Thieleman J. van Braght · 102 of 210

Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 40

On Monday, the 7th of February, 1558, Lwas again summoned before the same inquisitor. When I appeared before him, he saluted me, and asked

"How are you; have you the fever yet?" Jac. "I am well, the Lord be praised for it; the fever left me three weeks ago, or thereabouts." Inq. "How are you at ease in your conscience?" Jac. "Very well, the Lord be praised for it."

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He then made a long speech, too long to be briefly related, the sum and substance of which was, that he entreated me very much, that I should return to the holy Catholic church, and believe as becomes a good Christian, without investigating such high things, and wanting to be so wise. Thereupon I replied: "I investigate nothing but what I am permitted to believe; and I am well content, simply to believe that which a good Christian is bound to believe." Sir. 3:21. 1 nq. "You indeed say that you want to believe as a good Christian, and yet you have a heretical faith." Jac. "I have no such faith; but my faith is founded only upon the pure Word of God; and if you were content with the Word of God, you would also be satisfied with my faith." Inq. "True, you quote the Word of God; but in your heart you understand differently:" Jac. "As we believe, so speak we; and since we adduce to you the Scriptures, which are the Word of God, for a testimony of our faith, why are you not satisfied with it? for it belongs to God alone, and not to men to search the heart." Inq. "What. then do you believe concerning Jesus Christ; did He take His flesh?" Jac. "Do the Scriptures teach you that you must ask me this?" Inq. "Because Menno says that He brought His flesh from heaven." Jac. "I have not heard him say this." Inq. "Yet he believes it." Jac. "Menno's belief is that the Word was made flesh, acording to the testimony of John 1:14, or as the text in your Testament reads: became flesh." Inq. "What do you believe concerning it?" Jac. "I bethat Christ is the Son of the living God." Inq. " did He take His flesh?" Jac. "I do not know, except that He is born of the Father." Inq. "Do you not believe that He took His flesh in the womb of the virgin Mary?" Jac. "My lord, if you can prove to me that Jesus and His apostles compelled any one to confess this, I will also confess it to you; for when Peter confessed Christ, that He was the Son of the living God, Christ did not ask him of whom He was made, but said that upon this rock He should build His church. Matt. 16:18. Again, when Candace's eunuch said to Philip, that he .believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and desired to be baptized upon this faith, Philip was satisfied, without inquiring as to He had taken His flesh." Acts 8:36. Inq. "It was not necessary at that time to make such inquiry, since no difficulty existed yet concerning the matter." Jac. "What need is there now?" Inq. "Because there are so many heretics." Jac. "There were enough heretics also in the days of the apostles; but the reason is this, that Satan always causes some vain controversy, to corrupt men's understanding, and to draw them into error." Inq. "Then you will not confess that He took His flesh and blood in the virgin?" Jac. "I will not investigate that which is above my understanding, ndmely, whereof the Son of God was made; for this was a miraculous work. However, that you may not think me a heretic, I confess Him to be the Son of God in every manner, in power and might, in spirit, in flesh and blood, begotten of the own substance of one only Father, namely, the eternal God, as the Scriptures testify to us; who was with the Father from eternity; and when the time of the promise was fulfilled, the eternal Word became flesh, and was conceived in a virgin, of the , and born of said virgin Mary." Inq: "He assumed His flesh from, and was made of, our flesh; will you say nothing with regard to this?" Jac. "I am satisfied with believing in regard to it acording to the Scriptures, without further investigation." Inq. "Do not the Scriptures say that He took upon Him our flesh?" Jac. "I have never read it, and I do not wish to dispute further; besides, you said that you would not dispute about it; why then do you ask me so much concerning it?" Inq. "In order to see whether your faith is not like the faith of Menno Simons." Jac. "You have heard that I do not receive the testimony of men, as a foundation for my faith."

Perceiving that he could get nothing else out of me, he asked me: "What is your determination?" Jac. "I have declared my faith to you, and thereupon I have made my determination, until the contrary be proved to me." Inq. "I have proved it to you sufficiently; but you will believe nothing but your fancy and obstinacy, and have forsaken the holy church." Jac. "My lord, I have not forsaken the holy church; for if I had recognized your church as the holy church, I should not have forsaken it; to join another." Inq. "Nevertheless, though Satan has thus deceived you, and you think that we are not the holy church, yet it is the same that it has always been from the times of the apostles, and been maintained through the holy teachers until the present time." Jac. "If it is the same church which existed at the time of the apostles, it must have the same or like bishops and pastors as were then." Inq. "Yes, and so we have." Jac. "Well then, my lord, show me in your whole church only one bishop or pastor who is blameless in doctrine and life, even as Paul, or Timothy, or Titus, and I will follow him with all my heart." Inq. "Have you such pastors among you?" Jac. "My lord, you say, that we are Satan's congregation,and that your church is the same which was in the time of the apostles; hence show me those people, whereby I may know them." Inq. "Where do you think to find such? for they had the , who is not given now." Jac. "Not! How comes it then, that Paul says that he that has not the Spirit of God, is none of His?" Rom. 8:9. Inq. "This has another meaning." Jac. "My lord; what meaning?" Inq. "He there speaks of those who do not walk after the Spirit." Jac. "Well; for what else do I ask you, than for bishops and pastors who walk and are led by the Spirit of God, who are holy, just, vigilant, and blameless in the doctrine, in life and , as Paul teaches that they must be." Inq. "I could easily name such bishops or pastors as are blameless, but you do not know them." Jac. "Where are they?" Inq. "In Italy and in Spain." Jac. "Is the church of God there, and not here?" Inq. "There is also a cardinal or bishop in England, who truly is a man blameless in doctrine and ." Jac. "My lord, pray release me from these chains, and let me go, and I shall use all diligence to get to him, to see whether it is true."

'He laughingly replied: "No, no; you must believe what is told you." Jac. "My lord, it is written

`Cursed be the man that trusteth in man.' Jer. 17:5. Shall I depend upon your word alone?" Inq. "Do you think that I lie?" Jac. "I do not say that; but I want to see it first before I believe it." Inq. "Yes, yes, but you cannot now." Jac. "Since I cannot see it, I cannot believe it either." Inq. "Why will you pay so much attention to their , seeing they have the doctrine of the apostles?" Jac. "This is yet to be proved to me, and it would be difficult for you to prove to me by the Scriptures, that they have the doctrine of the apostles." Inq. "Nevertheless they have it; but you are hardened, and cannot comprehend it." Jac. "This assertion lacks the support of the Scriptures, and if they are trees from the roots of the apostles, show me the fruits, that I may know them." Inq. "Can you then know the faith by the works, whether it is good or bad?" Jac. "My lord, our Master has taught us that we shall know the false prophets by their fruits (Matt. 7:16); for when we find grapes on the vine, we dare not say, like you people do, that we have plucked them from thorns."

He laughingly said to me: "Do we say that?" Jac. "Do you not? do you not say we are evil, vile and useless trees, that must be cast into the fire? And yet you have confessed to me, that our fruits are good, but that it is our faith." Inq. "It is true, you do good works before men; but the inward is good for nothing, for your faith is not good." Jac. "Our works spring from our faith; the vessel cannot give forth anything but what is in it; hence the Lord calls those a generation of vipers, who confessed that the fruit was good, and the tree corrupt, saying: `Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt.' Luke 6:45; Matt. 12:34. Inq. "Therefore you would say that our bishops and pastors can have no good faith, unless their works are good." Jac. "My lord, I can answer with Paul: `They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate' (Tit. 1:16); and such pastors I will not follow." Inq. "No, no, Jacques, they are not so abominable as you think, though they are also sinners, even as we all are." Jac. "My lord, you know better than you say; for I should be ashamed to discover the shameful acts of this people, who boast of being the light and salt of the earth, and the leaders of the blind and ignorant." Inq. "What shameful acts? tell me freely." Jac. "My lord, since you desire me to tell you, you know very well yourself, what unnatural whoredom, too shameful to mention, such as was committed by Sodom and Gomorrah, those of Rome commit namely, the pope, who boasts of being a holy man, and God upon earth, and the cardinals and bishops that are there; to say nothing of the pride, pomp and wickedness of which these holy people are guilty." Inq. "It is true, that there are some who commit great abomination before God, so that it is abominable of some; but, Jacques, we must not condemn the good on account of the bad; they are not all bad; there are also some that are righteous." Jac. "I believe that the righteous are thinly sown; for from my youth I have lived mostly among priests, canons and monks, and it were a shame to relate the abounding wickedness which I have seen there." Inq. "My son, not all, not all." Jac. "My lord, so far as I have ever seen and known, I do not know that I have seen a single one walk after the rule prescribed to a bishop or pastor, even as you know better yourself what occurred two or three weeks ago in this city of N. in the convent of the Jacobines."

The monks of Jacobines had driven their prior out of the convent, because he had reproved them for their licentiousness and wickedness.

Inq. "Jacques, though there have been wicked popes, cardinals, bishops, priests, and monks, there have, on the other hand, also been good ones; do you not know that the good grain is not without chaff'? No, no, there are good grains and good pastors, though you do not know them." Jac. "Show me then but a single upright pastor, such as I demanded of you, according to the Scriptures, and I will follow him." Inq. "Though I should name them to you, you do not know them any way, and will not believe me; but even if it were true, namely, that they are wicked, yet they have the true faith." Jac. "I hold to the testimony of Paul, that light has no communion with darkness." II Cor. 6:14. Inq. "Do you mean to say then, that a man who commits evil works cannot have the true faith?" Jac. "If a man that has received knowledge, yield himself to the commission of wickedness, his faith will not last long, or will soon be darkened." Inq. "Who has told you this?" Jac. "Paul writes to the Romans, that some held the truth in unrighteousness, since that which might be known of God, God had showed them; and though they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; God gave them up to the lusts of their hearts, filled with darkness." Romans 1:18. Inq. "Paul speaks there of the philosophers, who turned to the heavens, stars, planets, etc., for guidance." Jac. "That is all the same to me, of whom he speaks, philosophers or others; but Paul shows that through their works and ingratitude their hearts were filled with darkness. Moreover, he also says: `Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, . . . for this cause God shall send them strong delusions;' which also came to pass." I I

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Thess. 2:10, 11. Inq. "Did not Judas Iscariot commit a wicked work in delivering up the Son of God?" Jac. "The Scripture says that it would have been better, if he had not been born." Matt. 26:24. Inq. "Yet he had a true faith; what do you say to this?" Jac. "Had he a true faith before or afterwards?" Inq. "Before and also afterwards, though he was a thief." Jac. "Though his heart was wicked, yet his walk was good, so that they did not dare think that it was he who should commit the deed, but all asked: `Is it I? is it I?' " Mark 14:19. Inq. "Look also at Demas, did he not have the true faith? Yet his heart was bound up in things of this world; nevertheless, Paul regarded him as a brother." Col. 4:14. Jac. "It is true that Paul regarded him for a time as a brother and companion in the work of the Lord; but after he said that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world, and no longer calls him a brother or companion." II Tim. 4:10. Inq. "That you do not know." Jac. "The Scriptures say nothing about it." Inq. "That proves nothing either way; you must believe that. a sinful man can have the faith and the Gospel; do you think that we must therefore not hear him, and believe his word?" Jac. "My lord, wherein do you reprove Paul of sin, after he had received the knowledge of the truth?" Inq. "Is it not written: `He that saith that he hath no sin, maketh God a liar?"' I John 1:10. Jac. "True, but it is also written in the same epistle: `Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin because he is born of God.' I John 3:9. And Paul said: `How shall we, that are dead to sin, live unto sin'." Rom. 6:2. Inq. "Paul there simply asks a question; but do you therefore think that he did not sin?" Jac. "You know that Paul said that Christ was living in him; did Christ then commit sin? Gal. 2:20. He also exhorts the Corinthians, to follow him, even as he had followed Christ, and calls God and men to witness, how holily and justly, and unblamably he had walked among them. I Cor. 11:1; I Thess. 2:10. Of what sin then, my lord, will you accuse Paul?" Inq. "Nevertheless, he was a sinner; this you certainly cannot deny." Jac. "I do not want to deny it; for he says himself, that he was the chief of sinners, blasphemers and persecutors while in unbelief, but not after he had received the knowledge [of the truth]. I Timothy 1:15. Well then; but what I ask you for, are pastors that are blameless in life, doctrine and ; for I well know that all men are born in sin; but he that in sin, hath not known God." Ps. 51:5; I John 3:6. Inq. "You must not thus understand the passage; for a sinful man does have knowledge of God." Jac. "Yes, with the mouth: or it would not be true what the apostle Peter has said, that he that has not the fear of God, and brotherly and living love, is blind, and gropes with the hand for the way." Tit. 1:16; II Pet. 1:9. Inq. "No, he says that he is like the blind." Jac. "My lord, with your permission, he says that such a blind man gropes for the way, which is a sign that he has not found it; now, shall I follow such people?" Inq. "Your Menno, is he so just, holy and blameless?" Jac. "I have not had sufficient intercourse with him, to find anything blamable in him." Inq. "With whom then have you had your intercourse? can nothing be said of your teacher? is he unblamable?" Jac. "My lord, can you produce anything against him, or accuse him of anything?" Inq. "I do not know the rascal." Jac. "Then do not defame him; for you would find it a difficult task to prove that he is what you call him." Inq. "This would not be difficult for me to do; for he has seduced enough people to be called this." Jac. "My lord, take care that you are not yourself one who seduces the people." Inq. "Is he not a native of a certain village in Zealand?" He named the village, but I have forgotten it. Jac. "I do not know where he was born." Inq. "What kind of looking man was he? What sort of beard and clothes did he have?" Jac. "My lord, you are certainly inquiring very diligently for him; I think you would like to betray him; do you know no other way, my lord?" Inq. "I wish him no harm." Jac. "I hear that you say so; nevertheless, you would like to have him here in my place, would you not, my lord?" Inq. "Yes, if he would become ." Jac. "And if he would not be to your views, would you not place him to the stake?" Inq. "I should leave this to the judge." Jac. "Well, would you not then wish him harm? Would you want to have this done to you?"

Perceiving that he could not answer me, and that two or three persons were listening at the door, besides the jailer, who is always with the prisoners, he commenced to give me a long talk, saying that I must not inquire so deeply into the Scriptures, but suffer myself to be instructed by those more learned than I, and that I must believe that a sinful man, of wicked life could have the faith as well as another and that I must hear his words, but not do after his works. Jac. "Must I believe this by the Scriptures, or without the Scriptures?" Inq. "I have proved it to you by the Scriptures." Jac. "By what Scriptures?" Inq. "By the cases of Judas and Demas, who had faith, and yet were wicked of life." Jac. "My lord, it appears to me that our words are mere child's play; have I not replied to this, and proved to you, that it becomes us not to take those who have apostatized from the faith for leaders and pastors?" Inq. "Where do you expect to find blameless pastors such as you demand? do you not see that the world is full of knavery?" Jac. "If you do not know any, I know some, and such I will follow." Inq. "Where are they?" Jac. "They are unknown to you; do you not know that when the prophet thought that all the righteous in Israel had been slain by Ahab and Jezebel, the Lord said that there were seven thousand left yet, who had not bowed their knees unto the idol Baal." I Kings 19:10. Inq. "It was because of the persecution raging at that time, that they were so scattered." Jac. "Thus it is yet at the present day on account of persecution, that they are scattered, and unknown to the world." Inq. "But must you for a Menno, or any other single individual, who seem to lead a good life, must you therefore follow him, and forsake all the other bishops and pastors, who do not walk just as uprightly?" Jac. "My lord, do you think that if Ahab, the King of Israel had forsaken the counsel of the four hundred prophets, and followed the single advice of poor Micaiah, he would have done amiss?" Inq. "Certainly not; for Micaiah was a prophet of God." Jac. "Did not the others say that they were too? and did they not smite poor Micaiah on the cheek, because he prophesied against them, and say to him: 'Do you think that the Spirit of God has departed from us?"' Inq. "They boasted of the Holy Spirit, but falsely; for they did not have Him?" Jac. "Ahab did not know that; for because Micaiah had alone prophesied against the four hundred prophets, the poor man of God was cast into prison on scanty bread and water, till Ahab should return from the battle at Ramoth gilead; but he found that the counsel of the four hundred prophets cost him his life, as Micaiah had foretold him." Inq. "The events recorded in these passages occurred in former times." Jac. "Paul says that all was written for our learning; and the same things still happen at the present day." Rom. 15:4. Inq. "Well then, you will not hear or follow any pastors, except they practice what they teach?" Jac. "No; for it is written: 'The light of the body is the eye; if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness."' Matt. 6:22. Inq. "Then you will not follow the advice of Jesus Christ, namely, to do after their words, and not after their works." Jac. "To whom does He say this?" Inq. "To His disciples." Jac. "Of whom does He say it?" Inq. "Jesus Christ says: 'The scribes and the sit on Moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works."' Matt. 23:1, 2. lac. "What kind of seat was it, wooden or stone?" Inq. "It was the seat that was there." Jac. "How could so many people sit in one seat? Was it so large? Or was it not the law Christ alluded to?" Inq. "It is the same thing, the law which they proclaimed." Jac. "The law was a command of God, and not of men, and when Christ said this, He did not choose them to feed or lead His flock." Inq. "When He said: 'Do after their words, and not after their works, did He not appoint them pastors?"' Jac. "Have you not read what the Lord says: 'Except your shall exceed the of the scribes and , ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Matt. 5:20. Behold, here they are already excluded; how then shall they lead others?" Inq. "Do only after their words." Jac. "Have you no other pastors among you, to proclaim the Word of God, than such scribes and , whom God has threatened with so many curses? Does not the prophet say: `Blessed is the man that has not sat among the ungodly'? Ps. 1:1. And Christ admonishes us to beware of their leaven." Matt. 16:6. Inq. "You must not understand it thus, but believe that an ungodly man can indeed speak good things." Jac. "it is written: `Praise is not seemly in the mouth of the ungodly, because they are not sent of God.'.Sir. 15:y. 'And how shall they preach, except they be sent?"' Romans 1 U:15. L nq. "It is true, it is not seemly, but he does not say that it is not good." Jac. "if it is not seemly, then it is not acceptable; for what can an . impenitent man proclaim? For, if a thief admonish his companion not to steal any more, will his word have any effect? Will not his companion say: `If it is wrong to do it, why do you do it yourself?' Rom. 2:21. Y e hypocrites, cast out the beam out of your own eyes, and then shall you see clearly the dust in my eyes." Matt. 7:5. 1nq. "You pervert every Scripture into the contrary, according to your own notion and understanding; you must not build upon yourself so much, but subject your understanding to the understanding of those that are wiser than you are." Jac. "My lord, I always speak, with your permission, that if anything better is proved to me, I will follow it."

He arose and said: "It is time for me to go; see that you consider the matter well, and pray diligently to God." Jac. "I know of nothing to consider, since you cannot .prove to me anything different." Inq. "What should I prove to you?" Jac. "I have asked you to show to me what pastors I must follow, and whether they are such as the Scriptures decree that they ought to be in life, doctrine and :" Inq. "Follow those whom your parents followed." Thereupon he left me.

Here I finished writing, because I was finally surprised by many persons and gainsayer's.

This confession of Jacques wa's translated from the French into the Dutch.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for ' 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 exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so' persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matt. 5:11, 12).

HOW JACQUES D'AUCHY WAS BETRAYED, APPRE

HENDED, AND FELL INTO THE HANDS OF.THE

TYRANTS, AND WITH WHAT PUNISHMENT

THE RIGHTEOUS GOD VISITED THIS

TYRANT AND TRAITOR A MEM;

ORABLE AND INSTRUCTIVE EX;

AMPLE TO ALL TYRANTS ,

AND TRAITORS

There was a councilor at Harlingen, by the name of Mr. de Wael, who very diligently sought Jacques, addressed him in a friendly manner, and invited him to his house, saying that he had a letter for him. When Jacques arrived there, he cordially welcomed him, and urged him much to be his guest, seeming to be kindled with great love for old acquaintance' sake. When he learned that Jacques could not stay, he, with friendly words, but the heart of a Judas, asked him to come again and bring of his wares and work with him, ostensibly for the purpose of buying of him, Jacques being a peddler. In the meantime he secretly sent a messenger to Leeuwarden, to the council, for a commissary and a bailiff. When Jacques came again to him, he affably greeted him, sending in the meantime for the. bailiff. When the latter arrived, the traitor malignantly said: "Apprehend him, behold, this is the man." Thus they handled him with great severity, saying: "Hold still," and searched him all over.

Then Jacques said: "Oh my lord, what have you done, that you have thus betrayed me, who trusted you with my life and all my property? why do you seek my life, and thirst thus for my blood?" He replied: "Be content and suffer yourself to be bound: you must go with me to the prison." He said he had to do this, to fulfill his oath, and read to Jacques his cruel, tyrannous mandate. He also made very strict inquiry for four other men. Jacques replied that he would not betray or deceive any one, but if he had aught against him, or had heard any one complain of him, he should tell him of it. The traitor replied that he had not heard anything of the kind, and that he was not apprehended on account of any crime, but simply because he had adhered to heresy; he, moreover, asked him whether he was not an Anabaptist. Jacques denied having adhered to heresy, and being an Anabaptist, saying that he had received but one baptism, according to the Word of 'the Lord, upon his faith. When asked concerning the Roman church, Jacques replied that it was not of God. Upon this the traitor was seen to sigh deeply, his countenance simulating great sorrow as he said

"Oh I Jacques, must you fall into my hands?" Jacques replied: "My lord, I had placed confidence in you, on account of our old acquaintance, and because I had intercourse with you so long; but I will gladly and from my heart forgive you for this, and it is my earnest desire that the Lord may have mercy upon you." He thanked Jacques for this favor, opining that in this he had not sinned before God, since he had to act according to his oath. Jacques said: "Do you consider this transaction right before God and men? The time will come when you will find it otherwise." Wisd. 5:2. He then sent Jacques into the room and said to him