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
A Letter By Abraham Picolet, Written To His Sisters.
Therefore, my dear sisters, take heed that it come not also thus upon us; for men are punished for sin, as the prophet says: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God.” Is. 59:2. Behold, thus men are condemned for their wickedness and unbelief. Mark 16:16. O my dear sisters, it is true there does some s…
668 wordsSECTION 1202A Letter By Abraham Picolet, Written To His Sisters.
O dear sisters, adorn yourselves, and put on the armor. Eph. 6:11. Gird to your side the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; be well shod, and have on the armor of righteousness; and put on your head the helmet of salvation, that you may be able to resist the subtle assaults of the devil, since he walketh ab…
716 wordsSECTION 1203A Letter By Abraham Picolet, Written To His Sisters.
Here I should have liked to quote some more scriptures, but they interrupted me too much. I said that their hope was vain, or something similar, and this because of their sins, as the prophet says: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God.” Then they became angry, especially the jailer, and I thought th…
562 wordsSECTION 1204Tijs Jeuriaenss And Jan Claess, A. D. 1569.
In this dark bloody reign of antichrist two other pious brethren fell into the hands of the tyrants, one of whom was a minister of the word, named Tijs Jeuriaenss, residing in North Holland, at Karop in Waterland. The name of the other was Jan Claess, born near Wesop, and residing in the same town; he was still a singl…
1,410 wordsSECTION 1205Tijs Jeuriaenss And Jan Claess, A. D. 1569.
Behold, this is the spiritual dove, as Esdras says: Of all the fowls thou hast chosen thee one dove. 2 Esd. 5:26. And Christ Jesus says to his disciples: Be harmless as doves. Matt. 10:16. These doves bear the pleasant olive branch, which is Christ, to all those that with Noah desire and apprehend it by faith. I desire…
743 wordsSECTION 1206Tijs Jeuriaenss And Jan Claess, A. D. 1569.
We poor prisoners in the Lord, and bound of Jesus Christ, for the testimony of our God, and for the incontrovertible truth of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; also severed and banished for still holding fast to the truth and to this testimony; wish salvation, joy, gladness, love, comfort, strength, and the fellow…
828 wordsSECTION 1207Tijs Jeuriaenss And Jan Claess, A. D. 1569.
The prophet Ezekiel also says: Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, that I should save his life. Ezekiel 13:22; Jer. 23:14. See, my worthy, chosen brethren and sisters, here you …
798 wordsSECTION 1208Tijs Jeuriaenss And Jan Claess, A. D. 1569.
Lastly, I beseech your love yet, by the crying of Jesus Christ, by the weeping of the apostle Paul (Philip. 3:18), and by the many tears of the prophet Jeremiah, diligently to attend to and consider, and, with a living and working faith to hold fast to and not depart from the solid ground, and immovable foundation in S…
382 wordsSECTION 1209Tijs Jeuriaenss.
I beseech all my brethren and sisters, and you, as a prisoner in the Lord, by the mercies of God, and by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word, nor by letter as from us. 2 Thessalonians 2:1,2. This is…
653 wordsSECTION 1210Tijs Jeuriaenss.
Hence our unworthy letter is not especially written to your love, nor to teach or admonish your love. O no, you have the anointing of him that is holy, and hence you are already taught and enlightened in God, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Ghost. 1 John 2:27; John 6:45. Besides, you have and know the holy Scriptures…
672 wordsSECTION 1211Tijs Jeuriaenss.
Yes, my chosen friends, and sanctified of God, what a great benefit, love and mercy of God our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is this, namely, that we who were not a people, are now the people of God; we who had no hope in the covenants of promise are now by faith in Jesus Christ ingrafted and partakers and fellow-heirs …
658 wordsSECTION 1212Tijs Jeuriaenss.
For since Adam was unclean in his nature, and with his seed and generation lay in sin and death, because of transgression, and the law of God required a pure, undefiled, holy, and blameless sacrifice for sin and transgression, that is, satisfaction for transgression and propitiation for sin, in order to help and save m…
785 wordsSECTION 1213Tijs Jeuriaenss.
Ah, these bitter waters cannot be made sweet by the pleasant tree (Ex. 15:25); for he that drinks thereof must die, as John says in his Revelation: “There fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; and the name of the star i…
856 wordsSECTION 1214Tijs Jeuriaenss.
Herein rejoice now with us, O you holy brethren and sisters in the Holy Spirit of truth, in the invincible, strong knowledge of God, and of the faith which leads to the hope of everlasting life; my most beloved, in the mind of Jesus Christ and nature of God. Yea, my immovable holy brethren and sisters, as I hope foreve…
847 wordsSECTION 1215Tijs Jeuriaenss.
This we unworthy ones have written you in haste in our bonds, if haply it should please God, that we might be worthy of being remembered by you in your holy prayers, harping and hallelujahs, and that we with you, and you with us, might forever rejoice. Greet therefore, in our name, all the saints of God, and you among …
1,022 wordsSECTION 1216N. N.
_Of the twofold torturings of the aforesaid martyr according to the record of said secretary._ This delinquent was tortured twice, according to the sentence of the judges, namely, the 26th of February, and the last of the same month, A. D. 1569, as appears from the records of the confession. Thus extracted from the b…
653 wordsSECTION 1217N. N.
Thus extracted from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, preserved in the archives of said city. CORNELIS JANSS OF HAERLEM, A SAILOR, BURNT FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT AMSTERDAM, ON THE 12TH OF MARCH, A. D. 1569. At the same time, and in the same court, there also received his sentence o…
686 wordsSECTION 1218N. N.
He, though possessing a living, effectual and holy faith, yet through want of opportunity or some other reason had also, like the preceding martyr, Cornelis Janss, not yet received baptism upon his faith, which grieved him not a little when he was in bonds; but he did not on this account cast away his hope in the grace…
583 wordsSECTION 1219N. N.
* * * * * Here follow several letters from the aforementioned martyrs, the first from Jan Quirijnss, and the other from Clement Hendrickss. A LETTER OF JAN QUIRIJNSS, IMPRISONED WITH CORNELIS JANSS AND CLEMENT HENDRICKSS, AT AMSTERDAM, WHERE ALL THREE WERE BURNED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST. The eternal, almig…
978 wordsSECTION 1220N. N.
O that we might take an example from Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. O how little did he esteem his salvation; but afterwards, when he sought it with tears, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance. Gen. 25:33; 27:38; Heb. 12:17. But, dear sister, let us diligently take heed, that we ho…
994 wordsSECTION 1221N. N.
Therefore, dear sister, look to the pious, and not to the weak; look unto Jesus Christ the author and finisher of the faith, as Paul says, and suffer not yourself to be led astray by certain vain talkers who undertake to turn you aside. Heb. 12:2; Tit. 1:10. Christ says that in the latter days many false prophets shall…
712 wordsSECTION 1222N. N.
* * * * * Greet all my friends in my name, especially M. S’s daughter, G. R. W., and further all that know me. Several that were with me when I wrote this greet you; also Cornelis Janss greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for …
677 wordsSECTION 1223N. N.
O my very dear and beloved, what a beautiful consolation it is to us, that Christ says: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 5:10. Christ also says: Whosoever doth not take up his cross, and follow me, is not worthy of me; and he that loseth his life …
911 wordsSECTION 1224N. N.
Hence, my dear and much beloved, even as it is also written; Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are temporal, but at the thing…
931 wordsSECTION 1225N. N.
Hence, my dear and much beloved father and mother, be not dismayed on account of this, I humbly pray you for the name of the Lord, for of such things a Christian ought not to be ashamed. For there was Joseph, who was tempted by the Egyptian woman; and she had caught him by his coat or mantle, and wished to commit whore…
1,453 wordsSECTION 1226N. N.
Further, my dear father and mother, I will bid you adieu, if it be the Lord’s pleasure, till the appearing of our Lord. The peace of the Lord be with you forever. Amen. By me, CLEMENT HENDRICKSS, Unworthy prisoner in the Lord. _Fifth letter of Clement Hendrickss._ I wish you, my dear and beloved in the Spirit and ac…
683 wordsSECTION 1227N. N.
Hence, my dear and much beloved, remember Joseph, who was tempted by the Egyptian woman to commit whoredom with her; and she had taken hold of his coat or mantle, and would not let him go; but he fled from her, and left the coat or mantle, in her hand, rather than commit this great sin with her. Therefore, my dear and …
374 wordsSECTION 1228Veit Greyenburger, A. D. 1570.
In the year 1570, Veit Greyenburger, a brother, was apprehended at Wald in Vintschgau as he was traveling through there. He had been spied out, and a prize set upon his capture. When he arrived at the inn, and the peasants noticed him, but did not well know him, they came into the inn by night, and when they saw him pr…
805 wordsSECTION 1229Veit Greyenburger, A. D. 1570.
Having been imprisoned upward of six years at Saltzburg, suffering much misery and tribulation, brother Veit, in the year 1576, through the help of God, escaped through a window of his prison. The people in the castle said that it was beyond the power of man to get out; but with God all things are possible. Matt. 19:26…
1,074 wordsSECTION 1230Veit Greyenburger, A. D. 1570.
On the 9th of January, in the year 1570, Arent and Ursel his wife were notified in the name of the lords, that each was to be put to a stake and burned, in which message they greatly rejoiced, because they were to be counted worthy to die for the name of Christ; and were full of joy that day and night, thanking and pra…
835 wordsSECTION 1231Sentence Of Death Of Anneken, Jan Ogiers’ Daughter.
ANNEKEN OGIERS, DAUGHTER OF JAN OGIERS, AND WIFE OF ADRIAEN BOOGAERT, DROWNED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT HAARLEM, A. D. 1570. The misery of persecution continued, so that almost nowhere liberty could be found for an upright Christian soul. Herein also those of Haarlem, in Holland, incurred guilt; which appe…
670 wordsSECTION 1232Andries N., With His Father And Brother, A. D. 1570.
At Haarlem in Holland, in the year 1570, a woman, named Barber Jans, was apprehended, because she had apostatized from the Romish church, and endeavored to be a follower of Christ; who, having boldly confessed her faith, and firmly adhering to it, was sentenced to death on the 13th of February, and secretly drowned for…
286 wordsSECTION 1233Joris Van Meesch And Jacob Lowijs, About 1570.
In this same year 1570, there was also apprehended in Haarlem, for his faith and the truth, a brother named Andries N., who was tortured very cruelly for the space of three hours, but nevertheless, then as well as in other temptations and sufferings, always steadfastly adhered to his faith. Finally he was sentenced to …
534 wordsSECTION 1234Faes Dircks, And Two Others, A. D. 1570.
In the year 1570, on the 7th of April, there was apprehended for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, at Gouda, in Holland, a pious follower of Christ, named Faes Dircks, a chair-maker by trade. Afterwards, the 27th of May, he was very unmercifully and tyranically tortured by the blood-thirsty servants of antich…
667 wordsSECTION 1235Joris Jacobs.
He further says, that the one who baptized him baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that water was poured over his head out of a basin, and that there were present ten or twelve persons, one of whom was named Wiert Claess, of Gouda. When asked whether Euwout the barber, and Dirck Ja…
700 wordsSECTION 1236Joris Jacobs.
When asked whether Euwout the barber, Jan Aertss, the weaver, and Jan de Bagijn were also present when he was baptized, he says “No,” and he says further that Dirck Jacobss and the tanner came early in the morning before daylight into the house where they were baptized. He says that the one who baptized him had a stra…
265 wordsSECTION 1237Extract From The Book Of Criminal Sentences Of The Town Of Gouda.
_Faes Dircks executed with fire._ Whereas Faes Dircks, native citizen of this town of Gouda, at present a prisoner, has confessed, without torture and iron bonds, under the blue sky, before my lords of the court, that about a little over a year ago he was rebaptized at Rotterdam, by a man whom he does not know; that h…
398 wordsSECTION 1238Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
In the year 1570, there were imprisoned at Haarlem in Holland, a brother named Adriaen Pieters, and a sister named Barber Joosten, not on account of any crime or heresy, but only because they sought to follow Christ in the regeneration, for which they were envied by the servants of antichrist, who sought with many tyra…
783 wordsSECTION 1239Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
The next day we were both brought into the tower where Lauwerens was tortured. They further asked me concerning my age and faith, all of which I freely confessed to them, and was not ashamed. They asked whether I had a wife. And when I had said “Yes,” they asked whether I had children. I said “Two.” They asked what the…
817 wordsSECTION 1240Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
This church has now for a time suffered much sorrow; may the complaint ascend to the merciful Father in heaven, concerning the misery and sadness that have come upon Zion. But the God of all grace be praised for his great mercy which he has yet shown the church at Antwerp, which continues still in good peace and unity …
668 wordsSECTION 1241Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
Behold, dear friends, for what a small matter Saul was rejected; hence let us take good heed, for he is still the same God. This is also the case with part of us, that we take too great liberty in our faith, in consequence of which we are rejected, and then do not know ourselves where the fault lies. Now a spirit of co…
757 wordsSECTION 1242Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
Receive our simple letter and exhortation in good part, for it has been written out of true brotherly love; though you are yourselves abundantly taught of God, and we ought rather to be taught and exhorted of you, for we find that we have too many defects and imperfections to exhort others. But, dear friends, we also a…
990 wordsSECTION 1243Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
Therefore, my dear brethren and sisters, be not troubled, that Fra. Ha. Jo. Ta. have gone back to Egypt, which does not surprise me. But let it be an example unto you, that they were overthrown in the wilderness of this world (1 Cor. 10:5); and do you take better courage (as I trust you will), and constantly keep befor…
792 wordsSECTION 1244Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT, WRITTEN ON THE 2ND OF JULY, FROM PRISON, TO HIS WIFE. Grace, joy and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ; together with the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from both the Father, and the Son, to comfort all them that are in any tribulation and affliction; may…
710 wordsSECTION 1245Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
JOOST VERKINDERT, Your dear husband. ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT, WRITTEN FROM PRISON, ON THE 12TH OF JULY, TO HIS MOTHER. Grace, joy and peace from God the heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, together with the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, who p…
989 wordsSECTION 1246Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
Therefore, my affectionately beloved sister in the Lord, my heart felt prompted once more to exhort you a little with the word of the Lord, though you are yourself abundantly taught of him; for Paul says: “Exhort one another [daily,] while it is called to-day” (Heb. 3:13), for the Lord cometh as a thief in the night, a…
752 wordsSECTION 1247Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
He replied: “Yes, that is as regards the faith; and as touching the ordinances, these the holy teachers instituted through counsels and decrees, on account of certain causes that arose, even as it also happened during the times of the apostles: that all the elders came together, because contention arose in the church.”…
664 wordsSECTION 1248Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
Grace, joy and peace from God the heavenly Father, and our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; together with the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from both the Father and the Son, to comfort all them that are in tribulation and sorrow for his holy names’ sake. To h…
760 wordsSECTION 1249Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
Thus we must also rapidly bring our days of sorrow to an end; for we are sometimes as one that is in the throes of travail, and there are so many grievous woes come upon us, that we would almost seem to perish. Is. 26:17. Hence pray the Lord for us poor, weak prisoners; we do the same also for you and all the godfearin…
1,410 wordsSECTION 1250Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
[320] Probably Austria, or the country bordering on the Baltic.--_Tr._ We then also spoke of infant baptism, which he would prove to be a command of Christ, namely, because Christ says: “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5. In this passage he would also i…
1,024 wordsSECTION 1251Lijntgen Kemels, A. D. 1570.
[321] Any one. Dutch version. We further had some words concerning the incarnation of Christ, who he said had assumed flesh and blood from Mary. I told him, that he should prove it to me. He quoted Rom. 1:3, that he was David’s son according to the flesh. I said: “I confess this too.” He then quoted Paul to the Hebrew…
913 wordsSECTION 1252Joost Verkindert.
Written in my bonds, by me, Unworthy prisoner in the Lord. * * * * * Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8. ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT WRITTEN IN BONDS TO HIS WIFE ON THE 20TH OF AUGUST. The unspeakable grace of God the Father, the love of his beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, t…
757 wordsSECTION 1253Joost Verkindert.
O my beloved, if we were there, the journey would have been safely accomplished. Nevertheless, I have a living hope; for God does not desire our death. Hence, let us always be bold, and comfort ourselves with the words of Christ, where he says: “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whoso…
262 wordsSECTION 1254Joost Verkindert.
Your dear husband, and unworthy prisoner in the Lord. Written in my bonds, on the 20th of August. ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT, WRITTEN IN HIS BONDS, TO HIS WIFE, ON THE 2ND OF SEPTEMBER. The grace and peace of God the heavenly Father, the love of his beloved Son, together with the comfort joy, and gladness of …
778 wordsSECTION 1255Joost Verkindert.
Hence, my beloved, help me heartily to entreat the Lord, that he will preserve me through his great goodness and long-suffering as the apple of his eye, that I may not be seduced through philosophy or carnal liberty, nor depart from my God, of which I have a great terror; but that he will comfort and strengthen me in m…
814 wordsSECTION 1256Joost Verkindert.
O dear brothers, be afraid of that day which shall burn as an oven, and when all the proud despisers, and all the wicked shall be as stubble; but they that have kept the laws of their God shall then grow up as calves of the stall, and they shall go in and out, and tread down the wicked like ashes under their feet. Mal.…
1,291 wordsSECTION 1257Joost Verkindert.
O my dear brothers, consider well these Scriptures, and meditate on them, for Christ Jesus has brought them down here from high heaven, and lived and taught them, and sealed them with his blood, and became poor for our sakes, that through his poverty he might make us rich. O consider once, how despised Christ was for o…
545 wordsSECTION 1258Joost Verkindert.
THE LAST LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE AFTER HE HAD RECEIVED HIS SENTENCE, AND WAS BROUGHT TO THE COMMON PRISON, IT BEING ON THE 12TH OF SEPTEMBER. God, who is the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfor…
362 wordsSECTION 1259Joost Verkindert.
Your dear husband, written in my bonds. A LETTER FROM LAUWERENS ANDRIESS, THE FELLOW-PRISONER OF JOOST VERKINDERT; SENT THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, TO R., THE WIFE OF SAID JOOST. The eternal, abundant and rich grace and mercy of God the heavenly Father, and the pure love, joy and peace of the Son, together with the comfort…
790 wordsSECTION 1260Joost Verkindert.
[324] _We_, in the original. Farewell, and accept this in good part. HANS VAN DEN WEGE, JANNEKEN VAN HULLE, AND JANNEKEN VAN RENTEGEM, A. D. 1570. Jan van den Wege, having risen early one morning, and then, about seven o’clock, gone with his cousin to market, was apprehended at the fish market at Ghent in Flanders, …
315 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.