PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians
Braght, Thieleman J. van (Thieleman Janszoon) · 1,152,781 words · 1675 reading sections
Introduction, 15
Transcriber’s notes Several volunteers have worked on the post-processing of this complex e-book and I acknowledge the efforts of those who preceded me with respect to correcting spelling and other errors. A limited list of such corrections is appended. The original layout of the book was not completely consistent in …
257 wordsSECTION 2Index 1081
As the English language, year by year, becomes more prevalent among our Mennonite people, the necessity of presenting to them in that language the doctrines, teachings and practices, as well as the story of the sufferings, the faithful endurance and the final triumphant deaths, of those of like faith with us who lived …
464 wordsSECTION 3The Publishers.
Translator’s Preface. The principal object in writing this preface is to point out the chief difficulties I had to contend with while engaged in this truly laborious and exhaustive task. I do this not for the purpose of exciting sympathy on my behalf, but to convey to the reader an appropriate idea of the perplexing n…
691 wordsSECTION 4Joseph F. Sohm.
Invocation. _To God, my Lord, the Creator, Preserver and Redeemer of my soul, be praise, honor and majesty, forever and ever._ Pardon me, O my Lord and my God! that I, who am but dust and ashes, approach Thee. Gen. 18:27. I fear to come to Thee, because Thou art a consuming fire, while I am wood, hay and stubble, sub…
689 wordsSECTION 5To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
But before I leave this, strengthen me with Thy good Spirit, and arm me with the consolation of Thy grace, that I may not only confess Thee here with my mouth, but also honor Thee by a virtuous and pious conversation (Ps. 119:5), in the most holy faith, not refusing, if necessity require it and Thy honor be promoted th…
676 wordsSECTION 6To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
When we had beheld this with the eyes of faith, and had meditated upon the matter, our spirit was kindled, and we almost seemed to welcome him, and to wish him everything good, in these words: _Klimt op uw’ gulden Hoogtt’, Voor-vechter van de bende Der heyl’ge Zielen, die God’s roode Bloed-banier Navolgde, in’t gedr…
746 wordsSECTION 7To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
The inconvenient seasons of the year, the heat of summer, the cold of winter, the wetness of spring and fall, together with the contingencies of thunder, lightning, hail, snow, rain, wind, hunger, thirst, sickness, fatigue, and other innumerable troubles with which they met while wandering about and suffering persecuti…
692 wordsSECTION 8To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
Ruth, the Moabitess, said to Naomi, the mother of her husband: “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the …
738 wordsSECTION 9To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
He reveals himself on the one hand as an angel of light, 2 Cor. 11:14,15, as a kind, pleasant, yea, even divine messenger, with humble countenance, downcast eyes, plain garb, and living in seclusion from the throng of the worldly-minded, even as the holiest people, yea, the martyrs of God, formerly did. His words are m…
749 wordsSECTION 10To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
It certainly was through worldly lusts that the old world perished; that Sodom, Gomorrah, Zeboim, and Admah were consumed, overthrown and totally destroyed by fire from Heaven; that in forty years, through serpents, fire, and other plagues, the wanton and lustful people of Israel perished to the number of over six hund…
792 wordsSECTION 11To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
O how different is this from the life of a true Christian, who has forsaken himself and his lusts! How great the step that is between their walk and that of the holy martyrs, who delivered up, not only their carnal desires, but also their bodies and lives, unto death for the Lord’s sake! But how great a difference will…
705 wordsSECTION 12To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
There is, therefore, great danger of being deceived. O, ye upright children of God, be on your guard.[9] Let your simplicity be coupled with prudence. Your faith as well as your life are the objects aimed at. If Satan gain the mastery over you, your precious faith which has been commended to your keeping as dearly as y…
658 wordsSECTION 13To My Beloved Friends And Companions In Christ Jesus Our Savior.
We would now commend you, beloved brethren and sisters, to the Lord and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Our work which has been done for your benefit, is now finished in this respect; that you may make good use of it, is our fr…
470 wordsSECTION 14To The Readers In General.
_Dort_, July the 25th, 1659. _Good friends and fellow citizens_: Of old, among the heathen, the greatest and highest honors were accorded to the brave and triumphant warriors, who, risking their lives in the land of the enemy, conquered, and carried off the victory.[12] Thus _Homer_, the foremost of the writers of he…
688 wordsSECTION 15To The Readers In General.
_Elijah_, for the same reason, was compelled to turn eastward and hide himself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 1 Kings 17:3. His life was afterwards made so bitter to him, that he fled into the wilderness by Beer-sheba, sat down under a juniper tree, and prayed, “O Lord, take away my life; for I am not bet…
658 wordsSECTION 16To The Readers In General.
_Onias_, the high priest, who, in a very praiseworthy and peaceful manner, led and kept the people at Jerusalem, so that foreign kings were moved to honor the city and the temple of God with gifts, was falsely accused by Simon the Benjamite, removed from his office by Jason, his own brother, and stabbed to death withou…
626 wordsSECTION 17The Sequel Compared With The Beginning Of This History.
We have already spoken of the great honor which custom conferred upon the brave and triumphant warriors; yet not one of all these, however great, mighty, valiant and victorious he may have been, or how great the honor and glory with which he may have been hailed, could in any wise be compared with the least martyr who …
702 wordsSECTION 18Address To The Worldly-Minded.
Come now, ye earthly-minded and ungodly, and learn here to become heavenly and godly-minded; ye impenitent, learn here to repent, and believe in Jesus Christ. Hither must come also all the self-willed, who, from a prejudiced opinion of their own do not consider the external commandments and ordinances of Christ as nece…
337 wordsSECTION 19To The Young, The Middle-Aged, And The Old.
Besides, persons of every age may enter this school of practice in virtue; the young, the middle-aged and the old, all shall be led to true godliness by the living examples of those who went before them. The young people who live after their lusts, and have not come to the light, will see here, that many of their equa…
661 wordsSECTION 20Summary Of The Following Work.
All this and infinitely more the worldly-minded, ignorant and unbelieving are taught here. O that each of them would consider this well! Men are more easily converted by good examples than by good teachings, because examples are more impressive; yet here you have both. Let every one come hither, therefore; and no one…
550 wordsSECTION 21Of The Name: Anabaptists.[17]
[17] The word _Anabaptist_ is here used to signify the same as _Taufgesinnte_ in the German, and _Doopsgesinde_ in the Dutch language, for which the English language affords no better term, the literal signification of _Doopsgesinde_ being _baptism-minded_. The name “Anabaptists” was really not accepted by them by …
662 wordsSECTION 22Of The Name: Anabaptists.[17]
3. Because the imperial decrees (when some so-called Christians began to tyrannize) in the days of Theodosius and Honorius, A. D. 413, were issued and proclaimed everywhere, expressly against the Anabaptists and those who were rebaptized; namely against such who maintained the aforementioned article, as the Anabaptists…
799 wordsSECTION 23Of The Name: Anabaptists.[17]
In the mean while, the magistrates, apprehending serious mischief which might be expected to spring from this, forbade those who they thought were giving the most occasion to it, the city. They, indeed, left the city, yet, on the instigation of B. Rotman, entered it again by another way. Finally matters came to su…
666 wordsSECTION 24Reason Why We Have Called This Whole Work After The Anabaptists.
Now the point will be to give the reasons why we have called this whole work, with all the persons contained therein, after the Anabaptists; from which, as the second question, might be asked: whether all the persons mentioned, confessors as well as martyrs, none excepted, confessed the same as what the Anabaptists of …
713 wordsSECTION 25Reason Why We Have Called This Whole Work After The Anabaptists.
Besides these articles (on account of which they also had to suffer among the followers of Zwingli and Calvin) the Papists laid before them also, either for denial or for confession, the manifold papal institutions, which at different times and above and contrary to the most holy faith and life, had originated, and bee…
653 wordsSECTION 26Statement In Regard To The Old Work.
[22] “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” 1 Cor. 3:11. On this foundation built all the true martyrs, of whom we have given an account; and unanimously kept it. [23] For this reason a considerable error, which could not be allowed in a common member of the church not labor…
688 wordsSECTION 27Statement In Regard To The Old Work.
[25] “Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly” (2 Cor. 22:1), says the apostle Paul, with whose wisdom we should not compare ours in the thousandth part. If any one, therefore, no matter who, provided he does it in sincerity and good faith, can point out to us any errors,[26] we will consider the mat…
409 wordsSECTION 28Valedictory.
Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.[27] We have longed much for the hour that would bring us to the conclusion of our work. This hour has come; and therefore we will now rest. [27] “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer” (that is, stone of help), “saying, Hith…
651 wordsSECTION 29Thielem J. Van Braght.
With this, beloved reader, whoever you may be, we commend you to the Lord; and to you we commend the consideration of the things which you will find here; feeling assured that if you will do so, you will certainly receive that for which we have prayed the Lord in your behalf. Yours very affectionately, as seeking your…
392 wordsSECTION 30Of The Divine Service Of The Church.
The state and divine service of this church have varied from the beginning according to the different periods in which it existed and flourished. From Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, from Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Christ, from Christ to the end of the world, God ordained, for each of these periods, different…
674 wordsSECTION 31In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
From the time of Christ to the end of the world, God, through Christ, has taken away the ceremonies of the Mosaic law as well as the signs by which it was sealed; and, to the acknowledgment of the grace of Christ, commended the observance of other ceremonies and signs, as baptism, supper, etc. These external commandmen…
694 wordsSECTION 32In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
OF THE STABILITY, DURABILITY, AND VISIBLE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD. That this church, from the beginning to the time of David, was always visible, discernible, and distinguished from other nations, is clear and manifest, and, as far as we know, not doubted by anybody. There remains, then, only to be proven…
727 wordsSECTION 33In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
[36] The mountain of which Isaiah says that the house of the Lord is built upon, must necessarily be understood as referring to Christ who, in the language of the prophets, is called a mountain in holy Scripture. Dan. 2:35. On the other hand, the house which Solomon built upon Mount Moriah, has been destroyed, and …
654 wordsSECTION 34In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
Christ, in another place, speaking by parable of a man who built his house upon the sand, adds the explanation: that the same was a foolish man; because such a foundation, and, therefore, also the building which is founded upon it, cannot stand before the floods, rains, and storms, which beat against it. On the other …
677 wordsSECTION 35In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
This is a great error, for, according to his explanation, this promise would have belonged to the apostles alone, and been limited by their life time, since they traveled everywhere to preach, so that their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.[38] Compare Mark 16:20 with Rom. 10:18…
690 wordsSECTION 36In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
THE CHURCH OF GOD OBSCURED AND RENDERED ALMOST INVISIBLE IN SOME PLACES; AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF IT FROM ANCIENT TIMES. As the moon, notwithstanding her substance and body never perish, is not always seen in her full light by the human eye, either, because she sinks beneath the horizon, or, being too close to t…
677 wordsSECTION 37In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
After the ascension of Christ, the very numerous church which was at Jerusalem, dispersed, on account of persecution, through the lands of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles; so that this distinguished church, which, it appears, was the chief one on the face of the earth, had to sojourn secretly in a strange land. …
655 wordsSECTION 38In What Points The Church Of God Has Always Continued The Same.
From the Latin word _succedo_, that is, to go under, or to take the place of one, is derived the word, _succession_, which we, though improperly, have mixed into our Dutch language. The various branches proceeding from this root, that is, the numerous words taking their origin from it, together with their signification…
353 wordsSECTION 39Personal Succession.
As a great building, house, or castle, can be considered, firstly, with regard to it as a whole, and, secondly, with respect to its different parts, so also the whole church of Christ can properly be considered: firstly, in the whole or in general, as comprising all the congregations in the whole world, which have in c…
432 wordsSECTION 40Succession Of Doctrine.
Here the words of Tertullian are applicable. He says: “The Christian church is called apostolic not just because of the succession of persons, but on account of the kinship of doctrine, since she holds the doctrine of the apostles.” _Lib. de_ praescript, etc. This doctrine every one who boasts[43] of the true successi…
298 wordsSECTION 41The Apostles’ Creed.
1. I believe in one God, the Father, the almighty Creator of heaven and earth. 2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord. 3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the virgin Mary. 4. Who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. 5. Rose from the dead on the third d…
356 wordsSECTION 42First Confession.
Drawn up at Amsterdam, the 27th of September, 1627, called “_Scriptural Instruction_,” concerning who the people are, on whom the peace of God rests, and how they are bound to peace and unity; given in answer to the following several questions, of which the first is: _What are the fundamental and unmistakable marks by…
776 wordsSECTION 43First Confession.
We shall now briefly show, what faith in Christ is, what is to be believed, what its design is, and what are the internal and external operations of faith. This faith in Christ, by which men become partakers of all the acquired benefits of Jesus Christ, is neither an uncertain opinion nor merely a bare confession of t…
809 wordsSECTION 44First Confession.
Thus the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, is the true corner-stone, the way and door to eternal life, and there is no other name given unto man, either in heaven or on earth, whereby he can be saved, and become a child or heir of God, than the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is. 28:16; Rom. 9:33; Eph. 2:20;…
812 wordsSECTION 45First Confession.
[44] These words of Paul, “I believed, and therefore have I spoken,” are taken from the 116th Psalm of David. That, therefore, oral confession proceeding from sincere faith conduces to salvation, Paul testifies with these words: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart th…
786 wordsSECTION 46Of Holy Baptism.
Now, although this fruitful faith is the only certain fundamental mark by which the children of God and members of Jesus Christ shall be known, and through which alone they are also, by grace, made partakers of the (by us unmerited) benefits of Christ, God has notwithstanding been pleased to set forth and confirm to be…
495 wordsSECTION 47Of The Holy Supper.
The holy Lord’s Supper is an ordinance instituted by Christ Jesus in remembrance of himself, to be observed until his coming, by all who are baptized on true faith in Christ to one body, in the church of the New Testament. Matt. 26:26; 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24,26. This rite consists in this, that a minister of the Gospel, …
698 wordsSECTION 48Of Feet-Washing.
Concerning their calling and election to these offices, regard must be paid to the conditions required in those persons who will worthily fill said offices, according to the requirements of the apostle, 1 Tim. 3; Tit. 1. In order to obtain these, the church must prepare herself by a devout fear, by fasting and prayer, …
329 wordsSECTION 49Of Marriage.
Marriage we hold to be an ordinance of God, which was first instituted by God in paradise, and confirmed in our first parents, Adam and Eve, who were created after the image of God, male and female, while they both were yet in favor with God. Gen. 2:22; 1:27. In accordance with this first institution, and agreeably to…
276 wordsSECTION 50Of The Office Of The Magistracy.
The secular power or magistracy is ordained by God in all countries, and bears the sword not in vain, for it is the minister of God, and a revenger, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of the good. Rom. 13:2,4; Sir. 17:18; 1 Pet. 2:14. Every one is commanded to be subject unto the higher powers. Whoso…
303 wordsSECTION 51Of Separation.
For the confirmation of a cause which was just and true in itself, the Old Testament fathers were permitted to swear by the name of God. Deut. 6:13; Matt. 5:33. But the Son of the living God, the King and Lawgiver of the New Testament, whose command we are bound, through a voice from God out of heaven, to obey, has fo…
448 wordsSECTION 52Of Shunning.
Since daily intercourse and mingling with ungodly apostates, in common eating, drinking, buying, selling, and similar unnecessary temporal or worldly transactions, is not only dangerous for the pious, who, thereby, may become contaminated, or be counted as companions of the apostate, but is also hurtful to the apostate…
665 wordsSECTION 53Of Shunning.
But the unrighteous who have not known God, nor obeyed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have done no works of love or mercy, shall then be sentenced to everlasting fire, in these grievous and intolerable words: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;” “there sha…
270 wordsSECTION 54Second Confession,
Also drawn up at Amsterdam, on the 7th of October, 1630, called: Confession of Faith, and the principal articles of the Christian doctrine. [Not divided into separate articles, except the articles of belief in God, and the manner of life in the church.] We believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that ther…
714 wordsSECTION 55Second Confession,
But, as the justice of God required, that the sin committed should not go unpunished, and as no creature could satisfy the former, he not only frequently promised man to send his only beloved Son as a Savior, but prefigured it by various types. Gen. 3:15; 12:3,7; 16:18; 24:19; 7:14; 9:6; 11:10; 53; Jer. 23:5,6; 33:15; …
694 wordsSECTION 56Second Confession,
We also confess that he is our only true high Prophet, High Priest, and spiritual King, who, in his office as a prophet has proclaimed unto us God’s great, secret counsel of the eternal peace with God, through the holy Gospel, and, moreover, all that is necessary for us to the new life. Deut. 18:15; Ps. 110:4; Heb. 3:1…
670 wordsSECTION 57Second Confession,
And since before his precious suffering he taught and comforted them, not to let their hearts be afraid; that when he should have ascended to heaven, he would send them another comforter, the Holy Ghost; therefore, we believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, blessed forever, was, as true God, also found true in t…
702 wordsSECTION 58Second Confession,
2. The _holy Supper of the Lord_, also called the Christian communion, which is to be held among believers only, not with _consecrated_, but with _common_ bread and wine; not only in remembrance of the precious, holy, and bitter suffering and death, and the glorious resurrection of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ,…
824 wordsSECTION 59Second Confession,
7. The _Swearing of oaths_ permitted in the Old Testament, and in which many abuses have crept, is prohibited by Christ and James, without any distinction; therefore it is not lawful for a Christian to swear the oath of blasphemy. Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Matt. 5:37; James 5:12. 8. But as in a good government ordinances wit…
810 wordsSECTION 60Second Confession,
Likewise, if one man understand the passage respecting shunning, in 1 Cor. 5, in a higher, and another man, in a lower sense, both men being godfearing in their life, they should, until further enlightenment, be borne with in love, without contention or disputing. Whosoever seeks, in human weakness, to live according …
704 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.