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
Further Account Of The Aforesaid Claudine Le Vettre.
The descendants of Piersom, the husband of Claudine le Vettre, claimed to have received, by way of tradition, that this Piersom at the time of the imprisonment of his aforementioned wife betook himself to a miller who lived in or near his mill, which stood close under the walls of Ypres, in order to be able there daily…
618 wordsSECTION 1082Sentence Of Death Of Pieter Pieters Beckjen.
Whereas Pieter Pieters, _alias_ Beckjen, boatman, prisoner, unmindful of his soul and salvation, and of the obedience which he owed to the Lord God, and to His Imperial Majesty, forsaking our mother, the holy church, and this from the time that he attained to understanding, even until now, has refused to go to the holy…
425 wordsSECTION 1083Lauwerens Verkamer, A. D. 1569,
In the year 1569 there was apprehended in ’s-Hertogenbosch, in Brabant, a pious follower of Christ, named Lauwerens Verkamer, for the single reason that he could not follow the Romish priests and monks in their self-invented idolatry, but separated therefrom, and united with the true members of our Lord Jesus, seeking …
308 wordsSECTION 1084Lippijntgen Stayerts, A. D. 1569.
As in the time of Ishmael and Isaac, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit (Gal. 4:29), so it still goes in these latter days. For the ministers of the Roman antichrist imprisoned at Kortrijck, in Flanders, a godfearing lamb of Christ named Sijntgen Vercoilgen, the mother of Jan…
281 wordsSECTION 1085Maerten Pieters And Gritgen Jans, A. D. 1569.
In the year 1569, the 25th of June, there was put to death for the testimony of the truth, in Briel, reckoned to Holland, on the Maese, Maerten Pieters of Maesland, a village situated near Delft in Holland and with him Grietgen Jans, wife of Adriaen Heynsen, a weaver of Swartewael. Maerten Pieters was beheaded with the…
315 wordsSECTION 1086Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
[Illustration: DIRK WILLEMS SAVING HIS CAPTOR’S LIFE.] In the year 1569 a pious, faithful brother and follower of Jesus Christ, named Dirk Willems, was apprehended at Asperen, in Holland, and had to endure severe tyranny from the papists. But as he had founded his faith not upon the drifting sand of human commandments…
804 wordsSECTION 1087Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Extracted from the records of the town of Asperen, and after collation this copy was found to agree [with the original], the 15th of October 1606. Acknowledged by me, the town clerk of Asperen. T’ Sheerenbergh. HENDRICK ALEWIJNS, HANS MARIJNS VAN OOSTEN, AND GERRIT DUYNHERDER, A. D. 1569. In the year 1569 there were…
741 wordsSECTION 1088Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Further, the cause of my writing to you, and to your love, is also to ask you to help me pray in my behalf, for steadfastness in God’s truth, and that I may live in his grace, and for God’s faithful assistance towards me. I inform you that I am of very good cheer in my imprisonment, tribulation, sorrow, reproach, and s…
662 wordsSECTION 1089Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
But, friends, how much greater and more valuable must be the consolation, reward, and the crown of eternal life, of which so much is said in other places, of God’s eternal life, kingdom and glory, which are promised to those that overcome and patiently endure, as will here in part follow. In the first place, observe i…
670 wordsSECTION 1090Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Again, in Peter, also we read: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you (he says, as though some strange thing happened unto you): but be partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, when he shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceed…
660 wordsSECTION 1091Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Now, all attentive [readers], who firmly believe, know and hope this with all their heart and from the depths of their soul, and also understand, on what conditions, and to whom, and to whom not, this glorious kingdom is promised and sure. Such an intelligent and far-seeing Christian is so rich in hope toward God, so f…
702 wordsSECTION 1092Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Mark: God said to Joshua, whom he appointed in Moses’ office and stead: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage.” Josh. 1:5,6. Again: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor fors…
828 wordsSECTION 1093Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Again, Sirach says: An humble man will wait for the time which will bring him comfort. For though his cause be oppressed for a time, yet shall the pious praise his wisdom. Sir. 1:23,24. Of this we have examples in Job and in “the end of the Lord.” Jas. 5:11. Also in Tobit, for God permitted affliction to come upon him-…
710 wordsSECTION 1094Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Mark, friends, that it is certainly his pleasure, that the servant be as his lord. Matt. 10:25. Hence Christ in his time assured his servants and disciples of so much sorrow, tribulation, reproach, suffering, and of death, for his name’s sake. He did not give it to them as his opinion, not as something which might even…
973 wordsSECTION 1095Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
[305] 17, the original has it; but this is evidently an error.--TRANS. Here now follow instances of exemplary adventurers of former times--pious persons that were persecuted, greatly hated, and put to death; mark, how, by whom, and also why these things always happened; namely, in order that we need not think it stran…
672 wordsSECTION 1096Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
Some were burnt. Two women had their infants tied or hanged to their breasts, and were thus led in derision round about the city, and finally cast headlong over the walls. Mark, why? Because they adhered steadfastly to the law of God, and had circumcised their children. Thus also Eleazar, an aged man of ninety, was sla…
720 wordsSECTION 1097Dirk Willems, A. D. 1569.
The second reason is, that, since you are partakers with me of the same hope, reward and comfort, I might awaken in you a refreshing, devotion, renewed joy in the promises, and inward gladness, by pointing out our comfort mentioned, consisting in doctrine and examples of the Scriptures, as noticed here in part, thereby…
567 wordsSECTION 1098This Is What Hendrick Alewijns Delivered To The Lords At The Rack.
Most worthy officers, justiciaries, and all my lords, who in the name and by the authority of the king are to be my judges and examiners, and are present here, give audience to me, the condemned, Hendrick Alewijns, now ready here for the torture, through your sentence. Behold, I find myself inwardly constrained, and in…
810 wordsSECTION 1099This Is What Hendrick Alewijns Delivered To The Lords At The Rack.
My lords, accept in good part this my favor to you. I have not done it in order to be absolved from the sentence pronounced, which is not customary, and hardly in your power, and you yet remain the friend of the world and the King, which you are determined at any rate to remain. James 4:4; John 19:12. But I pray you ne…
350 wordsSECTION 1100Article I.
_The paternal farewell, testament and an earnest scriptural instruction from Hendrick Alewijns to his children._ Hear me, your father, O my own, well-disposed, dear and greatly afflicted orphans, my three motherless and soon also fatherless children, of ten, eight, and six years, deprived of me, and without property, …
737 wordsSECTION 1101Article Ii.
This, my dear children, is my careful counsel and command to you, after my decease. _The first foundation of virtue, or instruction concerning the beginning of wisdom in childhood.--Government of children._ Behold, my dear children, since you are still children in understanding, young in years, and little fitted for …
721 wordsSECTION 1102Article Ii.
In short, this is the conclusion: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. And, ye parents, be not bitter against them, lest they become dull, shy, or discouraged. Col. 3:20,21; Eph. 6:1. See, my dear children, learn here what is becoming to you; see here, with what heavy dut…
468 wordsSECTION 1103Article Iii.
_Brief instruction concerning God, to learn to know him by his written name, glory, handiwork, wonderful deeds, voice, omnipotence, omniscience, by his being the terrible enemy of his enemies, and the faithful succorer of the pious, etc._ Mark, beloved, my simple children, this in the God of your father, the God of al…
685 wordsSECTION 1104Article Iii.
Behold, my dear children, this great God alone is worthy to be feared, who can kill soul and body. Sirach says: The whole heaven everywhere, the sea and the earth tremble; mountain and valley quake, when he visiteth them; and shall he not see thy heart? Sir. 16:18. Again: God is witness of all thoughts, and knoweth th…
856 wordsSECTION 1105Article Iii.
In like manner we read concerning Gideon, that God so ordered it that the enemies, the Midianites, fell upon one another with their swords, and destroyed themselves, through the direction of God. Judg. 7:22. Behold, my dear children, what an awful, inexorable enemy of his enemies, and faithful and victorious protector…
744 wordsSECTION 1106Article Iv.
Therefore, my children, learn to know and shun sin; for because of sin souls are damned forever. _What sin is, and whereby sin became sin; and what are and will be the wages of sin, before God, or God’s punishment of sinners hereafter._ What sin is, is clearly shown by the holy Scriptures. The prophet Samuel said to …
687 wordsSECTION 1107Article Iv.
This impending calamity, the punishment and righteous judgment of God, was announced and promised a very long time; for when Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was upon earth, he said: Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of al…
726 wordsSECTION 1108Article Iv.
To disobey the Gospel, is worthy of no small punishment; for he that, in the sight of two or three witnesses, transgressed the law of Moses (which is inferior to the Gospel in its saving power and operation, Rom. 8:3), had to die without mercy, says Paul, of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought wo…
1,017 wordsSECTION 1109Article Iv.
Dear children, he that does not fear or believe God, does not regard these awful assurances and sure threats, as also the Scripture says: Such threatening is too far off, and when a wicked man heareth it, he yet cleaveth to his folly and error. How truly does Solomon say: Because sentence against an evil work is not ex…
650 wordsSECTION 1110Article Iv.
But, my dear lambs, I am deprived of time further to complete my purpose and intention. This however was almost finished, but I intended to improve it and to copy it in a far more legible and better form. However, it is now done, and I must and will now disengage myself, and prepare to die, as I think, in four days. An…
276 wordsSECTION 1111Hendrick Alewijns.
HERE FOLLOWS A LETTER WRITTEN BY HANS MARIJNS, WHICH HE SENT FROM HIS PRISON TO HIS BELOVED BRETHREN AND SISTERS. _Always have God before your eyes._ Grace, peace and joy from God our heavenly Father, wisdom, righteousness and truth, through Christ Jesus his beloved Son our Lord and Savior; together with the comfort …
694 wordsSECTION 1112Jasper Den Taschrinkmaker, A. D. 1569.
By me, Hans Marijns, your unworthy brother in the Lord, with what is in my ability for your best, for this time. This Anpleunis van den Berge, because he had permitted, in the year 1556, that the word of God was truly and openly preached on his land, and that he had lodged some of the brethren, had to leave his own ho…
288 wordsSECTION 1113Dirk Anoot And Willem De Zager, In The Year 1569.
When the Duke of Alba tyrannized with great violence against the Gospel, as Antiochus against the law, 2 Macc. 7, there were brought prisoners into Ypres, in Flanders, in the year 1569, one Dirk Anoot, of Westvleteren, and one named Willem, a wood-sawyer, who, as they could in no wise be drawn from the truth by tribula…
785 wordsSECTION 1114Dirk Anoot And Willem De Zager, In The Year 1569.
When they were led to the court, they said: “Now truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Is. 59:14. There they (the five brethren and one sister) comforted and cheered one another with the word of God. 1 Thess. 4:18. There the innocent were sentenced to be burned, and delivered to the hangman or execut…
365 wordsSECTION 1115The First Letter Of Wouter Denijs, To His Wife.
A cordial greeting to you, my beloved wife and children, and to father, and to my brothers, sisters and all my friends according to the flesh, and to all that are known to me, who fear God from a pure heart. This fear, from a pure heart, may the Almighty God grant you through his Son Jesus Christ. My beloved wife, and…
661 wordsSECTION 1116The First Letter Of Wouter Denijs, To His Wife.
And I beseech every one that would be saved, not to neglect the grace of God. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation; let every one take heed now. On the twenty-first day of April, about eleven o’clock, I received a letter here, which was welcome to me. However, I will pass this by, and g…
263 wordsSECTION 1117Wouter Denijs.
THE SECOND LETTER OF WOUTER DENIJS AND HIS FELLOW-PRISONERS, TO HIS BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN THE LORD. The unfathomable grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all dear brethren and sisters, and all dear friends who desire to walk in the true and pleasant fear of the Lord; and with the overseers of the true bride of Chr…
650 wordsSECTION 1118A Third Letter Of Wouter Denijs And His Fellow-Prisoners.
No more, but farewell; we commend you to God, and to the word of his grace. Written by me, Wouter Denijs, commenced on the nineteenth, and finished the twentieth, by the grace of the Lord, to whom be praise and honor forever. Amen. Let every one take heed, though I do not write much or very learnedly, which is someth…
693 wordsSECTION 1119A Third Letter Of Wouter Denijs And His Fellow-Prisoners.
Know further, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, that I was before the lords. There were four of them: the Margrave, two judges, and the clerk of the criminal court. When I entered the room, I did reverence to them, and the Margrave said: “Well, my daughter how are you?” I replied: “Very well, sir.” The Margrave…
708 wordsSECTION 1120Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
Dear friends, I must yet pass through a great wilderness, for it is desolate and perilous here; yea, I must yet tread through thistles and thorns; but the crown of life is prepared for us; for it is the right truth, and no other shall ever be found. O my dear lambs, do not depart from the Lord; he will not permit you t…
655 wordsSECTION 1121Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
We heartily wish that we had been able to give an account also of their valiant deeds, wise discourses, acts of patience and resignation, and every thing that took place in connection with their sufferings and death. However, none of these things have come to our knowledge, having through the adverse circumstances of t…
867 wordsSECTION 1122Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
In the public histories of that time mention is made only of the beheading of three men on that day, without anything evil being laid to their charge, except simply that they were counted among the Anabaptists. And since this sentence charges them with no crime, insurrection, or any misconduct, which in that time of vi…
656 wordsSECTION 1123Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
The public writers of those times also make mention of these women, but without stating anything more than their number, and that they were drowned. This sentence, however, not only makes known their names, but from it also their innocence is evident. _Extract as above, Fol. 59. verso._ Whereas Pietersen, _alias_ Bor…
742 wordsSECTION 1124Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
_Extract as above, Fol. 77. verso._ Whereas Andries Harmans of Gelre, has undertaken at different times and places to dispute concerning the Scriptures, and to hold conventicles, where the Scriptures, and the sacraments and ordinances of the holy church were subjected to improper teaching and treatment, whereby the af…
669 wordsSECTION 1125Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
ELEVEN BRETHREN AND A SISTER, AT ANTWERP; HARMAN TIMMERMAN, JAN VAN HASEBROECK, PIETER VERLONGE, GERRIT VAN MANDEL, JAN VAN MANDEL, JAN DE SCHAPER, JAN WILJOOT, JAN VAN DOORNICK, WILLEM VAN POPERINGE, MAEYKEN HIS WIFE, JAN KOOPMAN, HANS HIS SERVANT; A. D. 1569. In the year 1569, at Antwerp, there was apprehended, exam…
926 wordsSECTION 1126Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
Also in Ezekiel God says: I will myself attend to my sheep. Ezek. 34:11. Now Christ says, that he is the Shepherd of the sheep, and that the sheep are his own. Zechariah says: Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and in John we read, that Christ is the Bridegroom, who has the bride; and in the epistle …
861 wordsSECTION 1127Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
You further say that God is invisible and lives forever, but that Christ was seen, and that he died, and that the child was without knowledge, and that it grew up in wisdom; concerning which you shall hear our views afterwards from the confession of our faith, which we prove from the Scriptures, which latter we must be…
778 wordsSECTION 1128Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
Our belief and ground concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ is, that we confess and believe, that the only begotten Son of God, who was with the Father before the foundation of the world (John 17:24), and was in the form of God (Phil. 2:6), was foreordained before the foundation of the world; whose goings forth ar…
669 wordsSECTION 1129Notice To The Christian Reader, Concerning The Following Sentences.
Furthermore, if he remained immortal, it can not be said, that we are reconciled to God by the death of his Son, contrary to Paul, where he says, that we are reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Rom. 5:10. Nor can it be said that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. It can only be said that…
1,031 wordsSECTION 1130The First Letter Of Jan Van Hasebroeck To His Wife.
From Jan van Hasebroeck three letters have fallen into our hands, which we have likewise added here for the benefit of the reader. The abundant grace, peace and mercy from God the heavenly Father, and the love of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, shows us by the shedding of his holy and precious blood on the tree of the cro…
840 wordsSECTION 1131The First Letter Of Jan Van Hasebroeck To His Wife.
O my most beloved wife, my heart’s prayer and desire is, that you would always associate with them that fear the Lord, as I likewise trust to do; that hereafter we may meet where men shall not part us, but where we shall abide forever with the Father and his Son. If we only remain steadfast, we shall be saved. Matt. 10…
882 wordsSECTION 1132The Second Letter Of Jan Van Hasebroeck.
O my beloved, I commend you, and all them that fear God, to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. Amen. Written by me, JAN VAN HASEBROECK, Your husband and weak brother in Christ. Abundant grace and peace be with you from God the heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, his dear and much beloved Son, our Lord, throu…
823 wordsSECTION 1133The Second Letter Of Jan Van Hasebroeck.
Therefore, my dear and much beloved wife and sister in the Lord, always wait with patience for the Lord your God, as did the wise virgins, who had oil in their vessels; and were ready to go in with their bridegroom, whereunto we all that believe in Christ are called, to sup with him. Rev. 3:20. For, as Christ himself s…
809 wordsSECTION 1134The Third Letter Of Jan Van Hasebroeck.
The abundant grace, peace and mercy from God the heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ his dear and much beloved Son our Lord, be multiplied unto you, with the power and communion of the Holy Ghost; may he strengthen, comfort and stablish you in the inner man, so that you may be able to stand firm and immovable in his …
731 wordsSECTION 1135Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
O my dear and much beloved wife and sister in the Lord! Herewith I commend you to the Lord Almighty, and to the word of his grace, and bid you adieu, my dear wife, adieu, and the peace of the Lord be with you and all them that fear him. Jan Koopman and Hansken greet you much; and Jan Koopman greets his wife much; he an…
731 wordsSECTION 1136Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
There are also a number of accounts of martyrs, not given in the edition of 1660, but inserted in the subsequent editions, which are also given in this translation.--PUBLISHERS. _Friar Cornelis._ Well, I’ve come here to see whether I can convert you (Jacob, I believe, is your name) from your false and evil belief, i…
754 wordsSECTION 1137Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Hush, hush, you have preached enough; here you are not in the Gruthuysbosch, nor do I sit down to hear you preach. Bah! you accursed Anabaptist, would you apply the prophecy of St. Paul to our holy father the Pope? * * * Hear this accursed heretic once; how he understands St. Paul. Bah! St. Paul thereby mea…
693 wordsSECTION 1138Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ With your permission, Paul does not write as you say, and hence there is nothing to answer to it. _Fr. Corn._ O you cursed Anabaptist that you are; I could swear by the saints, that St. Paul writes as I say: what do you say of this accursed, hellish, devilish heretic? _Jac._ The Lord God forgive you this judgi…
709 wordsSECTION 1139Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ From this power of the keys, which Christ gave Peter, it is not to be understood, that you priests in popery have power to forgive or to retain sin. _Fr. Corn._ Is it true? would accursed heretic say that the power which Christ gave his successor or vicar, St. Peter, does not pertain to us priests? What! no! do…
683 wordsSECTION 1140Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ I know nothing to say of episcopal authority, or of confirmation. How then should I administer it, or what should I think of it; for confirmation is a bugbear about which I know nothing. _Fr. Corn._ Is it possible, do you Anabaptists call the sacrament of confirmation a bugbear? Ah, accursed heretic, the devil …
771 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.