A CONFESSION OF FAITH, TO THE BAILIFF AND THE COUNCIL THEN RESIDING IN DORTRECHT, BY JAN WOUTERSS; TOGETHER WITH A BRIEF EXPLANATION EXHORTING THEM TO REPENTANCE.
To my honorable lord the Bailiff, and my honorable lords the burgomasters, aldermen and the council of the city of Dortrecht. I, Jan Wouterss, your prisoner, not for any crime, but for the sake of my faith, which is nevertheless right before my God, wish you, you ministers of God, that he would grant you all a prosperous, peaceful, healthy, long life, and understanding rightly to use your office, in punishing the evil (that is, evil-doers), and protecting the good. Rom. 13:3.
Further, the reason of my writing is, that I briefly confessed my faith, but did not add the explanation. Hence I put this in writing, in order not to summon my honorable lords again, and cause them trouble. I confess that I was a zealous papist in my youth, which I heartily regret, for then no good fruits proceeded from me. Afterwards God opened my blind eyes, to serve no longer dumb idols, but the living God alone, who created me. And he revealed to and gave me, poor, sinful man, the faith of the truth, by which we are saved. This faith is, as the Scripture says: This faith and the inward baptism constrained me to the obedience of his word, to fulfill his righteousness. Hence I confess, that I was baptized upon my faith, and this with desire, according to the command of Christ, renouncing the devil, the world, the pope, and his adherents.
I confess Christ Jesus alone as the way of the truth, and the life. And there is none other name given to men, whereby we can be saved, except through Christ alone. I further confess that it is certain that the customs of the priests and of all the “shaved” are the broad way to damnation. They are human institutions, an abomination to God, and plants which our heavenly Father has not planted; hence they are also cursed, for there can no other foundation be laid, than that is laid, which is Christ alone. Those of the pope’s adherents who undertake to be leader’s are blind leaders, and if the blind lead the blind, says Christ, both shall fall into the ditch. Every one that will not believe it, or cannot, because of his sins, the same must know it after death by pain (2 Esd. 9:12); hence repent truly now. Further, my honorable lord Bailiff thinks that I am in error, or that my faith is of no account. To this I reply: If this were true, then my fruits would be evil, which always prove more than mere confession; but now I have by the help of God walked therein for so many years, from my youth, even until now, according to my weakness, avoided all bad company, diligently and quietly earned my living, and eaten my own bread, from which I am now taken away, as though I were a murderer. O Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do; I forgive them, O my dear lords, repent, for he who touches us touches the apple of the eye of my God.
I also confess that I have attended the assembly of the believers, so often that I cannot count it. For the supreme King has given us a promise therein, saying: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:20. The apostle commands us in his name, not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but to exhort one another, and to provoke unto love and to good works. Heb. 10:25,24. I confess that I have never been in an assembly to harm any one (think on this). I confess that I have not for many years been to the priests’ confession and their sacrament, and this because I do not think anything of it; moreover, I confess, that I am a sinful man, and need every day to confess my sins before my God, and daily to die unto sin, more and more, which I regard as the best confession. But the sacrament I recognize as a little baked cake, and wine, till it is consumed by the aforementioned or by [other] men, and nothing else, but not as the flesh and blood of Christ; he comes no more into the hands of sinners. He dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48), but in heaven, whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead, that is, believers and unbelievers. But I confess that I am well satisfied with Christ’s breaking of bread, the practice of the apostles among the believers, in remembrance of the body and blood of Christ, and this not with drunkards, proud, strikers, adulterers, murderers, idolaters, harlots, rogues, etc.