persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Hence let
us be patient, and rejoice in it, and bless them that curse us, and
pray for them that despitefully use and persecute us; that we may be
the children of our Father which is in heaven, who maketh his sun to
rise on the evil and on the good, on the just and on the unjust. For
if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which
is in heaven is perfect. Vs. 44–48.
Thus, my dear friends, let us show common love (charity), and also
brotherly love, according to Peter’s teaching. 2 Pet. 1:7. And also
according to the teaching of Paul: “Let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10.
And; “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow
that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” 1 Thess.
5:15. Again, Peter also teaches us: Not rendering evil for evil, or
railing for railing: but contrariwise, blessing; knowing that ye are
thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will
love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and
his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil and do good:
let him 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. And who is he that will harm
you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for
righteousness’ sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror,
neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. But let
none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer,
or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this
behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of
God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that
obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 1 Pet. 3:9–15; 4:15–18.
Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit
the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful
Creator. V. 19. And let us look unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne
of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have
not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Heb. 12:2–4. And
Peter also says: Christ suffered for us in the flesh, and left us an
example, that we should follow his steps; who did no sin, neither was
guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again;
when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that
judgeth righteously. 1 Pet. 2:21–23.
Hence, dear friends, if we want to be of his servants, we must serve
the Lord according to his divine will and demands. That is, we must
suffer and bear here, and not resist; else we should live to ourselves,
and not to the Lord, and so doing we should not follow the footsteps
of Christ, for we must bless, and not curse, them that persecute us.
As Paul teaches us: Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all
men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto
wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give
him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom. 12:17–21.
Hence, my dear friends, and all those that seek their salvation,
learn from this to know the sheep from wolves, the doves from hawks.
For Christ sent out his own like sheep in the midst of wolves, and
admonished them, to be wise as serpents and simple as doves. Matt.
10:16. For all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving and being deceived. 2 Tim. 3:12,13.
But when I told it to our persecutors, they said that they also had
been persecuted; whereupon I told them, that they only suffered
persecution when they were too weak and feeble; but when they had
the ascendancy again, they were persecutors themselves, and took our
goods, and tormented and threatened us, so that there is fulfilled the
prophesy of Esdras: “They shall be like mad-men, sparing none, but
still spoiling and destroying those that fear the Lord. For they shall
waste and take away their goods, and cast them out of their houses.
Then shall they be known who are my chosen; and they shall be tried as
gold in the fire.” 2 Esdras 16:71–73. Also Christ says: “These things
have I spoken unto you, that you should not be offended. 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.
But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may
remember that I told you of them.” John 16:1–4.
But, my dear friends, the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us;
for ear hath not heard, nor eye seen, what God has prepared for them
that love him; for the righteous shall live forever; the Lord is
their reward, and the care of them is with the Most High; therefore
they shall receive a glorious kingdom and a beautiful crown from the
Lord’s hand. Wis. 5:15,16. Hence let us with the eyes of the spirit
look at the beautiful promises, and with Moses rather choose to suffer
affliction with the children of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin
for a season; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward, and
esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures
of Egypt. Hebrews 11:25,26.
Herewith, my dear friends, I will commend you to the Lord, and to the
rich word of his grace; that thereby you may in this time grow up,
blossom, be fruitful and flourishing. By me,
BARTHOLOMEUS PANTEN.
The following are some controversies which we prisoners had with the
Jesuits. I have written them briefly, according to the best of my
recollection; for to write them word for word would be impossible. If
we could have been together, I could have written a little more fully,
for quite a number of days have passed, since it took place. Again, for
proof they quote much from Augustin, and other of their teachers, and
also assert that they have existed so long. They know not or will not
know, that they have possessed the earth for a long time with deceit,
violence and tyranny, kept down the untarnished truth, and instead of
the truth believed lies, as Paul declares how that God sends strong
delusions, because they received not the love of the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness: Read 2 Thess. 2. There it is written of
the man of sin and the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth
himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped.
I further inform you, that they have assailed me, and would have liked
to bring me back to their doctrine. I would have liked to show them
by the parable of the tares of the field (Matt. 13:24) that it is
unbecoming and contrary to the doctrine of Christ, and also contrary to
common love and propriety that any one should be apprehended for his
faith (of misapprehension of the holy Scriptures), spoiled of their
goods, tortured or put to death; and I partly presented to them the
declaration of Christ, that the Father of the household commanded his
servants, that they should permit the tares and the wheat to grow up
together until the harvest, which is the end of the world, according to
Christ’s own declaration. But they said: _Jam marces est_, that is: “It
is now harvest.” I said: “The harvest is the end of the world; and the
reapers are the angels;” adding: “You assume the service of angels.”
They wanted to excuse themselves with the authorities; but I warned
them, seeing that they were the teachers and preachers of the
authorities; that our blood should be required at their hands, if they
teach the authorities this, and encourage, constrain or counsel them
thereto, as they do according to my understanding, for it is contrary
to the doctrine of Christ, and the command of God. When his servants
asked him, whether they should root it out, he told them: Nay, lest
while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. But
they want to be wiser, and to rule over Christ; whereby they show that
they are antichrist, that is, contrary to Christ and his doctrine.
For if they were true Christians, and disciples of Christ, the bride,
yea sheep, doves and members of Christ, or branches on the vine, they
would not persecute or inflict suffering upon any one, but would rather
suffer and bear persecution. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse
and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:12,13.
Again, we also had a controversy concerning baptism with the same
Jesuits, and also with the Dean of St. John’s and their pastor, who
defended infant baptism and considered it necessary for salvation. But
I quoted to them divers Scriptures, that baptism pertains to believers,
and that it is not enough, that the faith is confessed with the mouth,
but that it must also be apprehended with the heart, as Philip said
to the eunuch. Acts 8:37. “If thou believest with all thine heart,
thou mayest.” I also told them that Philip preached the word of God
to those of Samaria, and when they believed Philip (who preached to
them of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ), they were
baptized both men and women. And Michiel quoted the Scripture from the
Acts of the Apostles, in the second chapter: “Therefore let all the
house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this,
they were pricked in their heart; and said unto Peter and to the rest
of the apostles, Men and brethren what shall we do? Then Peter said
unto, them, Repent. Thereupon one of them said: What is it, to repent?
That is: Be sorry for your sins, 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. In the same chapter it is also
written: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to
them about three thousand souls.
And the Dean of St. John’s, and the pastor of the same church, when
we talked with them, made a long speech from John 3, where Christ
declares: Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God. I said that he had spoken that to the adult; but he would claim,
that it was spoken of every one, of children as well as adults; and
wanted to conclude from it, that infants that died without baptism
were lost, which is untrue, for the kingdom of God belongs to infants,
according to Christ’s own promise; and the words which Christ speaks
to Nicodemus do not concern infants, but only those that have ears to
hear, and hearts to understand. But they insisted: Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
And they thought that water baptism constitutes the new birth, and that
infants are thus regenerated; which is a great misapprehension; for,
according to Peter’s words, it is as he says in his first epistle:
“Purifying your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren, 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.” 1 Pet. 1:22,23. And James says: “Of his own will begat he us
with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of
his creatures.” James 1:18. And John says: “Whosoever believeth that
Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” 1 John 5:1. Christ also says:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so
is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:6–8. Behold, thus, the
new birth is effected by receiving the word of God; for the old man
and his works must be put off, and the new man put on, and this is no
child’s work. This I have added here as an explanation to you of the
new birth.
We also spake with the Jesuits, and with others, about the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ, in which we did not agree, for they said that
he had flesh and blood from Mary. And I said that he is the Son of God,
who was born of the virgin Mary, since she had known no man: and I also
said, that Paul says: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall
be saved by his life. Rom. 5:10. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is
written: “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him
to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”
Acts 3:26. And John says in his first epistle: The blood of Jesus
Christ his Son, and not the blood of Mary. 1 John 1:7. The apostle Paul
also says to the Corinthians: “The first man is of the earth, earthy;
the second man is the Lord from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:47. And in
the gospel we read: “He that cometh from above is above all; he that
is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth; he that cometh
from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he
testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received
his testimony, hath set his seal that God is true.” John 3:31–33.
And unto the Hebrews it is written: “Wherefore, when he cometh into
the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a
body hast thou prepared me.” Heb. 10:5. And Matt. 1:20 it is written:
“Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife;
for that which is received (conceived) in her is of the Holy Ghost,”
That which she received (mark well) did not come from her; else it
would be of the earth, as was Mary, and as are all the children of
Adam. Not that we had all these words with them, but that you might the
better understand the foundation of our faith. The others used many
more words than are put here, but I have not remembered them all. They
asserted that he was of the natural seed of David. Thereupon we confess
that he came forth from the seed of David, and that he is of the house
of David, and born of the virgin Mary, through the power and operation
of the Holy Ghost; for Mary herself was astonished at this work, when
she received the message from the angel, and said to the angel: “How
shall this be seeing I know not a man?” And the angel answered and said
unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the
Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:34,35. In
John it is written: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven;
if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that
I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 6:51. Mark well here, whence this bread, which he calls his flesh,
came, whether it came from Mary, who was of the earth, or whether it
came from heaven? We say with Christ: From heaven, and not from the
earth, of which Mary was.
Again, I also inform you, that we spoke some concerning the Lord’s
Supper and the breaking of the bread, with the Dean of St. John’s and
their pastor, and their view was, that Christ’s flesh and blood were
in their sacrament. Thereupon Michiel said: “If this was so, then they
would be eating flesh on Fridays; which they took amiss, and said that
it was not eaten like other flesh. And Kalleken said from John 6: “The
flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are
spirit, and they are life.” And I quoted to them the declaration of
Paul, 1 Cor. 11:26: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,
ye do shew forth the Lord’s death till he come.” “Hence he is certainly
not there,” said I. They said that he was everywhere; and there stood
ink on the table at which we sat, and they, or one of them, said that
he was in the ink. And one among them had a pen in his hand and said:
“He is in the pen.” One of them also said that he was in hell. It did
certainly seem, according to their saying, that God was everywhere; and
I said: “Into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in
the body that is subject unto sin; for the Holy Spirit flees from the
froward. Wisdom 1:4,5. And there were many other words said, concerning
their images and idols and their view was: That they might be made and
set up, but that they might not be worshiped, and that if there were
any one that did this, he should be reproved, as they said; and after
this manner they spoke. I said to the Jesuits: “If candles are lighted
or placed before them, and they are carried upon the shoulders, is that
not honoring and serving them?” And I said: “The gods of the heathen
are of silver and gold, and the work of men’s hands; they have ears,
but hear not; they have eyes, but they see not.” Ps. 115:4–6. One of
them, when he heard this, wanted to say, that they did not have any;
but upon maturely considering the matter, they had some of silver and
gold. And there was still more said about it between Michiel and them;
but what I said I have remembered best.
Herewith adieu for this time; farewell; read with understanding, and
keep it secret for the present, that the lords may not get to hear of
it. By me,
BARTHOLOMEUS PANTEN.
A TESTAMENT FROM BARTHOLOMEUS PANTEN TO HIS LITTLE DAUGHTER, WHO AFTER
HER FATHER’S DEATH WAS PUT INTO A CONVENT BY THE PRIESTS; THE LORD
GRANT THAT SHE MAY YET BE BROUGHT INTO THE RIGHT WAY.
My dear child, hear the instruction of your father, and forget it not,
if God permits you to grow up, and you attain to your understanding;
and remember how I went before you, according to my limited ability, in
all imperfection (which I lament before God), to enter in through the
strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait
is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you
in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall
know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles? My dear child, I say that it is impossible; hence take heed
to their fruits; for it agrees in no wise with the holy Scriptures,
that any one should be apprehended, spoiled of his property, and put to
death, for his faith; for neither Christ nor his disciples did this,
but they had to suffer themselves from unbelievers, and were put to
death by them, as it clearly appears, that Christ himself was numbered
among the transgressors, and was led to death like a lamb, and as a
sheep dumb before her shearers.
Hence, my dear child, endeavor to follow this Shepherd, if you would be
one of his sheep; for Peter declares of him: “Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps; who did no
sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Pet. 2:21–23. Hence, my
dear child, the author of our faith went before, as Paul declares to
us: “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith:
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet
resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Heb. 12:1–4.
Thus, my dear child, lay this to heart, and when you attain to your
understanding, it is my fatherly request of you, that you will join
yourself to those that fear God, who are by far the least among all
people, but are yet the true congregation and church of God, who
regulate themselves according to the ordinances of the Lord, and
according to the practice of the holy apostles, namely, a baptism which
is founded upon faith, and must be received as Christ has commanded,
and is written in Matthew: “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. 28:19,20. Also in Mark: “Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved.” Mark 16:15,16. Also in the Acts of the
Apostles, where Peter practiced it on many. This confession of faith
must not only be made with the mouth, but it must also be apprehended
with the heart, and shown by the works, even as John declared to the
Pharisees and Sadducees, whom he saw coming to his baptism, and said:
“O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Matthew 3:7,8.
It must withal be understood, that confession is not enough, but that
sorrow of heart must also be evinced by good works; that the old man
with his evil works, must first be put off, and that it must be done
out of pure faith, as Philip said to the eunuch: “If thou believest
with all thine heart, thou mayest.” Acts 8:37. For all outward action,
without renewing of the spirit, cannot please God. And the Supper we
keep in remembrance of the Lord’s bitter death and sufferings, as is
declared [a letter] to the Corinthians: “I have received of the Lord
that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same
night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given
thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is
broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner
also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the
new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as 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.” 1 Cor. 11:23–26. Now if
we are to show his death till he come, he is not daily in their mass,
nor in all their idolatry, nor in their idol, with which they visit
the sick in their distress, where they say he is; this is far from the
truth.
And as regards the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we believe
what the holy Scriptures declare concerning it, and are satisfied with
the confession of Peter, when Christ asked his disciples, who men said
that he was: Some said Jeremiah, Elias, or one of the prophets. Hence
Christ asked his disciples: But whom say ye that I am? Peter answered:
Lord, thou art the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:13. And as also
Nathaniel testifies: Thou art the King of Israel. John 1:49. Paul
says: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the
death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by
his life. Rom. 5:10. And John says: The blood of Jesus Christ his Son
cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7. And in the Acts of the Apostles
it is written: God raised up his child Jesus. Acts 3:26. Now if he
raised up his child, it must certainly have been dead. And in Isaiah
it is written: A virgin shall receive [conceive], and bear a son. Is.
7:14. If she received [conceived] him, it is my belief that she did not
receive more than she brought forth; and I am satisfied with the work
of God, however it may have been effected. That I should believe, that
he is of her flesh and blood, of this I have no testimony in the holy
Scriptures, and am content with the aforesaid confession.