Thieleman J. van Braght · 117 of 210

Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 55

But you, my faithful lamb, be courageous, this I heartily entreat you, and look not to the aforementioned, nor to those who now so unfaithfully depart from the Lord, whether through cross, or persecution, or false doctrine. Oh, if they previously had daily examined themselves, and had had a taste for heavenly things, they would not have suffered themselves to be deceived so easily, or have dreaded the cross so much; but they would heartily desire to confess the name of their God among this wicked and perverse generation, and entreat their Lord from their hearts, that they might be strangers in the land, to the praise of their God, and the edification of their neighbor.

Further, my dear, faithful, beloved, and chosen wife, whose soul I love as dearly as my own, it is yet my Christian and fatherly .request, that you will take care all the days of your life, that you may come to the place where I shall soon be, so that we may not be separated in the eternal habitations. O that it might be God's holy will and pleasure, and be possible, that I might drink the cup of bitterness for you. Yea, though it were thrice, I think I would most willingly do it, from the heart, so that you might also be saved.

Oh, then I should accept my departure with a still much more joyful heart, and should certainly have no apprehension that you should ever be moved from the simplicity of our dear Lord Jesus Christ; however, I feel no apprehension, as long as you continue as I now leave you; for you fear the judgment of the ungodly. Hence I desire with Sirach, that you remember in all your undertakings what he says, namely: "My son, whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never sin" (Sir. 7:36), namely, such sins as could keep you out of God's kingdom; for as regards your daily frailties and mis steps before God, they will not condemn you or bar you out, for with reference to this the holy apostle John says: "If any man sin, we have an advocate with God the Father, who maketh intercession for us," which is Christ Jesus, the high priest, who entered in, namely, into the holy of holies, and made an eternal offering and atonement for His people and generation, and sat down on the right hand of God His Father, as an advocate and intercessor for our daily stumblings and fallings, as the apostles say, I John 2:1; Rom. 8:34; Hebrews 9:12; Ps. 110:1; Col. 3:1. See, my faithful and dearly beloved lamb, to this intercessor and advocate I direct you, and not to the deceased saints, as the blind leaders of this world do.

Therefore, flee to Him, for refuge in your great distress; remember that His car is not heavy that He cannot hear you, and His hand not shortened that He cannot help you; for His eyes are upon His saints (Ps. 34:15 ), whom He has so dearly purchased with His own precious blood; and He listens to their calling, sighing and crying: for He calls those blessed already, who here weep and suffer for righteousness' sake, of whom you are one now. Matt. 5:4. Hence, O my flesh, my blood, comfort yourself with these promises, this I pray you; for those who sow here in tears,shall hereafter reap in great joy. Ps. 126:5. Oh, therefore do not think, my dear lamb, that the tears you now weep will have been wept in vain; for they have already come before the face of the Lord. Hence, be patient yet for a short time, this I entreat you; for He will not have you here long, I hope, but will also take you away from the evil to come, and bring you to sure rest in His chamber, as the prophet Isaiah (57:1, 2) says,, Because you, according to your feeble ability, desire to walk uprightly unto the end, to which may the merciful, dear Father help you, through the help and power of His Holy Spirit; faithful is He who will doubtless do it. I Thes. 5:24. Further, my dear, chosen and beloved wife and sister in the Lord, as I cannot yet draw my fatherly and solicitous heart away from you, but would so gladly from my inmost soul, present you, in and according to your weakness, perfect and blameless before God, it is my humble and kindly request, that you will sincerely love your neighbor, and always remember the poor saints of the household of God, even as you have hitherto had such a disposition. Let your love herein not grow less, but much rather increase. Always remember Christ's words, where He says: "The poor ye will always have with you." Matt. 26:11. And it is manifest that there are always poor among or in the house of God. Heb. 3:6. Bear in mind that it is a great and acceptable work before the Lord; wherefore Sirach says that the alms of a man is as a purse on the way with him; and it will spare him in the judgment. Yea, it blotteth out sin, and covereth the multitude thereof; for mercy glorieth against judgment, says James (2:13). Hence, give diligence also in this, as I am confident you will; and though there is no necessity for writing you this, yet I hope it will tend to your best interests, so that after my departure you will not grow slack. I furthermore, entreat you yet, my dearly beloved lamb, that you will always associate with the pious, that you may attain to greater piety and discretion. And desire the reasonable, sincere milk, namely, to hear the Word of God, that you may thereby grow and increase in every good work. I Peter 2:2. And live in quietness (you know what I mean); this I earnestly entreat you; and wait for the day of your redemption, which, perhaps, is not far off. Herewith I will take my leave and eternal adieu from you, my flesh, my blood, and humbly entreat you once more, for the sake of the eternal salvation of your soul, and by all the great love that you have ever had to me, that after my departure you will be mindful of my writing, and heartfelt entreating and admonishing; whether done by writing or orally; and do not let it remain with you as a dead letter or a fable, but make frequent use of it as a prescription tending to your health, and keep it in the strong box of your heart as a perpetual treasure and memorial; for it will bring you more profit than many pieces of fine gold and silver. Oh, the time is approaching rapidly, and I will therefore cease writing and everything else; hence it is my affectionate request, if you love me and the eternal salvation of your soul, fulfill my request, according to your feeble ability, and depart neither to the right nor to the left, whether through the cross of bonds or imprisonment, or any other cause; and if God, the merciful, dear Father makes you worthy to suffer for His name, be not afraid; for I should never have thought that bonds and imprisonment could cause so little conflict to one that has renounced himself, and has a heartfelt desire to be at home; hence, fear them not. Now, my affectionately beloved, chosen lamb, and dear sister in the Lord, my time is fulfilled, the days are spent, the years are finished; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith (II Tim. 4:7); so that my enemies who set themselves against me have been put to shame (Psalm 53:5); for through my God I have gained the victory, who has delivered me out of the jaws of the lions and the mouth of hell, and shall also deliver me from every evil (II Tim. 4:17, 18), and save me at His coming, and give me the true promised land, which I have seen by faith, and tasted of its fruits, wherefore I have a heartfelt longing for it. Oh, assist me to thank and praise the merciful, dear Father, that I have safely come through the wilderness of this evil, wicked and perverse world, and am now standing before Jordan, through which only I have yet to pass. Though it is somewhat terrible to behold, yet I do not fear it at all, for I am sure that my God will succor me, and make me ready, so that I shall pass through it safely and unharmed; for faithful is He that promised it to me, and He will never leave me, nor forsake me, so that I may boldly say: "The Lord is with me; I fear not what man may do unto me." Ps. 56:4; Heb. 13:5, 6. They have come for me.

JAN GERRITS, BURNT AT THE HAGUE, FOR THE

TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, THE 15TH

DAY OF DECEMBER, A. D. 1564

A testament by Jan Gerrits, made while imprisoned at the Hague for the testimony o f Jesus

Christ, in December, A. D. 1564

Grace and peace from God the heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, be with you. Amen.

My dearest and much beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, I inform you that I have received your communication, which I have read with great joy; for its object is, in the first place, to incite to steadfastness in the faith, and to a perfect end, and this through Jesus Christ, wherefore I entreat the heavenly Father with all my heart and mind, that not only I, but all the God fearing may attain to an upright end, according to the will of God, as I hope. For I have suffered stripes and great pain, and this, according to the words of John, for the brethren. I John 3:16. I desire to suffer not only this, but also, if it is the will of God, to die for His name, Word and truth, no matter what kind of a death it may be; for I should not have thought that it should last so long; but as not a hair of my head can be hurt, without the Lord's permission, I want to await the end with Him, in patience, as behooves a Christian.

Therefore, my much beloved brethren and sisters, it is my heartfelt request that you and all the God fearing will entreat the Lord for me your weak brother, that I may receive the end of my faith; for the prayer of the righteous avails much, and is effectual. I Peter 1:9. They use every artifice to rob me of the beautiful treasure which I have received from God; but I trust to the Lord, that He will preserve me.

In the second place, dear brethren, it is a great joy for me and the Lord, to learn that the vineyard of the Lord is enlarging, and that its branches are spreading wide, bringing forth upright fruits of the most high God, which I have so long desired. Hence I thank my and your God, that I hear what you have written, and rejoice that the light is rising in every nook and corner, and shines over every mountain, as I hear from many friends, who come to comfort me in my bonds. Therefore, my dear friends, be diligent, everyone according to the gift he has received from God, and put it diligently out upon usury, so that you may get much gain, and may hear these words of the Lord: "Well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter in to the marriage of the Lord." Matthew 25:21.

Thus, let everyone build up the house with lively stones, that it may become a glorious priesthood, and that they may offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:5. We may always be of good cheer in the Lord, for His power is so great with those who fear Him, that all death, devil, hell, fire and sword, must yield to Him. All this cannot hinder those who are built upon Christ; for we can do all things through Him who makes us worthy, and through His love everything is overcome, and it casts out fear (I John 4: 18), as I can indeed say; for when I was brought into the king's hall, and stood there almost an hour, before the lords came, and saw how everything was being put in readiness to torture me, I again and again thought in my mind: "O Lord, unless Thou now succor me, I am utterly lost;" and I prayed Him to give me a mouth to speak to His praise and glory, and to close it against everything tending to blaspheme His holy name and that of my neighbor.

While I thus spoke and they were getting ready to torture me, I felt neither fear nor apprehension; however, they handled me in a very severe and fierce manner, so that the president said: "Why will you not tell the truth?" Ans. "Because Christ spoke nothing but what tended to the glory of His Father, and what concerned His own divinity about all other things He was silent. And I want to do the same; wherever His honor and the doctrine of His commandments are concerned, I do not want to be silent either before emperor, or king, or duke, or count." Instantly the order was

"Handle him without gloves: a drowned calf is a small risk." Behold, my dear brethren and sisters, how unmercifully they treated me. Nevertheless, the Lord was with me, blessed be His holy name; I had no control of myself, but the Lord directed my mouth, so that they could obtain nothing according to their will. See, my dear friends, how faithful the Lord is; him that trusts in Him He does not suffer to be confounded. Sir. 2:10.

Hence I write again, always be of good cheer in the Lord, and admonish one another at all times, for Peter deems it expedient and profitable to help bear one another's burdens, and this in love; for whether one member suffer; all the members suffer with Him; or whether one member be honored, all the members rejoice with Him. II Peter 1:13; I Corinthians 12:26.

In the third place, I let you know that my wife has been here, and brought me your kind greeting, which I was very glad to hear; as also that she desires to follow that which is best, according to her feeble ability. For she confesses that the life which she has hitherto led is evil, as we may indeed all confess that ours also was unprofitable in times past. Tit. 3:3. Hence I entreat you, my dear brethren, that you would exercise a watchful care over her, and admonish her to a better life, and this in love; and if you should be able to accomplish anything, and write it to me, it would greatly rejoice me. If you write to me before I offer up my sacrifice to God, send your communication to my aged mother, or to N., and I shall get it. Moreover, I gave her some spices, namely, a nutmeg, three or four hands full of ginger, and some cloves, that she should give them to J'. C., or to some one else, that they should be cut up in pieces and properly distributed around, as a perpetual greeting, and this in the Lord. Here upon earth, an eternal adieu in Christ, peace and farewell, in case this be the last opportunity, before we all meet in the presence of Christ, and there see one another in His glory. Amen.

My much beloved brethren, I have lived with you, and rejoice that you are so courageous in building the city and the temple of Jerusalem, which have lain waste and in ruins so many years. Hence do not lose courage, brethren, though you be mocked and reviled as was Israel. When they rebuilt the wall (mark), they waxed stronger as they worked. Though the enemies raged, that the work might nrot progress, yet they did not cease from it, but kept watch the more diligently, holding in one hand the spear or the sword, and in the other the trowel, and were of good cheer, for God was with them and fought for them. Neh. 4. Behold, my dear friends, let us take an example, how valiant these heroes were; they were not daunted by their enemies. Thus let us also do, however much they cry or write, yea, revile and say: "Behold, these people come, and want to lay a new foundation to the city, and do not know an a from a b. Whence have they this? Where did they learn it? We have studied at universities, and spent our money for this purpose. Now, should these asses come and teach us? One is nothing but a cobbler; another, a weaver or furrier, and these want to quote Scripture. Let them remain at their trades; that [quoting Scripture] is our province; nor will we tolerate it; it must be opposed with fire, water, and the sword." Nevertheless, do not let us fear or be intimidated, however much the dogs bark, and the lions roar; for God, who is with us, is a strong God; He will preserve His own, and help them gain the victory. They can do no more than what the Lord permits them. My dear brethren, excuse this my simple letter; it was for the most part written in haste, the day after I received your letter. Herewith I will commend you once more to the Lord, and to the Word of His grace. Tell the friends in Vlieland, that I affectionately greet them with the peace of the Lord, that they shall contend valiantly for the law of the Lord. Pray the Lord for me; I will also pray for you; do not forget me in your prayers; think as though you were imprisoned, too. Heb. 13:3. Farewell. The fear of the Lord preserve you all. Amen.

I also send you here another letter; perhaps it may refresh you in the assault you suffer from the adversaries of baptism. [What prompted me to write it is a controversy] which I had with a Lutheran preacher. The following is a reply to his letter, which he sent me, since we had often conversed together. The Lord be with your spirit. Amen.

A LETTER FROM JAN GERRITS TO THE LUTHERAN

PREACHER

My much beloved good friend, herewith I will bid you adieu, for after this I hope to dispute with, or write against, neither you nor any other man; for Paul says: "Avoid contentions, or profane babblings, and unprofitable disputations; for they will increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a canker." Tit. 3:9; II Tim. 2:16, 17. Hence I want to be delivered also. of you, and that my soul may rest in peace with Gad. Farewell always.

See, my good friend, here are the arms and weapons of my faith, and this, in part, briefly shown. Behold, with these, and no other, whether of iron or steel, spear or sword, will I attack the kingdom of antichrist; for spirit must be overcome with spirit, and flesh with carnal weapons. Hence I say with the apostle: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty before God to the pulling down of everything that exalteth itself against the truth; for we wrestle not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this world, against spirits of wickedness under heaven." II Cor. 10:4, 5; Eph. 6:12. Hence all Christians must put on the armor of God, that they may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; and also be ready in every respect. Hence Peter says

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith." I Pet. 5:8, 9. This is our weapon, with which we are satisfied.

In the first place, a Christian does not know war, but must patiently bear all that comes upon him, for the Lord's sake; for Christ taught His disciples only love for their enemies. Moreover, He forbade them, when they asked Him: "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume this people?" "No;" He said, "ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." Matt. 9: 54, 55. Be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful. When He suffered He threatened not. I Pet. 2:23. These examples we follow with ail diligence, according to our feeble ability, commending our souls to the mercy of God, as the faithful Creator. From this you may see or understand, what kind of people we are, and what spirit we have.

See, my good friend, with these weapons and arms I will meet you, as a little and unrenowned David, meeting the great Goliath and presumptuous champion who mocked and reviled the army of God, and relied upon his own strength, even as you now trust in your learning, and are proud of the name "Rabbi," and because of the great reputation and renown of your understanding, might and power, you begin to say with Goliath: "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? I can and will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air to eat." I Samuel 17:43. Thus spoke Goliath, and you no less; for you say that without strength I am deceived and dead. Yes, my friend, I am well aware, that I and those like me are always looked upon by you as little and unlearned.

Behold, by your presumptuousness you have brought it so far, that I dare boldly step forth with my sling and stone, and say to you, as to Goliath, the champion and defender of the Philistines

"Behold, thou hast come out to me, relying on thy spear and shield; but I come to thee from confidence in God, in the name of the God of Israel, and will give thy flesh this day unto the fowls of the air to eat, and slay thee with thine own sword," namely with your own writing or disputation, which serves me to overcome you, not by the spirit of the universities, but by the Word and power of God, and this in Dutch, my mother tongue, to the greater glory of God, and to your shame. And the dumb ass shall cause your madness to be manifest; you Balaam have beaten me, poor ass, so long until I spake by the power of God, Num. 22:28. You Goliath have so long reviled and defied me and the army of Israel, that I slay you with your own sword, which I should not have done, had you not snapped with such sharp teeth, and flourished your pen so boldly; how could I let this pass. Now, if I receive no thanks for it, as I presume will be the case, you may blame yourself for it, for one cannot be silent and speak the words of God

"O men, men, it were well for you, that like Gamaliel you would leave the people of God in peace; for if this work is of men, it will come to naught, but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it: hence, take good heed, lest you run against the sword of the Lord, and be found even to fight against God. Persecute Jesus of Nazareth no longer, and leave Israel unmolested." Acts 5:34, etc.; 9.

To come now to the purport and beginning of your letter, which you sent me in order to instruct me in all the arguments and intelligence pertaining to the faith, I find that you greet me in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. To this I reply. Since you boast of being a Christian, and regard me as a reprobate and unbeliever, and as laboring under a false opinion, therefore I say that you are wrong in writing thus, for John says, "If .there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither greet him; for he that greefeth him is partaker of his evil deeds." II John 10, 11. And Paul says that if any man that is called a brother be nevertheless a fornicator or the like, he, as also an unbeliever, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Hence, since they cannot inherit the kingdom of God, we are not to eat bread with them, for the destruction of their flesh, that they may consider from whence they are fallen. I Cor. 5.

In the second place, you call me your brother. Why am I your brother, seeing we differ in faith? Is it because we are all created of God the Father? I say no to this; for if we were brethren according to the spirit, and according to the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, we must be in one faith and practice, and be led by one spirit, which, however, is far from being the case; for the brotherhood must spring out of the heavenly regeneration, through the hearing of the divine Word, from the earthly into the heavenly. This brotherhood is not ascribed to unbelievers, nor does it originate in carnal descent, as Paul clearly indicates, when he says "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" etc, II Cor. 6:14, etc. For the brotherhood consists in this: "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit; to abide in one hope of the calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Eph. 4:3. Mark, you are satisfied with your baptism, whether administered by the midwife, or by confirmation, and the like; not considering that God would dwell above all, and in us all, through His Word.

Since, then, you are so contrary to me, and I _to you, in faith, doctrine, life and spirit, why do you call me brother, I ask you once more? Or, if I am a heretic and a renegade from the truth, why do you not avoid me, after I have been admonished once or twice? for this is commanded by the Scriptures. But alas! you do not obey the divinely inspired Scriptures, but choose them unto your own destruction. II Pet. 3:16. to the third place, 1 find in your deceptive letter of instruction, that I am accused and decried only with reference to error and misapprehension regarding baptism, no other articles being mentioned. What shall I say to this? Are all your gods an abomination to you? and is it all over with your false doctrine and church usages? I think not; you are too fond of deceitful gain. But I well know your intention; you think that when you shall have deprived me of one, you will also get the rest, according to what you yourself said in Delft. Oh, what a brother you are to me, fine, indeed, in appearance I But my Teacher and Master Christ Jesus has warned me against you, to "be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matt. 10:16. Yes, you are such a brother to me, as the old, lying prophet, who deceived the man of God by his lies; for God had commanded the man of God to prophesy against the altar, and to eat no bread, nor drink water at that place, until he should have returned into his own country. But the seed of the serpent, the old prophet, said: "Eat bread with me, and drink water." The man of God answered: "God has forbidden me this." But the deceiver said: "I am alsd a prophet of the Lord, as thou art, and the Lord spake to me, that you should eat bread here, and drink water." Then the man of God went in with him, and transgressed the commandment of the Lord; wherefore, in punishment of his disobedience, he was slain by a lion on the way. I Kings 13.

This example is a great terror to my soul; for after deception, and transgression of the Word of the Lord, he sends lions, dragons, and bears, that they may get dominion of my soul, and kill it; for if my faith were feeble and wavering, I should be overcome and certainly be killed, but the anchor of my faith is steadfast.

In the fourth place, I come to your unreasonable or willful stupidity, that you want to maintain your infant baptism by the circumcision of the law, or Israel's sign of the covenant. For Paul says that circumcision (which you understand to be a figure of baptism), is made without hands, in the spirit, for the putting off of the sinful flesh; whose praise is not of men; as was done with the hand on Israel but of God. Col. 2:11; Rom. 2:29. Now, is your infant baptism in the spirit, without hands, and this for the putting off of the sinful flesh, and for sin which they have not yet committed? For to put off the sinful is this, as Paul says: "Mortify your members which are upon the earth; fornication, adultery, uncleanness, lasciviousness, evil concupiscence;" see, whether this can be understood as having reference to your children.