Thieleman J. van Braght · 86 of 210

Old Book of the Martyrs Mirror · Part 24

Therefore, my dear friends, who have become partakers of the heavenly calling, make good use of the time of grace, and look not to those who proceed so lukewarmly and slothfully; but strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24. Why, my dear friends? Because they seek to enter in by another way, which is not commanded us. But those who enter in by Christ, since He is the way, they are the ones that shall inherit the city, whom the Bridegroom will make sit down at the table, and will serve them. But, my dear friends, the lukewarm, who are neither cold nor hot, God will begin to spew out of His mouth, who say they are rich, and increased with goods, and know not that they are poor, miserable, naked and blind. Hence, Solomon says: "Go to the ants, thou, sluggard, and consider their labor; they gather in the summer their sustenance for the winter." And Jeremiah says: "The crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people observe not the time." O ye ignorant, the ox knoweth his master's crib. Ye who say, It will be fair weather tomorrow, and it cometh to pass; O ye, who can discern the face of heaven and earth, why can ye not discern among yourselves that which is right? Matt. 16:3. Therefore, my dear friends, take heed that none of you be found slothful; but let your loins be girded, and have your staff in your hand, to eat the passover; for we have a passover to eat, which is Christ; Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Ex. 12:11; I Cor. 7:8.

Hence, my dearly beloved friends, think it not strange, if you are tried by the fire of tribulation, as though some strange thing happened to you; but be partakers of Christ's sufferings, that in the time of revelation, you may have hope and consolation. Let none of you suffer as a thief or murderer; yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Hence, Solomon says: "If the righteous are recompensed, how much more the wicked and the sinner." I Pet. 4:12, 13, 15-18; Prov. 11:31.

Therefore, my dear friends, take heed and flee the shadow of this world, and seek not to escape the cross, so that you go into other countries, to obtain great liberty. Oh, no, my dear friends, but always submit to the cross; for the children that are under the rod are therefore obedient, fearing lest their Lord should come, and find them sleeping; hence, they are always watchful, that they may not be found sleeping; for as soon as the flesh obtains a little freedom, it takes still more of its own accord. My dear friends, though I have written this thus boldly, accept it nevertheless in good part; for I am not your lord in this matter; but I write as my own flesh testifies. Hence, my dear friends, walk in wisdom toward them that are without; remain among the scattered flock of Israel; for where blood is shed, gain is to be had; there put your pounds out to usury, each according to the gift received from God; in honor preferring one another; and endeavoring to show yourselves tried ministers unto God. Col. 4:5; I Pet. 1:1; Matt. 25:15; Romans 12:10. Lay aside all malice and hypocrisy, and, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom ye have come, as unto a living stone; hence, build yourselves up a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye, as obedient children, should show forth the praises of him who hath called you. I Pet. 2:1-5, 9.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; fulfill your ministry wisely, that your treasure be not evil spoken of; and as you were diligent in going astray from God, so give now so much the more diligence to turn to the Lord, and abound therein. I Pet. 4:11; Baruch 4:28; Rom. 6:19. Do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith, and see that you add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity; for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord; but he that lacketh these things is blind, and gropeth for the wall, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Gal. 6:10; II Pet. 1:5-9. Let it not be so with you, my friends; make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, and if you are partakers in the spiritual things, share also the temporal things with one another, and let this be done in order, and remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive; for we read, John 6, that some followed the Lord, to whom He said: "Ye follow me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." Luke 16:9; Rom. 15:27; I Cor. 14:40; Acts 20:35; John 6:26.

Therefore, my dear friends, labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life; for man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; for "meats for the belly, and the belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them." Luke 6:27; Deut. 8:3; 1 Cor. 6:13.

Thus, my dear friends, if you live according to the Gospel, you will be fruitful branches of the true vine Christ, comely olive branches grafted into Christ. My dear friends, be not moved away from the Gospel by the enemies of the cross of Christ, who would preach the Gospel without the cross. Do not believe them, for they are those who love your flesh, and kill your souls, and put pillows under the arms, or under the head. Avoid them, for such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and, fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil; since he can transform himself into an angel of light; what wonder is it then that his ministers assume this appearance? Phil. 3:18; Ezek. 13:18; Rom. 16: 17,18; 11 Cor.11:14,15.

O my dear friends, a thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill; hence, beware, lest you be deceived by them, and thus fall from your own steadfastness. John 10:10; II Pet. 3:17. Therefore, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown; and let him that standeth take heed lest he fall; for what hast thou that thou didst not receive? for every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Rev. 3:11; I Cor. 10:12; 4:7; James 1:17.

Therefore, exhort one another daily, my dear friends, the more so, as the day of Christ is at hand, and while it is called today. Heb. 3:13. And see that you care for one another; and, my dear friends, when you assemble together, make not many inquiries concerning others, or as to where each particular one lives; in such things be ignorant, and in malice be children; but in understanding be old and hoary, and keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. I Cor. 14:20; Micah 7:5. My dear friends, if you have understanding, answer your neighbor; if not, lay your hand upon your mouth, lest you be caught in an unseemly word, and put to shame. Sir. 5:12. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, and may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. 4:29, 30.

My dear friends, herewith I hope to take leave. Do not take it amiss that I have written you a little; I hope it will tend to edification; I have done my diligence with the little gift the Lord has given me.

By me; Adrian Corneliss, glazier, your unworthy brother, who am not meet to be called a brother. I Cor. 15:9. Written in my imprisonment, sitting in the stocks, with two fellow companions, and one who is separately confined, and two sisters that are below us. We wait daily for the redemption of our body; and our pilgrimage, I trust, is half finished. I hope that we shall soon have completed the rest.

We commend you to the Lord, dear brethren. Remember the prisoners; we remember you in our prayers. Heb. 13:3. Salute all lovers of the only salvation by name; the times are too perilous now, to mention them; hence we must govern ourselves accordingly.

Let me inform you, how it went with us in our last time. When we were to be offered up on Monday, a priest came to us on Sunday, who talked to us, and said: "You have to die."

Answer. "Thus did also the Jews, who said

`We have a law, and by our law you must die.' So must we also, as the decree of the Emperor shows." But we asked the priest, whether their things were right.

He replied: "Not all; for we have also abuses in our church."

We then said: "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." I Cor. 5:6.

He replied: "It has to be leavened."

By this we may perceive that their things are not good. But beware of such; for they are not sent from God. Jer..14:15. Salute all lovers of the divine word.

Confession of Adrian Corneliss before the magis;

trate and the priests, together with an account

o f the manner o f his apprehension

My dearly beloved brethren and sisters, to the twelve tribes which are scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, with all that call on the Lord out of a pure heart, in their and in our places, greeting. Jas. 1:1; I Pet. 1:1; I Cor. 1:2; II Tim. 2:22. I must yet write to you a little, hoping herewith to take my leave. Let me tell you how it went in my imprisonment. I had come to Leyden, and there conversing with a brother, we wondered how it came that they kept our friends confined so long. We therefore agreed that I should go and see Jan of Delft, the Bailiff's servant, and ask him, how it stood with the prisoners, and whether they would not soon be offered up. He replied: "I hear nothing at ail concerning it." I then said: "This long imprisonment gives you much trouble."

Jan. "I would be well satisfied to see it come to an end soon."

Adrian. "You can hardly get away any more."

Jan. "Yes, that is so."

Adrian. "You ought to have some rest."

Jan. "It would soon be time."

Adrian. "Jan Jans, I should like to have a little conversation with you about certain things."

Jan. "I have something to do yet; I shall speak with you; just wait here a little while for me."

I waited a little, and he returned, even before he had attended to the prisoners or brought them their food. He came and spoke to me in a friendly way, and accepted my words with such suavity (Psalm 55:21), that I knew not but that he would also embrace our faith.

I then said: "Jan Jans, what do you think, will you abandon this service, and release the prisoners? I shall see that you will not be a loser by it; for it is in your power, you have the keys."

Previous to my saying this to him, he had said to our friends in prison: "Shall I leave the door open some time that you can escape?" "Why should you do this?" replied our friends. On this account I spoke the more boldly to him, remembering the words concerning Paul and the jailer (Acts 16:29), if peradventure the Lord had showed like grace to this man; and having been urged by our friends, I had along conversation with him. He asked me whether I knew those whom he named to me. I said: "No, but I have heard of them." One, however, he mentioned, whom I well knew. "Yes, I know him well," I said. He asked me, where I was from. I replied: "I am a native of Schoonhoven," but I did not tell him that I resided at Delft. But with all my prudence, the devil, as is well known, was still more cunning. Gen. 3:1. When we had walked together for a long time, we arrived again at the prison. He then said: "Do you want to talk with the prisoners?" I went in without any fear, and coming to our dear sisters, we conversed together, without manifesting previous acquaintance, however. This servant then went off a little ways, and spoke to another servant. I then plainly saw what I had got myself into.

Now, someone may ask: Why did you go in? O dear friends, my flesh and blood did not impel me to go in there. In vain we run; it is just as the prophet says: "We may flee, but cannot escape." Ps. 139:7. Hence, we must all come whither our destiny calls us. I had anticipated that my journey to Leyden would not be a fortunate one.

The other servant then asked me whether I wished to go above to the others. I thought to myself that it was now as bad as it could ever become, and went above. They then shut the door after me, an one of them went for the bailiff. Having been lbove for a little while, and conversed with our friends, I went below again. They opened the door, and the night bailiff stood before it. He said: "You will have to remain here a little while." I then asked whether I should go above. He replied: "Yes." I then said: Christ had twelve apostles, and one was a Judas; but here were only two, and one was a Judas. However, the Lord be praised for His grace. Without much delay, they shut me up above alone, whereupon I immediately began to sing the hymn: "O Waerheydt hoe zijt gy nu vertreden!" Isa. 59:14.

I did not, however, enjoy a very long respite; since much people came, and hence they immediately came and took from me my Testament, and the hymn about our four friends, which I had composed. They then shut me up with E. S. Soon after, the bailiff came with the whole council. The gates were shut, and it was reported that there were a dozen in Leyden; hence they were very assiduous, thinking they had caught a great gentleman or captain; but alas! they had not.

The bailiff then asked: "Where is your rapier?"*

I replied: "My Master has not taught me to carry a rapier."

Bailiff. "Who is your Master?"

Adrian. "Christ is my Master."

Bailiff. "Christ is the Master of us all."

Adrian. "If Christ were your Master, you would not dare fight against Him; but it will be hard for you to kick against the pricks." Acts 9:5.

Bailiff. "We are responsible for that." They then asked me where I had slept.

Adrian. "I have slept well; did you sleep badly?"

Bailiff. "No, I shall make you tell." One of the lords then asked me whether I had been rebaptized. I replied: "No, I was baptized aright once."

Bailiff. "Who baptized you?"

I asked him whether he also wished to be baptized.

Bailiff. "Don't be ashamed to tell; I will tell you, where and by whom I was baptized: here in St. Peter's church."

Adrian. "If you wish to be also baptized, I will tell you."

Bailiff. "I have no desire for it as yet."

Adrian. "Neither are you fit for it."

Bailiff. "Where is the servant with the hat, that accompanied you?"

Adrian. "I know nothing of a servant with a hat."

Bailiff. "We saw him walk with you."

Adrian. "Lord bailiff, you lie; if you are a servant of Christ, you ought not to lie." Eph. 4:25. They then showed me the hymn about the friends and asked me who had written it.

I replied: "I wrote it."

Thereupon they asked,whether I had also composed it. I told them I wrote it, but said nothing about composing.' The under bailiff then said

"You were at my house one Friday, and taught me a refrain about Mary Magdalene?"

Adrian. "You have also lied; for my Master has taught me no refrains."

Under bailiff. "Or an exhortation?"

Adrian. "It is not so."

The servants and others then said: "The fellow is drunk."

Yes, dear friends, then I remembered the words of Peter, Acts 2; as they were drunk, so was I, having tasted neither beer nor bread all day. They were then about to leave, but found themselves at' a loss where to put me; for John of Delft, the servant, said: "It is all right with E. S.; but now this

* A light sword with a very narrow blade. Trans.

rogue will spoil him again." Nevertheless, they put me with him. All this took place the same Monday on which I was apprehended.

The following Thursday the bailiff came, with two judges, and a commissary from the Hague; they asked me many questions, which I could not answer, and also demanded to know where I had slept, which I would not tell, together with many other things too tedious to relate. They also asked

"Do you know Jelis of Aix la Chapelle?" I replied: "I never in my life was at Aix la Chapelle." As they kept on asking me for a long time, I finally said: "I know him." They then asked where I had been with him. I replied: "I cannot tell you this;" more I would not say. "We shall make you tell," said they. "My lords," I replied, "I have always been careful not to know much, so that in case I should be apprehended, I might not have much to tell." They then laid before me the letters I had sent them, and also the hymn; they readily saw that it was the same handwriting; but I did not confess it. I thought to myself: "There is plenty of time yet for it; for I will have to tell them something any way, when they torture me." For the matter concerned myself; hence I did not keep it secret, when I was tortured; but as regards others, I had no warrant to accuse them, and hence I did not want to know where the friends lived, when I talked with any one. And let me tell you, dear friends, this matter is sadly overlooked by some, who are continually inquiring after this one and that one, and take it amiss, if you do not give them the desired information. O dear friends, if you knew what suffering it would mean if you were imprisoned, you would not make such inquiries. Hence, if you wish to make any inquiries, inquire after the faith that can save your souls. See, my dear friends, accept this in good part; for I have written it out of love. All the torture I have suffered was inflicted upon me, to make me inform on others; hence, the less you know, the less you have to answer. The commissary then examined my Testament, and said: "This is a proscribed testament." I replied: "There you have also lied." Thereupon he was silent, and evening came on. They then went away, promising to consider my case in the daytime.

Saturday morning they all came before eight o'clock, and took me into the torture chamber, where the executioner was. They then asked me whether I had not changed my mind, and would answer their questions. I began to admonish them. They said: "We have not come here to be taught by you; but we ask you whether you will answer our questions." But this I did not intend to do. The executioner then stripped me, and bound my hands behind my back. There was a windlass there, and tying a block to my feet, they drew me up and left me hanging. While thus suspended they interrogated me, but I did not answer. They then let me down, and the bailiff asked me where I had worked since I left Flanders. At Delft, I replied. Thereupon they asked me still other questions, and as I refused to answer them, they drew me up again, and untied the block. The executioner then placed a piece of wood or iron between my legs, which had been bound together, and stood on it. Being let down again, I was asked by the bailiff, whether I and six of my friends had not been at Leyden at a certain time, which he specified. I did not confess it. Again the executioner drew me up, they having blindfolded my eyes, and they took rods and scourged me. After I was let down, the bailiff said "Tell it, or I shall tell you?" I would not accuse any one. They drew me up again, pulled my beard and hair, and beat and scourged my back; but as my eyes were blindfolded, I could not see who did it. They might also have asked: "Who smote you?" Luke 22:64. This continued until I had been beaten with seven or eight rods. When they let me down, and I did not answer for a long time, they, fearing that I should faint away, poured water over me, which they had also done while I was suspended. I sat down, and as I did not speak for a long time, the bailiff said: "You will not tell it; I will tell you: you slept at Stephen Claess'."

Adrian. "That is true."

Bailiff. "You were here before the prison, with six of your friends, and exhorted the prisoners, that they should strive valiantly, and adhere to their faith; and you went and hired a boat for six stivers. Who was the fellow to whom the boat belonged, and the one who was in the other boat, who gave the skipper half a stiver, into whose charge he committed his chest, because he was to sail with you? And he knew the fellow's name, and knew also what we had done, and that a woman was with us, and how we had read, and that two, sat there, bareheaded, and where we had gone up. I then acknowledged that it was so, and they wrote it down; however, I excused the two from those that were in the boat; but it was of no avail, and thus the matter was left. They then showed me the letters, about four or five in number. "Yes," said I, "I wrote them." Upon this they said: "This is the placard writer." "It is certainly not proper," said the judges, "that you disparage the Emperor in such a manner." I replied: "I do not disparage the Emperor; however great the Emperor is, the Supreme Emperor is still greater. Bring me a Bible; I shall prove to you what I have written." Thereupon they said: "Why did you write these letters?" I replied: "I wrote them because my grief was stirred, and that you might no longer stain your hands with blood, and might repent, as did those of Nineveh." Jonah 3:5. Thus the matter rested.

They then asked me what I thought of the sacrament of the altar. I told them that it was good for nothing.

Ques. "How long have you not been to it?"

Ans. "Not for four years."

Ques. "Have you belonged to this belief so long?"

Ans. "No."

Ques. "Why did you not go, then?"

Ans. "Even in my ignorance I knew that it was good for nothing?"

Thereupon they went away, having been engaged with me from eight o'clock until half past eleven in the forenoon.

This is what I said on that occasion. "Dear friends, be not discouraged, though what I have written presents rather a gloomy aspect; the Lord helps His own; if the Lord had not helped me, it would not have been possible for me to bear it; but we can do all things through Him who strengthens us, that is, Christ. And as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also our consolation aboundeth by Christ." I Cor. 10: 13; Ps. 46:1; Phil. 4:13; II Cor. 1:5.

Here I will let this matter rest. I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus, spoken of by Paul. Gal. 6:17.

On Sunday morning they came, and read to me my examination, and asked me whether it was correct: Then I remembered the words of the prophet: "They are evening wolves, that let nothing remain till the morrow, yea, whose feet run swiftly to shed innocent blood." Zeph. 3:3; Prov. 1:16. I then asked the bailiff whether he was not yet sated with innocent blood, since he was so diligent in the way of unrighteousness. He replied: "I do not put you to death." I said: "The Emperor's edict puts us to death; but you ought therefore be satisfied with what you have, and not ask for more. By What will you prove that you may put us to death? It is written: `If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more; and if he will still not hear, tell it unto the church; and if he will then not hear, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."' Matt. 18:15-17. Here the Scripture says nothing about putting to death.

Bailif. "We have another Scripture, where Paul says: `The powers are not ordained in vain; for God himself has ordained them."' Rom. 13:1.

Adrian. "Yes, for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the evil (I Peter 2:14); but it seems to me the order is inverted, that they are for the.punishment of the good, and the protection of the evil."

Bailiff. "We shall prove to you from books, that we may put you to death."

Adrian. "You can not do this with the Gospel?"

Under bailiff. "What do you know about the Gospel?"

Adrian. "It is written: `Repent ye, and believe the gospel."' Mark 1:15.

Under bailiff. "There are eight Gospels written."

Adrian. "I am well content with four; if these cannot teach me, neither can the others."

----

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Bailiff. "Shall we send you learned men, to instruct you with the Word of the Lord?"

Adrian. "I am willing to be instructed with the Word of the Lord."

Bailiff. "Well said."

Adrian. "I will not speak with them except in the presence of the court, and of those that are imprisoned with me."

This did not please them, and they went away, the bailiff leaving immediately for Delft.

Three weeks after this, the bailiff came into the prison where we three in number were sitting, and asked us whether we were not almost beginning to get tired of it., We said: "No." I then said: "James says : `Take it for an example of suffering affliction.' " James 5:10. It surprised them greatly that we minded it so little. I then said to the Bailiff

"As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." II Cor. 1:5.

Bailiff. "I should think it would weary you?"

Adrian. "Don't you also begin to get weary of shedding this blood?"

He did not reply. Thereupon he asked whether they should send us learned men. We replied

"We are always willing to be instructed with the words of the Lord."

Bailiff. "You will, not be instructed otherwise than with the Word of the Lord?"

Ans. "We are always willing to give our faith for a better one, that it may not be said that we are obstinate; and our adversaries ought to do the same."

Bailiff. "That is so; suffer yourselves to be instructed, perhaps your stay here is but brief?"

Adrian. "You do not know whether your stay here will be long. Though we are now as forsaken, the Lord will soon be gracious to us."

With this it rested. He then said: "We shall send you someone." We called to him, as he descended the stairs, that he should bring a Bible or Testament with him.

In the afternoon there came a priest with two servants; he advanced in fine style and laid out his wares, thinking to sell something, and his words were full of suavity. And when one of us spoke, he had much to say. Thereupon I said that the Lord liad warned us of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of them that go in long clothing.