for if I persevere not in this conflict, all that I have suffered is
in vain, for the unsaved shall be written in the earth. Jer. 17:13.
O so many times I feel a terror of apostatizing, for I am so certain
and assured that I am on the right way. For, dear brothers, you well
know, that no one can come into this world except he be born; so no
one can enter into the future world, except he be born again, even as
Peter clearly testifies, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,
by the word of God, which liveth and abideth, forever. 1 Peter 1:23.
O brothers, dear brothers, happy is he that is thus born: for such
regenerated persons use the true baptism and the true Supper; they
also keep aloof from all false doctrines, and also use the true
excommunication and separation, for the maintenance of the purity of
the church, or it would soon become a Babylon.
Dear brothers, I have been before a priest four different times, and
we can agree in nothing. O he uses such diligence to bring us to his
church; and because we will not buy, or cannot accept with a good
conscience, his merchandise, therefore he says that we have the devil
in us, and that we are damned if we thus die in our belief. However,
I am not terrified by his judgment, but I pray the Lord, to open the
eyes of their understanding, that they may see against whom they are
contending, that it is not against men, but against God and the Lamb;
for Christ says. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his
own; but because ye are not of the world, [but I have chosen you out
of the world,] therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19. And Christ
further says: If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub,
how much more shall they call them of his household. Matt. 10:25. O how
truly it may be said at this time, that our life is accounted madness,
our going out destruction and our honor shame. Wis. 5:4; 3:3. O how are
the words of Christ fulfilled 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. And
also Paul says: If they had known him, they would not have crucified
the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:8. O my dear brothers, remove your feet
from the paths of the ungodly, for they go to hell, like sheep to the
slaughter. Proverbs 4:14. And look not to the multitude, for Esdras
writes: Even as there is found much earth of which to make earthen
vessels, but little to make golden ones, so are the ungodly to the
righteous. 2 Esd. 8:2. And again: Like as a flood is to a drop, so are
the ungodly to the righteous. 9:16. And he further says: What profit
is it to man that there is promised a city full of all good things, if
he cannot enter into it? or that there is promised an immortal life,
whereas we do the works that bring death? Hence we may well say with
Esdras: “O Adam, Adam! what hast thou done! for when thou didst fall,
thou didst not fall alone, but also we all that come of thee.” 7:48.
O my dear brothers, strive to become true sheep of Christ’s flock,
and true branches of the vine Christ, and seek those things which
are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God; set your
affections on things above not on things on the earth; and mortify your
members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate
affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience. Col. 3:1,2,5,6. Thus, my dear brothers, if you desire the
truth, and to escape the punishment to come, seek to order your life
according to the Gospel, and deny yourselves; for Christ says in the
Gospel: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall
lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake and the Gospel’s
shall save it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul? But whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man
be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy
angels.” Matt. 16:24–26; Mark 8:38.
O my dear brothers, consider well these Scriptures, and meditate on
them, for Christ Jesus has brought them down here from high heaven,
and lived and taught them, and sealed them with his blood, and became
poor for our sakes, that through his poverty he might make us rich.
O consider once, how despised Christ was for our sakes. So that the
prophet Isaiah laments and says, that there was no beauty in him, which
might have pleased us. Is. 53:2. Yea, he [the Psalmist] laments, that
he was a worm, and no man. Ps. 22:6. O dear brothers, let us take an
example from him, how admirably he went before us; for all those who
do not accept Christ are not redeemed by him; for Christ also says in
the Gospel: “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which
I say? for whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.[323]
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man which built his house upon the
sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,
and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:24–27. And Christ further says, of the sower,
Matt. 13, that some seed fell by the wayside, some upon stony places,
some among thorns, and some into good ground, and this brought forth
fruit. O ponder well this Scripture, in how many a one the deceitful
riches suppress the word of God, so that it does not bring forth fruit.
Thus, my dear beloved brothers, this is written in my bonds for a
perpetual warning to you. O that God would grant grace, that his word
might lie in your heart, as it does in mine; then you should soon bid
the world farewell. Yet, my flesh sometimes wonderfully shrinks back
from suffering, so that at times I am as fearful as one that is in
the throes of travail. Nevertheless, Christ Jesus also shrank from
suffering. Luke 22.
[323] _Corner-stone_, the original has it.
Herewith I will commend you to the crucified Christ Jesus, and to the
abundant word of his grace, as a perpetual adieu upon earth if we
should here see one another no more; for my mind is still fixed this
day, to seal this letter with my blood, and, with old Eleazar, rather
to die honorably than to live stained with ignominy. And, Michiel, I
also greet your wife, sister Tanneken, very cordially with a perpetual
adieu. My brothers always do good, and praise and thank the Lord, that
you have a brother who is worthy to lay down his life for Christ and
the Gospel’s sake. Written to you in tears, for nature’s sake. Assist
Christian with the children, wherever it is possible for you; and keep
this letter as a testament. By me, your dear brother,
JOOST VERKINDERT.
THE LAST LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE AFTER HE HAD
RECEIVED HIS SENTENCE, AND WAS BROUGHT TO THE COMMON PRISON, IT BEING
ON THE 12TH OF SEPTEMBER.
God, who is the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God
through Christ Jesus, to him be praise, honor, glory, dominion, power,
and majesty, forever and ever. Amen.
This I wish you as a cordial and friendly greeting, my dear and beloved
wife and sister in the Lord, as a perpetual adieu upon earth; informing
you, that I am still tolerably well according to the time, for which
I thank and praise the almighty Father, my and your God, that he has
chosen me hereto.
Hence, my most beloved, do not sorrow too much on my account, but
praise and thank the Lord, that you have had a husband that is counted
worthy to lay down his life for the truth.
O my beloved, I pray and exhort you once more, that you will keep
yourself in quietness and in the fear of God, that we may together
receive the beautiful promises, where neither cold, nor heat, nor
hunger, nor thirst shall be any more, but such joy, which eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
great joy and gladness which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Cor. 2:9.
O my beloved, this befell me, when we least expected it; but the
almighty God be praised and thanked through Christ Jesus, that he still
thus aids and succors me in my distress.
Herewith I commend you and my two little children to Christ Jesus, whom
I commend to you for a husband.
O my beloved, never forsake this husband and bridegroom, for he is the
Father of the widows and orphans. Ps. 68:6. Adieu, my most beloved,
with mother and all our friends, whom I commend upon earth to the
crucified, bleeding Christ Jesus. Adieu, adieu all together. Subscribed
by me,
JOOST VERKINDERT.
Your dear husband, written in my bonds.
A LETTER FROM LAUWERENS ANDRIESS, THE FELLOW-PRISONER OF JOOST
VERKINDERT; SENT THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, TO R., THE WIFE OF SAID JOOST.
The eternal, abundant and rich grace and mercy of God the heavenly
Father, and the pure love, joy and peace of the Son, together with the
comfort of the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from both the Father and the
Son, to comfort those that are in any tribulation; this I wish you, my
dear and God-beloved sister in the Lord, as a friendly greeting, to
strengthen you in your great tribulation, in which you now also are for
the Lord’s holy name and the Gospel’s sake, which Gospel he left us,
and sealed it with his precious blood, that he might thereby cleanse
and wash us from all our uncleanness, and present us unto himself holy
and blameless, without spot or wrinkle, yea, that he might thereby
prepare unto himself a holy people zealous of good works. Eph. 5:26,27;
Tit. 2:14. To him be praise, thanks, glory, honor, power, and majesty,
forever and ever. Amen.
After all proper greetings, my dear and beloved sister in the Lord,
whom I love from the depth of my heart, because of our regeneration,
I inform you, that I and your dear husband are still tolerably well
according to the flesh; and as regards the spirit, it is still the
purpose of us both, to adhere to the eternal truth by the great help
of the Lord, without whom we can do nothing, and from whom we must
also constantly look for help and comfort. And he, according to his
promise, does not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but
does with the temptation also make a way to escape. 1 Cor. 10:13.
Yea, he is a faithful helper in distress, who never yet forsook his
own that continued in his fear, and firmly trusted in his word; for
he gives unto every one that asks him, and will not that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance, that we should be to
the praise of his glory. Matt. 7:7; 2 Pet. 3:9; Eph. 1:12. Hence, “If
ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things
above, not on things on the earth; for ye are dead, and your life is
hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,
then shall ye[324] also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore
your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which
is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the
children of disobedience.” Col. 3:1–6. Therefore, let all bitterness,
conceitedness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking,
be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake
hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself
for us. Eph. 4:31,32; 5:1,2. And Christ says: A new commandment I give
unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also
love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.
John 13:34,35. And Peter says: Have fervent charity among yourselves;
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8); and love
is the fulfilling of the law. Rom. 13:8. But we must love God above
all, as is written: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and
mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his
own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26. And further: He
that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he
that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew
19:37. Thus, we must love him above all, and for his name forsake
everything, and entirely deny ourselves. 16:24. Hence, my dear sister,
be content, and do not grieve immoderately on this account; for it is
the will of the Lord, and his will must be done. We must part here
once. Thus, hasten, that we may all meet together when men shall not be
able to part us any more. May the good and almighty Lord full of grace
and truth make us fit hereto. Amen.
[324] _We_, in the original.
Farewell, and accept this in good part.
HANS VAN DEN WEGE, JANNEKEN VAN HULLE, AND JANNEKEN VAN RENTEGEM, A. D.
1570.
Jan van den Wege, having risen early one morning, and then, about seven
o’clock, gone with his cousin to market, was apprehended at the fish
market at Ghent in Flanders, by master Klaes (who was wont to ride out
with the Dean of Ronse, in order to assist in the apprehension of those
called heretics) and two other officers, and taken to the Sausselet
(the city prison), where master Klaes asked him concerning his place
of residence, which he refused to tell. He was then searched; but they
found nothing on his person except a hymn; hence they took their
departure from him, leaving him securely locked in prison. Having,
after many examinations and vexations, boldly confessed his faith,
and refusing to apostatize from it in any wise, he was, on the 7th of
November 1570, together with two young maidens, named Janneken van
Hulle, and Janneken van Rentegem, sentenced to death for the living
word of God. When they were brought forth, almost entirely stripped,
the executioner put a gag into each one’s mouth to prevent them from
speaking. Thus they went along in silence like sheep to the slaughter,
and saluted the brethren by nodding to them. A brother was heard to say
to them: “Be valiant.” And a sister said: “Contend valiantly for the
truth.” In their sentence it was stated that they had been rebaptized,
contrary to the royal decree, also, that they had erred from the true
faith, and united with heretics, and that they were therefore sentenced
to be burned with fire. The executioner then placed each at a stake,
and strangled and burned them. Thus they finished their course, and are
now lying under the altar, awaiting the reward of their sufferings.
THE FIRST LETTER OF HANSKEN VAN DEN WEGE.
I wish you, my cordially beloved and chosen sister, whom I love from
the very depth of my heart, the unfathomable, abundant, great grace
and mercy of the eternal and almighty God, the heavenly Father; and
also the great humility and meekness, and the great peace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the only and true Son of the living God; and the great
power, consolation and full joy of the Holy Ghost; this is my eternal
and blessed wish and holy salutation and perpetual memorial to you, my
dear, chosen sister; and also to all men that fear and love the Lord,
and call on him out of a pure heart. This is ever my blessed wish and
holy salutation, to the eternal salvation of your souls, and to the
praise of the eternal, supreme, almighty God of heaven and earth; to
whose name be praise, thanks, glory and honor, forever and ever. Amen.
O see, my dear and much beloved chosen sister, what more shall I wish
you? or what more shall I write you than I have written? But I repeat,
and this from abundant, pure and fervent love to God, with the holy,
chosen apostle Peter, where he writes to you, and also to us, and to
all men: “Purify your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
unto unfeigned love of the brethren, and see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the
flower of grass. The sun is risen, and hath withered the grass, and the
beauty of it is perished: but the word of the Lord endureth forever. 1
Pet. 1:22–25. O dear sister, what a good ointment and blessed doctrine
this is which Peter has here taught us by the Holy Ghost. O yes, what a
precious medicine this is which the Lord has left us by his apostles,
by which the soul can be purified and healed. Hence let us open
our ears, and unlock our hearts, that we may hear with our ears and
understand with our hearts, what the obedience of the truth teaches
us. For it is Jesus Christ, the genuine truth, with all the precious
medicines of grace and mercy, and the sweet-smelling oil of love,
whereby we purify our souls, and by no other.
Hence, O dear sister, let us hear this truth, and obey it; for he
proceeded from the Father, yea, came from and was sent by him, a
teacher from heaven, to teach us the way of truth, and the life, which
he was himself; and all that he has heard and seen from his Father, he
has taught us, in order to purify our souls, and save them for ever;
for he teaches us, saying: “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.” John 8:42; 1:4; 14:6; 8:38; 3:5.
O dear sister, earnestly pray the Lord for a right understanding of
this regeneration, which must be effected from above, of water and
of the Spirit, since otherwise we cannot enter into the kingdom of
heaven. Hence, let us pray with a firm confidence and a strong faith,
yea, pray with an unwavering mind to God the Most High, in spirit and
in truth; and it shall be given us, as he himself says: “For every one
that asketh receiveth,” says the Lord Jesus Christ. Matt. 7:8. Let us
therefore so ask him that we may receive it, that is, understand the
regeneration, and live in accordance therewith, and then remain forever
and constantly regenerated unto the end. O yes, so born from above,
that whereas there was nothing before, there is something now; and
whereas formerly we knew nothing but lying and cheating, together with
presumptuous pride, proud cursing, fighting, swearing, evil speaking,
and lived in much pleasure of the flesh, we now speak the truth from
the heart, and walk in the truth, as children that are born of the
truth; and live in the fear of our God, with an humbled heart, in
lowliness, gentleness, and in great joy of the Spirit, and no longer
go to dumb idols, to worship or honor them, nor do we go into their
Baal’s dens, where nothing but the commandments of men are taught,
which doctrines destroy men’s souls, and with which the devil has
destroyed the whole world, for his name is destroyer. Rev. 9:11. O yes,
dear sister, whenever we went there, we saw them perform their mass
and abominable idolatry, which are but fables and commandments of men,
and instituted by the same destroyer, the devil. And when they elevate
their abominable idol, every one must fall down before it, and worship
and honor it. O what abominable idolatry this is! Sentence has long
ago been pronounced upon them; for idolaters, says Paul, have no part
in the kingdom of God: but their part, says John, is in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 1 Cor. 6:9;
Rev. 21:8. Hence, O dear sister, keep away from idols, and touch not
the unclean thing, and let us be turned from idolatry to the service
of the living God, to serve him, for he alone is to be heard, praised,
honored, worshiped, served, and loved, forever. Yes, dear sister, let
us thus apprehend the meaning of Christ, that we be truly turned from
the power of this world, where there is nothing but darkness, namely,
the night of sin (1 Thess. 5:7; Rom. 13:12); to the day of grace, where
shines in the beautiful Sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ, with all
his promises and grace (Mal. 4:2; Rom. 6:14); and from lies to the
truth, and from unrighteousness and wickedness to righteousness and
good works; and thus demonstrate in power, that we are regenerated in
humility of heart and spirit, love one another with brotherly love out
of a pure heart, and have peace with all men, if it be possible; yea,
as ye would that men should do to you, so do you also to them: for this
is the law and the prophets, says Christ, who is the infallible truth.
1 Pet. 1:22; Rom. 12:18; Matt. 7:12.
Let us therefore well consider this, that we may not err; for we would
indeed be willing that men should show us much favor and mercy, and
always live peaceably with us; hence let us also always show much
favor and mercy to all men, and do them many kindnesses, thus showing
love to them, and seek to live in peace and love with one another,
and with all men. Yes, dear sister, let us so purify our souls as
Peter says: “Purify your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit
unto unfeigned love of the brethren, and love one another with a pure
heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”
1 Pet. 1:22,23. O yes, dear sister, let us so follow the advice of
Peter, that we obey the truth of Christ, and through obedience purify
our souls, and be truly born from above, of water and of the Spirit,
which must be effected from high heaven, whereby we must be born again,
namely, of the water, as Christ says: “He that believeth on me, as
the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water.” (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on
him should receive.) John 7:38,39. And by the words of truth, as Christ
himself says: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and
they are life.” John 6:63. O yes, dear sister, this is the true water
and the true Spirit, whereby we must be born again from above, if
we are to see the kingdom of heaven; for Christ gives and sends the
Holy Spirit from above down upon every one whom he sees prepared; and
his word he also brought from above, and hence this regeneration is
effected from above. John 15:26; 8:26; 3:3,7.