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
Willem, Maritgen, Dieuwertgen, And Maritgen Jans, A. D. 1550.
In the year 1550, there were apprehended at Leyden, in Holland, four lambs of Christ, namely, a brother and three sisters, named Willem, Maritgen, Dieuwertgen and Maritgen Jans, who, having frankly confessed their faith, and no pain or suffering having power to cause them to apostatize, were finally sentenced to death …
260 wordsSECTION 722Teunis Van Haustelraed, A. D. 1550.
As this Teunis van Haustelraed was a zealous man in the fear of God, and very diligent with the talent which the Lord had committed to him, to get gain for the Lord, to bring many to the knowledge of the truth, and to strengthen those who had received the truth, in the same; and as he thus most faithfully oversaw and s…
673 wordsSECTION 723Tijs Van Lindt, A. D. 1550.
Tijs van Lindt was a zealous and devout man, a resident of Remunde, in Guelderland, and walked, according to the knowledge which God had given him, devoutly in the fear of the Lord; he was especially gifted with a sympathizing and merciful heart towards the poor and needy, so that, through the manifold alms and assista…
290 wordsSECTION 724Remken Ramaeckers, A. D. 1550.
Palmken Palmen was a resident of Borren, near the bailiwick of Millen, and was very zealous to live in the truth of the holy Gospel, and to follow Christ his Lord in obedience, whom he had put on when he was baptized upon his faith. But as the light is hated by darkness, and there was at this time a severe persecution …
274 wordsSECTION 725Gerrit Van Kempen, A. D. 1550.
In like manner, Gerrit van Kempen was burned for the testimony of Jesus Christ, at Wislen. THREE BRETHREN AT ANTWERP, OF WHOM THE OLDEST WHO WAS SPOKESMAN WAS NAMED JAN, A. D. 1550. The malice of the priests was so great that they could not bear it, that those who sought in quietness to serve God the Lord in simplici…
573 wordsSECTION 726Anthony Van Asselroye, A. D. 1550.
The Lord Jesus said to Peter, who was not only a lamb of Jesus Christ, but also a faithful shepherd, elder and overseer of the flock: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and anot…
482 wordsSECTION 727John Knel Or Buchner, And Anna Cantiana, A. D. 1550.
In the year 1550, there were imprisoned in the city of London, in England, two pious witnesses of Jesus, a man by the name of John Knel or Buchner, and a woman named Anna Cantiana; who, among other things, believed and confessed with Menno Simon and all true believers, that the Son of God became man for our sakes, and …
258 wordsSECTION 728Jacques Dosie At Leeuwaerden.
At a certain time, which we have not been able precisely to ascertain, a lad named Jacques Dosie, was imprisoned at Leeuwaerden, in Friesland, for the truth of the holy Gospel. It is said that he was only about fifteen years of age; but the wonder-working God, by the holy Spirit, manifested his power through this littl…
713 wordsSECTION 729Jacques Dosie At Leeuwaerden.
_Lady._ “When you are baptized, tell me, can you still sin?” _Jacques._ “Yes, my lady, for this appears very clearly from the words of Paul; since we are still clothed in a weak and sinful body, and sin in many things. Rom. 7:14,18; Gal. 5:17; Jas. 3:2. But we must constantly crucify and mortify it, and not practice o…
692 wordsSECTION 730Jacques Dosie At Leeuwaerden.
_Jacques._ “My lady, I can not see that there is any crime at all in my baptism, seeing I herein have not followed my own, but the holy institution of our Lord Jesus Christ; had I been able to find another, better way to the kingdom of God, it would not have happened; for I was inclined with my whole heart to seek the …
653 wordsSECTION 731Two Young Girls, About A. D. 1550.
In the beginning of the conversion of the beforementioned Bartel, and another, named Gerrit, it occurred that these two young men were present when Mary van Beckum and her sister were offered up in the castle of Delden; and they testified that they heard Mary van Beckum declare publicly before the people, when she was …
588 wordsSECTION 732Of A Decree For The Introduction Of The Inquisition, A. D. 1550.
At the same time a lad of fifteen years was put to death, suffering it with great steadfastness, at Leeuwaerden; whose faith is compared to that of the aforementioned two young girls put to death at Bamberg. See _Ondergang, page 1130, col. 1_. It appears that at this time the bitterness of the Romish clergy increased …
757 wordsSECTION 733A Smith At Komen, A. D. 1551.
Thus pronounced, and committed to the executioner for execution, this sixteenth day of August, A. D. 1550, in the presence of the Bailiff, all the burgomasters, and all the judges, with the exception of Jan Dunen. Ryer Dircks was examined by torture the ninth of July, A. D. 1550. Extracted from the book of criminal s…
342 wordsSECTION 734Joris, Wouter, Grietgen And Naentgen, In The Year 1551.
On the 21st of July, A. D. 1551, two pious Christians, a brother by the name of Gillis, and a sister named Elizabeth, were sentenced to death as heretics, pursuant to the imperial decree, at Ghent, in Flanders. They were not led forth to death at the usual time, but at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Having ascended the sc…
789 wordsSECTION 735Catharine Burned At The Stake, A. D. 1551.
Eight days after the sacrifice of the preceding persons, a woman named Catharine was also sentenced to the fire. While yet in prison, she was greatly tormented by the monks, in order to make her apostatize, but she said: “I stand so firmly to my faith that for it, to the honor of God, I will suffer myself to be burned …
577 wordsSECTION 736Jerome Segers, With His Wife Lijsken Dircks, And Big Henry, A. D. 1551.
In the year of our Lord 1551, Jerome Segers, with his wife Lijsken Dircks, and Big Henry fell into the hands of the tyrants, for the testimony of Jesus, at Antwerp in Brabant. They suffered many severe torments and sharp examinations, but, through the grace of God, endured them all. And as they, through faith, were so …
733 wordsSECTION 737Jerome Segers, With His Wife Lijsken Dircks, And Big Henry, A. D. 1551.
So also, my most beloved wife, we have not gained all, when we have confessed the truth, separated ourselves from the world, and renounced all lusts and desires; but we must also fight against the enemies, that is, we must here contend against emperors and potentates, and the princes of this world. We must suffer in th…
751 wordsSECTION 738Jerome Segers, With His Wife Lijsken Dircks, And Big Henry, A. D. 1551.
They then asked me whether I was not strong enough in my faith, since I appealed to my brother. I replied: “Yea, my faith is strong enough; but that you may not pervert our words.” They then said: “We shall not pervert your words.” I said: “I know you and your roguery well.” The Margrave said: “It shall be granted …
752 wordsSECTION 739Jerome Segers, With His Wife Lijsken Dircks, And Big Henry, A. D. 1551.
Hence, my dear wife, cease not to serve the Lord thy God with the whole heart, and to follow his footsteps; “For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed up…
957 wordsSECTION 740Jerome Segers, With His Wife Lijsken Dircks, And Big Henry, A. D. 1551.
O my dearly beloved wife, I cannot thank the Lord enough for all his great goodness shown to me; he gives me such strength and power that I cannot express it. O, now I experience that the Lord is a faithful helper in time of need; he does not forsake those that trust in him, for he that trusts in the Lord shall not be …
435 wordsSECTION 741A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.
The eternal joy, peace and grace of God the Father; and the unfathomable mercy, favor, and love of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been sent through grace, by God the Father, to the salvation of all those that are born again with him, through his imperishable word or gospel, and do his will; and the deep and un…
672 wordsSECTION 742A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.
Behold, my dear friends, it is not enough that we are baptized in the name of Christ, that we are called brethren or sisters of Christ, and bear the name of Christians. O no, all this cannot save; for John says: “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous. He that committeth sin i…
730 wordsSECTION 743A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.
Behold, my dear friends, such a people Christ has chosen, who are not vain or light-minded, but who, by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for eternal life; hereunto he has called and chosen us, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; for such a holy church he has chosen, which has not spot or…
867 wordsSECTION 744A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.
He further says: “He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord…
724 wordsSECTION 745A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.
My dear friends, my mouth is open unto you, out of brotherly love, and I humbly beseech you, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, showing such love with the deed among yourselves; for this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that ye should love one another; for he that loveth not, abide…
785 wordsSECTION 746A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.
Thus, admonish and instruct one another in the love of God: and I beseech you, not to forget us in your prayers, and now and then to write a letter to my wife, to comfort her, since she will be confined a long time yet. I would further tell you, that I am in great joy, and cannot sufficiently praise and thank my Lord d…
310 wordsSECTION 747A Letter From Jerome Segers, Written To His Wife Lijsken Dircks.
The grace and mercy of God the Father, the loving kindness and love of the Son, and the communion and peace of the Holy Ghost, who is sent us by the Father, through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the consolation and joy of all true and faithful children of God, and by whom we are impelled, taught and led; the s…
854 wordsSECTION 748A Letter From Jerome Segers, Written To His Wife Lijsken Dircks.
Hence, I beseech you, my dear wife Lijsken, by the mercies of God, constantly to have the word of the Lord before your eyes, and not to suffer yourself to be moved from your faith, by the sleight of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive you; for I know that you will suffer much temptation yet. Therefore, my most bel…
701 wordsSECTION 749A Letter From Jerome Segers, Written To His Wife Lijsken Dircks.
Hence, my most beloved, do not forsake the Lord; for we are nothing but dust and ashes, yea, nothing but mortal flesh, which must die in dishonor, but is raised in glory. Gen. 18:27; 1 Corinthians 15:43. Be patient, therefore, in tribulation; for it is the true way, which leads to life eternal, which all the saints of …
1,069 wordsSECTION 750A Letter From Jerome Segers, Written To His Wife Lijsken Dircks.
Thus, my most beloved, I have written a few things, with which you may somewhat strengthen yourself through the word of the Lord; for Christ says: The world shall rejoice, and ye shall be sorrowful; but be of kind cheer; I have overcome the world; and your sorrow shall be turned into joy, and your joy no man taketh fro…
668 wordsSECTION 751Another Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
Thus I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace, that he will keep you in all righteousness, holiness and truth; and though we must separate here, I know, and firmly trust in the Lord, that we shall be together in life eternal; hence, I will freely bring my offering. O that I might suffer for you; I shoul…
698 wordsSECTION 752Another Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
Therefore I pray you, my love, that you will not sorrow any longer; for the Lord will preserve you as the apple of his eye; yea, though a mother forget her child, yet shall I not forget thee, says the Lord, yea, my sheep hear my voice, says the Lord, and they follow me, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand. There…
1,069 wordsSECTION 753Another Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
My dear husband in the Lord, whom I married before God and his church, and with whom they say I have lived in adultery, because I was not married in Baal; but the Lord says: Rejoice, when all men shall speak evil of you, for my name’s sake: rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven. Matt. 5:11,…
371 wordsSECTION 754A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
Grace and peace be with you from God the Father, and the mercy and love of the Son, and the power and communion of the Holy Ghost strengthen your faith, heart, mind and understanding in Christ Jesus. Amen. This I wish to my beloved wife, whom I before God and his holy church espoused as my own wife. Even as Abraham too…
695 wordsSECTION 755A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
[252] Calling or sending of ministers. Moreover, know, my beloved wife in the Lord, I am sorry that you wept; for, when I heard that you grieved, I prayed the more fervently to the Lord, day and night, for you, and know assuredly, that he will preserve you as the apple of his eye. I constantly praise the Lord, that he…
559 wordsSECTION 756A Letter From Lijsken, Jerome’S Wife.
The grace, peace, joy and love left by Christ to his disciples be unto you. I earnestly beseech him, that he will give us such love and such a steadfast mind, that we may be found fit to receive the beautiful promises which he has given to us, if we continue steadfast unto the end. To this Christ be praise and honor fo…
857 wordsSECTION 757A Letter From Lijsken, Jerome’S Wife.
I told them that they were ever learning, and never able to come to a right knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim. 3:7. They then said that Christ said to his apostles: “To you it is given to understand, but to others in parables.” Matt. 13:11. I replied: “They who now rightly understand it, to them it is also given.” Finally…
259 wordsSECTION 758Another Letter From Lijsken To Her Husband.
The abundant grace of God be with us both always, and the love of the Son, and his unfathomable mercy, and the joy of the Holy Ghost be with us forever. Amen. To him who has begotten us again from the dead, be praise forever and ever. Amen. I wish to us both the crucified Christ for the protector and guardian of our s…
410 wordsSECTION 759A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
The grace, joy, and peace from God the Father, and the loving kindness and love of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion and consolation of the Holy Ghost, strengthen, console and confirm and keep us, both in all righteousness and holiness unto the end. To him be praise forever and ever. Amen. I wish to my…
759 wordsSECTION 760A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
Hence, let the world call us heretics and Anabaptists and condemn us as much as they please; for Paul says: “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is ever at the right hand of God, who also …
743 wordsSECTION 761A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
A LETTER OF JEROME SEGERS TO BIG HENRY, WHO WAS ALSO IMPRISONED THERE, IN THE YEAR 1551. The grace and peace of God the Father, and the great mercy and love of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was sent by the Father, out of grace, for the salvation of all those who are dead unto their sins, and thus have risen with…
776 wordsSECTION 762A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
Therefore, though they tell you ever so much about my having apostatized, believe it not, for the devil does this, in order to seduce and deceive you thereby; for by the grace of God I shall never forsake the Lord. But I have been sick in my flesh for many days; however, my spirit was so much the stronger. I prayed the…
678 wordsSECTION 763A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
Therefore, my dear wife in the Lord, fight valiantly now, and fear not man, but rather say with Susanna, that you would much rather fall into the hands of man, than into the hand of God; for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Susanna 24; Heb. 10:31. Go to meet the Lord with ardent love as y…
676 wordsSECTION 764A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
“What do you think of infant baptism?” asked the bailiff? Lijsken answered: “That it is nothing but infant baptism, and a human institution.” The lords then arose and put their heads together. In the meantime Lijsken clearly confessed and explained the ground of her faith to the people. Thereupon they passed sentence…
1,235 wordsSECTION 765A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
PIETER BRUYNEN, JAN, PLEUNIS, AND JAN THE OLD CLOTHES BUYER, AND ANOTHER BROTHER, ALL PUT TO DEATH, ON THE 2d OF OCTOBER, A. D. 1551, AT ANTWERP. _A letter from Pieter Bruynen van Weert, which he wrote in prison at Antwerp, where he and four others were put to death for the word of the Lord, on the 2d of October, A. D…
1,108 wordsSECTION 766A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
As regards our present condition, the Lord be praised for it, whom we cannot thank enough for the joy, that he has counted us worthy to suffer for his name, and for the joy given us by him, which we have in our imprisonment; for he is faithful, so that with the temptation he also provides for his own a way of escape, a…
698 wordsSECTION 767A Letter From Jerome Segers To His Wife.
Hence, our dear brethren, be not terrified, if they inflict more than one death upon us, since much can be done in a quarter of an hour, yet it is as nothing to the pain of hell, and not worthy to be compared to the future joy. For after we have suffered this distress, and passed through this strait, we expect joy and …
688 wordsSECTION 768Maria Of Monjou, A. D. 1552.
When Willem the cabinet-maker was to be condemned by the judges at Cleves, Claes Meselaer, one of them, would not sit in the court to condemn him, but pretended sickness and went to bed. The Burgomaster, therefore, with the six judges, came to his bedside, to obtain his assent to the sentence. He said he did not want t…
694 wordsSECTION 769Mariken And Anneken, A. D. 1552.
About this time, also a pious, godfearing woman, named Barbel, was drowned, at Guelich, because she had forsaken popery and idolatry, and become obedient to the holy Gospel. 1 Cor. 10:14. WILLEM OF BIERCK, CHRISTOFFEL FROM GEISTENS, CHRISTIAN FROM EUKERAET, AND TIELLEMAN FROM NUNKERKEN, A. D. 1552. The four brethren,…
436 wordsSECTION 770Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
In this same year, a brother named William van Robaeys, was persecuted, apprehended, examined, tortured and finally put to death, at Komen, in Flanders, for righteousness for the truth, and for following Christ. In the same year, three brethren, named Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, and Adrian Corneliss, were apprehended a…
720 wordsSECTION 771Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
O Lord, lead me into the land of Haran, in which I have not so much inheritance as to set my foot on, namely, the promised land, which I pray thou wilt give me, out of grace, and not for my own works or merits. Acts 7:4,5. Deliver me with Lot from this generation. Preserve me, Lord, from the fierce teeth of the lions, …
765 wordsSECTION 772Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
We, fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad through crue…
668 wordsSECTION 773Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
Therefore, my dear friends, be not afraid of the sons of men, who pass away as grass. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32. Be not afraid, my dear friends, of this tyrannous generation; fear not them that kill the body; but I will show you whom you shall fe…
942 wordsSECTION 774Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
Hence, my dearly beloved friends, think it not strange, if you are tried by the fire of tribulation, as though some strange thing happened to you; but be partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that in the time of revelation, you may have hope and consolation. Let none of you suffer as a thief or murderer; yet if any man suf…
701 wordsSECTION 775Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
Therefore, my dear friends, labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life; for man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; for “meats for the belly, and the belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them.” Luke 6:…
664 wordsSECTION 776Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
Let me inform you, how it went with us in our last time. When we were to be offered up on Monday, a priest came to us on Sunday, who talked to us, and said: “You have to die.” _Answer._ “Thus did also the Jews, who said: We have a law, and by our law you must die. So must we also, as the decree of the Emperor shows.” …
725 wordsSECTION 777Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
Now, some one may ask: Why did you go in? O dear friends, my flesh and blood did not impel me to go in there. In vain we run; it is just as the prophet says: “We may flee, but cannot escape.” Ps. 139:7. Hence, we must all come whither our destiny calls us. I had anticipated that my journey to Leyden would not be a fort…
652 wordsSECTION 778Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
The servants and others then said: “The fellow is drunk.” Yes, dear friends, then I remembered the words of Peter, Acts 2; as they were drunk, so was I, having tasted neither beer nor bread all day. They were then about to leave, but found themselves at a loss where to put me; for John of Delft, the servant, said: “It …
861 wordsSECTION 779Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
_Adrian._ “That is true.” _Bailiff._ “You were here before the prison, with six of your friends, and exhorted the prisoners, that they should strive valiantly, and adhere to their faith; and you went and hired a boat for six stivers. Who was the fellow to whom the boat belonged, and the one who was in the other boat, …
681 wordsSECTION 780Hendrick Dirks, Dirk Jans, And Adrian Corneliss, A. D. 1552.
_Bailiff._ “We have another Scripture, where Paul says: The powers are not ordained in vain; for God himself has ordained them.” Rom. 13:1. _Adrian._ “Yes, for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the evil (1 Peter 2:14); but it seems to me the order is inverted, that they are for the punishment of the go…
652 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.