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
The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
It often occurred to me that I should not get away--that the Lord should order it otherwise; as my dear wife and sister in the Lord well knows, for I often conversed with her about it, the Lord be thanked forevermore. I took leave from all the churches, and heartily asked every one among them to forgive me if I had gri…
756 wordsSECTION 1022The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
By me, MATTHIAS SERVAES, Your weak brother, and unworthy minister and prisoner of Jesus Christ, whom I serve in the Gospel in my bonds. I hope that my dissolution is near at hand. I desire of you, J. N. B., that you properly transcribe this, and see that my wife (who is also imprisoned) gets a copy of it. If it pleas…
728 wordsSECTION 1023The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
Hence, my dear mother, and John my brother, and my two sisters, it is my multiplied entreaty and fatherly and brotherly exhortation, that you steadfastly walk in piety before God; for it will avail nothing to cry: Lord, Lord, if we do not diligently perform what he has commanded. Therefore put your own wisdom and your …
796 wordsSECTION 1024The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
[288] King’s Dollars. I commend you all to God; we must part here; entreat God for me, as I for you. I salute all believers. THE SIXTH LETTER WHICH MATTHIAS SERVAES OF KOTTENEM WROTE FROM PRISON, TO HIS DEAR WIFE AND SISTER IN THE LORD, WHO WAS ALSO IMPRISONED. Grace, peace, and joy in the heart, through Christ, be …
708 wordsSECTION 1025The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
O my dear wife, be of good cheer, and cast your sorrow or care upon the Lord, for he will care for us; despair not. Remember the kind words of the Lord, where he says: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. For the Lord will remember us, and not forget us. Yea, he …
667 wordsSECTION 1026The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
Receive one another with a holy kiss of love, and remember me from the heart, which I trust to do with regard to you. And if we may see one another no more on this earth, may the Lord grant us grace and strength, so to acquit ourselves here that we may see one another face to face hereafter, in the eternal joy, with al…
754 wordsSECTION 1027The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
I then further said: “The cry now raised against us is: This one has confessed this, and that one, that, and another one something else. My good friend, go among the people, and interrogate each individual separately concerning all the articles; what do you think, would they answer or confess to you anything certain? C…
740 wordsSECTION 1028The Third Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written To J. N.
Therefore guard your lips, my beloved, as said above. I have composed a hymn, doing it not from wantonness; hence I wish that it be sung not to my honor, but to the praise of God. Dear brethren, faithfully remember me in your prayers. I greet you all with the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ; he that loves him not is An…
700 wordsSECTION 1029The Ninth Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written From Prison To F. V. H.
The saving grace of God be multiplied unto you and all the pious, through Jesus Christ; with the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen. O F., my greatly beloved friend[290] in the Lord, I cannot, out of love to you forbear to inform you how gladly I would fulfill your request, but I lack many things, as for instance, paper an…
751 wordsSECTION 1030The Ninth Letter Of Matthias Servaes, Written From Prison To F. V. H.
O my dear sister, how sweet is the yoke of the Lord, how light is his burden upon my neck! By his help I will hold still to my God, may it cost what it will. But I desire that you and all believers entreat the Lord for us, which we also trust to do for you. I sincerely pray that his will be done. O my dear sister, walk…
341 wordsSECTION 1031John Mang, In The Year 1567.
In the year 1566 brother John George, a Count from Italy, having lived in Germany for several years, as a refugee, who sojourned with the church, and conducted himself as a very humble and excellent Christian, went from Grossenstein back to Italy, where he had left his wife; but there he was denounced and betrayed, so …
318 wordsSECTION 1032Karel Halling, A. D. 1567.
In the same year also Brother Nicholas Geyer, a miller, and deacon, was apprehended for the faith, at Innspruck, in the earldom of Tyrol. There the Jesuits and others assailed him in many and various ways, and, in the examination, dealt with him in a cruel and satanical manner; but he did not suffer himself to be moved…
254 wordsSECTION 1033Adrian Du Rieu, A. D. 1567.
Adrian du Rieu, called Adrian Olieux, a native of Halewijn, and minister of the word of God, and of his church at Armentiers, was apprehended at the latter place, for the truth, and after boldly confessing his faith, from which no torture could cause him to apostatize, but in which he constantly firmly persevered, was …
633 wordsSECTION 1034Letters Of Christian Langedul Written During His Imprisonment.
_The first letter of Christian Langedul, written to his wife, Maeyken Raedts, on the 11th of August; in which he relates the joy of his mind, as also, on the other hand, his sorrow for his wife and children, and, finally, how he and his fellow-prisoners were examined._ I wish you grace and peace all the days of your l…
671 wordsSECTION 1035Letters Of Christian Langedul Written During His Imprisonment.
I replied that I knew nothing to say about infant baptism; but this did not suffice, I had to confess that I had received another, and thus I confessed it, the Lord be praised, and I have not regretted it yet, and I hope that I shall not regret it unto the end, for it is the truth. I must stop, since my paper will rea…
680 wordsSECTION 1036Letters Of Christian Langedul Written During His Imprisonment.
Thereupon two of them, the executioner and his assistant, bore me from the rack. Think how they dealt with us, and how we felt, and still feel. Then they half carried, half dragged me from the torture-chamber up into the jailer’s room, where was a good fire of oak wood. There they, once or twice, gave me some Rhenish w…
691 wordsSECTION 1037Letters Of Christian Langedul Written During His Imprisonment.
_Another letter of Christian Langedul, in which he shows the assurance of his mind, the nothingness of his own self, his love to his son-in-law, J. T., and, lastly, the fear which they had of being tortured again, and why._ Grace, mercy, and joy in the Holy Ghost, from God our heavenly Father, through Christ Jesus, th…
756 wordsSECTION 1038Christian Langedul.
While I am sitting here, and writing, we are informed that the Margrave will hold a penal court to-day; I hope it is for us. Pray for us. I hope God will strengthen us by his power, which surpasses everything. O that we might be delivered thus soon; but I am afraid it will not be. Herewith I commend you to the Lord, a…
675 wordsSECTION 1039Christian Langedul.
O dearest friends, you know that all the pious overcame by faith, as you yourself, my dear brother, know better than I can write it to you. Hebrews 11. Take good heed, my beloved, that you fall not in the wilderness, as so many do; for in that case it were better for us not to have known the truth, yea, never to have b…
719 wordsSECTION 1040Christian Langedul.
Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace; may he strengthen and stablish you in his truth unto the end of your lives, to his praise, and to your salvation, and the salvation of us all. This afternoon a little, lean priest visited us. I believe he is a Jesuit, and that he sometimes preaches…
738 wordsSECTION 1041Christian Langedul.
Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. Greet all the friends most cordially with the peace of the Lord; greet warmly R. Langedul; also your sister, and all the friends, whenever it is convenient, and bid them all adieu. Adieu, my dear lamb, adieu. Written on the 12th of September 1567, by me,…
678 wordsSECTION 1042Christian Langedul.
I trust the Lord will let his merciful eyes rest upon you and upon all sorrowing and afflicted hearts, to comfort them by the Spirit by which he himself was comforted in his sufferings. I am much troubled and afflicted in my heart, when I think of you, and of my four poor little lambs, whom I must all leave. I pray y…
725 wordsSECTION 1043Christian Langedul.
Always associate with the saints of the Lord; for among the holy, one becomes holy, says the apostle. And remember the words of the Lord: He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and be clothed in white raiment, and God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes. O, dear Tanneken, it seems that there must be tears; f…
661 wordsSECTION 1044Christian Langedul.
This is my testament, my dear and much beloved Tanneken. In parting, let me tell you, that my mind is still unchanged in the Lord, namely, I, unworthy one, am determined to bear testimony to the Lord, and to seal the same with my blood, in token that it is the truth; nor do I know any other way to be saved through grac…
735 wordsSECTION 1045Christian Langedul.
O dear brethren and sisters, always write the law of the Lord into your hearts, and keep him ever before your eyes, and serve him faithfully unto the end of your lives; for if there is anything that is not clear, be it ever so small, in which the conscience is troubled, Satan produces, by way of accusation, all he can …
811 wordsSECTION 1046Christian Langedul.
Therefore, dear brethren and sisters, exhort one another daily, and be subject to one another in love. And I pray you, dear brethren and brothers-in-law in the Lord, I pray you, exercise good care over my sisters, for you are placed over them; the watch over them is committed to you. Dear brothers, live with them accor…
830 wordsSECTION 1047Christian Langedul.
The Almighty God keep you all from evil. Greet my mother, Charles and his wife; and Maeyken, who took care of my wife. Adieu to you all. This is my testament to you all, Vincent, Kaerle, Neelken, Willem, Hans, to each with his wife. By me, Hans Symons, your dear brother, imprisoned at Antwerp for the testimony of Jesu…
663 wordsSECTION 1048Christian Langedul.
Hence, my dear and much beloved wife, do not cease to serve the Lord your God with all your 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, and that we shall be clothed with it: i…
833 wordsSECTION 1049Christian Langedul.
O my dear lamb, this is not said, that we should grieve. Thus, be patient in your tribulation and sufferings; for Paul says that all things work together for good to them that love God; hence I trust to the Lord, that it will conduce to your good. Therefore receive willingly from the hand of the Lord the sufferings and…
551 wordsSECTION 1050A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
This Jacques Mesdagh was apprehended (with three others, as he writes,) on the 1st of March, 1566, and was afterwards, on the 8th of November, 1567, burnt with three others, for the word of God, at Kortrijck, in Flanders, in the market place before the city hall, having been confined, with iron fetters on his feet, for…
974 wordsSECTION 1051A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
Therefore, O my dear and chosen sister Susannah, let us always faithfully adhere to Christ our bridegroom, even unto death, so that hereafter we may altogether receive the crown of life, and may hear, in the great day of the Lord, the welcome voice: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you f…
925 wordsSECTION 1052A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
[292] German version of the Bible. But, my very dear and chosen sister in the Lord, whom I love from true, unfeigned, godly and brotherly love, it will hereafter not be to our detriment, all that we have suffered here for the name of Christ; for he will reward us for it with joy most abundantly; for as the sufferings …
706 wordsSECTION 1053A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
Thus, my affectionately and much beloved chosen sister, let us too always be obedient to God our heavenly Father, even unto death, and also rather choose, as did Moses, to suffer affliction with the people of God for a little season, here in this vale of tears, and to look at the beautiful promise which is to be realiz…
854 wordsSECTION 1054A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
Therefore, my most beloved, let us always be content with such things as we have: for he hath said: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5,6. For whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. And if God b…
1,218 wordsSECTION 1055A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
O my affectionately and greatly beloved sister, let us always well see to it, and take good heed to ourselves: that we always do the will of the Father, according to our weak ability even unto the end, so that we may not hear with the others: “Depart from me, all ye that work iniquity,” and thus with them receive rewar…
1,058 wordsSECTION 1056A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
Therefore, O my most beloved sister in Christ Jesus, let us always separate ourselves entirely from all worldly lusts and desires, and touch nothing unclean, but constantly cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and continue in the fear of God, according to the spirit, constantly to serve and ho…
712 wordsSECTION 1057A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
Therefore be patient, and comfort yourself with the words of God; for it is becoming a Christian, that he should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Lam. 3:26. Let the peace of God rule in your heart. Col. 3:15. He which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation [and good hope] thro…
690 wordsSECTION 1058A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.
Thus, my affectionately and so greatly beloved sister, when we think on and well consider these words, why should we not gladly forsake all that we have for the name of Christ, and why should we be sad, burdened or troubled, when this comes upon us for the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, since Christ himself has foretol…
472 wordsSECTION 1059Adrian Willems, A. D. 1568.[294]
[294] This Adrian Willems was not mentioned in previous editions. In the year 1568 the tyranny and persecution waged against the Christians became very sore and grievous, so that in said year many were apprehended and slain. On the 4th of April of the above year, between one and two o’clock in the morning, Adrian Wil…
1,061 wordsSECTION 1060Jan Portier Burned, A. D. 1568.
In the year 1568, a brother named Lucas de Groot, a native of Ostend, in Flanders, was apprehended there for the testimony of the truth, and after he had boldly confessed his faith, and, would unwaveringly adhere to it, he was sentenced to be strangled and burned; the judges, however, afterwards changing their mind, Lu…
729 wordsSECTION 1061Jan Portier Burned, A. D. 1568.
[295] The word used in the original denotes a female friend.--TR. Now, dearly beloved brethren, if God is with us, who can be against us; for all men are but the works of his hands, and he has created everything, and has power to bring it to nought again at his pleasure; why then should we be afraid of mortal men? Rom…
723 wordsSECTION 1062Jan Portier Burned, A. D. 1568.
Further, cordially beloved friend Goelken, and all other friends who read this, accept this in good part, which I have written in my weakness; for I do not think myself worthy to exhort you, since I am fully aware that you are well taught of God. But I have done this from love, because I heard that you desired to have …
758 wordsSECTION 1063Henry Maelschalck.
“And fear not them which kill the body; but him which hath power to cast both soul and body into eternal darkness.” Matt. 10:28. JACOB DIRCKS, WITH HIS TWO SONS, ANDRIES JACOBS AND JAN JACOBS, A. D. 1568. In this bloody and perilous time of persecution, also pious Jacob Dircks and his two sons, Andries Jacobs and Jan…
961 wordsSECTION 1064Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
JAN DE SMIT, DANIEL DE PAEU, DANIEL VAN VOOREN, AND PASSCHIER WEYNS, A. D. 1568. In the year 1568, at Ghent, in Flanders, also four brethren were apprehended, namely, Jan de Smit, Daniel de Paeu, Daniel van Vooren and Passchier Weyns, who boldly confessed their faith and all the articles in regard to which they were e…
1,025 wordsSECTION 1065Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
“Now, suppose that the doomed criminal were a filthy, unclean harlot, imprisoned for a crime, or for having herself alone committed (if it were possible) all the wickednesses and sins ever perpetrated by the whole world, for which she were condemned to the most shameful death that could be devised; and the King should …
955 wordsSECTION 1066Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
“Mark now, how poor mankind receive redemption and salvation, as they think. One hears and sees openly enough that almost the entire population of Europe are called believing Christians, though by their wicked works they hardly show that they are natural men, since they live more unnatural than irrational beasts. Never…
702 wordsSECTION 1067Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
[296] See whether a criminal is pardoned, if he is not willing to amend his ways. [297] Many think they are good Christians, because they do not steal or commit murder, and because they do not perpetrate violence or highway robbery, or because they refrain from evils which they can or dare not do; however, this is…
748 wordsSECTION 1068Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
“Mark what Christians these are, because they say that there is a gracious God, which the devil also believes, and trembles; moreover, they say that they are sorry for their sins, and still they go on in them, the longer the more, the older the worse, and under the cloak of the grace of God commit all kinds of sin, the…
681 wordsSECTION 1069Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
“Who can reprove them therein? And therewith the devil blinds them so artfully and firmly to his will, so that they think themselves to be pious Christians, and are not willing to be reproved by the truth for their sins, but claim to be unblamable children of God; moreover, they say, like Christ’s disciples: “Our Fathe…
1,278 wordsSECTION 1070Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
[298] That no one say: We cannot be perfect; except to those who say that they are perfect. There is nothing so good as that men will not contradict it, even with the Scriptures. “The fourteenth week of my imprisonment, the first day of January, so called, A. D. 1568. I trust that the present year will not pass like…
887 wordsSECTION 1071Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
Now when the people began to multiply, there arose another king, who oppressed the people of Israel, and commanded that the young children should be cast away. Mark well, my good friends, how did the children of Israel get into this distress, great misery and sorrow, on account of which they lamented and groaned to God…
901 wordsSECTION 1072Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
Furthermore, my friends, when Moses had now succeeded in bringing them across the sea, they saw their pursuers drown before their eyes. Then they rejoiced greatly, and with songs thanked God, who had so mightily helped them. They were, however, not yet in the promised land, but on the way to the same. And Moses their l…
715 wordsSECTION 1073Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
Hence, my good friends, take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief [in departing from the living God]. But exhort one another daily while it is called to-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For ye are made partakers of Christ, if ye hold the beginning of your confide…
719 wordsSECTION 1074Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568.
Hence it is our concern that we through the cordial grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may receive the same at his hand; for the Lord also is concerned to have a people that fear and love him. And this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous, to them that love him. 1 John 5:…
689 wordsSECTION 1075Another Letter Which Jan Thielemans Wrote From Prison.
I wish you, my much beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, and all those who shall see my letters, or hear them read, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Ghost, for a friendly and worthy greeting. Accept it in love. Amen. After good and proper greetings, I undertake to write a little to…
827 wordsSECTION 1076Another Letter Which Jan Thielemans Wrote From Prison.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 1:5–11. Having therefore such great and glorious prom…
873 wordsSECTION 1077Another Letter Which Jan Thielemans Wrote From Prison.
But if God be with you, who shall be against you, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all? Who shall lay anything to the charge of his elect? It is God that justifieth them. Who shall condemn them? It is Christ that died and is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, and also maketh inter…
256 wordsSECTION 1078Heyndrick Arents, A. D. 1568.
Among many other true believers baptized according to the command of Christ, who were everywhere persecuted, expelled and put to death, also one Heyndrick Arents of Briel, about the year 1568, fell into the hands of these persecutors. The circumstances that led to his imprisonment were as follows: A vessel having cast …
338 wordsSECTION 1079Claudine Le Vettre, And With Her A Brother, A. D. 1568.
Meenen is a beautiful little town in Flanders, three leagues from Rijssel, on the road to Bruges, built on the edge of the Leye. In this town there lived a godfearing man, Piersom des Muliers, with his wife, Claudine le Vettre, who through the preaching of Leenaert Bouwens, and by reading and studying the word of God, …
768 wordsSECTION 1080Claudine Le Vettre, And With Her A Brother, A. D. 1568.
[301] Respecting said letters it has not been possible for us to obtain any of them. Her husband, Piersom, often said of his aforesaid wife that it was astonishing how well she was versed in the Scriptures. For whenever he could not find a passage, he would ask his wife Claudine, who would at once clearly indicate to…
599 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.