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
Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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 him 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 exe…
1,222 wordsSECTION 662Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
In the second place, we must take up our cross, namely prepare ourselves for suffering, according to the teaching of Jesus Syrach, 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 …
798 wordsSECTION 663Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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;…
718 wordsSECTION 664Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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. T…
1,459 wordsSECTION 665Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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 his sheep, yea, God for men. 1 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 dea…
871 wordsSECTION 666Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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 h…
771 wordsSECTION 667Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
Now, who are these unbelievers, who do not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and shall therefore suffer everlasting pain? They are those who now do not observe the commandments of Jesus Christ, and will not suffer for the name of God, or confess the truth according to the instruction of the Gospel; hence Christ shall…
1,039 wordsSECTION 668Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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 p…
842 wordsSECTION 669Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
O 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 …
893 wordsSECTION 670Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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 than they can do; but fear the Almighty God, the rig…
728 wordsSECTION 671Walter Of Stoelwijk, A. D. 1541.
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 every one that believeth. Rom. 1:16. Yea, the righteous God does not stop at mere words, but is…
537 wordsSECTION 672Prayer.
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; hence, good Father, I commit soul and body into thy divine and gracious keeping: guide me, through Jesus Christ thy dear S…
325 wordsSECTION 673Jacob And Seli His Wife, Of Wormer, A. D. 1542.
Among many others who voluntarily forsook and delivered up their property and life for the truth of the holy Gospel, there were also a brother at Wormer, in Waterlandt, named Jacob, and his wife Seli. These sought and also found the pearl of great price, which was hid in a field and for joy thereof renounced all earthl…
428 wordsSECTION 674Balthasar Hubmor, And His Wife.
At the time of Zwinglius there was also one Balthasar Hubmor of Friedberg, whom the papists called a doctor of the Holy Scriptures, a learned and eloquent man. He was first a teacher and preacher at Ingolstadt, and subsequently came to Reinsburg, where he preached mightily against the Jews and their usury. Through the …
437 wordsSECTION 675Leonard Bernkop, A. D. 1542.
In the year 1542, Brother Leonard Bernkop was apprehended for the faith, at Salzburg. Much was tried to induce him to apostatize, but as he steadfastly persevered in the narrow way of the truth of God, and there was no hope that he would apostatize, they condemned him to death, led him out to the place of execution, an…
267 wordsSECTION 676Damian Of Algau, A. D. 1543.
In this year, Brother Hans Huber, or Schumacher, was imprisoned at Waserburg, in Bavaria, under the Count of Oting. Much having been resorted to, to draw him from the faith, but he remaining quite steadfast, constantly confessing and testifying, that this wherein he stood was the true ground of truth, and the true fait…
688 wordsSECTION 677George Libich, And Ursula Hellrigling, A. D. 1544.
About the year 1544, George Libich was imprisoned for the faith and the divine truth, at Filleburg, near Innsbruck, and as this is a place of particular danger because of evil spirits, as is well known, this brother therefore had much to resist, and was greatly tempted by the Evil One (1 Peter 5:9), who tempted him in …
533 wordsSECTION 678Maria Van Beckum, And Ursula, Her Brother’S Wife, A. D. 1544.
In the year 1544, there was a sister in the Lord, named Maria van Beckum, whom her mother had driven from home on account of her faith. This having become known in the Bishopric[233] of Utrecht, and reported to the Stadtholder, he sent one Goossen van Raesveldt with many servants, to apprehend this maiden at her brothe…
651 wordsSECTION 679Maria Van Beckum, And Ursula, Her Brother’S Wife, A. D. 1544.
When the time of suffering drew nigh, Maria said: “Dear sister, heaven is opened for us; for what we now suffer for a little while, we shall forever be happy with our bridegroom.” They then gave each other the kiss of peace. Thereupon they prayed together to God, that he would forgive the judges their sins, since they …
760 wordsSECTION 680Maria Van Beckum, And Ursula, Her Brother’S Wife, A. D. 1544.
My beloved wife, the godfearing speak of it, and thereby men depart from evil; for by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil, and through love every good thing is accomplished. Prov. 16:6. Awake, for we have both been negligent. Let the word of the Lord incite you to all good. Ask him for his holy Spirit, who can co…
738 wordsSECTION 681Maria Van Beckum, And Ursula, Her Brother’S Wife, A. D. 1544.
_A testament to his children, and then to his wife._ My dear little children, Claes Jans and Gertrude Jans, I leave you this as a testament when you come of age. Hear the instruction from your Father. Hate all that the world and your carnal nature love, and love the commandments of God. 1 John 2:16. Let this instruct …
695 wordsSECTION 682Maria Van Beckum, And Ursula, Her Brother’S Wife, A. D. 1544.
My dear wife, if we should consider suffering, we would never get out of it; but we must look beyond it to the eternal reward. I joyfully comfort myself in the Lord; do so also. The Lord might have taken me from my bed and you would have had to content yourself; how much more now, for you know not how long you will rem…
1,206 wordsSECTION 683Maria Van Beckum, And Ursula, Her Brother’S Wife, A. D. 1544.
Dear friends, at the time of the apostles there arose seven different sects among them, but the true doctrine was therefore not to be rejected. Now, though many wicked miscreants have arisen under the Gospel, the word of God has not depreciated: he that would be saved must submit to it. Romans 9:6. In the time of the r…
717 wordsSECTION 684Maria Van Beckum, And Ursula, Her Brother’S Wife, A. D. 1544.
Here John Claess reproved them as before, saying: “They are not sectarianisms, but it is the word of God.” Acts 24:14. Then the lords of the court said: “We sentence you to death, to be executed with the sword, the body to be placed on the wheel, and the head upon a stake; _we_ do not sentence you, but the court does.…
751 wordsSECTION 685Francis Of Bolsweert, A. D. 1545.
Among those that were thus offered, there was also a young maiden of but fourteen years. She composed the hymn in the old hymn book, beginning thus: _Emanuel die is uytgetogen, uyt sijns Vaders rijck in’s werelts pleyn._[235] [235] Emanuel went forth from his Father’s kingdom into this world. At Bolsweert, in Friesl…
505 wordsSECTION 686Oswald Of Jamnits, A. D. 1545.
In this year, Brother Oswald of Jamnits, was imprisoned for the faith, at Vienna, in Austria, and various means were tried to cause him to apostatize. The citizens came to him in prison, and in a friendly manner earnestly admonished him to recant, or they would have to drown him in the Danube. But he said: “Though you …
290 wordsSECTION 687Hans Blietel, A. D. 1545.
In the year 1545, one Andrew Kofler from Etschland was also apprehended for the faith and the divine truth, at Ips, on the Danube. As he would not renounce, and could not be made to apostatize by the priests and false prophets, he was sentenced to death by the children of Pilate, and delivered to the executioner, who e…
651 wordsSECTION 688Hans Blietel, A. D. 1545.
When the dear brother Hans arrived at the place of execution, he thought of the church, and cried with a loud voice unto the multitude of the people assembled: “Is there any one here, who has courage to tell the church of God in Moravia, that I, Hans Blietel, was burned for the Gospel, at Ried, in Bavaria?” Thereupon a…
419 wordsSECTION 689Michael Matschilder, Elizabeth His Wife, And Hans Gurtzham, A. D. 1546.
In the year 1546, brother Michael Matschilder, also called Little Michael, a minister of Jesus Christ and his church, and two others, namely, his wife Elizabeth, and Hans Gurtzham, a shoemaker, were apprehended and examined at Altenburg, in Upper Kærnthen. A doctor and a learned man of Villach disputed with them; but t…
718 wordsSECTION 690N. N.
Pursuant to this sentence, Quirinus Pieters was executed by the executioner on the same day. The whole of this was extracted from the book of criminal sentences, in the keeping of the secretary of the city of Amsterdam. HANS STAUDTACH, ANTHONY KEYN, BLASIUS BECK, AND LEONHARD SCHNEIDER, A. D. 1546. In the year 1546,…
670 wordsSECTION 691N. N.
When they were being led out to the slaughter, they boldly and joyfully sang. A ring was then made, as the executioners usually do. The brethren knelt down and fervently prayed, offering up this burnt offering as their final farewell to the world. The executioner became sad, acted with reluctance, and was grieved in h…
687 wordsSECTION 692N. N.
_Answer_: “Yes.” _Ques._ “Why did you do this?” _Ans._ “I will tell you, my lords: the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, chapter 2, verse 8: They worship the work of their own hands: that which their own fingers have made: and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them no…
658 wordsSECTION 693N. N.
_Ques._ “It is well known that we can not be saved through the law.” _Ans._ “Peter says, that there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby they can be saved, than through the name of Jesus Christ.” _Ques._ “How long is it since you were baptized?” Ans. “Ever since I was born.” _Ques._ “Are you sat…
683 wordsSECTION 694N. N.
Now, my dear brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to strengthen and keep you, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32. Hence, let every one see to it, that no one be so presumptuous as to pour water into the living fountain; for the Lord says…
698 wordsSECTION 695N. N.
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:14), and “Know, that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of …
682 wordsSECTION 696N. N.
[237] Having abundance of consolation in his sufferings, he comforts his brethren. He therefore says: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, a…
700 wordsSECTION 697N. N.
[242] Pure love loves a blameless life. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: …
669 wordsSECTION 698N. N.
[245] It is a joy to the godly, when they see men living in accordance with the word of God. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny hi…
802 wordsSECTION 699Richst Heynes, A. D. 1547.
[249] He that gives heed to the word of God will gather wisdom. End of these letters, translated and finished the 12th of January A. D. 1614. About the year 1547, there was a godfearing woman, whose name was Richst Heynes (so named after her husband, according to the custom of the country), and who lived in the Ilst,…
390 wordsSECTION 700Elizabeth, A. D. 1549.
Claes Leeks, a native of Ostende, was summoned to the town-house, in the year 1548, on account of certain reports that were circulating about him. Having arrived there, he was examined respecting his faith, and, making a good confession, he was committed to prison. He was a man of very good reputation, on account of th…
660 wordsSECTION 701Elizabeth, A. D. 1549.
_Lords_: “You speak from a spirit of pride.” _Elizabeth_: “No, my lords, I speak with frankness.” _Lords_: “What did the Lord say, when he gave his disciples the Supper?” _Elizabeth_: “What did he give them, flesh or bread?” _Lords_: “He gave them bread.” _Elizabeth_: “Did not the Lord remain sitting there? Who th…
652 wordsSECTION 702Elizabeth, A. D. 1549.
Thus they obtained not one word from her, detrimental to her brethren in the Lord, or to any other person. _Lords._ “Will you revoke all that you have previously confessed here?” _Elizabeth._ “No, my lords, but I will seal it with my death.” _Lords._ “We will try you no more; will you voluntarily tell us, who baptiz…
730 wordsSECTION 703Elizabeth, A. D. 1549.
When the day had arrived, on which the aforementioned persons were to offer up their sacrifices, said Jan Jans stationed himself close to the tribunal, to see what spirit his cousin Ellert Jans would show in the last hour of his life. As soon as Ellert Jans perceived his cousin, he addressed him with such a happy count…
569 wordsSECTION 704Fije And Eelken At Leeuwarden, A. D. 1549.
In the year 1549, about three weeks before Easter, two beloved men, named Fije and Eelken, were apprehended at Boorn, in West Friesland. They were brought before the lords, where they boldly confessed their faith. They first interrogated Eelken, saying: “Who has authorized you to assemble the people, to teach them?” …
658 wordsSECTION 705Fije And Eelken At Leeuwarden, A. D. 1549.
He further said to the executioner: “What are you going to do to me?” _Ans._ “That you will see.” “Yea, yea,” said Fije, “do what you will; I have committed myself into the hands of my Lord.” The brethren went out with him, together with the common people, and when Fije saw some of his acquaintances, he cried out: “…
670 wordsSECTION 706Sentence Of Death Of Cecilia Jeronymus.
Whereas Jacob Claess of Lantsmeer has joined the doctrine, sect and heresies of the Anabaptists, having been rebaptized, and holding pernicious views in regard to the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith, the ordinances of the holy Christian church, and the written laws and decrees of his…
396 wordsSECTION 707N. N.
HANS VAN OVERDAM PUT TO DEATH AT GHENT; ALSO HIS CONFESSION, WRITTEN IN PRISON, AND AFTERWARDS SEALED WITH HIS BLOOD, IN THE YEAR 1550. Hans van Overdam, together with his fellow-prisoners for the testimony of Jesus Christ, wishes all brethren and sisters in the Lord, grace, peace, and an ardent love, from God the Fat…
858 wordsSECTION 708N. N.
Dear friends, let me tell you, how it went with me before my imprisonment, and how they treated us after my imprisonment. At the time when the four friends concerning whom I composed the hymn, and whose burning I witnessed, were offered up, I heard it stated that they had assailed the friends who yet remained in priso…
925 wordsSECTION 709N. N.
I said: “Well, boys, have you been hunting a hare, and have not caught it?” Their faces turned pale as death, and they stepped up to us, and seized me by the arm, saying: “Surrender.” Thus they apprehended us, saying: “We have caught a great number besides.” We then saw a whole wagon full of our brethren sitting bou…
892 wordsSECTION 710N. N.
The Lord then, according to his promise, gave us a mouth, to speak boldly, and we requested to be allowed publicly to defend ourselves with the word of God. They replied to us, that they would send us learned men, who would instruct us; whereupon we were taken below again. Shortly after, I was taken above into another…
652 wordsSECTION 711N. N.
I then said to the lords: “My lords, I ask you, in what house are we, in a house of justice, or of violence?” _Ans._ “In a house of justice.” _Hans._ “God grant that it be so; but, my lords, of what do you accuse us, that you keep us imprisoned and confined like thieves and murderers? Have we wronged any one, or do y…
653 wordsSECTION 712N. N.
_Hans._ “Well, my lords, hear this: since we see that you are no judges, but our adversaries, and employ, wherever you can, all violence and subtlety, to your advantage, and our detriment: Firstly, you have by violence deprived us of our testaments, in which we find our consolation; secondly, you have confined us separ…
728 wordsSECTION 713N. N.
Then they adjured me still much more; but I replied: “Why do you adjure so much? I care not for your adjuration; for it is the manner of sorcerers, who adjure against the truth. 2 Chron. 33:6. But I now see clearly, how the souls of our two brethren and sisters were murdered and seduced (Ezek. 13:19), it was through yo…
655 wordsSECTION 714N. N.
_Ans._ “No.” _Hans._ “Would you be a minister of God, and have respect to persons?” _Ans._ “This would cause an uproar in the city, and they would kill us.” _Hans._ “Then suffer for righteousness’ sake.” But it seemed to me they had no great desire to suffer for it. In short, we treated so much of the ban, that if …
698 wordsSECTION 715N. N.
Therefore, mark! O thou eagle, the end of thy time is very nigh; art thou not the fourth beast? O yes, thou art the beast seen by Daniel (Dan. 7:7), which devoured everything with his iron teeth, and stamped the residue with his feet, and brought forth the most wicked little horn. Dan. 7:7,8. Thou hast dwelt a long tim…
801 wordsSECTION 716N. N.
“Princess, repent and amend your ways; for the end of all things is at hand. Woe unto you false prophets who resist the truth, even as the Egyptian magicians resisted Moses; but your wickedness shall yet be made manifest to all men, even as it already begins. Woe unto you champion antichrist, who put on the time-honore…
664 wordsSECTION 717N. N.
A LETTER OF JANNIJN BUEFKIJN, CALLED HANS KEESKOOPER, A NATIVE OF VERURCKE, WHICH HE WROTE WHILE IN PRISON AT GHENT, A. D. 1550. A holy conversation, a living, spiritual faith, hope, and a true evangelical confidence in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our only Helper and Savior, I wish to my beloved friends…
680 wordsSECTION 718An Account Of The Death Of Hans Van Overdam And Hans Keeskoper.
Therefore, search the Scriptures, which the Lord commands you to do, and to act according to them, on pain of the damnation of your souls, and of being cast into everlasting fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth forever; which Scriptures the priests forbid you to read, on pain of being hated by all me…
356 wordsSECTION 719Govert, Gillis, Mariken, And Anneken, A. D. 1550.
On the last of January 1550, there were offered up for the faith, at Lier, in Brabant, four pious Christians, named Govert, Gillis, Mariken and Anneken, who, as sheep for the slaughter, had been apprehended without violence. When they were brought before the council, and questioned concerning their faith, they made a f…
684 wordsSECTION 720Govert, Gillis, Mariken, And Anneken, A. D. 1550.
The executioner commanded him silence, but he said: “Leave God be with me for a little while; repent, for your life is short.” A brother then said: “God will strengthen you.” “O yes,” said he, “the power of his Spirit is not weakening in me.” The monk attempted to speak to Mariken, but Govert said: “Get you hence, d…
473 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.