Thieleman J. van Braght · 71 of 210

Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 9

He that desires, may read Menno Simons, contra Gallius Faber, fol. 23, where the offering of Tjaert Reynerts is referred to.*

ARENT JACOBS, WITH HIS WIFE AND ELDEST SON,

A. D. 1539

Even as it was in the time of ' Esau and Jacob, that he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit (Gen. 27:l; Galatians 4:29), so it was also abundantly witnessed in this time; which, among others, appeared in the case of one God fearing brother named Arent Jacobs, and his wife and eldest son. These resided in the Rijp, and being. born again from above of God, and seeking the eternal inheritance which is reserved for such in heaven, they were hated and persecuted unto death by the followers of Esau, who brought them prisoners from the Rijp to Monickendam, in North Holland, where they had to suffer much for' the truth; but as they were built upon Christ, and suffered themselves by no torments to be led away, they were, at said place, A. D. 1539, sentenced to suffer death by drowning, which was accordingly done. To this end heavy stones were used, which the executioner was not able to lift, so that the prisoners were obliged to assist him. Thus, like irrational beasts they were cast into the water, with stones tied to

* "Menno Simons' Complete Works," English Edition, published by John F. Funk and Brother, Elkhart, Indiana, 1871, part first, page 8.

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their necks, and so departed this life. Thus they did not love their lives, but surrendered them unto death for the witness of Jesus, who at His glorious coming shall raise their rejected bodies from the dead, and crown them with immortality in heaven. Rev, 12:11; 20.:4; II Thess. 1:7; Phil. 3:21; II Tim. 4:8.

BANS SIMERAVER, A. D. 1540

In the year 1540, Brother Hans Simeraver was imprisoned for the divine truth, at Schwatz, in the valley of the Inn; but,as they could not draw him from his faith, nor convince hiln with the holy Scriptures, they delivered him to their high priest, the executioner, who had to lead him out and conquer him. Thus he was executed with the sword, and sealed his faith in God with his blood, thus resisting unto blood, or striving against sin and the abomination of 'desolation. Heb. 12:4; Matt. 24: 15. Therefore he shall also, on Mount Sion, among the great number of those who testified to and confessed the name of God in the world, receive a palm in his hands, and be crowned with the unfading'crown of life. II Esd. 2:45; II Tim. 4:8.

WALTER. OF STOELWIJK, A. D. 1541

On the eleventh of February, A. D. 1538, another pious and faithful brother, named Walter of Stoelwijk, at Vilvoorden, in Brabant, fell into the hands of the ravening wolves (Matt. 7:15), and had to suffer much for the truth, from these envious papists. But he, as a wise builder, had founded his house upon the firm and immovable rock, Christ Jesus; and therefore remained steadfast in all these great trials, though he had to suffer cruel imprisonment for three years, and much severe and tyrannous examining and torturing from these bloodthirsty men. Finally, on the 24th of March, in the year 1541,, he was sentenced and burned at said place. Thus he remained faithful to his Lord and Creator unto death, and steadfastly confirmed with his death and blood the genuine faith of the truth, and his unwavering, living hope. He shall therefore, as an obedient sheep, also hear the voice of the great Shepherd of the sheep saying to him: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." John 10:3; Hell. 13:20; Matt. 25:34.

A LETTER WRITTEN BY SAID WALTER OF STOEL;

WIJK, TREATING OF THE SUFFERING AND THE

GLORY OF CHRISTIANS

Grace, peace, and mercy from God our heavenly Father, and from Jesus. Christ our Lord and Saviour, be with all those who live godly in Christ Jesus, and therefore suffer persecution, to the glory and praise of the true God, to the trial of their faith, and the eternal salvation of their souls. Amen. Rom. 1:7; I Cor, 1:3; II Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; II Tim. 3:12,

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His unfathomable grace and mercy hath called us out of darkness unto His marvelous light, and still daily lets His face shine upon us, that we may know His way on the earth, and His salvation among the Gentiles. Yea, blessed, praised, and glorified be God our most blessed Lord and most merciful Father, who, through His unspeakable goodness, and not through the merits of our works, has chosen us, through Jesus Christ, to be His children, that we should be heirs of His eternal kingdom, and inherit all things as true children and heirs of God; children of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we do the will of God our heavenly. Father, that we may be glorified with Him, and enter into His glory. Tit. 3:5; II Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:6; Rom. 8:17. For it is true what Christ says: "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heav.';en; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. Now it is the will of our heavenly Father, that we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus Christ.

In the first place, we must deny ourselves; that is, we must forsake our own will, and surrender ourselves wholly to Jesus Christ, so that according to the words of the apostle, we live no more unto ourselves, but unto Jesus Christ, who died for us, that He may be Lord both of the dead and living, and that no one shall live unto himself, but unto Him who died for him, and rose again. O to deny themselves, and desire only to do the will of God; yea, how many do not yet know which is the true will of God, but hold to the doctrine and commandments of the Roman pope, and antichrist, and are in such a condition, that they do not know Jesus Christ. To these, the Almighty God, according to the pleasure of His will. must open the eyes of their understanding, with the radiance of His grace, that they may emerge from this blindness into the true light, and know with all the saints, what is the delusion and sorcery of the Babylonian whore (Rev. 18:2), and that the teachings and commandments of Christ Jesus alone are to be kept, yea, that we must follow and preserve only the teachings and commandments of Christ Jesus, and that we may in no wise live according to our own will, but are to consider that Christ Jesus Himself did not His own will, but the will of His Father, who sent Him; which was done and written for our admonition and instruction, that we should not fulfill our own will, which, because of the innate wickedness of our cursed nature, is prone to evil; but the acceptable and perfect will of God, so that we may pray aright, as Christ has taught us, saying: Heavenly Father, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matt. 6:9, 10. How many there are who do not say this with a good heart, but with false lips, even as Judas said to Christ: "Hail, Master" (Matt. 26:49; Mark 14:45; Luke 22:47) , at the same time betraying Him; so they say with the mouth, that God's will is to be done; while at the same time all their thoughts and works are contrary to the will of God. These are those real false Christians who say to Christ Jesus: "Lord, Lord," and yet do not what He has commanded them. These are the true Pharisees, the hypocritical saints, who honor God with their lips, while their heart is far from Him. These are the true unbelievers of whom St. Paul says that with their words they profess to know God, but in works deny Him, so that they are abominable to the Lord, because they are disobedient to Him, and reprobate unto every good work. Yea, these are the true hypocrites,' the disciples of deceitful Satan, who have learned from their master, to disguise their inward craftiness, and outwardly to adorn themselves with a beautiful appearance. Such hypocrites the Lord will forever curse and cast out, and say to them: "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity; I know you not." Matt. 7:23; Ps. 6:8. But He will bless the pious Christians and bless and glorify the good and true disciples of Jesus Christ, who deny themselves, and have surrendered themselves unto the will of God, which is the true beginning of the Christian life, and without which life can not be begun.

In the second,place, we must take up our cross, namely prepare ourselves for suffering, according to the teaching of Jesus Sirach, who says: "My son; if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end. Whatsoever is brought upon thee, take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity." Sir. 2:1-5; Wisd. 3:6. With this accords also what Paul says: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." II Tim. 3:12. Yea Christ Himself says to His apostles: "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." Mark 13:13. From all these words it must incontrovertibly follow, that all servants of God; all godly men, all disciples of Jesus Christ, must suffer persecution for His name's sake; and be tried through manifold temptations.

Therefore it is an awful blindness, that men boast of the Gospel and Christianity, and know what belongs to a Christian life, but, alas I they have the least thought of suffering anything for the name of Christ Jesus; yea, though they know and confess that all the works which take place in papal desolation are evil, and nothing but blasphemy against God, yet have they fellowship therewith, and commit the most shameful idolatry, in order that they may avoid and escape the cross,;in which cross all pious Christians may glory (Gal. 6:14) and still they want to be considered good Christians. O what wicked servants 1 O what wicked disciples! Wicked servants we say, because they would be above their Lord Jesus Christ; wicked disciples we say, since they reject and condemn the doctrine of their Master Jesus Christ.. O people, people, mockers of the living God I who think to deceive God with your dissimulation, and to pay Him with words, unmindful of the words of Paul; namely: that the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power I I Cor. 4:20. O people, true hypocrites! who fancy that they serve Christ, but how far are they from glorying with Paul, the pious and faithful minister of Christ, only in the cross of Christl Gal. 6:14. O miserable people, who would rather now live for ,a little season in peace and voluptuousness with the Babylonian whore, and afterwards be tormented with her in everlasting pain, than suffer with Christ Jesus for a little while, and thus enter into eternal glory!

Ah 1 the true saints and servants of God did differently; they would rather suffer death, than transgress the commandment of God. Pious Joseph would rather go to prison; yea, into death, than offend the Lord his God, and commit adultery with the adulterous woman. Gen. 39:8. Moses, the ardent and jealous lover of God, through his faith, chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to live in carnal and worldly lusts with the Egyptians; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Ex. 2:11; Heb. 11:25. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego feared God the Lord more than all the torments of the tyrannous king, and would rather die a temporal death, and adhere to their God, than deny Him. Dan. 3:16. Daniel who was rich in spirit and strong in faith, did not shrink from the den of lions, in which he would rather be cast, than worship any strange God. Dan. 6. The pious Tobit would rather transgress, the commandment of the king at the peril of his lie, than to forsake God his Lord; wherefore he also commanded his son, to fear God all his life, and never to let his will be set to sin, or to transgress the commandments of God his Lord. Tobit 1:18; 4:5. Eleazar, the pious Israelite would rather die for the law of God, than act contrary to it; yea, than to dissimulate once, and thus cause offense in Israel. The mother and her'seven sons were so ardent in the love of God, that they were not afraid of all the tyranny of the wicked king, nor would they act contrary to the law of God, but much rather suffer a severe death for it. II Macc. 7. Yea, how many saints and witnesses of Jesus Christ are still hated, persecuted and slain by the Babylonian whore, because they will not drink of the wine of her fornication, or have fellowship with her idolatrous works.

Therefore all hypocritical saints, all wicked hypocrites, who boast of being called Christians, yet will not suffer for the name of Christ, may well be ashamed. Christ may justly say to them: If I be your Lord, why do you not keep My commandments? if I be your Master, why do you not hear and believe My words? Mal. 1:6; Luke 6:46. Well then, let all hypocrites, and falsely prudent, unfaithful servants, and falsely wise disciples of Jesus Christ, depart from their Lord and Master, we nevertheless, through the grace of God, intend to adhere to Christ, and are ready to suffer for His sake, even as He suffered for our sakes. But He suffered as Lord, and we as disciples; hence we servants and disciples must not bear the cross reluctantly seeing our Lord and Master Himself bore it.

In the third place, we must follow Jesus, but not as did many Jews, who followed Him, because they had eaten of the loaves; which, alas! many false Christians still do, who join the Christian church, not because they truly seek Christ Jesus, not because they love the truth, but that they may be aided and fed by the Christian church (whom they perceive to be the most charitable). But to follow Christ in this manner is nothing but a mockery of God, and Christ will not have such followers, as we may clearly understand from the case of the scribe whom Christ condemned, because he wanted to follow Him from covetousness; for the Lord beheld the heart o£ the scribe, and therefore did not answer him according to his words, but according to his thoughts, saying: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Matt. 8:20; Luke 9:58. Just as if Jesus had intended to say: If you will follow me, follow me in the manner in which I go before you. For Christ well knew his intention, namely, that he wanted to follow Him for gain, and thought that Christ should give him power to perform wonderful signs and miracles, as He had given to His apostles, by which he might have sought gain. But such designs are not good, and cannot succeed; for the Lord Himself was poor (Zech. 9:9), as He declares: If I the Lord and Master am poor, it is evident that My servants are poor, and that My disciples do not seek or desire riches. As though the good Lord had meant to say: He that would follow Me, must follow Me in the poverty in which I walk before Him. But, alas! many people at the present day think that gain is godliness, as Paul says (I Tim. 6:5), and, under the semblance of the Gospel and the Christian name, seek their own profit. O what perverted men! who will not go in the right way, but follow the way of the traitor and thief Judas, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; when he received the awful punishment of his wickedness, as everyone know. Matt. 27:6; Mark 14:18; John 12:4. O what blinded men, who can not take to heart that Ananias and Sapphira were put to such great shame, and punished, for their equivocation, by which the Almighty Lord God has undoubtedly given us an example, that all hypocritical and double minded men shall be thus put to shame and punished; as we find in Jesus Sirach

Woe unto those that are of a double heart, to those of wicked lips that enter the land by two ways. Therefore the wise man also teaches us, that our hearts should be without any deceit and, dissimulation, saying: "Be not obstinate, and distrust not the fear of the Lord . . . and come not unto him with a double heart. Be not a hypocrite in .the sight of men, and take ,good heed what thou speakest. Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall,,and bring dishonor upon thy soul, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down, in the midst of the congregation, because thou camest not in truth to the fear of the Lord, but thy heart is, full of deceit."; Sir. 1:28-30.

O that all hypocrites would earnestly consider the words of Jesus. Sirach, and reform, before they be confounded and punished by God, which shall be done to all the double minded, if not now, yet in the day of judgment, when the .ungodly shall not stand, nor sinners remain in the congregation of the righteous. Ps. 1:5. Then.,Christ_ will bring to light what is now in darkness, and make manifest the counsels o£ the hearts; yea, He will take the fan into His hand, and purge His floor, and, gather the wheat into the garner, but the chaff will He burn up with unquenchable fire. Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17. Hence, let everyone beware of hypocrisy; and let him truly follow Christ Jesus, as is proper, not with the Jews, for the sake of the loaves, nor with the scribe, from covetousness. But, O ye Christians, follow Christ, your Lord and Master with a pure heart, a clean conscience, unfeigned faith, and ardent love, without turning to the right or to. the left. But those who follow Christ Jesus. differently, are among good Christians what chaff is among the wheat, and their end will be everlasting fire, from which the Almighty Father preserve us through Jesus Christ.,

Moreover, we must, from ardent love, follow Jesus Christ even unto the end, and not do as did some of His disciples, who forsook Him, and became offended at His words, saying: "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" John 6:60. O how many are unwilling to hear the divine words of our Lord Jesus Christ, yea, rave, when told that Christ Jesus promises tribulation and suffering. to all His servants and disciples. ,From a stony, heart and an embittered mind they say: Must one always suffer? Must one always. be ,persecuted? This is a hard .saying; who can hear it? O God, how is the sweet honey changed into gall, and the clear wine into bitter water,! Alas!how have they come to loathe that precious, heavenly bread, and how has the eternal medicine, by which every soul must be healed, become a deadly poison to them!And how do men who will not believe the Word of God, nor receive the holy doctrine, of our Lord Jesus Christ, condemn the comforting Gospel, which has been sent us from heaven through the Holy Ghost, and sealed by Christ with His own precious blood; but if a lying prophet comes, a messenger prophesying of temporal peace and happiness, though it never comes to pass, he is heard, while the good Lord Jesus Christ, who has promised us the eternal peace of His heavenly kingdom, can not ,obtain a hearing; so that it is as Christ said to the Pharisees: "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." John 5:43. Yea, many now do as did the rebellious and unbelieving Israelites, who forsook God the Lord, who had delivered them out of Egypt, and desired other gods for leaders and protectors. Num. 14:2; Ex. 32:1; Acts 7:39. Thus also now many Christians forsake Jesus, who has freed them from the power and tyranny of Satan, and. delivered them from the jaws of, the lions, who devoured them; yea, had hastened with them in the way to eternal damnation, utterly to destroy them. Then Christ delivered them, and placed them again in the way of eternal salvation. John 1:29. Many now forsake the good Shepherd, who spared not. His life for our sakes, but delivered.it unto death, because of the great love which He had to us; and trust in men, of whom the prophet says that their assistance availeth not, and they cannot help; for their breath must go forth and return to the earth, and the thoughts of all them that put their trust in men and follow false prophets, who delight in unrighteousness shall perish. Hence all pious Christians must follow no other than Christ Jesus, who, as Peter says, suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps. I Peter 2:21. The same is declared also by Paul, with these words

"Let us lay aside all guile and hypocrisy, and the besetting sin, 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:" Heb. 12:1, 2; Mark 16:19. In these words of the apostles we may perceive, that we are to follow Jesus Christ, and look to Him as the Captain of the faith, the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, yea, the good Lord and Master, who has given an example to all His servants and disciples, that they must suffer even as He suffered. Heb. 2:10; John 10:11; I Peter 2:25: But, O God, how much Christ had to suffer! He who was Lord of heaven and earth became so poor for our sakes, that He had not where to rest, or lay His head when He was in the. form of God, He humbled Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant (Phil. 2:6, 7; John 13:5), that He might serve us, and gave His life for our redemption; yea, though He was the eternal wisdom of the Father, who upholds all things by the word of His power, He had nevertheless to hear. the Pharisees call Him a flatterer and deceiver of the people, a sinner, yea, a demoniac and madman, and many other abominable blasphemies, reproaches and mockeries; in short, though He was the only begotten Son of God, the Almighty Father, yet He was counted a malefactor, and had to die the most bitter death, so that Isaiah could well say of Him: "He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our grief s, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." Isa. 53:2-5. Hence He could justly say

"I restored that which I took not away. For, for my friends' sake I have suffered pain; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. All they that see me, laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd.; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." Ps. 69:4, 7, 8, 20, 21; 22:7, 13-18; Matthew 27:34; Matt. 15:23; John 19:23. Yea, as He says through the prophet: "I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people." Ps. 22:6. Yea, my beloved brethren, God the heavenly Father laid the chastisement of our peace upon Him; for by His stripes we are healed. All we went astray, as sheep that have no shepherd; we have turned everyone to his own way; but the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." I Peter 2:24, 25; Isaiah 53:5-7; Acts 8:32.

Are you pious Christians? Then consider what Christ Jesus suffered for us poor sinners; the Lord for His servants, the Master for His disciples, the Shepherd for H'is sheep, yea, God for men. I Peter 4:1; John 10:11; Ezek. 34:23. O deep humility of the Master, that He would serve His disciples, and give Himself unto death for theml John 13:5. O great grace of the Lord, that He would suffer so much for His servants! O infinite righteousness of the Shepherd, who would give His life for His sheep I John 10:11; 17:9. O unspeakable love of God to us poor mortals, that He would redeem us by His own precious blood: This every Christian should at all times remember, and feel grateful to Jesus Christ for these benefits, not only with words but also with works. But alas! some have gone so far, that they can indeed talk of Christ, that He suffered and atoned for us, and are desirous also of partaking of the redemption purchased for us with the blood of Christ; but they never once think of suffering with Christ Jesus, though they nevertheless hope to be .glorified with Him. But it is a faithful saying, says Paul, that if we are dead with Christ, we shall also live with Him; if we suffer with Him, we shall also rejoice with Him. forever; if we deny Him, He also will deny us. II Tim. 2:11, 12; Rom. 6:23; Luke 12:9. Let all apostate Christians, who return to the Roman Babylon, from which they had separated, and make friendship with the whore whom they had hated bear this in mind. What shall we say to such unstable persons? How can men who once knew the truth be so blinded as to depart from Christ Jesus their only Saviour, and return to the infamous accursed whore of Babylon, the mother of all unrighteousness, and queen of all the children of unbelief and cursing, who has become their comfort and protection, yea, their idol. Woe unto such perverse men, who depart from righteousness, from light to darkness, from life to death, and go from Jesus Christ to antichrist, seeking consolation from Satan, and not in God. Woe unto such fearful ones, who fear those who can kill only the body, more than God, the Almighty Lord, who can cast both body and soul into eternal damnation. Revelation 21:8; Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4, 5. Woe unto such, that they were ever born unless they remarkably amend their ways and go out of Babylon; for the Scripture says not in vain: "Go ye out of the midst of Babylon, my people, and touch not the unclean thing, that ye be not partakers of her plagues, or sins." Isa. 52:11; II Cor. 6:17; Revelation 18:4. These are the clear words of the Lord; Who can blot them out? Who can endure the stings of a guilty conscience? let him begin as he may, he will find it a hard undertaking, and shall not be successful in it. Acts 9:5; 5:5.

Here also no excuse will avail, as is clearly shown in the parable of the wicked servant, who, out of fear, had buried his Lord's pound into the earth, but was not heard when he wanted to excuse himself to his lord. Matt. 25:26; Luke 19:22. By this wicked servant we understand all the fearful, who are not fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and relish and seek all earthly things more than heavenly things. They may excuse themselves as ever they will, their excuse shall not avail, but eternal damnation will be their recompense; for every tree which does not bring forth good fruit, shall be hewn down, and cast into the fire. There must be fruits; leaves alone will not avail. Matt. 21:19. Christ is our example; He practiced and taught. He taught His disciples to suffer and endure, for He Himself suffered and endured; hence Paul teaches us to look unto Christ Jesus, saying: "Consider him (Christ Jesus), ye Christians, 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. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." Heb. 12:3-10; Prov. 3:11; Rev. 3:19.