Hence, our dear brethren, be not terrified, if they inflict more than one death upon us, since much can be done in a quarter of an hour, yet it is as nothing to the pain of hell, and not worthy to be compared to the future joy. For after we have suffered this distress, and passed through this strait, we expect joy and amplitude; then shall all our tears be wiped away, and we shall weep and cry no more, but pass from one joy to another. O, my brethren, strive to enter into his joy. Lead henceforth a Christian life and see that the Gospel be not evil spoken of on your account. Rom. 14:16. Be always meek, and have an unspotted conscience, and whatsoever you take in hand, remember the end, that you will not do amiss. Matt. 11:29; Sir. 7:36. And forget not the ardency of the spiritual reformation in the beginning of the Christian life, lest when you think you are a perfect Christian, reformation of life be still necessary. We commend you to God, and to the word of his grace. We, Jan, Pleun, and Peter, greet you in the Lord. Pray the Lord for us, that we may finish our course to his praise. We also pray for you.
CONFESSION OR DEFENSE OF FAITH, OF JAN, THE OLD CLOTHES BUYER, WHEN HE LAY IN PRISON AT ANTWERP, A. D. 1551.
_Question._ “What do you think of infant baptism?”
_Answer._ “I do not think it to be anything but a human institution.”
_Ques._ “By what then will you prove or maintain your baptism?”
_Ans._ “Mark 16.”
_Ques._ “What are your views concerning the sacraments?”
_Ans._ “I have nothing to say of the sacraments of men, but the Supper, as Christ held it with his apostles, I approve and esteem; for I think there are many who do not know what sacrament means.”
_Ques._ “What do you think of the Roman church?”
_Ans._ “Nothing, but I esteem the Christian church, which is the church of Christ.”
_Ques._ “What do you hold concerning the host which the priest holds in his hand? Do you not believe that our Lord is in it with flesh and blood?”
_Ans._ “No; for it is written, Acts 1, that he shall come again in like manner as he ascended into heaven.”
_Ques._ “What do you think of the Pope?”
_Ans._ “That he is the antichrist.” 1 Thess. 2:3.
_Ques._ “What do you think of the mass, ceremonies, and confession observed in the church?”
_Ans._ “Nothing, since the tree from which they spring, is good for nothing.”
_Ques._ “Where were you baptized?”
_Ans._ “My lords, if you know it, why do you yet ask me?”
The bailiff then said: “I adjure you by your baptism, that you tell us where you were baptized.” Matt. 26:63.
_Ans._ “My baptism I hold to be good and right; but your adjuration I do not regard.”
They then read to me the names and surnames of all that had been baptized with me and said: “Assuerus has confessed it to us.” I then said: “It is true.”
_Ques._ “Who baptized you?”
_Ans._ “It does not behoove me to tell.”
_Ques._ “We shall make you tell.”
_Ans._ “My flesh is before you; do with it as you please.”
WILLEM THE CABINET-MAKER, BEHEADED IN CLEVES; WINDEL RAUENS ALSO PUT TO DEATH THERE, A. D. 1551.
(_Copied from an old Writing_[255])
[255] This copy was sent to us by some one from the country of Cleves, as a very old relic.
Willem, the cabinet-maker, resided in Weesz, a village belonging to the country of Cleves; he was a very peaceable and pious man, who on account of the Christian faith had to leave his native country, and when he would not conform to the world, he was brought prisoner from Weesz to Cleves, and having there been imprisoned for about a year, finally beheaded. He wrote several letters from prison.