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
Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ I do not believe that the anointing with oil of which James writes has anything in common with the oil with which you anoint the sick among you; for the oil of which James writes healed the sick, as did also the oil concerning which Mark writes in the sixth chapter, that the apostles anointed with oil many that …
657 wordsSECTION 1142Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ This miserable Anabaptist would give me the lie. But do you think you can swindle me out of a matter which I so certainly know to be true? Bah, why will you deny it, seeing you have already so flatly denied the five sacraments, which is a hundred thousand times worse and more damnable, than to make common a…
703 wordsSECTION 1143Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ We are not the only ones that have to bear this from you; for you also often preach, I understand, that the Calvinists have the women in common. _Fr. Corn._ And so they do; for in the point of having the women in common they agree with the Anabaptists. Ah, bah, don’t I know what the Calvinists and Calvinistress…
676 wordsSECTION 1144Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Bah, what monsters are these memorials? This begins to sound quite Zuinglian and Calvinistic; and are you Anabaptists also Sacramentarians--I suppose so. Bah, what is it about these memorials? Let us hear once. _Jac._ The memorials are bread and wine, which we use in remembrance of the body and blood of Ch…
786 wordsSECTION 1145Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ The unworthy eating of the bread and the unworthy drinking of the cup of which Paul writes, lies in our conscience; for if I want to unite with the body of Christ, and with many brethren become one bread, and am at variance or in contention with any brother, I eat unworthily of that bread, and drink unworthily o…
693 wordsSECTION 1146Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Bah, talk and chatter as much as you will; I flatly say, that the Corinthians ate Christ with skin and hair, as we Catholics also do. bah, see. _Jac._ Yet Christ says, John 16:28: I leave the world, and go to the Father. Again, verse 5: But now I go my way to him that sent me. Again, verse 7: Nevertheless …
651 wordsSECTION 1147Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ You have heard, that Christ in his sermon said to the Jews: “The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. I am that bread of life: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” Now you m…
739 wordsSECTION 1148Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ In regard to this, I reply again, that if Christ means such flesh as you according to your saying, give men to eat, not one of these will die or be damned, according to the words of Christ, but they will all live forever. _Fr. Corn._ Bah, for this reason I again ask you, for whom confession and absolution are i…
659 wordsSECTION 1149Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Jac._ Paul writes to the Corinthians, in his first epistle, in the fifteenth chapter (v. 22): “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Again, to the Romans, in the fifth chapter (verses 12,15); “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so grace hath abounded by Jesus Christ.”…
819 wordsSECTION 1150Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Bah, Jesus, Jesus, how well you can talk, how well your tongue is hung! Bah, never in all my life did I hear the Scriptures expounded so strangely, contrary to the views of our mother, the holy Catholic Roman church, and the ancient teachers and fathers. Bah, now I am not surprised, that the Anabaptists hav…
715 wordsSECTION 1151Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Herm._ To judge from your speaking, I should think that you are angry, and if you had not told me yourself, I would have thought, that you wanted to frighten me. But why are you so angry at that friendly, pleasant man, who I think did not give you one hard word? _Fr. Corn._ He nevertheless called me a papist once or …
753 wordsSECTION 1152Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Indeed? if they are your fellow brethren and sisters in the Lord, why then do you bear such enmity and hatred to them, that you help burn or destroy their relics or bones, and break their images to pieces, wherever you have been able to get at them? is this not a fine brotherhood and sisterhood? accursed An…
663 wordsSECTION 1153Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Indeed? you hellish, devilish Anabaptist, though we are so diverse in regard to orders, rules and ceremonies, are we ecclesiastics not all comprehended in one sacrament of priesthood, eh? _Herm._ Your sacrament of priesthood is nevertheless an article like all the other articles of your faith, of which not…
662 wordsSECTION 1154Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Ah, bah! that was another thing; those children were circumcised, and thereby they were saved, though they died unbaptized; bah, here you are in a corner, happen what will, yes, yes, yes! _Herm._ Those children were not all circumcised; for the faith in Jesus Christ was preached and taught also among the u…
743 wordsSECTION 1155Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Bah, but if the regeneration of water and of the Spirit does not concern children, they must certainly and unmistakably go to the devil; for you acknowledge yourself, that he who does not believe will be damned. Bah, children do certainly not believe as you also say. And when they besides remain unbaptized,…
656 wordsSECTION 1156Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Jesus, yes, Herman, and should you not in every manner, yes, you, faithful Herman, be as good a Christian as any one can be? This is what I like to hear, see. _Herm._ And would you papists make no sin of it, to shed the blood of such a good, upright Christian? _Fr. Corn._ Fie, tush, tush, tush, bah, is it…
691 wordsSECTION 1157Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Herm._ For this reason you papists are justly (according to your saying) called Anabaptists by the Calvinists, because you have rebaptized in your churches their children, that had been baptized once out here in their preaching. _Fr. Corn._ O you awkward, block-headed Anabaptist, those children were not rightly bapti…
655 wordsSECTION 1158Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Herm._ Ah, does it mean this? pardon me, that through my awkwardness and dullness I do not understand such very high and fine Latin. _Fr. Corn._ Ah, bah, did I say it is Latin, see here. _Herm._ What language is it then? I certainly would like to know. _Fr. Corn._ Bah, that I do not know myself; but we Catholics un…
664 wordsSECTION 1159Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Herm._ Such power as you or all priests have to forgive sin, all men have; for Christ says, Mark 11:25: “Forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Again, Luke 6:37: “Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” _Fr. Corn._ O you accursed Anabaptist, have …
796 wordsSECTION 1160Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Herm._ In regard to this, I must ask you, whether you yourself believe, that Christ in his last supper meant no other body or flesh, and no other blood, than that which was to be broken and shed on the cross for the remission of sins. _Fr. Corn._ Ah, bah, and should I not believe this? this is quite Catholic, that it…
741 wordsSECTION 1161Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr._ Corn. Tush, tush, tush! it seems that you also could preach a little sermon in the Gruthuysbosch. Bah, this people know nothing else to do but to preach; but you would have to preach a long time to me, before I would believe that a man will eat and drink judgment to himself on a bit of common bread, and a little …
657 wordsSECTION 1162Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Indeed? you accursed Trinitarian; if you would read the symbol[309] of Athanasius, you would read of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Ghost, which three persons are therein called one true God, of whom the Father is the first person in the Godhead; the Son is the second person in the …
719 wordsSECTION 1163Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Tush, tush, you have preached enough; for all this you have drawn from the venomous breasts of Erasmus. But answer me, why Christ says: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” see. _Herm._ Christ also says, John 6:46: “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of the Father, he hath seen…
698 wordsSECTION 1164Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Bah, you Trinitarian; now it occurs to me that St. John says in the same chapter: There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. Bah, here you are soundly cornered, poor Trinitarian that you are. _Herm._ I have often heard it said, that Erasmu…
778 wordsSECTION 1165Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Bah, but tell me without many words, why Christ did not say to St. Thomas: Stay: I am not your God? let us hear. _Herm._ In regard to this my previous answer, John 10; David in Ps. 82 will serve; but answer me, why Christ did not reply to these words of Thomas: “Upon this rock I will build my church,” as h…
661 wordsSECTION 1166Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ O you damned, devilish Anabaptist, you hellish Trinitarian, Sacramentarian and deadly enemy of the blessed mother of God, we will call her the mother of God in spite of your teeth, and she is too the mother of God. Yea, she is the mother of God, that she is? _Herm._ You said yourself that there are three p…
706 wordsSECTION 1167Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ Bah, you stupid Anabaptist, did Christ then come from heaven into Mary with flesh and blood, with skin and hair, entrails and all, as he ascended up to heaven? Bah, what do you say of this, you great, stupid, awkward ass? _Herm._ I do not say this; but I say that the Word came from heaven, and became flesh…
704 wordsSECTION 1168Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Fr. Corn._ O you accursed Anabaptist, the holy Scriptures calls some apostles, as St. James, St. Simon, St. Judas, the Lord’s brethren, who were merely his cousins, you stupid Anabaptists that you are. _Herm._ Yet, in the first chapter of Acts it is written (after the eleven apostles are enumerated): “These all conti…
733 wordsSECTION 1169Dirk Andriess, A. D. 1569.
_Clerk of the criminal court._ Ah, father Cornelis, do be modest and keep your temper. _Recorder._ Yes, converse together with kind, calm words; for it seems that you will continue to quarrel and bicker here like harlots. _Fr. Corn._ Bah, my lords, and may I not accuse him of what is true? I suppose so. Did you not h…
649 wordsSECTION 1170The First Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written To His Wife.
The eternal, imperishable wisdom of God our heavenly Father, the great love of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, for the comforting of your mind, these I wish you my very dear and beloved wife, as a cordial greeting from God, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen. My affectionat…
703 wordsSECTION 1171The First Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written To His Wife.
Furthermore, I pray you, my dear and much beloved wife, that you do the best with my children, to bring them up in the fear of God, with good instruction and chastening, while they are still young; for with the rod their back is bowed, and they are brought into obedience to their parents. Hence it is written: He that l…
666 wordsSECTION 1172The First Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written To His Wife.
Then they shall leap as the calves of the stall; then they shall triumph upon Mount Sion, have palms in their hands, and receive the crown of honor, which God has prepared for all them that love him and his appearing. Mal. 4:2; 2 Esd. 2:42; Wis. 5:16. Thus, my dear wife, comfort yourself with these words, and be patie…
442 wordsSECTION 1173The Second Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To The Church.
Affectionately beloved brethren, much grace and mercy be unto you from God our heavenly Father, through Christ Jesus his only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, through whom the Holy Ghost is given us, that we should be led by him, and guided into all truth, in order thus to be a light in this world, so that we might w…
895 wordsSECTION 1174The Second Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To The Church.
Thus also, my dear brethren, Satan goes to work with many a Christian; he does not at first tempt them to idolatry, for they would rather suffer themselves to be burnt, when they are pure in their conscience, than resort to idolatry. But he shoots such arrows at them, that they become earthly-minded, seek their own mor…
743 wordsSECTION 1175The Second Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To The Church.
My dear brethren and sisters, may the Lord through faith give you such a heart and vision, that you may with Moses and all the saints of God know what God has prepared for them that love him; for the righteous shall live forever, for the Lord is their reward, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall …
493 wordsSECTION 1176The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
May the same God that blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, also bless you my children, with all manner of spiritual blessings in heavenly places, that you may from your youth learn to know the Lord, and fear and obey him all the days of your life. This is the most special request that I make to God, that you may be eterna…
950 wordsSECTION 1177The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
My children, do not in any wise let pride rule over you in your words or thoughts, as Tobit admonishes his son (Tob. 4:13); for the Lord rejects such as are proud in their hearts, but he has exalted the humble. Hence David says: “I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast humbled me; for before I was humbled I went astray.” …
716 wordsSECTION 1178The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
Thus, my dear children, I pray and admonish you, love, and bear with, one another, and let one be subject to the other; the younger shall obey the older, that there may be no contention or discord among you. And you, Katelijntgen and Kopken, are the oldest; when you are grown up, take care of the other children, and he…
1,103 wordsSECTION 1179The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
Herewith I will commend you, my dear children, and your mother, to the Lord, for whose sake I hope to leave you; who is able to care for you, and to keep you from all evil. The Lord grant you his grace, that you may grow up in the knowledge of God through the Holy Ghost, so that, according to the right judgment of God,…
824 wordsSECTION 1180The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
4. I further believe and confess, that there is a Holy Ghost, which proceeds from the Father, and is poured out, through Christ Jesus, upon the believing and regenerated children, as is written in Tit. 3 and Eph. 1, as an earnest of the Spirit, and as an assurance of the mind; by which Spirit they cry, Abba, Father. Ro…
882 wordsSECTION 1181The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
6. I further believe and confess a Christian baptism, according to the import of the word of God, as Christ commanded his apostles, saying: Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Matt…
722 wordsSECTION 1182The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
Thus the true Christian baptism must be received according to the command of Christ, and the practice of the Apostles, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, for the burying of sin, to walk with Christ in newness of life, and that we henceforth should serve sin no more. 7. I further confess …
955 wordsSECTION 1183The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
Thus the bread is not his body, though Christ so calls it; but it is a memorial of his body, which he has given for us. For Christ said to his disciples: He that receiveth you receiveth me. Matt. 10:40. And he also says: Whosoever shall receive such a child in my name receiveth me. Luke 9:48. These words must not be so…
1,159 wordsSECTION 1184The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
In the second place it is written, Matt. 18, where he [Christ] gives them the keys. If thy brother shall trespass against thee (here he does not speak of offensive members, whom he would have cut off, as is written in the same chapter; for he says:) go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear…
816 wordsSECTION 1185The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
Behold, how glorious they shall be that are accounted worthy for the resurrection of the just; for this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality. Now it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in p…
998 wordsSECTION 1186The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
The apostle further writes: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us.” 2 Thess. 3:6. And he further writes: “If any man obey not our word, signify that man by an epis…
1,090 wordsSECTION 1187The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
From this we can well perceive, that avoidance is as well founded in the Scriptures as excommunication; hence those who now reject avoidance, reject the Scriptures, since it is founded in the Scriptures. Therefore, they that will not avoid, sin, not against men, but against the Lord; hence the church may not tolerate s…
784 wordsSECTION 1188The Third Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, To His Children.
Thus, my dear brother, take heed to your sheep, and tend to your flock with a ready mind, and, when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 5:4; Jas. 1:12. Thus, my dear brother, be watchful, and do the work of a true preacher; make full proof of thy ministry (2 T…
455 wordsSECTION 1189Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
I, Jacob, imprisoned for the Lord’s sake, wish my dear brother much grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he would strengthen and enlighten you by his Spirit, according to his pleasure, to the revelation of his knowledge, that you may do his will, so that you, according to the…
760 wordsSECTION 1190Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
And John further writes: And 1 John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself sh…
862 wordsSECTION 1191Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
Therefore, dear brother, exercise yourself in the Scriptures, and give up a part of your temporal business, that through habit your mind may be practiced in discerning good and evil; for temporal business is a great hindrance to spiritual gifts, for thereby the thoughts are filled with anxiety, and become widely scatte…
756 wordsSECTION 1192Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
And now, dear brother, though we think, I do not seek to lay up treasures, I do not want to keep the gain for myself alone, consider also, that we are not for ourselves, for we are servants of a great king. Now, if you were a king, and had servants, and appointed one to be your chamberlain, and another to be your halbe…
1,168 wordsSECTION 1193Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
Hence, my dear brethren, let every one of you take heed to himself; for we certainly believe that the choosing of the church is from God. Let us therefore consider; if the Lord has chosen us to serve him in this way, we must give ourselves to the Lord, whenever we have good reasons for it, in this that we can satisfy t…
1,014 wordsSECTION 1194Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
Therefore, dear brethren, accept them gladly, and bring them up with the rational, sincere milk (1 Pet. 2:2), like a good nurse, who so loves her child which she nurses, though she has not given birth to it, that she cannot give it up without tears, when the father comes and takes it home, notwithstanding it is a stran…
1,312 wordsSECTION 1195Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
Thus, my dear brethren, do the best with the poor sheep, stand by them faithfully, and do not forsake them in this great need, but exhort and comfort them with these words: how our fathers were tried in many ways, and became the friends of God, since they had to overcome through much affliction. Judith 8:25; Deut. 8. L…
956 wordsSECTION 1196Another Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written In Prison.
See, dear sisters, take courage, and go forth with the widow Judith against the proud Holofernes, who had been sent forth by King Nabuchodonosor, to bring every country under his power. And he pretended that he was God; yet his servant, Holofernes, was slain by Judith. Judith 2:5; 13:8. Thus also has now the son of per…
546 wordsSECTION 1197Adriaen Ol, A. D. 1569.
About the year 1569 there was imprisoned at Armentiers, in Flanders for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, a brother by the name of Adriaen, Ol, who, as he could by no temptation or threat, inflicted upon him by the papists, be caused to apostatize, but remained faithful to his God, was condemned by those bloo…
858 wordsSECTION 1198A Letter By Abraham Picolet, Written To His Sisters.
These two valiant heroes and champions, though they had not yet received water baptism upon confession of their faith, showed that they had nevertheless been baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost and with fire. They wrote many letters full of comfort and earnest exhortations, especially Henderick, who, having formerl…
719 wordsSECTION 1199A Letter By Abraham Picolet, Written To His Sisters.
O my dear lambs and sisters, depart therefore from evil, for God shall hold judgment without mercy upon all unbelieving and disobedient men who have not obeyed the word of the Lord, but rejected and contemned it, yea, have persecuted and killed them that would fear the Lord. For, my beloved, God spared not the angels t…
748 wordsSECTION 1200A Letter By Abraham Picolet, Written To His Sisters.
Thus, my sisters, pray the Lord, who says: Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; seek, and ye shall find; seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all that you need shall be added unto you. Matt. 7:7; 6:33. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near…
805 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.