Thieleman J. van Braght · 118 of 210

Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 56

And through your infant baptism you cause it that we are called Anabaptists, though we do not baptize, nor are baptized twice, but once, and this according to the truth, and pursuant to the command and practice of the apostles; and with this we are well satisfied.

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In the fifth place, I will tell you our confession and practice, to show you that our baptism originates not in an opinion, but in the command of the most high God. After this, I hope to write against or dispute with neither you nor any one else, as said before; for great, presumptuous wisdom, I have not, but an assured heart and a firm faith in my ground. Listen to this brief statement

"Touching circumcision, I confess that it was a token of Abraham's covenant, to him and to all his seed (Gen. 17:9): and also the entering into Israel, the church of God." The external circumcision of Israel was a figure of the future, inward circumcision of Christ, as may clearly be understood from the spirit of the New Testament, even as Paul says that that is not circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; but circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, or law; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Rom. 2:28,29. Nor are you those who are circumcised in Christ, with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the sinful flesh. Col. 2:11. Further, what people are they who are buried with Him through baptism? Listen, I pray you: Are you risen? through what? Through faith. What faith? What faith have the sponsors, through which God works, as you people understand it? Mark here, no infants; but such as believe and understand. And this you put forth as your strongest argument. O friend, do not willfully kick against the goad; or it will be hard for you to speak against God, and to drive His Word and truth from you so stoutly. For, if you claim outward circumcision to be a figure of baptism, well, then, who makes you ped6baptists so presumptuous that you baptize infants before the eighth day? And why do you baptize female children? for, under the law, these were not circumcised; from which it would follow that female children are not to be baptized; for truth is consistent.

You are at an end with your figures of baptism; but we have a better explanation concerning the figures of baptism, and Paul and Peter shall help us keep it by their spirit and testimony. Peter says that the entrance through the water into Noah's ark signifies to us baptism. Gen. 7:7; I Pet. 3:20, 21. He who dares deny this, may also contradict us, who are little and unlearned in their estimation, yet are taught of God. Matt. 11:25.

Our second witness with regard to the figures of baptism is the great apostle Paul, who declared the counsel of God. Acts 20:27. He says that the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, their passage through the Red Sea, and that they were baptized under the pillar of cloud, through Moses, was a figure, and for our instruction. Ex. 14:22; I Cor. 10:1. But we, who are of the substance in the spirit and the New Testament, confess a clear ordinance, doctrine and command of God, and then the rule, practice and the clear examples of the apostles, regarding baptism; this is explanation enough for us.

The command of Christ is: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:15, 16; Matt. 28:19, 20. [Baptism is,] in the first place, a grave of sin, an entering in the church of God, a putting on of Christ, a fleeing from the wrath of God, a washing of regeneration, and the seal of a good conscience or assurance toward God; and he that rejects this rejects the counsel of God. The practice of the apostles was this: "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." Romans 6:4; Gal. 3:27; Tit. 3:5; I Pet. 3:21; Luke 7:30; Acts 8:37.

The following was written by Jan Gerrits, although it is not contained in the first edition.

Thus they were first asked. If you also ask the brethren this, and they say, "Yes, it is well; for the apostles baptized upon faith and not otherwise." For if the eunuch had said: "I cannot believe," Philip would not have baptized him. But he said

"I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God." Acts 8:37. This is my faith, too, and nothing else. Again, when the multitude at Jerusalem heard Peter's exhortation, they were alarmed, and asked: "What shall we do?" Hear the good advice: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." And they that gladly received the word were baptized. Acts 2: 37. Do your infants also do thus? Then you are the old foundation; for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, His Word and example. The jailer rejoiced with all his house that he had become a believer. Acts 16: 34. Are your infants also believers? Then it is well. Peter preached in the house of Cornelius, the centurion of the Italian band, and the Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles as well as on the Jews. Acts 10:44, 45. Were there also infants present, on whom the Holy Ghost fell? And this is what I asked you before we parted, when the servant came to spread the table, and you said: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," and this with reference to infant baptism. I then asked what became of the Spirit, but you gave me no reply. For John says: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh." John 3:8. Do children feel the Holy Spirit? Nicodemus was a carnal man, and experienced nothing concerning the Spirit of God; hence Christ referred him to a child as we find stated, Matthew 18:3. To be born again through the water from carnality into the Spirit is as Christ Himself says, John 3:5. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom" of God. A man, what else does this signify, than, he that is carnally minded, as the afore; said Nicodemus; for to be carnally minded is death; it does not mean children, for they do not feel it. But to be spiritual is life and peace; as Paul tes= tifies. And to the Galatians he says: "If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Gal. 5:18. As also Peter says: "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." I Peter 2:1, 2. Thus do also; lay aside the great conceitedness and presumptuousness of your heart, and build yourself up, a lively stone in the house of God, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. These sacrifices are the works of righteousness, and not human inventions, reason, or ordinances of outward sacrifices. Behold, with this consciousness we go on, or, this assurance is sufficient and valuable enough to us, to forsake property and life for Christ's sake, which is far from being the case with you people. In short, we do not seal the epistle of Christ before it is written; we do not sow before the field is well plowed with the Spirit and Word of God; we do not sail, before we have favorable weather and wind; but you would have the child of the mother before it has been borne its proper time. But we can well wait till it has been borne its proper time and is brought forth by the mother. Who can forbear to speak of what everybody sees? And thus we recognize baptism in the Scriptures as a command of the Lord, and a certain clear practice of the apostles. Moreover, we also clearly see, what cause baptism has, why it is administered, what benefits it brings, to what people it is adapted, and what other name it has in the Scriptures. It is, in the first place, a grave of sin, an entering into the church of God, a putting on of Christ, a fleeing from the wrath of God, a washing of regeneration, and the seal of a good conscience toward God. And he that forsakes or rejects this forsakes and rejects the counsel and Word of God.

In the sixth place, as regards this, that I spoke tartly and insolently to you, I answer. Behold, my Lord and Master taught me nothing else, when He says: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matt., 7:15. Seeing you came to me with so fair an apearance, to slay my soul, as you indeed boasted, why then should I not speak or write the truth? For what do you but seek to devour or tear me, to entice a poor sheep away from Christ's pasture. No, no! God the chief Shepherd preserve me from this. No one shall pluck them out of His hand, but if one goes out himself, then the case is different. Yet, you have been assiduous, and struck your sharp fangs into my soul; and yet you call me brother. Hence I call you a wolf in sheep's clothing; however, be converted and become a lamb. O friend, what have you come to?

In the seventh place, you strewed sweet roses and down before my feet, and made the bank slippery that I might glide off, saying: "Mind not what those who deceived you without the Scriptures will say. Yet see, is this without the Scriptures?" Just as if I had relied upon the fair words of men. No, no; had it depended on fair speeches, you would have laid enough snares for me; your works constantly testify to this. See, my good friend, I think that this is enough for you, namely, my own faith and confession; and I pray you, not so to damn and condemn little infants, and this for Adam's transgression, lest you be condemned and damned; since Christ, by His death, has redeemed us therefrom, as was stated when I was with you; for Paul says: "As by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Rom. 5:18. John says; "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29, [Paul says] to the Galatians: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." Galatians 3:13. And to the Ephesians: "That he abolished in his flesh the enmity, on the cross." Moreover, He has promised them His kingdom, when He says: "Suffer little children to come unto me . . . for of such is the kingdom of God. And He received them, blessed them, laid His hands on them, and said: Except ye receive the kingdom of God as a little child, you shall not enter therein." Mark 10:14 to 16; Luke 18:16, 17; Matt. 19:14, 15. Now when He says, of such, there is no difference, even as Paul says; that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. But you separate them, and say that it is only spoken to Jewish children, as though they were Jewish children, I replied that you should prove this to me.by the Gospel; but you could not do it, and gave me no answer. For Christ showed His divine miracles an the children of the. Gentiles as well as on those of the Jews, as, for instance, on the Gentile woman and the centurion's servant; and He gives this testimony concerning the centurion, that he has not found so great faith in Israel. And enough other such examples.

Finally, I beg you to make the best allowance for my simple writing, for it is rustic work. If I had received better talents from God, I should indeed desire to do better; but now I thank Him for what He does give me. Farewell.

Below there was written: I, Jan Gerritts Ketelaer van Tessel, confess but one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Spirit, and one Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Yea, the Lord Jesus comes. Ephesians 4:4, 5; Rev. 3:11.

ANOTHER LETTER FROM JAN GERRITS, TO HIS AC;

QUAINTANCES

After all affectionate greeting, dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, here is what you requested of me. I have complied with your wish, according to my feeble ability, as much as in me is; for which I most heartily thank God the Father and His beloved Son Jesus Christ, that He does not forsake His own, but always helps them to gain the victory; for His gracious eyes are ever upon His own, and His ears are constantly open to their prayers. Ps. 34:15. For it is written: "When thou passest through water and fire, I will be with thee." Isa. 43:2. Hence I give Him alone praise and honor for His great succor and working, which He has shown in me poor sinner, in my tribulation, suffering and pain, yea, thus, my dear brethren, that the dogs, lions, and bears have not been able to harm me, however much they bark, roar, and growl; for the Lord was my protector; even as I put my hope of faith in Him, that through His great grace He will also preserve me unto the end; for if God is with us, who can harm us, and if the Lord keeps the house (as David says), who can injure it. My friends, I wish I could describe to you the state of my heart and mind when I was suspended, and severely beaten for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ; for His Word, and His bitter suffering which He endured for us poor sinners, was thus present with me that I thought of nothing else. Behold, my brethren and sisters, how the Lord can keep and protect His own that trust in Him, even as the apple of His eye. I would further inform you, my dear brethren and sisters, that they first plied me with questions, namely, what my name was, where I was born, how old I was, and how long I had lived in Tessel. In the second place, when I received baptism. Ans. "Five years ago." Ques. "Where did it take place?" Ans. "I do not wish to tell you." Then they rejoined: "You will be made to tell," and pointed to the executioner, saying, further: "If you are asked concerning the truth, you certainly ought to tell it." Ans. "All that concerns the faith, I am willing to tell you; but God has not commanded me to tell this." In the third place they asked me whether my wife was also of this persuasion? Axs. "No, I regret to say." In the fourth place: "Who had administered it?" Ans. "I do not wish to tell you." Ques. "Was it N?" Ans. "God has not commanded me to tell it; and even if I should tell you, he does not reside in the king's dominions." Ques. "Christ, when He was placed before the authorities, answered when He was interrogated; why then will you not do the'same?" Ans. "When He was asked questions that concerned the honor of His Father, and His own divinity, He answered; otherwise, He was silent. Anything that you may ask me concerning His law, Word, commandments or prohibitions, I am willing to confess before emperors, kings, dukes, counts, princes, and other lords, and not to keep silent concerning it." He forthwith briefly said to the executioner: "Seize him." In short, when they laid hold on me, I fell down .prostrate and besought the Lord for His assistance. He immediately said to the rackers

"Lift him up." Thus, they fell upon me, and dealt with me as the Lord our Master was dealt with, when He was divested of His garments. They tied my hands behind my back unmercifully, blindfolded me, drew me up, and then beat me, belaboring me as though I had been a tree, so that the rods cracked like hemp stalks. They said: "Speak; if you have a dumb devil in you, we will soon drive him out." But the Lord, blessed be His holy name, closed my mouth, so that not a single exclamation of pain, nor any other sound, escaped my lips; for the suffering of our Lord, as already said, and His testimony, so filled my heart, that it is impossible to express it. In short, when they saw that faintness seized all my members, they said: "Let him down; perhaps the dumb devil will speak sooner then:" When they let me down, I fell with my head against the boards; they therefore took me and set me upon a bench, where I would have fainted again, had they not held me. They stood there like lions and bears, demanding that I should answer their questions; but the Lord was my help and strength, praise and glory be to Him for His grace, so that nothing escaped my lips.

Then the president said: "Have you no stout rods to drive out this dumb devil?" He replied: "No; but I have rope." They would have blindfolded me again, but he said: "Let him see it." When he struck, I thought: "O Lord, thou seest it," and closed my eyes. Yea, my friends, if they had continued to beat as long as there was breath, I think they would have got nothing out of me; so was the strength of the Most High with me. When they saw that it was of no avail, they fetched the hundred pound weight, and hung it to my feet. Then went my heart to the Lord: "Keep, keep, my treasure." In short, all their endeavors proved fruitless. Then they asked whether I understood Latin. .I replied: "Yes, as much as it is." Ques. "Do you understand French?" Ans. "No." Ques. "Where did you go to school?" Ans. "At Delft." Ques. "When?" Ans. "At the time when Delft was burned." They also asked me whether I had read the books of Menno or Dietrich Phillips? "Yes," I said; for Boshuysen had taken my doctrinal books, namely, the New Creature, by Menno, and the Spiritual Restitution, by D. P. They asked me how I had come by it. My lips were sealed. Then the order was: "Fetch waterl candles l the dumb devil must come out." But the Lord was my preserver, for which I cannot thank Him enough. Sir. 43:30. Finally, the order was given

"Loose him; he must cool off a little; we shall give it to him better yet." As they were leaving I told them to take heed what they were doing; the day of the Lord should also come upon them; thus they left me. My dear brethren and sisters, herewith I bid you my last adieu, with the peace of Christ. I would have written more, but time does not permit me. If it pleases the Lord, I want to stand at the stake with Him. The Lord be with you all. Amen.

ADRIAEN DEN BURRY, A. D. 1565

After manifold persecution and fearful tyranny against the flock of Christ, there was also apprehended, in the year 1565, at Oudenaerde, in Flanders, a faithful brother named Adriaen den Burry, who, after undergoing and enduring manifold temptations, and severe conflicts against the devil and his tools, was burnt at said place, in the year 1565, and testified to and confirmed the upright and genuine faith of the truth with his death and blood, to the true conviction of all bloodthirsty tyrants and persecutors, and all carnal men, who seek to walk the broad way to eternal damnation, according to the lusts of their flesh, and to the consolation and strengthening of all true believers, that they might follow this friend of God in true obedience, even as he followed Christ, wherefore his name is written in the book of life, and worthy to be recorded in this book, for long remembrance.

WILLEM DE DUYCK, A. D. 1565

In the year 1565, at Ghent in Flanders, Brother Willem de Duyck, after much tribulation and unwavering steadfastness, being not willing to apostatize in any wise, also had to bear witness with his blood to the name of Christ, and suffer temporal death for it; wherefore he shall also, at the resurrection, with all the children of God, hear the blessed words: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25:34. Then shall he as one of the righteous enter into life eternal.

CONRAD KOCH, A. D. 1565

This Conrad Koch was kindled with the light of the knowledge of God, when this light, in these latter days, began to rise again, along the River Rhine as well as in the country of Berg, and the truth of the holy Gospel commenced to shine. Hence he sought, by the divine help, to leave the darkness, and to walk in this brightly shining light; he forsook popery and the worldly and ungodly life, and betook himself to the church of the Lord, heard and laid to heart the Word of the Lord, believed the Gospel, and was baptized, according to the command of Christ, upon faith in Christ Jesus, and confession of his sins, and accordingly, conducted himself in a brotherly and Christian manner in the church, and, in weakness, showed himself edifying and honorable toward all men. But as lie that walks in darkness cannot bear or endure the light, and the envy of the adversary works in his followers, this man was envied by the papists, and accused to the intendant of the revenue; who was judge and ruler of the country in the name of the prince of Juelich. Thereupon the intendant sent his servants to Houf, where Conrad lived, and they apprehended him; he was ready, and as a lamb, willingly went with them to Loewenburg, one of the seven castles which, on account of their high situation, can be seen from a .great distance. There they brought Conrad into the tower, and placed him in severe confinement, in which he remained nearly half a year; however, he was greatly comforted by the Lord, though he had to suffer much hunger.

The intendant ofttimes browbeat him and threatened him most severely, that his life should be taken if he should refuse to renounce his faith. They tried him very hard with entreaties and solicitations, then with hunger, and also with threats to put him to death; but he remained inmovable. His heart was of good cheer.

Now when he had boldly confessed his faith, and no tortures could intimidate him, and the time drew near that he was to die for the truth and depart from this world, the door of his prison was opened, and he went of his own accord, free and unfettered, from the tower of Loewenburg to the village of Houf. His guide was Barabbas, that is a malefactor who went with him. His departure took place in great secrecy; and thus he came to Houf, which is some distance from Loewenburg. But even as Christ was crucified, and Barabbas released, so it was also here. Conrad was taken to the town hall of Houf, where it was proposed to him, that if he should renounce his faith, his young life should be spared, and his liberty be given him.

Manifold wiles were employed against him with great deceitfulness. The sophists sang things sweet and sour, saying: "Go to church at least once a year and if they do not preach the pure and clear truth, stay away from it thenceforth." One of these hypocrites said to Conrad: "My dear Conrad, though we be false, subtle and evil, it cannot harm your soul; do you only fear God and keep peace with all men; what is it to you if our faith is little." Conrad replied to the magistrates: "O you ministers of God, you must know that God wants no hypocrites. This was seen exemplified in old Eleazar, who would rather surrender his life than dissemble. II Macc. 6:24. Therefore .I also hope to die before I go into your congregation." Conrad further said: "Christ is the Head of the church; he that would please Him must show himself a member of His body; now, one must not sever, himself from Christ the Captain. With this Head I want to remain, though it cost my flesh and blood." They asked Conrad what he thought of infant baptism. He said: "Of this I can only think that it is also one of the pope's greatest abominations; however if you can prove it by the Word of God, I will suffer myself to be instructed by the church of the Lord." "O God," said Conrad, "to Thee I bring my complaint; O God, what calamity this, that they put to death those who speak the truth! They can certainly not allege that I have committed anything criminal, and yet they malignantly seek to kill me. O Lord, forgive them." The mandate of the prince of Juelich was then read to him, whereupon the judges passed sentence, upon which the intendant broke the staff. The sentence was, that Conrad should suffer death, if he did not recant. And when he had been thus sentenced twice, they took him out [ to the place of execution]. When he arrived there, he began to sing: "O God, how gently Thou dost chasten me. Reach me Thy gracious hand, that my flesh may now shun all sin, vice and shame, that I may rend the old garment, and have eternal joy with Thee. Christ, I praise Thee, O my supreme God, that I have lived to see this day and hour, that I may now testify to Thy name with my blood. My dear brethren and sisters, I commend you all to the Lord. Keep the Gospel of Christ firmly fixed in your hearts; this I leave you for an admonition: fear God, and be valiant; be my followers, even as I am willing to follow Christ the Lord, and to deliver up my life." And thus they put this pious man to death with the sword secretly, so that many did not hear of it. When thieves and murderers are condemned there it is customary to let the whole land know it; but the pious are murdered in secrecy, which is a shame for the judges. Thus Conradwas beheaded with the sword standing and proved himself a faithful witness of the sufferings of Christ, at Houf, in the land of Berg, which belongs to the prince of Juelich and Cleves.

In the year 1565, under the same intendant, who was a very bloodthirsty man, also seven other persons, four brethren and three sisters, had been previously apprehended. These four brethren were also sentenced that they should be put to death, if they refused to renounce their faith. But the Lord protected them, and delivered them all out of prison unharmed in their faith, for this bloodthirsty tyrant was smitten by God with sudden death, so that the prisoners were liberated from prison, keeping their faith, and adhering to the truth.

HERE FOLLOW TWO LETTERS WHICH CONRAD KOCH

WROTE FROM PRISON

First Letter

Grace, peace and mercy from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, is what I, Conrad Koch, a prisoner in the Lord, in Loewenburg, wish my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord. Amen.

I herewith inform you, that I had a call from the executioner, and they tried me hard with words, but did not torture me. The Lord kept me, so that I did not consent to them. Then they said that they would go to dinner, and then return and torture me. But before meal time was over yet, the intendant returned to me and told me much about the prince's preacher, that I should let him come and see me once more, since he knew the errors which we held. I replied: "I do not want him; the Word of the Lord has taught me. Did I not tell you, that I want no preacher?" He said: "It is true; but still I wish you would do my will so much as to say that you want him to come to you. Though you do not agree then, all right; it does not matter, so we only get rid of the man." I replied: "I do not want to lay the cross of Christ aside." Then he said: "Then I cannot alter it," and left me.