Thieleman J. van Braght · 72 of 210

Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 10

By these words the apostle indicates to us, how necessary and profitable chastisement is for us, yea, so necessary and profitable that we can not be children of God unless we are chastened by our God and heavenly Father, as is clearly declared in these words: "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." With this accord the words of Judith, namely: that Abraham was tried by many tribulations, and became the friend of God; so also Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all that pleased God were found faithful through many tribulations. Judith 8:26. But those who did not receive their trial in the fear of the Lord, and showed their impatience and the evil of their murmurings against the Lord, were destroyed by the destroyer, and killed by the serpents. I Cor. 10:6; N um. 21:6. Therefore, as gladly as we have God for our Father, so readily must we receive the chastisement of our heavenly Father; and as unwillingly as we would be counted bastards by God, so unwillingly must we also be to be without chastisement and correction, and so willing must we also be to be tried by tribulation. In short, as much as we love God and the salvation of our souls, and as much as we fear the punishment of God, so cheerfully must we receive all sufferings imposed upon us by God, and remember that Christ says: "He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, cannot be my disciple." Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Mark 8:54; Luke 9:23. Also: Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever loses his life in this world, for the Gospel's sake, shall save it forever. Where now are the false Christians, who do not lose their life for Christ's sake, and still think to keep it in eternity? Yea, so Saul thought that he could please the Israelites, and still remain the friend of God; but God rejected him for his double mindedness. I Sam. 15:26. Thus they may also think to save their temporal life, and still obtain eternal life; but they shall find themselves disappointed in their hope. O Lord God, how can men be so blinded as to so love this transient life, seeing they know neither the day nor hour when they must die; even as the apostle James says that this life is but a vapor, which appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. Jesus Sirach also says that our life, compared wit the days of eternity, is as dust or as a grain o sand to all the sand of the sea, or as a drop of water unto all the water of the sea. What then i man 1 and what is his beauty? or what are his possessions on which he would rely?

Since then our life is so uncertain and brief, i is a lamentable matter, that men take so muc care for it, and bestow so little thought upon the eternal life. This is partly owing to false teacher and deceitful laborers, the adversaries of Chris and His apostles, who openly teach that Christian are not to suffer any more.

They shall be confounded with their people, wh prophesy lies in the name of the Lord; they shal be punished with Zedekiah and Ahab who shame fully sin, and seduce the Israel of God, causin them to trust in vain things. They shall be put t shame with the Egyptian magicians, who now resis the truth, even as they resisted Moses. They shal be accursed with Balaam the son of Bosor, wh with him forsake the right way, and go in crooke paths; yea, they shall sink into hell with Dathan Korah, and Abiram, who with them caused conten tion and offence in the church of God, and despis the godly doctrine of Jesus Christ, by which the awaken, the wrath of the Almighty God, and treas ure up unto themselves the wrath of God agains the day when Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that knew not God, an obeyed not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Chris (Rom. 2:5; Matt. 25:31; II Peter 3:4; II Thess 1:7-10); who shall suffer pain and everlastin destruction from the presence of the Lord, whet He shall come to be glorified in His glory, an glorified in all them that believe in Him. Isa. 2:10 Wisd. 5:2.

Now, who are these unbelievers, who do not be lieve the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and shall therefor suffer everlasting pain? They are those who no do not observe the commandments of Jesus Chris and will not suffer for the name of God, or confes the truth according to the instruction of the Gospel hence Christ shall also not confess them, or kno them before His Father, and before His angel with whom He shall come from heaven, to punis such unfaithful and fearful servants, and to glori fy the faithful and valiant soldiers, who have com out of great tribulation, and have washed and puri fied their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Mat 10:33; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; II Tim. 2:12 Matt. 25:31; Rev. 7:14. Therefore are they befor the throne of God, and serve Him day and night i His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne sha dwell among them. They shall hunger no mor neither thirst any more; neither shall the su tighten them, nor any heat. For the Lamb whic is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, an shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Rev. 7:15-17; Isa. 49:10. The prophet Esdras says: "I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs. And in the midst of them there was a young man of high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marveled at greatly. So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, What are these? He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms. Then said I unto the angels, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms into their hands? So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord." II Esdras 2:42-47; Matt. 16:16; 10:32; Mark 8:29.

O what joy and glory are prepared for all pious Christians 1 Who now is so faint hearted and fearful, as to be unwilling to suffer a little for such joy and glory? It is indeed true, that suffering and tribulation are hard for the flesh; but we must remember the words of Paul: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Heb. 12:11. Christ says the same to His apostles: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:20-22; Isa 26:17.

Behold, all ye believers, who now suffer tribulation, anguish and persecution for the truth, for a little season, consider these words, and take comfort: do not let it terrify or grieve you, and though tribulation is not pleasing to the flesh, remember that for a little sorrow you shall receive eternal joy; yea, remember that it is written: "The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seem to die; and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from. us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality, and having been a little chastised they shall be greatly rewarded for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation, they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations and have dominion over the people, and their lord shall reign forever. They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints.'." Wisd. 3:1-9; Deut. 33:3; Phil. 1:21; Wisd. 5:1; I Peter 1:7; Matt. 13:43; I Cor. 6:2. Oh, what beautiful promises are these for all that are persecuted for the truth; and how comforting are the promises made to us by Christ in the Gospel, namely that we are blessed when we mourn, for we shall be comforted; and that we are blessed when we are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for the kingdom of heaven is ours; in short, that we are blessed when men shall despise and revile us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely, for Christ Jesus' sake; then shall we rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is our reward in heaven. Matt. 5:4, 10-12; Luke 6:22; I Peter 2:20. Yea, great is our reward, as Isaiah tells us: "that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." Isa. 64:4; I Cor. 2:9. And the prophet David says: "O Lord, how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" Ps. 31:19.

But how few now labor for this great glory? It is as represented in the parable of the Lord, where it is said that the householder prepared a supper to which he invited many, for all things were ready. But one had bought a farm, and had to go and see it. Another had bought five yoke of oxen, which he must needs go to prove. Another had married a wife, and therefore could not come. But when the householder heard of this, he was wroth, and said that none of those who would not come should taste of his supper. Matt. 22:2; Luke 14:16; Revelation 19:7. Oh, what severe judgment and sentence is uttered against all those who will not come, despising the call of the Lord, and loving anything rather than God; that is, those who for father, mother, brother, sister, wife, child, wealth, poverty, praise, or reproach, forsake God, and do not obey His voice; yea, who do not count all earthly things and excellence, but dung, that they may win Jesus Christ, even as Paul did, and also the Hebrews of whom the apostle says that they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and enduring substance. Matthew 10:37; Phil. 3:8; Heb. 10:35. But, O God, how little do men now regard heavenly things. Oh, how little do they think, what difference there will be between the righteous and the wicked. Yea, there will be such a difference as the Lord has declared through Isaiah. "Behold, my servants shall eat but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit." Isa. 65:13. 14. Hence Christ says in the Gospel:

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." Luke 13:28. Oh, how glad shall the pious Christians then be, who fight valiantly for the name of Christ, and through Him overcome. Yea, how glad, say we, will they be, when they shall receive the beautiful promise of which the Spirit of God says: "To him that over= cometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Fear none of. those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. To him that overcometh, will I give to eat of the hidden manna; and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. And he that overcometh and keepeth my words unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God; and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven f rom my God: and I will write upon him my new name. As many as I love, I will rebuke and chasten; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev. 2:7, 10, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 10-12, 19=21; Prov. 3:12. Yea, my beloved brethren, that they shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father, and possess all things.

Oh, how sorrowful will the persecutors of the Christians be, when the righteous God will mete to them with the same measure with which they measured to the Christians. Where shall murderous Cain then hide himself, when the sorrowful and innocent blood of righteous Abel shall cry unto God for vengeance against him? Where shall the BabyIonian whore, who now sits in her pleasure house and pomp, and has become drunken with the blood of His saints, and of the martyrs of Christ Jesus, escape the punishment of God, when the Lord will avenge the blood of His saints and witnesses, and require it at her hands? Which shall undoubtedly come to pass, as has been said through the prophet

"Behold, the innocent and righteous blood crieth unto me, and the souls of the just complain continually. And therefore, saith the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and receive unto me all the innocent blood from among them:" II Esd. 15:8; 9. Christ says: "Shall not the God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily." Luke 18:7, 8. Oh, how fearful will the punishment be, with which the Almighty God will avenge all the blood of His saints! How dearly had tyrannous Pharaoh to pay for the blood, of the innocent children, which he had shed! Ex. 1:22; 14:28. How severely was Amalek punished, because he had shed the innocent blood of the Israelites! I Sam. 15:33. The bloodthirsty Jezebel was thrown into the field, so that the dogs licked her blood, because she had shed innocent blood. II Kings 9:33. O Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets that are sent to thee, and stonest the Levites, thou art therefore trodden down by the Gentiles, and art become a sport unto all nations! Thus shall God punish those who now shed innocent blood, and it shall come to pass as is written in the book' of Wisdom: "Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his' labors. When they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all that they looked for. And they repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit shall say within themselves: This was he; whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach: we fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honor: How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints! Therefore have 'we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness bath not shined unto us, and the sun of righteousness rose not upon us. We wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and destruction: yea, we have gone through deserts, where they lay no way, but as for the way of the Lord, we have not known it. What hath pride profited us? or what good hath riches with our vaunting brought us?" Wisd. 5:1-8.

All these things shall they say; who are in hell, having sinned: "For the hope of the ungodly is like dust that is blown away with the wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the storm; like as the smoke which is dispersed here and there with the tempest, and passeth away as the remembrance of a guest that tarrieth but a day. But the righteous live forever more; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand: for with his right hand shall he sever them, and with his arm shall he protect them." Wisd. 5:14-16. O unfathomable grace of the Almighty,God 1 O unspeakable, love of the heavenly Father, how abounding is Thy grace, and how infinite is Thy goodness, that Thou hast prepared such glory for Thine elect? Who. can thank Thee aright for all the benefits which Thou hast so richly shown us, and.dost still daily show? Blessed be Thy name forever. Therefore we pray, and admonish all pious Christians, all who love their .salvation, to deny themselves, to take up their cross, and to follow Christ Jesus, and thus to do the will of God, that we may receive the promise. Let no one be afraid of or terrified by the ungodly, tyrants; but let each do as Matthias taught his sons, saying

"Now, therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honor and an everlasting name. Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms. Today he shall be lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing. Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant, and show yourselves men in behalf of, the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory." I Macc. 2:50, 51, 62-64.

O ye pious Christians, take these words of God to heart, and arm yourselves therewith, to do battle for righteousness, even unto death, and God shall fight for you and subdue your enemies. "And fear not them who are able to kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do; but fear the Almighty God, the righteous Lord and ,judge; who is able to cast soul and body into eternal perdition:" Matt. 10:28; Luke 12:4, 5. Him alone let us fear, and walk in His ways, serving Him in holiness .and righteousness all the days of our life; yea, suffering death for His name, that we may say with Paul: "I have, fought a good fight, I.have finished my course, I ave kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord Christ shall give me." II Tim. 4:7, 8. May God, the Father of mercy, and the God of all comfort, by whom it is. given unto us, not only, to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His nae, strengthen, confirm and establish us with His Holy Spirit, that we may not become weary of suffering for the truth, but continue steadfast unto the end, and rejoice with all the pious and true saints, when we are reviled and persecuted for the name of Christ Jesus. This grant us the Almighty Father, through Jesus Christ His only begotten Son,. our Saviour, unto whom be glory, majesty, blessing, the kingdom, and everlasting dominion, Amen.

Be manful, strong and very courageous, to keep and do all things, even the words and the law of God. Depart not therefrom, neither to the right nor to the left; add not thereto, nor take away therefrom, that you may act wisely. Whithersoever you go, be not terrified, and fear not, for the Lord your God is with you, when you pass through the waters, or into the fire; and though through hypocrisy or dissimulation you may now evade pain and punishment, you can neither alive nor dead escape the power of Almighty God. I Pet. 3:14; II Macc. 6:26.

Therefore let us forsake all that is in this world, for it lieth in wickedness.; and let each take up his cross, and follow Jesus Christ; for He is nigh unto and with all those who are in distress, and will deliver them, and bring them to honor, if they are of a broken heart, and contrite spirit. Oh, what great comfort is it, to have such a powerful and faithful companion, and what great honor is it, that He Himself will so kindly aid us 1 But we must know that our Lord Christ Jesus is our Companion and Helper only at His own proper time, according to the counsel of the divine will and pleasure, in which He has ordered everything after one measure and weight; for even as He is the Head of the holy church, and beholds her sufferings, so He has also appointed the number, measure, and weight, how far He will permit the wicked .to go, how far they shall reach, and not longer nor farther, even as the Babylonian captivity should continue seventy years. Jer. 29:10. Yea, when, the distress, is at its height, and men think that God has utterly forsaken and forgotten them, at this very time the help of God is nearest them; yea, properly speaking, the Lord comforts before and in the midst of all affliction, for the Christian has in his heart the Spirit of God, the fountain of living water, by which he is always refreshed, comforted,. rejoiced, and made glad. John 4:10; 7:37; II Cor: 7:7. Yea, the more sufferings increase, the greater the help and aid we receive; "for God will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. 10:13. Behold, in these words Paul tells us for our great consolation, that God will not suffer us to be assailed or tempted above that we are able to bear; for if the sufferings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also abounds by Jesus Christ our Lord. II Cor. 1.;5.

As a captain makes his soldiers valiant by encouraging words and promises, how then should not the true and faithful God make us manful and strong by His divine Word of the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Rom. 1:16. Yea, the righteous God does not stop at mere words, but is present with us with His Spirit, who, as an earnest, assures our hearts of His divine grace and help, and strengthens our weakness. Eph. 1:13; Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:23; II Cor. 1:22. For if the devil, by his lying spirit, so animates men, that they are perfectly willing to commit wickedness, though it cost their life; why should not the grace of God, by, His true Spirit, make us equally ready unto every good work, in all distresses and tribulations? This the gracious God also does, not only through His Spirit, but also through angels, stars, elements, beasts, men, and all manner of creatures. For instance, Elisha said to his servant: "Fear not: for, they that ~be with us are more than they that come against us." II Kings 6:16. The Red Sea and Jordan divided, so that the children of Israel passed through them dry shod. The sun and the moon stood still for Joshua at the time when he defeated the five kings. Elijah was miraculously fed by the ravens. The children of Israel were delivered by the hand of a woman from their wicked enemies. Judith 14

18. Gad the Lord generally comforts men through their fellows: for all the saints and Christians on earth have fellowship with one another, in adversity as well as in prosperity; for when one suffers pain and grief, he suffers it not alone, but Christ and all Christians suffer it with him. For He says in the Gospel: Ye have fed, clothed, entertained, and comforted me. And all Christians are one body, one bread, one drink in the Lord Christ Jesus. Acts 9:4; Matt. 25:35; I Cor. 10:17.

Now if Christ Jesus our Lord frequently spent whole nights in prayer, and also prayed in the garden before His death, we should also pray without ceasing, especially in our distress, to the Father of lights, from whom alone is every good and perfect gift, that He may forgive our sins, for the death of His clear Son, who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised for our justification. Matt. 14:23; Luke 6:12; Matt. 26:36; Mark 14:32; Luke 22:41; I Thess. 5:17; Jas. 1:17; Rom. 4:25.

Hence we are to pray that He would deliver, or punish us, not according to our judgment, but according to His divine wisdom, lest we utterly perish. Yea, we must give praise and thanks to God also in our tribulation, that He do not forget us, but chasten us according to His fatherly mercy, and graciously help us to bear every burden, even as Paul thanked God in his affliction, saying

"Blessed be God, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation. Amen." I Cor. 1:3, 4.

PRAYER

Merciful Father; look upon me with eyes of compassion, as Thou didst look upon the prodigal son; for to Thee only, O Father, belongs praise and honor, but unto us nothing but shame before Thy face; hepce, good Father, I commit soul and body into The divine and gracious keeping: guide me, through Jesus Christ Thy dear Son, into all things that are well pleasing to Thy divine Spirit; and bring to folly and madness the counsel of the ungodly, and preserve us by Thy divine Word now and forever. Amen.

Composed by WALTER OF STOELWIJCK.

DIRK PIETERS KROOD, PIETER TRIJNES, CLASS RO;

DERS, PIETER CLASS JANS, OF WORMER, IN

WATERLANDT

The Word of God having, according to His will, been proclaimed in many and various countries, and attested and confirmed by the blood of many Christians, it came to and was accepted also at

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Wormer, in North Holland, where, among others, there were Dirk Pieters Krood, Pieter Trijnes, Claes Roders, Pieter Claes Jans. These turned their ears away from the papistic fables, amended their corrupt life, and, in place thereof, through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, willingly received the Word of God into their hearts, and regulated their whole conduct according to it. I Thess. 2:13. And even as Christ predicted: "The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2), so it was also very clearly manifested in the case of the aforesaid persons; for because they lived according to the Word of God, they were brought prisoners to Enchuysen, and being built upon Christ, they all remained steadfast and faithful in all this trial and severe temptation; for which reason they were sentenced to death at said place, and offered up their bodies as a sweet savor to the Lord, thus obtaining a glorious crown.