Thieleman J. van Braght · 113 of 210

Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 51

"No." He asked: "How then?" I said: "It became man, and it continued to be the Word; that is, the Word which was invisible became visible; that which was impalpable became palpable; that which was impossible became possible." He said

"Was the Word not God?" I replied: "It is God and man." "Did God die?" he said. I replied: "He died according to His humanity, as Peter says

`put to death according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.' " I Pet. 3:18.

I then asked him, how he confessed the unity. He confessed three persons and one God. I asked whether the were a person. He said

"Yes." I said: "When Mary was greeted by the angel, that she should conceive, and she did not know how this should come to pass, as she had never known a man, the angel said: `The shall come upon thee.' Luke 1:26. Now, if the is a person, then one person conceived another. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is written that when the apostles received the , He sat upon each of them. Acts 2:3. But a person can sit only upon one man. And in the first chapter (v. 7) of the Book of Wisdom it is written that the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world. To what person would you compare Him?" He did not know what to say. He then said: "I do not consider them persons such as Pieter, Klaes, and Jan." I said: "To whom then do you compare them?" They then exchanged a few words in Latin, and said: "We only call them persons: did you think that we considered them three human beings?" I said: "Yes." He said: "If you have taught men so, you must confess that you have slandered us, and that you are a false teacher." I said: "I am no teacher; I have enough to do to teach myself." I added: "You call them persons; are they not such? Why then do you call them three persons?" He said: "It amounts to the same thing." I said: "It does not; a person is a human being, and you certainly cannot compare them to human beings." Then he said; "God the Father is not the Son; the Son is not the Father; the is neither the Father nor the Son. And these are three; the one is what the other is not, and though they are three, yet are they but one God." I said: "This is also my faith, and in accordance with it I know but one person, that is Jesus Christ, who was visible and palpable; but the others I do not know what to compare them to." On this point we agreed, and he let go his persons. He then asked again whether God had died. I said: "You have sat here and acknowledged to me that you do not consider the Word to be the Father, nor the Father to be the Word, though they, according to the Godhead, are one God; but you regard them as three witnesses; and two of these witnesses did not become man, but the Word, by which all things were made, became flesh, as John says in the first chapter [of his Gospel]. Although this Word became man, it therefore does not cease to be one God with the Father; else it could not be God and man."

Then he said: "Jelis, you err." And they adduced Rom. 1:3 in their Testament where it read "Who became of the seed of David according to the flesh, is declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit." I said that in rendering it became they had mistranslated the word; that it ought to read: born o f the seed o f David. "Go," I said, "and examine the Testaments which you had printed thirty or thirty six years ago, see whether in them it reads thus. I have read it therein: born, as it ought to be; but you have now caused it to be altered thus, to deceive the simple hearts." This made them very angry. I then said "Say it as it ought to be: born; for a woman can certainly not make a child." Then he said: "Became or assumed is the same thing; as it is written `He took not on him (the nature of) angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham."' Heb. 2:16. I said: "This also is changed; it ought to read: `He receiveth not angels; but he receiveth the seed of Abraham as his children; and believers are counted for the seed' (Rom. 9:8); for Paul says (I Cor. 11:8), that the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man." They said: "This is spoken of Adam and Eve." I said: "Here God has plainly shown that the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man, which is in direct opposition to your belief. Paul speaks still more fully on generation; for he says: `As the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.' v. 12. This certainly has reference to generation, for Adam was not by Eve." He said that it had to be understood so. I said: "I do not understand it so." We had many more words yet concerning the promises; but I have not the space to write it.

All these words I had with the parish priest of St. Martins, a very crafty customer, craftier than any one I ever heard; all the others are as nothing compared to him. Written in haste, in the dark, with ink made of coals; bear patiently with it. The day before we were delivered to the secular lords, we were brought before the Dean of. Ronse. He asked us whether we had come to a determination. I said: "I am always determined to eschew evil, and to do that which is good, as far as I know." There were three or four judges present, and the under bailiff. He said it was great arrogance that I pretended to be wiser than all the world; there were Ambrose and Augustine, and other holy men and they understood it so. I said: "I do not pretend to know anything; but I know the faith to be the truth, and herein I want to ." Farewell; I commend you to God.

Your weak brother in the Lord,

JELIS STRINGS.

HEYNDRICK EEMKENS, A. D. 1562

In the year 1562 there was apprehended at Utrecht, for the testimony of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, a brother named Heyndrick Eemkens, a tailor, who, after all solicitations and pains suffered, finally received word that he was to die, at which he rejoiced that he should also have the privilege of being a witness for the name of the Lord. This message was brought him by the pastor of the Buerchurch and a Franciscan monk named Friar Jan van Herentals, who in a few words informed him of it, and then left him. He said to friar Jan: "You need not come again tomorrow, for I do not need you." In the morning he was brought out from his prison into another room, where he had many words with the monk, who forthwith condemned him. Thereupon he replied

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged." Luke 6:37. The monk said: "You confessed that you did not believe that Christ assumed flesh from Mary." He replied: "I have said it once in my confession; shall I tell you again?" and he referred him to John 1.

The monk then asked him whether he would not confess to him. He answered: "I have confessed to God." The monk said: "Have you lived to be so old without ever confessing?" "No," said he, "I have indeed confessed to men; but God knows I heartily regret that I submitted so long to your confession." The monk then asked him whether he did not want to hear a mass. He replied: "I have read so many, that I loathe the mass; and even though I do not want to have it, yet if you want to read it, nevertheless, how can I prevent it? Hence, if you want to do it, do so, but not on my account; for I do not wish it." Then the monk asked him whether he would not have the ; but he said: "No, but if I could partake of the as instituted and commanded by the Lord, and observed by the apostles and their churcles, this I should heartily desire, and thank the Lard for it, but your deception I do not want." Upon this the monk again damned him two or three times.

The thief takers then came, and wanted to give him something to drink, but he refused it. Then came one of the jailer's daughters, a wanton girl, and wanted to put it into his mouth with a spoon, as they were sitting and drinking with the thief takers, but Heyndrick said to her: "I have certainly told you that I do not want it; hence, let me in peace, if it is possible." Thereupon one of the thief takers said: "Do you want to go out of this world on an empty stomach?" He said to him: "I thirst for the true wine, of which I shortly hope to drink." But the monk said: "God does not put new wine into old bottles." But he said to the monk: "Because I have become renewed, therefore you hate me." Much more was said yet, which has been forgotten, since he himself could not write. This was written by one who was present when Heyndrick spoke with the monk. Though he was not a brother or fellow member with Heyndrick in thq church, yet his friendly disposition prompted hitn to write down what he remembered of it, just as he saw and heard it, for the remembrance of all lovers of the truth; and the following was seen and heard not only by him, but also by all the citizens generally, who can with him testify to it.

When Heyndrick had ascended the scaffold, he began to speak much to the people, saying, among other things: "Good citizens, , and believe only the Gospel and not the traditions of men."

When they led him to the lords, to hear his sentence, he again turned his face to the citizens and said that all the practices observed were only human traditions, and that whoever would not follow them had to be the reproach and offscouring of all men, yea, must thus suffer death. Matt. 15:6; I Corinthians 4:13.

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The sentence having been read, many of the people, who pitied him, and did not wish to see him die, went away. But Heyndrick Eemkens fell upon his knees and face, on the scaffold, to pour out his earnest prayer before the Lord. When the executioner saw him fall down, he drew his cloak from his shoulders, and pulled him up by his shirt, so that he could not finish his prayer.

Heyndrick then said to the people: "Dear citizens, , for it is more than time. Live according to God's commandments and the words of the holy Gospel." And he called again with a loud voice: "This is the narrow way, and the strait gate;" and named the chapters where it was written, and many other Scriptures having the same bearing. He then stepped of his own accord, with a glad heart, upon the bench where. he was to be strangled and burnt, and said again: "This is the strait gate, press through it; through this pressed the men of God, for he that fights steadfastly unto the end shall be saved; of this I have no doubt." With great courage he put his body and neck to the stake, and said again with a joyful heart: "Dear citizens, ; believe the Gospel and not men; for this is the narrow way which a Christian must walk." The executioner then took a chain, putting it around his body, and fastened a little bag of gunpowder to his neck, so that it hung over his breast. Heyndrick spoke boldly to the very last, but his words could not be understood very well, for the executioner took a cord, laid it around his neck, and twisted it tightly. Heyndrick closed his eyes, just as though he had fallen into a swoon, and he was not seen to move any more, save that he cast up his eyes to heaven once more, and then immediately lost consciousness. Thereupon the executioner drew away the bench from under his feet, and seizing a fork, thrust the same into a bundle of straw and held the latter to a pot with fire standing on the scaffold, until it caught fire, whereupon he applied it to the gunpowder. The blaze flashed up to his eyes but did not burn his hair. He lifted up his hands to heaven once more, after which he showed no further sign of life.

Thus did Heyndrick Eemkens offer up his sacrifice, as a valiant witness of the Lord, on the 10th of June, 1562, about between 10 and 11 o'clock, A. M.

GEORGE FRIESEN, A CABINETMAKER, AND WILL;

IAM VAN KEPPEL, A. D. 1562

This George Friesen, a cabinetmaker, and William van Keppel, formerly a mass priest, were both apprehended at Cologne, A. D. 1562, for the evangelical truth. When William was sought and found he willingly went with his captors, who first took him into a tower of the city, where, however, he did not remain long, since they removed him into the count's dungeon, whither those were taken who were condemned to death. In this dungeon he found said Georee Friesen, who was his brother in the Lord, and also a prisoner, and whose company was a great comfort to him.

Manifold were .the nets spread and the snares laid, to catch their souls; but the principal ado and clamor was about infant baptism, which their adversaries claimed to be right; but as they could not prove it by the Word of God, they employed human wisdom, but to God be the praise, with this they could not move these men. Now the lords entreated them, now they severely 'threatened them with torture and death; but the prisoners rejoiced in it. The others said things sweet and things bitter, but this could not move the prisoners, for through the help of the Lord their hearts stood firm as a wall.

The count offered to give George money, and his servant maid to wife, if he would renounce his faith. But George would adhere to the truth and said to the count: "Your servant maid, riches, or money cannot take me to God, but I have chosen something better, for which I hope to strive." There also came to William a subtle individual, who made him fair promises and said that he would take him to England, who would soon have: drawn the net of delusion over his head if the Lord had not succored and preserved him.

When the last hour arrived that they were to be prepared for the offering, for which they greatly longed, they were both brought out of prison the count's dungeon to the house of the count, into a hall, at one o'clock in the night. There much arrogant and scornful language was used against them, and they were much tormented, to which George said nothing. William, also, answering but little. This continued half the night, till break of day or twilight, when the two prisoners were hurriedly taken to the Rhine, where they were to be drowned.

When George saw how hurriedly they were taken to the Rhine in the early morning, he called to the count, saying: "Sir count, what becomes of the promise you made us? for you said that you should put us to death in broad daylight." But no one paid attention to these words, but they were hurried to the place where they were to be put to death, namely the Rhine. And thus were fulfilled the words of David, where he says: "They have privily slain the upright." Ps. 11:2. May the Lord forgive them, for they know not what they do.

When they were taken out on the water, in a boat, William divested himself of his clothes, and laid his hands upon his feet, to be bound thus; for he thought that he was to be drowned and get home first. But this was not to be his fate, they made him put his clothes on again, and told him that he should wait.

And thus George was compelled to be the first one, to be made ready for an offering. When he was ready for death, he took brotherly leave from William, and they kissed each other with a holy kiss of love. Then George was thrown over board, and drowned in the Rhine, thus. testifying with his death that he was a partaker of Christ's sufferings, to receive at His hands, through , the crown upon mount Sion, and rejoice forever with Him. II Esd. 2:43.

After George was drowned, the executioner said to William: "Put on your clothes; I will take you to the shore, and there behead you." William, through the of God, was willing and ready for it, and said: "You may do with me whatever God wills and permits."

When they came on shore, they set William at liberty. The executioner said to him: "Go your way." Whether they did this because William had been a priest, and they would have had to desecrate him, before putting him to death, and whether they therefore rather released him, than go to such trouble is not known.

AN ADMONITION WHICH GEORGE FRIESEN SENT

FROM PRISON

I proclaim unto you, O men, one and all, a new message and glad tidings, through the Word of the Lord, which is, that you shall turn from your sinful life to God that your sins may be forgiven; cleanse your hearts, and forsake the world and its false show to which it lends so beautiful an aspect.

Behold, I proclaim unto you much joy, which I experience, as Christ the Son of God promised, saying: "I will not leave you comfortless." Those who trust in me, them will I help bear their sorrow, and deliver them out of all distress. For He Himself bound up our putrefying wounds, and healed them, which none other could do. Luke 10: 34. He healed us without merit on our part; when we were yet enemies, He washed' us with clean water, and sent us the , the as the faithful gracious Saviour Christ promised who shall bring to our remembrance all that we have heard. Rom. 5:10; Ezek. 36:25; John 14:16. If we firmly in Him, and bring forth good fruits, He will give us a mouth and wisdom, as His divine Word says, if we diligently live according to His will; yea, such a mouth He will give us, that none of the wise of this world, who are yet in sin, and fail of the truth, shall be able to contradict us. Luke 21:15.

I daily find that, as the raging waves of the sea, driven by fierce winds, cast up their mire and dirt, and cannot rest, so it is also with these; if there were anything good in them, it would come to light. Isaiah 57:20. Now, even as the flowers of the field drop off, so it goes with those who consider too late; for the grass withereth, and the flower fadeth; but the Word of God forever. Isa. 40:8:

I find still another matter which concerns me greatly, namely, that so many shall knock and say: "Lord, open unto us, and let us enter in also; to whom the Lord shall say: I know you not;" and that it will avail them nothing to say: "Did we not believe that thou art the true God, and that he whom thou anointest, and whom the Jews mocked is thy Child?" Luke 13:25. If they persist in their evil deeds, anguish shall come upon them, so that they shall cry, woe, woe, .upon all the priests of Baal who have deceived them here, and who now sit in Moses' seat, persecute Christ, and .honor Baal, saying: "Do according to our words, and not after our works; by which they show that they do not walk aright." Matt. 23:2. O generation of vipers, who hath made you believe that you shall escape the wrath of God and the damnation of hell? Can the Lord not say to them, "If you were so wise as to know me, why then did you not seek me by following the kingdom of my Father. Therefore, depart from me, all ye hypocrites, to the devil and his angels, into the lake of fire, and eternal damnation." Matt. 7:23. But you, brethren and sisters, who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9), make yourselves sincerely ready in these latter times, for the marriage supper; and do not suffer yourselves to be deprived of the food that is set before you, lest you perish with hunger; cling firmly to Jesus Christ; see that you lose not those things which you have wrought; and let no one lead you astray on this earth, nor be afraid of the princes of this world; for when they shall appear before the face of Christ, they will all be put to shame. II John 8'; Matt. 24:4; 10:28.

Betake yourselves now to the Lord, for now is the right time; and let not the world confound you, lest you be deceived. Watch, you that are on the ocean, lest you perish; believe in the Lord with all your heart, and you, will weather the tempest. May the King of kings, to whom all things are known, uphold us with His mighty hand, that we may on account of no adversity depart from Him, but may faithfully adhere to His Word even unto death. Hereby I will, gladly resign my life at.this time, and enter this narrow way through .Christ; by His help I will gladly bear His yoke, and in this yoke alone pull my plow. Ch God, that I might be so fortunate as to see the work begun in me brought to such a happy end, to the salvation of my soul and to Thy glory, and this solely through Thy powerricher or more highly exalted as a 'mortal I could not become! I should praise. and magnify Thee for it through Christ Thy,Son. Dear brethren and sisters, I have written this in my severe imprisonment, and give it to you for an admonition: I, George Friesen, have composed this in the night, while others slept; I hope. that ,daylight will soon shine brightly. O Lord that 'thou wouldst speedily come to me in prison, deliver me from my chains, and free me from my bonds, and protect me from the wicked O then I should stand well before The,e! My brethren, if you would rejoice in t6e spirit, and herein understand me thoroughly, then beware of sin, and you will see clearly. And if you would spiritually understand the divine law, go to the Lord, and He will help you in it.

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MARTIJNTGEN AELMEERS, 'A. D. 1562

In the year 1562 there was apprehended at Honschote, in,Flanders, a young girl named Martijntgen Helmeers, of Steenwijcke, because she had been baptized upon her faith, and ordered her walk and conversatiori'according to the doctrine of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

After great steadfastness she was sentenced to death, and burnt, and thus offered up to God an acceptable, living sacrifice, and escaped the torment of eternal fire. .

NIKASEN VAN AELMEERS, A. D. 1562

The same year, Nikasen Aelmeers, the brother of the afore mentioned Martijntgen, was apprehended for the faith and the divine truth, at Bruges in Flanders, and when na pain or torture could draw him from his faith, he was condemned and burnt, as a true witness of our Lord Jesus, Christ.

KAREL VAN .DEN VELDE, WITH PROENTGEN HIS

WIFE, . FRANCHOYS DE SWARTE, WITH KLAES;

KEN HIS WIFE, JASPER THE SHOEMAKER,

CHARLO DE WAEL, AND MARTIJNE

AMARE, IN THE YEAR 1562

In the year 1562, there were apprehended at Honschote in Flanders, for the testimony of the truth, seven persons, namely, Karel van den Velde, of Ghent, with Proentgen his wife, Franchoy& de Swarte, of Belle, with Klaesken his wife, jasper the shoemaker, Charlo, a lad, and Martijntgen Amare, a young maiden, all of whom steadfastly adhered to the truth and the Word of God. Five of them, namely, the four male persons and the girl, were very soon after their apprehension burnt for their faith; but the two women, sisters, were sometime afterwards secretly drowned in a tub. One:of the women, when she saw that they intended to put her to death secretly, complained of it, since she would have preferred publicly to testify to the truth with her death; whereupon her sister said: ."It ,is all the same, for God sees it; He will reward us, and avenge our wrongs." II Chron, .16:9; Rev. 6:10.

Thus they all passed through the conflict as valiant heroes, and obtained leave to eat of the tree of life,' which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7.

JAN GRENDEL, A. D. 1562

In the year 1562, a man named Jan Grendel, from Kortrijck, in Flanders, came from Cludewater to Goes, and was the same evening on which he arrived in town apprehended by bailiff Vijtwijck, who, upon having taken him to his house, interrogated him concerning his faith, of which he made open confession, whereupon he was put in prison, where he lay for about a year. Bailiff Vijtwijck having,, for maladministration, been deposed from his bailiwick, another named Floris Schaeck, stepped into this office, and under the latter, Jan, after many solicitations and sufferings, was publicly burnt, or put to death, in the marketplace, for his faith, in Lent of the year 1562.

FRANCIS VAN DER SACH AND ANTHONY WELSCH,

A. D. 1562

In the year 1562 Brother Francis van der Sach, a native of Rovigo in Italy, and minister of the Word of God (still on trial) and one who had been sent with him, named Anthony Welsch, were apprehended at Capo d' Istria, about one hundred Italian miles from Venice, as they were about to return to the church in Germany, accompanied by a large number of people, who, however, were not taken along, but suffered to go. Francis was ironed on his feet like a malefactor, and they were separately confined. There at Capo d' Istria they tempted and assailed them in a satanic manner, as they are accustomed to do at such times, and they employed all their might to entrap them into their snares, in order to cause them to stumble, and to make them despond and apostatize from God; especially was Francis severely assailed; but they valiantly resisted it all. Having been heard and examined at Capo d' Istria concerning everything, they were left in confinement yet for three days, ironed hand and foot, and then sent to Venice. On this voyage they lay still for three days and nights, on account of the tempestuous sea, in the meantime comforting each other, and admonishing one another to constancy or steadfastness, so that it seemed as though they scarcely felt the pains resulting from the iron fetters and from other causes, which nevertheless hurt them greatly day and night.

Arriving at Venice the first day of September of said year, they were immediately separately confined in the dark dungeons of the chief senators, where they lay for a whole month, when they were brought before three Venetian secular, and also several so called spiritual, lords, who sat there in great pomp, most magnificently arrayed, and they asked brother Francis, whether he still adhered to the belief which he had indicated to the examiners and lords who had examined him at Capo d' Istria in regard to his doings, and whether he still held it to be the truth. He said to them: "I hold it to be the truth, and it is the truth."

They then asked him whether he believed all that the holy, Catholic, apostolical, Christian church believes. He replied: "As far as the faith is concerned, I believe every article of the apostolical Christian faith." They then asked him also concerning baptism, the , confession, and many other things; but when he thoroughly answered everything, they urged him very hard, berating him most severely, and then remanded him to prison. They also examined Brother Anthony, who likewise made a good confession of faith to them.

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Shortly after, they examined Francis again, especially in regard to infant baptism, but did not accomplish their purpose. After this, they had them brought before them several times yet, and argued with them. They also sent monks to them, who when they replied to their questions, continually called them heretics and gainsayers of so many councils, and said that if they would not desist, they should have to die, and with this they had them taken back to prison.

Soon after the lords again sent a monk, an inquisitor, to them, who was to speak with them concerning the faith. He first asked them whether they belonged to the transmontane church. Francis replied: "Yes." Thereupon the monk said: "This is the first error;" and asked whether he had also broken bread with them. Francis answering in the affirmative, the monk said: "This also is an error." And thus he spoke with regard to everything; no matter what they answered, the monk always said that they were heretics and deceivers.