apostle, diligently strive to be the chiefest in virtue; as Paul also
says, that we should approve ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes,
in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,
by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by
the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor
and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet
true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live;
as chastened, and not killed: For God can wound, and heal again, as is
written in the Book of Kings: “The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he
bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” Tit. 3:8; 2 Cor. 6:4–9;
Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6.
Hence, O my dear brother, if you be visited at any time, out of bonds
as well as in, be not grieved, nor become weary in the way of the
Lord, though it is narrow and straight; for it is better to suffer
affliction for a little time with God’s children, than to possess all
the treasures of Egypt; for though man, as Christ says, should gain the
world, and lose his own soul, O what would he have then, that he could
give in exchange for it? Heb. 11:25,26; Matt. 16:26.
Therefore, O my dear brother, let us seek the kingdom of God above
all things, and let us not follow after that which is earthly, as is
written in the epistle to the Colossians, by the holy apostle Paul,
where he says: “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 also appear with him in glory.” Col.
3:1–4. For it is a faithful saying: “If we suffer with Christ, we shall
also reign with him.” 2 Tim. 2:12. Hence let us not be weary in well
doing, for according to Paul’s writing, in due season we shall reap a
most abundant harvest. Galatians 6:9. For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but
at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:17,18.
Hence, O my dear brother, let us help the author of our faith, the
Lord Jesus Christ, bear all his reproach, and let us, as Paul says,
follow after holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Heb.
12:14. And let us seek the Lord with tears, while he may be found, and
let us bring forth genuine fruits of repentance, that the tower of
Siloam may not fall upon us, for we have done evil long enough before
the Lord. Is. 55:6; Luke 13:4. Hence let us now, as Paul says, use our
members, which we have heretofore used from iniquity, unto iniquity,
still more abundantly from righteousness unto righteousness. And let
us, moreover, praise the Lord, because he has revealed to us the pearl
of great price that lies in the field, and is yet still hid from so
many. Matt. 13:46. Therefore, O my dear brother, let us now, as good
and faithful servants, put our talent out upon usury, that, when our
dear Lord comes, we may have gained something, and may hear the words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful in a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy Lord. Matt. 25:23. Thus, my dear, let us diligently look
before us, and watch circumspectly, that we do not defile our wedding
garment, but may much rather be adorned with the five wise virgins,
with the oil of love in our lamps, so that we, when our bridegroom
comes, may enter in with him into his eternal kingdom, where, according
to the word of Isaiah, and of the apostle, incomprehensible joy and
gladness shall endure forever. Amen.
Further, my dear brother, I do not know, because of my small gift,
much more to write you, but commend you to the only, eternal, almighty
God, who according to the word of Isaiah, hath measured the waters
in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and
comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the
mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance; that he may keep you,
so that you may receive a crown of glory. Is. 40:12; 1 Pet. 5:4.
Furthermore, my dear brother, I pray you, that you will excuse this
simple letter which I, unworthy one, have written, for it were better
that you would write to me; but in order to fulfill your request I
could not forbear to do it.
Greet your dear wife, and also the acquaintances, in my name. Beliken
van der Straten, my dear wife, also greets you and Tanneken much, and
also the acquaintances. Further, all of us prisoners greet you from the
heart. Pray the Lord diligently for us. Nothing more. Farewell, and do
the best.
To your benefit as much as lieth in me, by me your weak brother and
servant.
MAERTEN VAN DER STRATEN.
THE SIXTH LETTER FROM MAERTEN VAN DER STRATEN, AND BELIKEN HIS WIFE, TO
ADAM V. L. AND HIS WIFE.
I Maerten van der Straten, and Beliken van der Straten, my most dearly
beloved wife, both of us prisoners for the word of the Lord, wish our
very dear brother and sister much grace and mercy from God our heavenly
Father, who dwells on high, in a light unto which, as Paul writes, no
man can approach. We moreover wish, that you may have the love of his
Son, that you may be a light for them that sit in darkness, and that
you may shine as a bright morning star among the blind that err in the
way, so that you may hereafter, as Isaiah writes, behold the King in
his beauty, and meet with that perfect and unspeakable joy and gladness
that shall endure forever and ever. This we wish our dear friends in
the Lord, with all the strength of our souls, out of an affectionate
heart.
A cordial, loving greeting to you our very dear brother Adam V. L., and
to Mariken, your very dear wife. We two prisoners, as said above, love
you, as Paul says, with a godly love, and out of a pure heart, as Peter
writes; this the almighty Lord knows, who penetrates every thing with
eyes which are as a flame of fire.
Further, after all proper and Christian salutation, let me, please,
inform your love, that I and my dearly beloved lamb, whose hand I took
with tears of joy, are still, the Lord be praised forever, in tolerably
good health according to the flesh, and according to the spirit, God
be praised, our mind is still fixed, by the help of the Lord to prefer
with Eleazar, an honorable death to an ignominious life. But, dear
brother and sister in the Lord, we are also confident beyond a doubt,
that you both are well in soul and body, ready to keep the covenant you
made with Almighty God, concerning which we are exhorted by Moses, that
we should always be mindful of the covenant which we once made with the
Lord of lords. Deut. 4:9. And Paul instructs us still more fully, that
we are to call to remembrance the day in which we were illuminated.
Heb. 10:32. The merciful King, and God of gods, who according to the
word of the prophet, in time of need gives bread, and in thirst water,
and in the day of tribulation forgives sin, may strengthen and confirm
you and us all with his Holy Spirit, that we, as Luke writes, may serve
him in true righteousness and holiness all the days of our lives. And
let us, O dear friends, always have the Lord before our eyes, even as
David, who says: “I have set the Lord always before me.” Ps. 16:8. And
again he says: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek
after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the
secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a
rock.” 24:4,5. Hence, dear friends, let us always seek the face of the
Lord with humility, and take good heed to our vocation, redeeming the
time, because the days are evil, as Paul says (Eph. 4:1; 5:16); for the
tongues of the builders of the tower of Babel have come to disagree.
For David says: “Violence and strife are in the city. Day and night
they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are
in the midst of it. Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and
guile depart not from her streets.” Ps. 55:9–11. And, as the prophet
says: “They fear not God; for they lay their hands on his peaceable
ones, and break his covenant,” verses 19,20. “Their mouth,” as David
says, “is smoother than butter, but they have war in their hearts:
their words are softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords,” verse 21.
Hence, O dearly beloved friends, let us always watch circumspectly in
the spirit, and fear our God from the heart, and cleave to him with
prayer and supplication, even as the royal prophet David says: “As for
me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and
morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my
voice,” verses 16,17.
Thus, dear friends, when you are distressed, call upon the Lord, and
do not let the waters of Marah (Ex. 15:23) become too bitter for you,
but remember, that according to Paul’s words we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Even as also Christ teaches
us in the Gospel, saying: “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence,
and the violent take it by force.” Matt. 11:12. Hence, dear brother
and sister, let us willingly bear our cross, and give our back to the
smiters, and not regard it however great the heat of the sun, for the
servant is not above his master or lord; for if they have called the
master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of
his household? Matt. 10:25. For Peter teaches us saying: “Forasmuch
then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves
likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh
hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his
time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the
time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the
Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine,
revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. 1 Pet. 4:1–3.
Hence, O dear friends, let us no longer live according to the wisdom of
the flesh, to indulge its lusts, but let us walk, as Paul writes, only
as becomes the Gospel, and do not let us be unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what similarity or fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God
with idols? for ye are, says Paul, the temple of the living God; as God
hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their
God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be
my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Philip. 1:27; 2 Cor.
6:14–18.
Therefore, O my dear brother and sister, let us serve the Lord with a
faithful heart, and refrain our foot from every evil way, and let us
lead a chaste and pure conversation among the Gentiles, that we, as
Paul writes, may not give the slanderer an occasion to speak evil; but
let us in all things seek the glory of the Lord with a simple heart, so
that we, according to the word of Paul, may adorn the Gospel by good
works. Tit. 2:8,10. Hence, O dear friends, be not weary in well doing;
for what you now sow in tears, that shall you in due season, as Paul
writes, reap with joy in great abundance. Hence let us with fasting and
weeping entreat the Lord, that we may be able to withstand in the evil
day, so that we may live with him forever and ever. Amen. John 3:8;
Eph. 6:13.
Further, my beloved friends, we do not know much more to write you
for this time, because of the simplicity of our understanding; but we
commend you to the Lord, and to the word full of consolation, and bid
you adieu.
I Maerten van der Straten, and Beliken van der Straten, my love, have
written this little out of affection and according to your request, and
we beg you to accept it in good part. We also request the aid of your
prayers.
Farewell; greet the acquaintances in our name, we thank you for all the
good you have shown us. Adriaen also greets you much; and also Hansken,
Margriet and Lou greet you much; Dingentgen and we all jointly request
you to pray for us. Nothing more, but do the best first and last.
From us your dear friends,
MAERTEN AND BELIKEN VAN DER STRATEN.
WILLEM DE RIJCKER, AND CHRISTOFFEL FIERENS, A. D. 1572.
At Meenen, in Flanders, on the 5th of December, A. D. 1572, there were
sentenced to death as heretics, two pious witnesses of God, named
Willem de Rijcker and Christoffel Fierens. When they were brought
out to die, they came fearlessly, like two sheep for the slaughter. A
brother said to Willem: “Dear brother, strive valiantly for the truth.”
And a sister also cried: “O yes, dear brethren, strive valiantly.”
Christoffel said: “O men, think of your salvation; for this is the
way of truth unto life.” They were quickly conducted to the hut,
without being able to speak much; but they cried to God for help
and assistance, and said: “What we suffer is for the right truth.”
Christoffel also said: “Sell your clothes, and buy Testaments; attend
therein to the words of God: for therein you will find life; and fear
not them that kill the body, but fear him that hath power to cast soul
and body into hell.” He also thanked God, that he had permitted him to
see this day, for which he had so greatly longed, and said further:
“These members, which thou, O Lord hast given me, I will gladly deliver
up again for thy doctrine.” Willem said: “I have been in many perils by
sea and by land, and God has always helped me; hence I trust that he
will also not leave me in this extremity, but succor me unto death.”
They then offered up their prayer to God, in which they said with
Stephen: “O Lord, forgive them what they do unto us, and do not lay
this sin to their charge.” Willem then said: “I have now with Paul
fought a good fight, kept the faith, finished my course,” etc. Finally
they cried: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands we commend our spirits.”
Many other words were spoken, which have partly been forgotten, and
it would also take too long to write them all. The executioner then
asked, whether they were ready; whereupon Christoffel replied: “Yes,
my dear friend.” While Christoffel was being strangled, Willem cried:
“O dear friends, my brother is now forbidden to speak.” After that he
cried once more to the Lord, and then also inherited the crown of life.
Thus did these two die for the name of the Lord, being first strangled,
and then burnt, after Willem had been confined in prison for more than
twenty-two months; and thus they became heirs of the promised land,
in which all those that here lay down their lives for the word of God
shall find it again.
During the time that Willem was imprisoned, one Cornelis van Eeckhoute
was burgomaster at Meenen, who would very gladly have seen him
released; he therefore sought to persuade the priest and others, that
he [Willem] was half-witted, whereupon Willem was examined once, and
his views asked respecting purgatory. Willem answered that he had once
lived in a convent, where on Saturday always meat and other things were
cooked for Sunday, and that the monks, sweeping together the fire by
which they had cooked, called it purgatory.[335] Then the burgomaster
said: Do you see my lords, by this you may perceive that the man is
only half-witted, for these are not the words of a reasonable man.
But Willem said that he did not want to be released from prison as
half-witted, but that they should ask him concerning his faith, and
that he should confess it to them reasonably enough. Thereupon he had
to remain in confinement, and was finally, as already stated, sentenced
to death, this burgomaster pronouncing the sentence. This man, some
time after, driven away through war, fled to Bruges, where he, however
rich he was, had to live very frugally, and nearly all the time borrow
money to defray his household expenses, which when it became too great
a vexation for him, he resolved to go home to Meenen, but he died very
suddenly on the way.
[335] In Dutch, _Vagevuur_ from _vagen_ or _vegen_, to scour [and
also to _sweep_] and _vuur fire_; hence a play on words, which cannot
be rendered into the English without the loss of the humorous effect
which it has in the original tongue.--_Trans._
JAN SMIT, A. D. 1572.
About the year 1572 there was also another pious, godfearing brother,
named Jan Smit, a native of the county of Marck, but at that time
residing in North Holland, near Munnekendam; he was afterwards brought
a prisoner to Munnekendam, for the testimony of Jesus. But when after a
certain time Munnekendam was taken by the Protestants, he was released
by one of their captains. When subsequently engaged in a boat, on
the Zuyder Zee, he was again apprehended by a Spanish captain, and
brought to Amsterdam. There he remained in confinement, until it was
determined, that these prisoners should be used as oarsmen on the
Haarlem Lake, against those of Haarlem. But when this pious Jan Smit
came to the place where he was to row, he declared that he did not
feel free in his conscience, thus to row, seeing he had no enemies;
they might deal with him according to their pleasure. Thereupon he was
brought into the camp before Haarlem, where he was sharply examined
in the faith, and found to be of the Mennonistic religion. And as
examinations and severe threats could not move him to apostatize, since
he was founded upon the firm Rock, and therefore overcame all by faith,
Don Frederick, son of the Duke of Alva, sentenced him, there to be
suspended by one leg to the gallows, which was done, till death ensued.
And thus this hero and soldier of Jesus Christ, by saving faith,
overcame the world, sin, flesh and blood, and all tyrants, and, through
God’s grace, obtained the crown of eternal glory.
This account we received from old Simon Fijtsoon, teacher [minister?]
and elder of the church of Tessel. He declares that this Jan Smit was
his special friend.
PIERIJNTGEN LOOSVELDT, OR NECKERS, A. D. 1572.
At the close of the year 1572, there was apprehended at Meenen,
in Flanders, for the truth and the word of God, a spinster, about
forty-three years old, named Pierijntgen Loosveldt, or Neckers. While
kindly ministering to a sick person, she was walking out at a certain
time, when she met the chief Bailiff, Joncker Jan de Carmago, who
apprehended her, and asked where she resided. She pleasantly replied
that she did not live very far off, and gave him the fairest words,
in order to be released. But it was all of no avail; she had to go
to prison, and on the second day, when she had not had much time
for consideration, she was summoned before the lords, and examined
concerning her faith, which she freely confessed.
In the first place she was accused that she had attended improper
assemblies, contrary to the Emperor’s decree. But Pierijntgen held that
she had used diligence to follow Christ, and to shun the evil, and to
go out from them, and join the good, knowing that Christ says: “Where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst
of them.” Matt. 18:20. And these assemblies she could not forsake,
though it should cost her her life.
In the second place she was asked whether she had not had herself
rebaptized. She confessed that she had suffered herself to be baptized
according to the command of Christ, which they considered Anabaptism,
not at all regarding the instance of the disciples who, though they
had received John’s baptism, did nevertheless, after they had heard
the preaching of Paul, suffered themselves also to be baptized in the
name of Jesus. And that one must first believe on Jesus Christ, and be
baptized upon such faith, according to the teaching of the Scriptures,
which also say, that baptism is a burial of sin and the answer of a
good conscience.
When they asked her, who was present when she was baptized, she did not
confess it, however hard she was threatened.
In the third place they asked her, whether she did not regard the
priests as the vicars of Christ, who had power to forgive sin; and
that whatever they bound or loosed had to remain bound or loosed. But
she could not confess that they are such vicars of Christ who are not
minded as he is; for he is the true Shepherd, who laid down his life
for his sheep, while the priests do the very opposite. He is the true
Mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5), and his Father’s vicar. He
is the open, clear Fountain (Zech. 13:1), who calls to him all those
who are burdened and laden with sin. He is the true pool with five
entrances, of which John tells (John 5:2), and all who truly repent
shall receive the forgiveness of their sins. Luke 24:47. No one was
found worthy to open the book with seven seals, but the Lamb Jesus
Christ. Rev. 5:1. He is the right door; it is of no avail whether any
one will open or shut, the ungodly must remain without. John 10:9; Rev.
22:15.
In the fourth place she was asked, whether she did not confess that
the body of Christ was in the sacrament or wafer, when the priest had
pronounced the words over it, and consecrated it in the mass. But she
could regard the mass, with all that pertained to it, for nothing more
than a plant, planted by men, which God should root up. Matt. 15:13.
But she confessed that Christ had left us the Supper to be observed in
remembrance of him, according to Paul’s doctrine, and thereby to shew
the Lord’s death. 1 Cor. 11:25,26.
In the fifth place she was also asked whether she did not confess that
infant baptism was necessary for salvation, and for the washing away of
the original sin which has adhered to us from Adam. But her confession
was, that one could receive but one baptism, and that only they are
worthy of it who forsake sin, or repent, and believe in the name of
Jesus Christ; and that it was also not a washing away of sin, but the
answer of a good conscience, and that the blood of Christ cleanseth us
from all sin. Ephesians 4:5; Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21; 1 John 1:7.
In the sixth place she was asked whether she did not believe that
Christ had assumed his flesh from Mary. But she confessed that he
was from above, and had come down from the Father; that the Word had
become flesh, even as John says: “That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.” And as
he himself says, that he is the bread which came down from heaven. That
he was also the only reconciler, redeemer and advocate. To investigate
further, was not necessary to her salvation. John 8:23; 1:14; 1 John
1:1; John 6:31; Rom. 5:10; 1 John 2:1.
In the seventh place she was also asked whether she did not confess
that three persons constituted one true God. Thereupon she confessed
that there were three names in one Divine Being, namely, Father, Son
and Holy Ghost. But the Father who sent the Son she could not regard as
a person; for the heaven is his throne, and the earth is his footstool;
Christ also calls him a Spirit, and a spirit, he says, has neither
flesh nor bones. The Holy Ghost, who manifested himself upon Christ in
the form of a dove, and upon the apostles in the form of tongues of
fire, and sat upon each of them, him she could also not understand to
be a person. But the Son, who became man for us, was visible, palpable
and passive, walked much among the Jews, did many signs, suffered
hunger and thirst, wept, etc., him she could indeed confess to be a
person. 1 John 4:9; Is. 66:1; John 4:24; Luke 24:39; Matt. 3:16; Acts
2:3; Matt. 17:12; 11:5; 21:19; John 19:28; Luke 19:41.
In the eighth place they asked her, whether one might not swear, or
take an oath, before the authorities, to defend justice and establish
the truth, but she esteemed Christ’s commandment more than that of men;
for he teaches: “I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven;
for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool:
neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither
shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair
white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for
whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matt. 5:34–37.