he wanted to establish the monasteries. I also asked
him whether he had not read the prophet Baruch. “Very likely,” he said.
Then I told him, how the prophet there warns Israel that when they
should be in Babylon, and should there see them bear idols upon their
shoulders, and much people running before and behind, they should think
in their hearts: “O Lord, thou alone art to be worshiped.” Baruch 6:3.
And I asked him, whether the same ought not to be done on Sunday. He
answered and said: “That is to be only an image.” I said, that the
image makers are cursed. Ex. 20:4; Deut. 27:15. He said: “They are
the books of the simple,” and maintained, that the images were like
letters, and would also prove that images might be made, and this with
the cherubim that were on the ark. We also had many words together
concerning the worshiping of the saints; but we could not agree. I have
been before him three different times. O dear brethren and sisters, let
each persevere steadfastly: and heartily entreat the Lord for us; that
we may be able to stand against all the gates of hell; for our conflict
is not little, for we are in the midst of our enemies. Farewell all of
you, and adieu till a better time.
Written in my bonds, by me,
JOOST VERKINDERT.
Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.
* * * * *
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8.
ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT WRITTEN IN BONDS TO HIS WIFE ON THE
20TH OF AUGUST.
The unspeakable grace of God the Father, the love of his beloved Son
our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the comfort; joy and gladness of
the Holy Ghost; this I wish you for a cordial and friendly greeting, my
very dear and beloved wife and sister in the Lord. I inform you that I
am still tolerably well according to the time, for which reason I thank
and praise the Lord for his great grace, trusting to hear the same from
you.
Know further, that in the letters mentioning the disputations with
the priest not all the words are contained which we had together, for
he also quoted: “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his
way shall save a soul from death” (Jas. 5:20); telling us, that if we
would be converted, we should be set free, and suffered to go where we
pleased. He spoke with an angelic mien frequently with folded hands,
adding virtually, that he would stand in our stead at the judgment of
God and that we had not the truth; so that it seems to me, that if a
man were not firmly built upon Christ, he would have to perish. But the
almighty God be praised and thanked, that all his sharp arrows which
he shot did not harm or injure me, for God was with me. He also said,
that not many rich followed Christ, but many poor and plain people;
but by the apostles many signs and miracles were wrought, whereby,
he said, the rich, and also kings and princes came to the faith, and
since he is very profuse in words, he quoted many other fragmentary
passages of Scripture, and gives himself very plain. In short, he made
a fair display, but did not sell anything. If we however, had sought
the temporal life, he indeed represented it to us in very fair colors;
but the almighty God be praised and thanked for his great grace, for
my mind is still determined at this day, rather to die honorably than
to live ignominiously. For there is none other name under heaven given
to men whereby we must be saved except only the name of Jesus Christ
(Acts 4:12); for he alone is the way and entrance to life eternal. O my
beloved, this way has no by-paths, but those that depart from it go to
death. Flesh and blood would indeed live still longer, but the spirit
would rather be unfettered and present with Christ (2 Cor. 5:8); for as
long as we live we are in many dangers; for in a short time we may lose
that for which we have long labored.
Therefore, we may indeed constantly cry to God, to preserve us poor
pilgrims in this dismal wilderness, where serpents spew fire, yea,
where wolves run swiftly until evening to shed innocent blood; but,
my beloved, he that is with us is much mightier than he that is with
the world; for God is with us, but with the world, an arm of flesh. O
that we might be found one of those of whom John writes, saying: “These
are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they
before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple:
and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall
hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne
shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:14–17. And
also: “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are
virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.”
And again: “These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits
unto God and to the Lamb.” 14:4. Also: “Because thou hast kept the word
of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,
which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth.” 3:10.
O my beloved, if we were there, the journey would have been safely
accomplished. Nevertheless, I have a living hope; for God does not
desire our death. Hence, let us always be bold, and comfort ourselves
with the words of Christ, where he says: “They shall put you out of the
synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think
that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you,
because they have not known the Father, nor me.” John 16:2,3. “For if
they had known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1
Cor. 2:8. Let us take for an example all the holy fathers, who met with
all sorts of tribulation and affliction, and proved themselves a sweet
savor of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish a savor
unto death. 2 Cor. 2:15,16. For the Lord has appointed a day in which
he will render to every man according to his works (Ps. 62:12); and it
seems to me, that the day of the Lord is at hand; hence let us possess
our souls in patience, so that we may be able to stand before him in
that day. Luke 21:19.
Herewith I will commend you, my beloved, to the crucified, bleeding
Christ Jesus, and to the rich word of his grace. Lauwerens, my
fellow-prisoner, and I, greet you and all our acquaintances very
cordially with the peace of the Lord. Do the best with my little
orphans. By me,
JOOST VERKINDERT.
Your dear husband, and unworthy prisoner in the Lord. Written in my
bonds, on the 20th of August.
ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT, WRITTEN IN HIS BONDS, TO HIS WIFE,
ON THE 2ND OF SEPTEMBER.
The grace and peace of God the heavenly Father, the love of his beloved
Son, together with the comfort joy, and gladness of the Holy Ghost,
this I wish you as a friendly greeting, my very dear and beloved wife
and sister in the Lord. Be pleased to know, that I am still tolerably
well according to the time, for which I thank and praise the Lord for
his great goodness and grace, trusting to hear the same from you. Know
further, that I received your letter, and thank you for your good
exhortation and Christian solicitude for me in these my bonds. O my
beloved, this indeed may truly be called the narrow way, for we are
assailed from every side, namely, from flesh and blood; and Satan rests
not day or night, by some means to bring us into error or unbelief;
for the enemies of the cross of Christ approach us very subtilly.
Now they have compassion for us, saying: “I will be innocent of your
blood.” Then they say: “If you die in your belief, you must from this
fire go into the eternal.” Thereupon I replied to him, that we had a
better hope, and were not as those that beat the air. 1 Cor. 9:26. He
said that we were possessed of the devil, and were so firmly bound or
held of him, that we would not let ourselves be moved. We replied that
the Jews also said to Christ, that he had a devil. John 7:20; 10:20. I
wonder, said he, if it would do some good to exorcise you; and other
blasphemous words. We told him to go and seek souls, and to reprove
harlots and rogues, drunkards, and the ungodliness of the people,
since to such the kingdom of heaven is denied. He answered, that he
exhorted them to repentance. Lauwerens told him, that all their things
and ceremonies were nothing but hypocrisy and abomination, and that
they sold masses to the people by the dozen. He replied to Lauwerens,
saying: “If you were a wise man, I should take this ill of you.” I
asked him, where there was anything written [in the Bible] concerning
his mass. He said it was a sacrifice, and made many words with regard
to this matter, so that it was astonishing where he got it all; much
of it had a fair semblance. Among other things he said, that he would
shed his blood for us, to gain our souls. I told him, that he would
nevertheless be loth to die for us, and set us free. He said that we
were too pernicious to live. I said: “My lord, I am much surprised
(since you say, that if we die in this belief we are damned) that
you will not rather suffer us to live; for as long as a man lives,
he has time for amendment and repentance.” But to this he had little
inclination, saying, that we were of the worst persuasion on the earth;
for the Calvinists and Martinists, he said, were more easily moved than
we; so that we could not agree, but he said, that he daily prayed for
us. O, said he, I remembered you this very day in my mass. We said,
that we also prayed the Lord day and night for our greatest salvation.
He said, that we sought salvation, but ignorantly. He would also have
the flesh and blood of Christ really present in the bread or Supper.
In regard to this we made but few words, but I said to him: “Even as
Israel made a golden calf, which served as an idol, to whom they said,
that these were their gods which had delivered them out of Egypt; so
it is also with your people; for they say: This is our god which has
redeemed us on the tree of the cross. He said, that if he were not
present in the bread, it would be idolatry; but when the priest has
pronounced the words over it, he comes sacramentally into it, and hence
it is also not idolatry. And when he could not move us with Scriptures,
he held out to us release and pardon, to lure us, so that my conflict
thereby becomes the more grievous to me; yet I hope that the Lord will
help us to triumph, for without the help of God it were impossible to
stand.
Hence, my beloved, help me heartily to entreat the Lord, that he will
preserve me through his great goodness and long-suffering as the apple
of his eye, that I may not be seduced through philosophy or carnal
liberty, nor depart from my God, of which I have a great terror; but
that he will comfort and strengthen me in my good purpose, to the
praise of his holy name, and to the salvation of my soul.
Herewith I will commend you to the crucified, bleeding Christ Jesus,
and to the rich word of his grace; who is faithful in what he has
promised. I greet you, my beloved, with the kiss of peace; and
Lauwerens and I also greet all our acquaintances very cordially with
the peace of the Lord. Amen.
Written in my bonds, by me,
JOOST VERKINDERT, Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.
ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT, WRITTEN TO HIS BROTHERS, MICHIEL
AND PLEUN, ON THE 7TH OF SEPTEMBER, THE 100TH DAY OF HIS IMPRISONMENT.
May God the Father, and our dear Lord Jesus Christ, give you a heart
and mind, to walk in his holy truth all the days of your life, to the
salvation of your poor, naked souls, that they may be saved, when the
Lord shall visit them at the last day, when we shall all be placed
before the judgment seat of Christ, where every one shall receive
reward according to his deeds, whether they be good or bad. 2 Cor.
5:10. To God the Father be praise and honor through Jesus Christ; may
he give us his Holy Spirit for a Comforter in all our tribulation, in
which we now are, for Christ and the gospel’s sake. To the Lord be
praise, honor and thanks forever and ever. Amen.
This I wish you, my dear and beloved brothers, Michiel and Pleun, as a
heartfelt and friendly greeting, from the inmost of my soul. Be pleased
to know, that I am still tolerably well according to the flesh; and as
regards the Spirit, my mind is still fixed, to adhere to the eternal
truth with the help of the Most High, to whom I must look for comfort
and help; for of myself I have not one good thought but only aversion;
for the flesh always shrinks from suffering. Nevertheless, my dear
brothers, there must be suffering, either here or hereafter, for Christ
says, that the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent
must take it by force. Matt. 11:12. O dear brothers, I pray you from
the heart, that you will take heed to yourselves, to obey the voice of
the Lord, so that you may not be found to be of those who had buried
their talent in the earth, and of those who want to put a new piece
upon an old garment, and of those who put new wine into old bottles.
Matt. 25:18; Luke 5:36,37. O my dear brothers, if you do not take heed
to yourselves, God will require a strict account of you, for Christ
says: All those who will not have me to reign over them, bring hither,
and slay them before mine eyes, and cast them into outer darkness;
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Luke 19:27; 13:25. And
further, Luke 12:47, Christ says: That servant which knew his Lord’s
will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will,
shall be beaten with many stripes. O my dear brothers, accept this my
warning in good part, for it is done out of pure brotherly love, and
this because I so well know, that without Christ and without his word
there is no salvation. For I also, for a number of years knew better
than I did, the Lord forgive me; and if I could have served the world
and the Lord, I would not be in bonds. O dear brothers, flesh and blood
did not bring me to this, but the word of the Lord, which is sharper
than any two-edged sword. For no man can serve two masters at the same
time; he must despise the one, and hold to the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon together. Matt. 6:24. And O, it (the word) also calls
to the children of Israel and says: “How long halt ye between two
opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him; if Baal, then follow him.”
1 Kings 18:21. O dear brothers, these and other Scriptures compelled
me to renounce my own will, in order to escape the great deluge and
punishment that shall come upon those who have not obeyed the Gospel
of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his
power. 2 Thess. 1:8,9.
O dear brothers, be afraid of that day which shall burn as an oven, and
when all the proud despisers, and all the wicked shall be as stubble;
but they that have kept the laws of their God shall then grow up as
calves of the stall, and they shall go in and out, and tread down the
wicked like ashes under their feet. Mal. 4:1. O dear brothers, that we
might all be found worthy to hear the pleasant voice of Christ saying:
“Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom of my Father, prepared for you
from the foundation of the world--O then we should have indeed been
born at a blessed hour! For there are so few that seek to follow the
Lord with a whole and true heart, for every one would excuse himself;
the one says: I have bought five yoke of oxen; the second: I have
married a wife; the third: I have bought a piece of ground; I pray
thee, have me excused. Luke 14:18. O dear brothers, before the Lord
no excuse shall be able to stand; hence let us take heed, if we have
heard his voice, that our hearts do not become hardened or stony;
for we have many examples in the holy Scriptures, that the ungodly
cannot stand before the Lord. For we read, how God punished the world
with the deluge, because of their sins; but he saved Noah, the eighth
person, a preacher of righteousness, and brought in the flood upon
the world, of the ungodly; and overthrew and condemned the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins; but preserved just Lot with
his two daughters, who were vexed with their improper and unchaste
conversation. 2 Pet. 2:5. Thus, dear brothers, though the Lord does
not outwardly comfort[322] you, as, he then did, yet he shall not let
sin go unpunished, for the Lord is a righteous judge, who will judge
the heart and thoughts. O yes, man shall have to give account of every
idle word that he has spoken. Matt. 12:36. O dear beloved brothers, go
out from this spiritual Egypt, from the power of the hellish Pharaoh,
and from this spiritual Sodom, where they crucified our Lord, and from
this spiritual Babylon; so that you may live in Zion, and there behold
the beautiful worship of God; for I warn you in the name of the Lord,
and my conscience, that you will find it at the last day, as I have
here written you.
[322] Perhaps a typographical error, and should read, punish.--TR.