Chair, he was again summoned before the margrave, and the clerk of the
criminal court. The margrave told him that he had received a letter
from the Duke, with the import that the prisoner must be examined still
further or more rigorously. Hans replied that he could not give them
any further information. Hence he had to go upon the rack again. When
they could obtain nothing else from him, they released him from the
rack. Hans said: “How can you torment us thus, when no one complains
of us, that we have injured any one?” The margrave said: “You will
not obey the authorities.” Hans replied: “We will gladly obey the
authorities in all taxes, customs and excises; yea, we should be sorry,
if we should withhold from the authorities one stiver of what is their
due.” They then compared him to the Munsterites. Hans said that his
faith was as different from the Munsterite sect, as heaven is from the
earth. And after they had finished tormenting tempting and otherwise
maltreating him according to their pleasure, and he the prisoner, was
in no wise to be moved, since he was firmly built upon the corner-stone
Christ Jesus, he was burned at the stake, in the market place at
Antwerp, about the year 1572, confirming the faith of the truth with
his death and blood, for an instructive and perpetual example to all
true Christians; for he has fought the fight, finished his course,
obtained the crown of eternal glory through the grace of God, and now
rests with all his fellow combatants that have lawfully striven (2 Tim.
2:5), under the altar of Christ Jesus.
This account we have chiefly taken from Hans Knevel’s own letter, which
he wrote at Antwerp, from prison, to his dear brother Steven Janss
Dilburgh! and his wife Leentjen at Hamburg; in which he communicates at
length the firm foundation of his faith and living hope in God’s grace
and blessed promises, which we, to avoid prolixity, have omitted, even
as we have also done with a large number of similar writings.
* * * * *
Persecuted, but not forsaken. 2 Cor. 4:9.
MATTHEUS BERNAERTS, CALLED MATTHEUS VAN LINCKEN, ADRIAEN ROGIERS,
MAERTEN VAN DER STRATEN, AND DINGENTGEN OF HONSCHOTEN, A. D, 1572.
In the year 1572, the 4th of December, there were burned at Ghent in
Flanders, in the Friday Market, for the testimony of Jesus, with balls
in their mouths, a godfearing, pious brother, named Mattheus Bernaerts,
called Mattheus van Lincken, born at Meenen in Flanders, forty years
old, in his time a minister of the church of God, in the word of the
holy Gospel, and also in the deaconship, to provide for poor needy
members of Christ in temporal necessities; and a young maiden, named
Dingentgen of Honschoten. These two, together with Maerten van der
Straten, born at Kortrijck in Flanders, and Adriaen Rogiers, born at
Bommel in Guelderland (who are separately mentioned in this book), four
in all, were together burned in the same fire, with balls in their
mouths, for the true, indubitable truth, and testified to and confirmed
the true faith with their death and blood in great constancy. They thus
fought a good fight against the princes and rulers of darkness, the
devil and his adherents, finished their course, kept the faith, and are
expecting now to receive, through grace, the crown of eternal glory
from the hand of the Lord.
A TESTAMENT WRITTEN BY MATTHEUS BERNAERTS, CALLED VAN LINCKEN,
IMPRISONED IN GHENT, TO HIS CHILDREN, JANNEKEN, JOOSKEN AND MIJNTKEN.
_The salutation._
God the heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and earth, and the waters,
and all that therein is; who dwells in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see (1 Tim. 6:16); the
same eternal, only, almighty God, grant you, my dear children, through
Christ Jesus his only Son, and the power of the Holy Ghost, till your
full age, grace and mercy, wisdom and understanding, that your senses
may become exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5:14), so that
you may from your youth, through the fear of God, learn to shun sin,
and to avoid all evil and wickedness, and thus grow up in the knowledge
of God that you may inherit salvation and eternal glory, so that I may
find you in life eternal. This I, Mattheus Bernaerts, your father, wish
you, my dear children, Janneken, Joosken, and Mijntken, from the depth
of my heart, that this may be done. Amen.
I, Mattheus Bernaerts, or Mattheus van Lincken, your father, am now,
for the word of God, confined in prison at Ghent. Hence, my dear
children, my first wish is, that, when you are come to years of
understanding, you diligently inquire why it came that your father had
to suffer; and search also ardently in the holy Scriptures, and you
will by the grace of God readily perceive that it is not for any evil
doing or heresy that I have to suffer, as I and my fellow-brethren
that have obtained like faith with me, have been accused by the false
prophets; but we are reproached, because we firmly hope in the living
God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe, 1
Tim. 4:10. In the living God, I say, who so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16. We confess that the same
only Son of the Father has existed from everlasting to everlasting.
For he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and
the last, by whom all things were created, and by whom we also have
reconciliation, even the forgiveness of sins. Revelation 1:8,17; Col.
1:16,14. For when we were yet ungodly, Christ died for us, and we were
reconciled by the death of the Son of God when we were yet enemies
through the knowledge of evil works, and now are we reconciled by the
body of his flesh through death, for the blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all our sins. Romans 5:8; 1 John 1:7. He is also the
innocent, spotless Lamb, that took Adam’s sin upon himself, who did no
sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, and who of God is made unto
us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1
Pet. 2:22; 1 Cor. 1:30.
In short, I believe and confess with many saints of God, that Christ
is the Son of the living God, even as Peter confessed him, with many
apostles, Nathanael, Martha, the thief, the angel Gabriel, the Father
from high heaven, and many Christian witnesses. This only Son of God
revealed and made known to us the will of the Father, after he arose
from the dead. He gave his apostles a command, saying: “All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you.” Matt. 28:18–20. Mark writes: “Go ye into all the
world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15,16. But man must then first become converted and repent, for
Christ caused repentance to be preached in his name, for the remission
of sins, and to Christ give all the prophets witness, that through
his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts 2:38; 10:43. And the apostles as faithful servants followed the
command of Christ, as we read in Acts, where Peter taught the people
of Jerusalem, saying: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost, and they that gladly received his word were
baptized. Acts 2:38,41. Likewise we also find concerning the eunuch
from Ethiopia, that he was baptized by Philip upon the confession of
his faith. Acts 8:37,38. Philip also baptized both men and women, when
he had preached to them the things concerning the kingdom of God. v.
12. Peter also commanded to baptize Cornelius and his household,
when he and all his household, by faith, had received the Holy Ghost.
10:47,48. The jailer and his household also were baptized, when they
had come to believe in the Lord Jesus. 16:33. Thus the apostles
baptized only believers, after they had first taught them to repent,
to die unto sin, and to be buried by baptism, to rise again in newness
of life. Rom. 6:4. Thus baptism is a burial of sin, a washing of
regeneration, the like figure whereunto even baptism, says Peter, doth
also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but
the answer of a good conscience toward God. 1 Pet. 3:21. For by baptism
it is indicated to believers, that they, through Christ, are inwardly
baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, concerning which we have
many testimonies in the Scriptures, and thus enter into a covenant with
the Most High, who assures them by his Holy Spirit, of the grace and
merits of our Lord Jesus Christ that he is their God, and that they are
his children.
This in brief is our belief respecting baptism, and we, moreover,
renounce everything that has been instituted by men, contrary to it.
We further have from the word of God the Supper, or breaking of bread,
which the Lord himself instituted, and commanded his apostles, for a
remembrance of his sufferings and death, as Paul writes: “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 ye 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. Wherefore whosoever
shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall
be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For
he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation
to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” 1 Cor. 11:23–29. Thus
did Christ Jesus institute the Supper with bread and wine, to be used
in the Christian assembly, in the name of the Lord, for a token of
brotherly love and unity, for a sign that we, through his merits, by
faith in his holy name, have become partakers of Christ, the true bread
from heaven, as Paul declares: The cup of blessing which we bless, is
it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break,
is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are
one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1 Cor. 10:16,17. But they that are meet for this bread must have died
unto sin, and have buried it [sin] by baptism, and have risen again
with Christ in a godly Christian life; they must have become new
creatures in Christ, and been cleansed in his blood; they must be saved
by the washing of water by the word, be flesh of Christ’s flesh, and
bone of his bones; they must be partakers of the divine nature, and
further flee all the perishing lusts of this world; they must also by
one Spirit be baptized into one body, and have been made to drink into
one Spirit. 2 Cor. 5:17; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Cor. 12:13. This Supper is
wholly perverted by the world, for they hold their supper with harlots
and rogues, with drunkards, adulterers, idolaters, liars, thieves,
murderers, railers, and sorcerers, of whom it is written, that such
shall not inherit the kingdom of God, for their part shall be in the
fiery lake which shall burn with fire and brimstone, which is the
second death. Gal. 5:21; Rev. 21:8. They also believe that in eating
the bread and drinking the cup they eat the real body of Christ, and
drink his real blood, whereas Christ says to the Jews, when they also
understood it carnally, even as these do still understand it, that
flesh and blood did profit nothing; it is the Spirit that quickeneth:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 6:63. We also find in many places, that Christ sat down on the
right hand of his Father in heaven, and that he shall possess heaven,
until the time that there will be fulfilled what God has spoken by the
mouth of his prophets. Acts 3:21. And because I, my dear children, have
from the heart accepted and believed these three articles, from the
word of God, as from the mouth of the Lord by the Holy Ghost, and have,
according to my weak ability, avoided and shunned evil, and all that is
contrary thereunto, as many different abominations, idolatry, infant
baptism, the idolatrous, perverted supper, auricular confession, and
divers other abominations; therefore I must suffer and die. But it has
been so from the beginning of the world, that the righteous have had to
suffer much, as Christ 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 “had they known
him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians
2:8. And 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.
Thus the children of God are called and chosen from this dark, wicked
world to the light of Jesus Christ, that their works, which are done in
God, may reprove the world and bring to light its wickedness; therefore
they are enraged against them, after the manner of Cain. Because Abel’s
sacrifice was acceptable before the Lord, therefore he was slain by
Cain; for that which is pure and clear cannot come forth; he that
departed from evil, and doeth good, is every one’s prey. Is. 59:14,15.
And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. 2
Tim. 3:12. The angel said to Tobit: “Because thou wast pleasing to God,
it had to be thus; thou couldest not remain without temptation, that
thou mightest be tried.” Tobit 12:13. “The disciple is not above his
master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple
that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have
called the master of the house Beelzebub; how much more shall they
call them of his household? If they have persecuted me, they will also
persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
Matt. 10:24,25; John 15:20. My dear little children, what I, your
father, must now suffer for, will not be to your disgrace, for it is
for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence be not ashamed of it, for
we cannot die a more glorious death for the Lord, than for the word of
God. Peter and John departed joyfully from the presence of the council,
when they had been scourged, because they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for the name of Jesus. Acts 5:41. And the same apostle says: If
ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit
of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Pet. 4:14.
It is further my wish, my dear children, that you keep yourselves from
the evil works of this world, the number of which is very great, that
you be not condemned with it; for the world and all the lust thereof
shall pass away, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever,
yea, the Lord will keep him as the apple of his eye, and his good works
as a signet. 1 Cor. 11:32; Sir. 17:22. Therefore strive from your youth
for that which is best, submit your shoulders to the truth, flee all
youthful lusts, and endeavor to take up the yoke of the Lord, namely,
the doctrine of Jesus Christ, now in your youthful days, even until
old age, yea, unto the end of your life, then a wise and perfect man
will be beheld in you. Diligently search the holy Scriptures, that you
may thereby go on perfect in the divine life, from which the world is
alienated; and let the word of Christ be planted in you, that it may
dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Col. 3:16. Remember always God’s
commandment, and continually his word, which shall make your heart
perfect, and give you wisdom, as you desire; for the word of the Most
High is the fountain of wisdom, and her entrance are the everlasting
commandments. Sirach 1:5. Through the word of God you receive godly
senses that are exercised to discern both good and evil, for the holy
Scriptures testify of God’s goodness, and makes the ignorant (that
desire it) wise to fear God, and to flee all wickedness, and do good.
For he that fears God will do good. The fear of God is the beginning
of wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28. The
fear of the Lord is a fountain of wisdom, to depart from the snares of
eternal death. Prov, 14:27. And the wages of sin is death. Rom. 6:23.
Hence, my dear children, shun the cause which leads to death, that is
sin, which is seen very much in those that are carnal, for the world
lieth in wickedness, for sin is very lightly esteemed by them, yet the
teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men, for
all sin and iniquity is as a two-edged sword, the wounds whereof can
not be healed. 1 John 5:19; Sir. 21:2,3. O my dear children, keep your
souls with the greatest diligence, so that you also speak no iniquity
with your mouth; and beware of lying, for man, says Christ, shall have
to give account of every idle word which he shall have idly spoken.
Matt. 12:36. Hence Paul says: Put away lying, and speak truth with one
another. Eph. 4:25. For idle words shall not go free, and the mouth
that lieth slayeth the soul; and liars have no part in the kingdom of
God, but their part shall be in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone. Wis. 1:11; Rev. 21:8.
Dear children, be faithful wherever you live, or wherever you are be
good and faithful to all men; and beware of stealing, for thieves have
no place in the kingdom of God, for it is an abominable, great sin;
hence let neither your eye nor your heart covet ought of that which is
not yours, for a thief is nowhere liked, for wherever he goes he and
his hands are watched.
Thus, my dear children, conduct yourselves honestly toward every
one, and whatever you hear in the house that should be kept secret,
do not proclaim in the streets, or to every one from house to house,
but observe secrecy and attend to your work, and be not negligent
through idleness, for idleness makes thieves of boys, and harlots of
girls, which is frequently seen to happen, that daughters reach the
brothel, and sons the gallows; this often comes from the fact that
they are lickerish, and will not work. Hence conduct yourselves well
with those with whom you are, and obey them, even as you ought to
obey your father, and be not stubborn and obstinate, but obey them
willingly from the heart, and treat them and all men courteously and
kindly; and beware of backbiting, for this too is a great sin, a thief
is a shameful thing, but a backbiter is more shameful still, for the
backbiter reveals what he secretly knows. Sir. 5:14. Hence keep your
tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Eschew evil, and
do good: seek peace, and ensue it; for the eyes of the Lord are over
the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face
of the Lord is against them that do evil. Ps. 34:13; 1 Peter 3:10–12.
Therefore put off now all envy and backbiting (1 Pet. 2:1), and do not
envy one another, nor any one, for envy destroys all friendship, and
separates good friends, and through envy Cain slew his brother Abel.
Out of envy the sons of Jacob cast their brother Joseph into the pit,
and sold him.
O my dear children, keep constantly in the house, and do not go in the
street much, when you have nothing to do there; for there one learns
nothing but roguery, as fighting, playing, gambling, cursing, swearing,
and to speak many unprofitable words. O children, it is very injurious
for you, according to soul and body, to run in the street; but, when
you do not have to work, take a Testament in your hand, and read in it;
that will be very appropriate for you. And you Janneken and Joosken,
you are older than your sister Mejntgen; show mercy according to your
ability in assisting to provide for her board, and work diligently with
your hands, that you may have to give to him that needeth (Eph. 4:28),
for you are under great obligation, after my departure to do the best
for one another, that you may properly help one another according to
your ability. Let the younger obey the older, that there may be no
contention. In this and all other things show your humility; for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble, 1 Pet. 5:5. And
those that are proud of heart he has cast down from their seats, and
set them of low degree thereupon. Luke 1:52. Hence, my dear children,
let not pride rule in you, in word or in deed; for David says: A
froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off; him that
hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall
be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that
walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. Psalm 101:4–6. O my dear
children, be good and kind to one another, and let no spiteful words
be heard from you, either to one another or to any one else. Be also
obedient to my wife, your mother; for the Lord’s sake, and for my sake,
for she was very dear and precious to me; but now I must leave her and
you for the name of the Lord, according to the command of Christ, which
I would not do for all the world, but for the Lord and the gospel’s
sake we must forsake everything, father, mother, wife, child, brothers,
sisters, lands, house, home, yea, moreover, even our own life, else we
are not worthy to be his disciples. Matt. 10:37; Mark 8:35.
Herewith I will now bid adieu to my dear children and take my leave
from them; the Lord grant them his abundant, rich blessing, that they
may grow up in a becoming godly life, and increase in the knowledge of
Christ.
O my dear children, neglect not to thank your Lord and God before
eating and drinking (Deuteronomy 8:10); and when you lie down to sleep
and when you arise, upon your knees, with folded hands, entreat him for
his grace.
I now commend you and your mother, my dear in God beloved wife, to the
Lord, who is able to provide for you above that we are able to ask
in our prayer, in soul and body. And it is also my wish, that this
testament be copied for you, and that it be preserved for Heyne and the
children, in remembrance of me, and when it begins to wear out, have
it copied again, that it do not perish; this I kindly request. Adieu,
Heyne. Farewell, adieu, Janneken, my oldest daughter, and farewell,
adieu, Joosken; farewell, adieu, Mijntken, and adieu, my dear in God
beloved wife and sister in the Lord. Adieu, we must now part. The
almighty God, who blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, also bless you in
heavenly places, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
The crucified Christ, blessed be he, be your comfort and abundant, rich
treasure of grace. The peace of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost
be with you. Once more adieu.
Farewell and adieu, dear Neelken. I thank the Lord and you for the kind
fellowship and the love you have shown me. I go before; the Lord direct
your hearts in the love of God and the patience of Christ, that I may
find you with the Lord. 2 Thessalonians 3:5.
By me, from my prison at Ghent, written on the second day of Dec. 1572.
MATTHEUS BERNAERTS.
A THANKSGIVING BEFORE AND AFTER EATING, WHICH MATTHEUS BERNAERTS,
CALLED VAN LINCKEN, COMPOSED IN HIS PRISON AND SENT TO HIS CHILDREN.
_Before eating._
O taste and see that the Lord is good, who has created these creatures,
and given them to those that believe, to be used by them with
thanksgiving, to the praise and glory of his holy name. (Ps. 34:8; 1
Tim. 4:3.) O dearest, most gracious, merciful, eternal Father do not
forget thy poor, miserable children, that are persecuted for thy holy
name’s sake.
_After eating._
Let us now praise and thank the Lord, who has so graciously fed us in
our bodies. Let us entreat the Father, to feed us now with the bread of
eternal life, that we may with our spirits, souls and bodies that have
been fed do his holy will. O dearest, most gracious, merciful, eternal
Father do not forget thy poor, miserable children, that are persecuted
for thy holy name’s sake. Amen.
Written by me in my prison.
MATTHEUS BERNAERTS, called van Lincken.
ADRIAN ROGIERS, BURNED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT GHENT IN
FLANDERS, THE 4TH OF DECEMBER, A. D. 1572.
Here follow three letters which Adrian Rogiers wrote from his prison.
_First letter to his wife._