the genuine faith of the truth, and for following Christ, Francoys
van Leuven (the son of Willem van Leuven. separately mentioned in
this book), the uncle of Jan Doom; Hansken van Oudenaerden, born at
Geertsberge; and Grietgen van Sluys, born at Tielt, in Guelderland.
These were at said place, by the envious and blood-thirsty generation
of Cain, and not of Judah, put to death most ignominiously, as not
worthy to be tolerated upon the earth, not on account of any misdeed,
but only because they, according to the command of the eternal God, had
separated from this corrupt world, which lies in inhuman wickedness,
and sought, according to their weak ability, to follow Christ in the
regeneration; and as the light can have no fellowship with darkness,
this tyranny was inflicted upon them by the rulers of darkness,
because they held the genuine faith of the truth, and thus they became
partakers of the sufferings of Christ, wherefore they shall also
with Christ, when his glory shall be revealed, receive great joy and
gladness, and enjoy the same forever. 1 Pet. 4:13.
LIPPIJNTGEN STAYAERTS, SIJNTGEN BARNINGE, OR LAME SIJNTGEN, A. D. 1573.
In the same year there were imprisoned at Ghent, in Flanders, for the
truth of the holy Gospel, Lippijntgen Stayaerts, a native of Ghent, and
Sijntgen Barninge, called Lame Sijntgen, born at Kortrijck in Flanders.
As these had also betaken themselves into the way of righteousness,
under the banner of their only and eternal Shepherd Christ Jesus, the
ministers of antichrist inflicted upon them the same treatment which
their Captain himself had met with, and which he had also foretold and
promised his followers: not to be loved and highly esteemed by the
world but the very opposite, namely, hatred, tribulation, crosses,
persecution and death. Thus it happened, after manifold trials and
temptations which they suffered for Christ’s sake, that they were
sentenced to death by the rulers of darkness, and beheaded with the
sword in the count’s castle. And as Sijntgen was lame, she was carried
upon the scaffold in a chair, and as she held up her folded hands
rather high, a brother (named Natanael de Tollenaer, a brother of Joost
de Tollenaer) cried: “Lamb, look out for your hands;” and so they
also cut off her two thumbs. Thus they did not love their lives unto
death, but willingly delivered up their earthly house for the heavenly;
hence there is prepared for them a building of God, a house which, in
unspeakable glory, shall endure forever in heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:1.
JACOB VAN DEN WEGE, A. D. 1573.
This Jacob van den Wege, born at Ronse, in Flanders, was a nephew of
Mr. Claes, who was a colleague of the Dean of Ronse, in his time,
probably, the most prominent and zealous inquisitor and persecutor of
the Christians in that country. As Jacob had come to the knowledge of
the truth, and followed it with ardent love, he was on this account
banished from all the dominions of the king of Spain, and had thus, as
a fugitive, for more than seven years to subsist very meagerly, gaining
a livelihood, and providing bread for his wife and children, by making
chests or trunks. Much of the time he abode secretly with good friends,
here and there in Flanders, as at Meenen, Halewijn and Wervick, whence,
on account of the severe persecution under the Duke of Alva, and
because he was also an exile, he went to work in a shop at Rijssel,
which was three leagues from the former place.
Having afterwards secretly taken up his residence, with wife and
children, at Ghent, it happened at a certain time, that he went to the
house of one Christoffel van Leuven, a minister of the word of God, at
the very time that the authorities of Ghent had sent to apprehend this
Christoffel, and not finding him, they laid hands upon Jacob, taking
him along and putting him into severe confinement, in a tower, guarded,
and secured with seven doors. There, lying in great fear and distress,
he earnestly called upon the Lord his God, in prayer, in spirit and in
truth, that he would strengthen him therein, and graciously grant him
help, of which he was then in great need, seeing many strong enemies
assailed him; for Satan, the envier of all that is good, exerted great
power to make him apostatize from the Lord his God, not resting day or
night, but very subtly going about him to lead his soul astray. The
emissaries of Satan also approached him very craftily, with plausable
speeches, as though they sought to comfort and enlighten him; but if he
had listened to them, they would have murdered his soul, from which God
preserved him. His wife and children also were to him a source of great
temptation, for it was very hard for him to leave them, but for the
Lord’s sake it had to be done.
After he had been imprisoned for a time and valiantly withstood many
entreaties and torments, he was finally publicly burned, at Ghent, for
living in accordance with the genuine truth, about three years after
his brother Hans had been burned there for following Christ, as related
before.
We have added here the letters of this Jacob van den Wege, which have
come into our hands, that the reader from them may see in what faith he
stood and died.
A LETTER FROM JACOB VAN DEN WEGE, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE, IN THE BEGINNING
OF HIS IMPRISONMENT, AT GHENT, IN THE HUYS TER LUCHT, AT THE END OF THE
MEULENAERS STREET.
O my most beloved under the sun, and my three children, who make my
heart so faint that I scarcely know what I have in myself, for when
I think of you, I am so sorely crushed with anguish in the press of
affliction, that my eyes run over with tears, so that I only with
difficulty can quiet myself.
O my dear wife, and my three lambs, whom I love, how strong is love?
how shall I be able to write you a parting letter? for the waters of
affliction fill my eyes, and this through my infirmity, misery and
great weakness.
O my wife, I confess here before you and before all that read
this, that I have written you here, far too feebly and miserably;
nevertheless, the great anxiety and deep affliction, which rises
from my strong love for you four, impelled me to it. But I hope that
you will accept it from me for the sake of the truth; and, my dear
wife, please hear my answer in regard to what you had asked me, as to
what advice I would give you concerning the traveling. I say, I give
you no advice with regard to it, since I do not know an opportunity
at present; but I would most urgently entreat you, that, if it be
possible for you to gain some sort of a livelihood here, that you
remain until the matter is decided with me one way or the other, and
this for no other reason, but that I might still hear from you now
and then, for a greeting from you is more precious to me than much
silver or gold. And, my wife, please know, that Kalleken Meere, who
is imprisoned with me, has made you a bequest, namely, a shift, a
necklace, a night neckerchief, and a hair-lace; and Mijntgen also gives
you a night neckerchief, a neck-cloth, and her best apron. This they
give to you for their remembrance and testament; after their death it
is yours, and they cordially greet you with the peace of the Lord. Amen.
Written in my bonds, by me, your dear husband and brother in the Lord.
JACOB VAN DEN WEGE.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM JACOB VAN DEN WEGE, TO HIS WIFE, AND HIS BRETHREN
AND SISTERS.
_Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14._
I, Jacob van den Wege, imprisoned for the invincible truth, wish my
dear in God beloved wife and sister in the Lord, and my three innocent
little children; and further all brethren and sisters, and all my dear
friends in the Lord, grace, peace, mercy, much true Christian wisdom
and prudence, an understanding heart, a steadfast mind in the truth, a
strong faith, a living hope, a good, peaceful conscience toward God and
man, and an unblamable, holy conversation in all humility, meekness,
kindness and unity, and all this in the true fear of God bound with the
bond of love. This I wish you all from God the heavenly Father, through
Jesus Christ his eternal, only, true Son, our Lord, together with the
mighty power of the Holy Ghost, as a cordial and affectionate greeting.
Amen.
After my simple, cordial salutation, my beloved wife, and all brethren
and sisters, and further all my friends in the Lord, let me please
inform you, that it is still well with me, and I am unchanged in the
faith and knowledge of God, even as I was when I bowed my knees before
the Most High, so I am minded; and still stand through the grace of
God, and the power of Christ, which strengthens me, to live or die with
Christ in this same faith and truth. The almighty Lord, who is able
so to strengthen and confirm him that is miserable, weak, and without
strength here in this conflict, to him be praise, thanks, glory, and
honor forever and ever, and this for all his great benefits which he
has so abundantly shown me. So I trust that it is also very well with
you, on which account I rejoiced, and thank God the Most High, for
all his great goodness that he has shown you, and all this through
his great mercy and love; and I pray the same almighty Lord and God
of grace, to bless you all, and to fill you with all knowledge and
spiritual wisdom and understanding, that you may walk worthily and
fruitfully all the days of your life in holiness and righteousness,
and receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Let me further, please, tell my dear friends the reason why I have been
so backward in writing, when you have so many times requested of me,
that I should write to you. Hence I tell you, that I hardly dare write
anything, and this because it is such a perilous time, so that people
sometimes understand and construe a letter as they will, and not as
the writer has meant it. Even as I have only too much known this to be
the case, and it has even happened to me, in my simple writing. Not
that I mean that I am above criticism; God forbid! but I say that some
people find fault not only with the letters of simple prisoners, but
sometimes also with the holy Scriptures; and since I also know myself
far too simple and ignorant, to write anything profitable for your
exhortation, therefore I have always refused them that requested it
of me, and have thus far put it off. And were it not for my innocent
little children, who to-day understand neither good nor evil, I should
not have written much yet; but they constrain me to write now, in order
that when they come to the years of understanding through the grace of
God, and I shall then have been taken from them, the same might then
teach them of my faith, and instruct them in righteousness and the
knowledge of God, in the fear of the Lord, and in all obedience. And
since I must walk the way, and obey the vocation in which I am called,
and I can then not admonish them with my lips, I write and leave them
this much for a treasure and testament; for gold or silver I cannot
give them, but such as God has given me, which is little, but yet more
than I am worthy of; this I leave them for an exhortation, that they
may also know most assuredly and certainly by my own writing, in what
doctrine and faith I died, and that I did not suffer for any misdeed
or wickedness, or heresy, as one that follows his own mind and purpose
(though I am called a heretic by this evil generation, who imagine
that they are pure, and are yet not washed from their filth; but their
railing is no proof, and their calumny is untruth); for I well know
and am sure that all who follow their own mind and purpose do not
keep God’s commandments; for the Scriptures teach us, that we must be
spiritually minded, as Jesus Christ was, that we must be obedient and
deny ourselves, yea, utterly and completely renounce our own will, and
bow ourselves under the word and the mighty hand of God, which word is
like a fire, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces, yea,
as a two-edged sword, which shall judge men in the last day. Rom. 8:6;
Philippians 2:5; Matt. 16:24; 6:10; 1 Pet. 5:6; Jeremiah 23:29; Rev.
1:16; John 12:48. Hence I say that I have submitted myself, to obey the
same with all my power and ability, to suffer myself to be instructed
by it, to believe what the Scriptures say; for I believe all that
is written in the law and the prophets, both in the Old and the New
Testaments; and have hope toward God, for which the prophets themselves
waited, namely, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of
the just and unjust; and herein do I exercise myself, always to have a
conscience void of offense toward God and toward men (Acts 24:14–16);
thus my faith, which God has given me, is as the word of God, and like
the Scriptures, as here briefly follows:
In the first place, I believe and confess one only, eternal, almighty
God the Father, of whom are all things. Him I confess to be a living
God, who created and made heaven, earth, the sea, and all that in them
is, even as both the Old and New Testaments highly extol and worship
him in his worthiness; as an invisible and immortal God, a God of gods,
a Lord above all lords, a great God, mighty and most terrible, who
sits upon his throne, a Lord unto whom there is none like, for he is
higher than the heavens, deeper than hell, longer than the earth, and
wider than the sea, as he himself by the prophet says: “The heaven is
my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” Rightly has Jeremiah said:
“Thou great and mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is thy name; great in
counsel, and mighty in work. For behold, the heaven and heaven of
heavens can not contain him.” Hence I also say, that a creature can not
comprehend the Creator, but I confess him to be a holy, true, gracious,
merciful, but also a severe, righteous and just God, before whom alone
we must tremble and fear, fall down and worship, and love and obey him;
who shall render unto every one according to his works, whether they
be good or bad, either salvation or damnation. Mark 12:29; Is. 40:28;
Gen. 17:1; 1 Cor. 8:6; Gen. 1; John 1:18; 1 Tim. 6:16; Deut. 10:17; Ps.
139:8. Is. 66:1; Jer. 32:19; 1 Kings 8:27; Lev. 19:2; Ps. 7:11; Matt.
4:10; 2 Cor. 5:10.
In the second place, I confess and believe in Jesus Christ, God’s
only, own, true Son, our Lord, who was with the Father from the
beginning and from everlasting, whom the Father has imbued with his
real essence, and expressly set forth the same in him, as is everywhere
fundamentally contained and declared in the Scriptures; so that he
is the image of the eternal light, the immaculate reflection of the
divine glory, and the likeness or image of his being. So that when he
was in the form of God, he was glorified as God, yea, the wisdom and
word of God himself, in whom alone was life, the firstborn of every
creature, invisible, impassable, and immortal, through whom all things
were created and made; he is before all, and all is in him, so that he
is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the
last, who is, and who was, and who is to come; even thus do I confess
the Son of God in his divinity as the eternal true Son of God, true
God with the Father, equal with him in glory, brightness, power, will,
and providence. John 3:16; Rom. 8:32; Mic. 5:2; Col. 1:15; 2 Cor. 4:4;
Philip. 2:6; John 1:4; Col. 1:15; Rev. 1:8,17; John 17:21.
But when the man Adam, by transgressing the commandment, had sinned,
and through sin, because of God’s strict justice, was, with all his
posterity, under the sentence of eternal death, God, kindled with
compassion and fervent love, comforted the miserable, sorrowful Adam
and promised to man his only Son, or eternal Word, by which all things
were made, yea, Adam himself having first been created after his own
likeness; he promised him, that he should be redeemed and saved by that
same Word. This promise God also made for consolation, to many ancient
fathers, as patriarchs, prophets and servants of God, by beautiful
figures and shadows, for a Redeemer and Savior of the world, especially
of those that believe. When the time and all promises were fulfilled,
God sent his Son, born of a woman named Mary, who was espoused to a
man named Joseph, of the house of David. This virgin conceived of the
Holy Ghost, even as God had foreordained, and spoken by Isaiah saying:
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bare a son.” Yes, she conceived
of the Holy Ghost, and through the power of the Most High it became
flesh in her, that is man, like unto us in all things, sin excepted.
Namely, he that was previously invisible, became visible; he that was
immortal, became mortal; and he that enjoyed great riches of glory,
was glorified as God, yea, was himself true God, the same forsook his
riches, glory and brightness for a little while, and became like unto
other men, and was found in fashion as a man: so that he was both true
God and man, and was put under the law to redeem them that were under
the law. Gen. 3; Romans 5–18; Jer. 33:14; Deut. 18:15; 1 Tim. 4:10;
Gal. 4:4; Matt. 1:25,20; Is. 7:14; John 1:14; Heb. 2:17; 5:2; John
17:5; Philip. 2:7,8; Gal. 4:5.
Thus I confess with the apostle, that the eternal Word of the Father,
in whom alone was the light and the life of men, became flesh, and
dwelt upon the earth, and they beheld his glory, the glory as of the
only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. Even as
John testifies and 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; (for the life
was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto
you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested
unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. And
their testimony is true. Hence I confess from these words, and other
Scriptures, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, who is over all,
God blessed forever. Yea, God was manifest in the flesh, justified in
the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on
in the world, received up into glory. John 1:4,14; 1 John 1:1–3; John
17:3; 1 John 4:2; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:16.
Thus I believe that the true Messias did come, whom God had promised
to the believing fathers; for Abraham received the true promised seed
of Christ, in whom he and all the nations upon earth are blessed. And
this beautiful Morning Star rose out of Jacob, and hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ. Judah received his Shiloh or Deliverer, and Moses
his Prophet. He was born in the city and of the lineage of David, and
called the Son of the Highest, yea, Israel and Judah beheld themselves
their Lord, King, Savior, and God, and the arm of the Lord reigned
with power and he taught men, not only as a true messenger, but also
as a lover of life, and a faithful steward, the word of his Father,
which he himself had first heard and seen from his Father, and which
he proved and confirmed with very many mighty signs, and ultimately
sealed with his precious blood, when he took upon him our sin and
transgression, and had to restore that which he had not taken away;
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Of him Isaiah
says: “He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, and he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we
are healed.” And he died for us an ignominious death on the tree of
the cross, when we were yet enemies. He was buried, and raised again
the third day according to the Scriptures, for our justification, and
after his resurrection, as an almighty, victorious prince and potentate
in heaven and earth, he again taught his apostles, to observe all
things whatsoever he had commanded them. He then ascended up on high,
and sat down at the right hand of his Father in heaven, far above all
principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
And he is our Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate, Mercy-seat, Reconciler
and High Priest, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people;
for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to
succor them that are tempted, and can have compassion on our weakness,
wherefore he is able also to save them evermore that come unto God by
him. John 4:25; Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16; Num. 24:17; 2 Corinthians 4:6;
Gen. 49:10; Deut. 18:15; Luke 2:4; John 12:49; Heb. 9; 1 Pet. 2:24; Ps.
69:4; 1 Peter 2:22; Is. 53:4,5; Rom. 5:10; 1 Cor. 15:4; Romans 4:25;
Matt. 28:18,20; Eph. 1:20,21; Romans 8:34; Heb. 2:17,18; 5:2; 7:25.
In short, I believe and confess that Jesus Christ was sent by God, and
that God testified of him, that he is his Son. Now, he that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not
God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God
gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us
eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath
life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life, but the
wrath of God abideth on him. But I confess with John, that the Son of
God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him
that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus
Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. This is the first and
the last, which was dead, and is alive, and liveth now for evermore.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols, especially Adamitic
creatures that are highly esteemed by the world. Amen. Matt. 3:17; 1
John 5:10–12; John 3:36; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 1:11,18; 1 John 5:21.
In the third place, I believe in the Holy Ghost, who is an eternal
Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, which Spirit I confess to belong to
both the Father and the Son, proceeding from the Father through the
Son. This Spirit God by the prophets promised to pour out upon all
flesh, which promise he effectually fulfilled in the apostles, and in
their time, and the same is still poured out, and will be poured out,
upon all believing, regenerate children of God, for the consolation
of their consciences sorrowing after a godly manner and to seal them
unto the day of reconciliation, to distribute unto every one spiritual
gifts, according to his good pleasure. By the same we cry, Abba Father;
for the same Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the
children of God, even as Paul says, which is the earnest of our
inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
praise of his glory; by which Spirit also the prophets spake from the
beginning of the world, and prophesied in a mystery the treasures of
wisdom and the knowledge of God, but now made manifest by the appearing
of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought
life and immortality to light through the Gospel, whereunto Paul was
appointed a preacher, and apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles, and
all this according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made
known to all nations for the obedience of faith. All these things Paul
and all holy men did and spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
I therefore believe and confess the Father as the Creator of all
things, through his Son or Word; and Jesus Christ as the Son of God,
who redeemed us, and bought us with his precious blood; and the Holy
Ghost as a mighty operation of the Most High, in all truly regenerated
and believing children of God. These three I confess to be one only,
eternal, almighty, living God, who have one purpose, one counsel, one
will, one work together in all eternity. As John writes, that there are
three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Ghost: and these three are one. To this only, eternal, almighty, living
God, who is incomprehensible, unsearchable, and indescribable, alone be
praise, honor, wisdom, thanks, glory, power, and strength, forever and
ever. Amen. John 14:17; Is. 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:3; Ephesians 1:13;
Tit. 3:5; Gal. 3:26; 2 Cor. 7:9; Ephesians 4:30; Rom. 8:15,16; 2 Cor.
1:22; Eph. 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 1:10,11; 1 Tim. 2:7; Romans 16:25;
Gen. 1:1; John 1:3,12; Mark 12:29; 1 John 5:7; Rom. 11:33.