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, examined, tortured and finally sentenced to death, for living according to the word of God, and the testimony of the truth, twelve pious Christians, namely, 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, and Hans his servant. One of them, however, died in prison, from the effects of the torture. Seven were burned alive before Easter, their mouths having been screwed together with screws; and the last mentioned four, in like manner, on the 20th of May of said year.
Here follows a brief yet thorough and Christian confession of faith, of the one Being, God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and of the eternal Godhead of Christ the Son of God; also of the incarnation, visibleness, suffering and death of the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; which, by this here mentioned hero and witness of Jesus, Herman Timmerman, was written as an answer and refutation to a letter that had been sent him; and to which he so effectually testified and confirmed with, his blood and death. We have added the same here, for the benefit of the reader. We ask you to read it with Christian regard and attention; we hope that you will be instructed and bettered by it. It reads as follows:
In the first place, my friend, you desire us to write to you, whether we confess that the Father and the man Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are one Being. Our answer is, that we confess, that there is one Father, and one Son, and one Holy Ghost, and that with these words, namely, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the only and Almighty God was expressed by Christ himself, Matt. 28:19. This then is our belief, namely, that we confess, that when the Father was, there was also the Son; for the Father never was without the Son. For as the Scriptures testify of the Father, that he is eternal, and that all things are through him; so they also testify of the Son, that his goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity; and all things were created by him. Mic. 5:1; Col. 1:16; Jn. 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2. Likewise, also through the Holy Spirit; for all things were made by him, who has one will and work with the Father and the Son, as may well be understood from these words where the Scriptures testify that the Holy Ghost says: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 2 Esd. 16:62; Psalm 33:6; Acts 13:2. See, my friends, here the Holy Ghost says that he calls them to this work; now Paul says, that Jesus Christ has called and sent him. Acts 26:16. And in the epistle to the Galatians we read, that God called him, and separated him from his mother’s womb, to reveal his Son by him. Galatians 1:15,16. From these words the unity can clearly be understood. And there are still other passages which testify concerning the Holy Ghost, that he appoints the ministers or bishops in the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood, and that he also dispenses the gifts. Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 12:11.
From these words it is easy to understand the unity and operation of the Holy Ghost, which he has with the Father and the Son, so that he cannot be excluded from the unity. Nor can the Son: for he says: I and the Father are one, John 10:30; which unity and Son of God he is according to the person as well as according to the Spirit; for he is frequently, according to his humanity called the Son of God, as you may read where the centurion said: “Truly this is the Son of God.” Matt. 27:54. And Paul says, that we are reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Rom. 5:10. Again, that God did not spare his Son, 8:32. And John says, that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7; 4:10. And Luke says: That which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35. And to the Galatians: that God sent forth his Son, who was born of a woman. Gal. 4:4. Now he who is the Son of God, and whom he has given for our propitiation (1 Jn. 4:10), was certainly born of Mary in the form of a human person. And Isaiah says: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father (Is. 9:6), and other things, which God says of himself, and which John the Baptist and Christ declare concerning himself. Read Isaiah where it is written: “Behold, your God. For, behold, the Lord Sabaoth cometh; he shall feed his flock like a shepherd.” Is. 40:9.