MARTYRS MIRROR

[turnorburn]

Extract from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, Fol. 48, verso. preserved in the archives there

Whereas Grietje Arents, a maiden of Limmen, has had herself rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the faith and ordinances of said church, and the written laws and decrees of the Emperor, our gracious lord; and, moreover, was banished by the Court of Holland, for the aforesaid reason, from these countries of Holland, Zealand and Friesland, on pain of death, without that she, the prisoner, has hitherto manifested a willingness to repent, but has suffered the time of grace granted by his imperial majesty to pass by; therefore, the judges, having heard the demand made against her by the bailiff in behalf of his imperial majesty, and the answer and confession of the aforesaid Grietje, and having considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned said Grietje by sentence to be executed by water, as has been done by the executioner. Done the last day of December, A. D. 1534, in the presence of the whole court.

This Grietje Arents, according to the contents of the sentence, had first been banished, however, as clearly appears, for no other reason than that she did not believe like the Roman church, for which reason also, since she persisted therein, she was put to death; but why she returned to the place from which she had been banished, is not known; however, we may well infer, since nothing else is laid to her charge in this sentence, that the cause thereof was likewise a matter of faith and conscience.

Extract as above, Fol. 49, verso

Whereas Jan Pauw, blockmaker, Arent Janssen of Gorckum, tradesman, Barent Claessen of Swol, fuller, Jan van Gink, Hendrich Biesman of Maestricht, Cornelis Willemsse of Haerlem, cabinetmaker, Arent Jacobssen, Keyser, of Moonickendam, and Willen Janssen of Zutphen, have had themselves rebaptized, and have accepted the covenant of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the faith and ordinances of said church, and the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore, the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the officer concerning them, and their defense and confession, and having considered the circumstances of the case, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence, to be executed with the sword and put to death, on the scaffold erected for this purpose in the marketplace of this city; and, moreover, their heads to be placed upon stakes, and their bodies upon wheels, for an example unto others, as was done immediately afterwards. Done the 6th day of March, A. D. 1535; in the presence of the whole court.

Concerning Jan Pauw there is still another, separate sentence, that on the 29th of December, 1534, he was tortured, by sentence of the judges, in order to learn from him who had baptized, and who had been baptized at his house; however, since that sentence contains nothing but this order to torture him, we have not deemed it necessary to add it here verbatim.

Extract as above, Fol. 51

Whereas Jan Jacobssen, of Normandy; inhabitant of this city, Adriaen Cornelissen of Sparrendam, and Gerrit Claessen of Oudenyerop, have entered into the covenant of the Anabaptists, and been rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church, and the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore, my lords the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the bailiff, in behalf of his imperial majesty against the aforesaid persons, and their defense and confession, and having considered the circumstances of their crime, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence, to be executed with the sword and put to death, by the executioner, on the scaffold erected in front of the city hall, of this city, and, moreover, their heads to be placed upon stakes, and their bodies upon wheels, for an example to others; as was done by the executioner; and we furthermore declare their property confiscated for the benefit of his imperial majesty as count of Holland, of those who are not citizens of this city, and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. Done on the 15th of May A. D. 1535, in the presence of the bailiff, Ruysch Janssen and Goossen Janssen Rekalff, burgomasters, and all the judges.

In the public histories of that time mention is made only of the beheading of three men on that day, without anything evil being laid to their charge, except simply that they were counted among the Anabaptists. And since this sentence charges them with no crime, insurrection, or any misconduct, which in that time of violence, when that riot at Amsterdam had but recently happened, would very probably have been done, had there .been any grounds for it, it can readily be inferred that these men were pious persons, who are worthy to be placed with the other faithful soldiers of Christ our Lord.

Extract as above, Fol. 51. verso

Whereas Baef Claes, a maiden, Grietje Maes; Gerrit's widow, Barbara Jacobs, a maiden of Haserwoude, Breght Elberts, a maiden, Adriana Ysbrant, a maiden, Trijn Jans of Munnickendam, and Lysbeth Jans, a maiden from Benskop, have been rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church, and the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord, without that they have hitherto shown any penitence; therefore, the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff in the behalf of his imperial majesty against them, and their answer and confession, and having considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence, to be executed with water and put to death by the executioner; as was done by the executioner; and furthermore declare their property confiscated for the benefit of his imperial majesty as count of Holland, of those who are not citizens of this city, and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. Done on the 15th of May, A. D. 1535; in the presence of the bailiff, Ruysch Janssen and Goossen Janssen Rekalff, Burgomasters, and all the judges.

These seven women, according to the import of this sentence, were put to death on the same day with the following nine, and yet public histories mention nothing about them; which is a matter of little surprise for the reason that the drowning of those who were condemned to death on account of religion took place at night, when they, with stones tied to their necks, were cast down into the water from the Herring-packers' Tower (then called the Holy Cross Tower), as appears from the description of Amsterdam, by Dr. Dapper, Fol. 443.

Extract as above, Fol. 52. verso

Whereas Leentgen, Jan van Rheenen's wife, Adriana Jans, a maiden from Benskop, Goechgen Jans, of Lubik, born at Goude, Leentgen Hendrix, a maiden of Hertogenbosch, Griet Pieters Mollen, a maiden, Marritge, Nadminx, a maiden of Alkmaar, Aeltje Gillis, a 'maiden from Benskop, Jannetje Jans, a maiden of Utrecht, Aeltjen Wouters, born at Asperen, have been rebaptized, and betaken themselves to the sect and heresy of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church; and to the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord, without being willing to repent of it; therefore, my lords the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff against them in behalf of his imperial majesty, together with their answer and confession, and having considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned the aforesaid persons by sentence, to be executed with water and put to death by the executioner, as was done by the executioner; and furthermore declare their property confiscated for the benefit of the emperor as count of Holland, of those who are not citizens of this city, and of the citizens, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. Done on the 15th of May, A. D. 1535, in the presence of the bailiff, Goossen Janssen Rekalff, Burgomaster, and all the judges.

The public writers of those times also make mention of these women, but without stating anything more than their number, and that they were drowned. This sentence, however, not only makes known their names, but from it also their innocence is evident.

 

[turnorburn]

Extract as above, Fol. 59. verso

Whereas Pietersen, alias Borrekiek, born at Leyden, has entered the covenant of the Anabaptists, and been rebaptized, holding pernicious views concerning the sacraments of the holy church contrary to the holy Christian faith and the ordinances of said church, and the written laws and decrees of his imperial majesty, our gracious lord, and, moreover, had previous knowledge of a meeting held a certain time ago, at Leyden, by adherents of the afore-mentioned sect, without giving information thereof to the authorities of said city; therefore, my lords the judges, having heard the demand of my lord the bailiff, and having considered the circumstances of his misconduct, have condemned said delinquent by sentence, to be executed with the sword, and put to death on the scaffold, by the executioner, his head to be put upon a stake, and his body to be quartered and hanged to a wheel, for an example to others; as was done by the executioner; and, furthermore, declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the emperor as Count of Holland. Done, etc., in presence as above in the preceding sentence.

Extract as above, Fol. 70. verso

Whereas Hendrick van Maestricht, at the time when the boat, loaded with Anabaptists, was about to sail to Geelmuyden, has joined the sect of the Anabaptists, by the imposition of the hand, performed on him by one Claes Enkhuysen, and has since allied himself and kept fellowship with said people, conversed with them at different places, and advised and induced several others to join the aforesaid sect, contrary to the decrees ordained and caused to be published by his imperial majesty our gracious lord against the aforesaid sect and its adherents, without that the aforesaid Hendrik has, improved the time of grace, but rejected it; therefore, my lords the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff in behalf of his imperial majesty, against the aforesaid Hendrik, together with his answer and confession, and having maturely considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned the aforesaid Hendrik van Maes richt by sentence, to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and his body to be placed upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, unless it be that the lords, out of grace, be pleased to grant him the church yard; which sentence was afterwards executed by the executioner. Done on the 10th of June, A. D. 1536, in the presence of the bailiff, all the burgomasters excepted, Cornelis Buyk, Syverts, Claes Gerritsse, Mattheus Claes Doeden, Jan Ryser Janssen, Pieter Willemsse Kantert, and Symon Marttensse Dircx, judges.

Extract as above, Fol. 77. verso

Whereas Albert Reyers, alias Oldeknecht, born at Bolswaert, in Friesland, has for several years resorted to the society, intercourse and fellowship of persons tainted with heresy and evil doctrines, and has been found with them in divers conventicles, and has also held such in his own dwelling, where the writings and sacraments of the holy church, and the articles of the holy Christian faith were subjected to improper disputation, teaching and treatment, so that the afore-mentioned Albert, having become infected thereby, spoke and believed evilly of the holy sacrament of the altar and other sacraments; also of the ordinances and customs of the holy church, to the scandal of good Christians, contrary to the holy Christian faith, and the decrees and edicts of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore, the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the bailiff against the afore-mentioned Albert Reyers, together with his answer and confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of this case, have condemned said Albert, according to the aforesaid decrees, by sentence, to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and his body afterwards to be placed on a wheel, and his head upon a stake; and, furthermore, declare his property confiscated to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. So done on the 12th day of April, in the year 1537, in presence of the bailiff, Claes Gerritsse Deymans and Gerrit Meeuwess, Burgomasters, and Gerrit Meeuwess and all the judges.

Extract as above, Fol. 77. verso

Whereas Ahdries Harmans of Gelre, has undertaken at different times and place to dispute concerning the Scriptures, and to hold conventicles, where the Scriptures, and the sacraments and ordinances of the holy church were subjected to improper teaching and treatment, whereby the aforesaid Andries, having fallen into error and heresy, also taught these views to others, and tainted them therewith, and has also for a certain time spoken and believed evilly and heretically, and does still believe so, concerning the holy sacrament of the altar, and other sacraments of the holy church, contrary to the holy Christian faith, and against the decrees of his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore, the judges, having heard the demand made by my lord the bailiff against the aforesaid Andries, together with his answer and confession, and having maturely considered the circumstances of his misdemeanors, condemn said Andries, according to the afore-mentioned decrees, to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and afterwards his body to be placed upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, for an example to others; and furthermore, declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the lord, to the sum of one hundred pounds, according to the privileges of this city. So done on the 12th of April 1537, in presence of the bailiff, Claes Gerrit Deymans and Gerrit Andries, burgomasters, and all the judges.

This execution was performed by the executioner immediately after the sentence was pronounced.

Extract as above, Fol. 78. verso

Whereas Thymon Hendricx of Campen, three years ago or thereabouts, was rebaptized, and entered into the covenant and heresy of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the holy Christian faith, and the sacraments and ordinances of the holy church contrary to the truth of the holy faith and against the decrees published in regard to this, by his imperial majesty our gracious lord, therefore, the judges having heard the demand made by the bailiff of this city, in behalf of his imperial majesty against the afore-mentioned Thymon Hendricx, together with his answer and confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of the aforesaid case, condemn said Thymon, according to the afore-mentioned decrees, by sentence, to be executed with the sword and put to death by the executioner, and his body afterwards to be put upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, for an example to others; and, furthermore, declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the lord. So done on the 12th of April 1537, in the presence of the bailiff, Claes Gerrit Deymans and Gerritt Andries, burgomasters, and all the judges.

This execution was performed by the executioner immediately after the sentence was pronounced.

Extract as above, Fol. 93

Whereas Jan Janssen van dem Berg in the country of Cleves, a year ago or thereabouts, was rebaptized in the city of Delft, by one Claes with the lame hand and has entered into the covenant and heresy of the Anabaptists, holding pernicious views concerning the holy Christian faith, and the sacraments and ordinances of the holy church, contrary to the truth of the holy faith, and against the decrees emitted in regard to this by his imperial majesty our gracious lord; therefore, the judges, having heard the demand made by the bailiff of this city in behalf of his imperial majesty, against the aforementioned Janssen, together with his answer and confession, and having duly considered the circumstances of the aforesaid case, condemn said Jan Janssen, according to the aforesaid decrees, by sentence, to be executed and put to death by the executioner, and his body then to be put upon a wheel, and his head upon a stake, for an example to others; and furthermore, declare his property confiscated for the benefit of the lord. Done on the 7th of July, A. D. 1539, in the presence of all the burgomasters, Joost Buyk Sybrant, Jan Willemss, Albert Dirksen, Willem Stitchel, and Floris Floriss.

 

[turnorburn]

ELEVEN BRETHREN AND A SISTER, AT ANTWERP; HARMAN TIMMERMAN, JAN VAN HASEBROECK, PIETER VERLONGE, GERRIT VAN MANDEL, JAN VAN MANDEL, JAN DE SCHAPER, JAN WIL JOOT, JAN VAN DOORNICK, WILLEM VAN POPERINGE, MAEYKEN HIS WIPE, 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 Saviour 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 ~esus Christ and the Holy Ghost are one Being. ur 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; Jno. 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."

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; I 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. I 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 (I Jno. 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" (Isa. 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." Isa. 40:9.

Also in Ezekiel God says, "I will myself attend to my sheep." Ezek. 34:11. Now Christ says, that He is the Shepherd of the sheep, and that the sheep are His own. Zechariah says, "Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered," and in John we read, that Christ is the Bridegroom, who has the bride; and in the epistle to the Ephesians [we are taught], that He gave Himself for her, that He might prepare Himself a glorious church. Eph. 5:25. Christ also is the Lamb of God, and in Revelation we read that the marriage of the Lamb is come, and that His wife has made herself ready. Rev. 19:7. Hence we can clearly understand from these words, that Jesus Christ is the Bridegroom and husband of His church, which husband by the prophet Isaiah is called God, "For thy Maker is thine husband," he says, "the Lord of hosts is his name: and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called." Isa. 54:5.

See, my friends, from all these words it can clearly be understood, that Christ cannot be excluded from the unity or from God; since God in the Scriptures is frequently expressed by the word Christ, as you may read in Timothy, where Paul calls Christ our Saviour, and also calls God our Saviour, and in other places, where God is called our Saviour. Read I Tim. l:l. And God says through Isaiah, "I am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour." Isa. 43:11; 45:5. Now the Scriptures testify, that man's salvation lies in the sacrifice of the body of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, as we above quoted to you some passages; as, that we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son the body died, and, as Peter says, "By- his stripes we were healed." His body suffered the stripes. I Pet. 2:24. And Isaiah, "With his stripes we are healed, " the stripes were inflicted upon the body. Isa. 53:5.

See, my friend, it is therefore clear from these words, that Christ cannot be excluded from God with body and spirit, since God ascribes to Himself that which Christ has done, as we explained above concerning the Shepherd of the sheep. And Christ ascribes to Himself that which God does, as may frequently be understood from the Scriptures; so that the inference is clear, that they have one will and work: for what things soever the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. And as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. John 5:19, 21. Hence the works of the Son of God can be ascribed to none other than to God, so that the Son cannot be excluded from God. When therefore the word God is named, Father, Son and Holy Ghost are thereby expressed. Thus confess we the only God.

You further desire an answer in regard to the passages which speak of the one God, whether thereby any other than the Father is named. I understand your question thus, "Whether Christ, who died, is also comprised in the expression one God?" Rom..l:8; 5:8; John 5:18; I John 5:9.

Answer. In the first place you quote Deut. 6:4, where Moses said, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God;" and says still further in the same chapter, "Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah." v. 16; Matt. 4:7. See, my friend, they tempted this one God, who by Paul is called Christ, where he says, "And let us not tempt Christ, as some tempted him." I Corinthians 10:9, Now I understand from your letter, that you would exclude Christ from God; I understand it by the passage you quote (John 17), by which you would prove that Christ is not God. Our answer concerning this passage is, "They that confess Jesus Christ in truth also confess Him God, since God is expressed by the word Christ, as we have proved above from the words of Paul." You further quote the language of Hezekiah, where he said, "O Lord God of Israel, thou art alone God; thou hast made heaven and earth." II Kings 19:15. By these words you would prove that Christ is excluded from the one God.

And you write in your letter that the one God of whom Hezekiah spoke made heaven and earth; and you exclude Christ from the one God; hence you must also exclude Him from the creation of heaven and earth, and must first refute all these witnesses that testify concerning Jesus Christ, that all that is made was made by Him. Read John 1:3; Col. 1:9; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2; Ps. 33:6. When you shall have refuted all these witnesses, and excluded Christ from all the works of God, then I shall admit your view, that Christ is not comprised in the expression, one God.

 

[turnorburn]

You further say that God is invisible and lives forever, but that Christ was seen, and that He died, and that the child was without knowledge, and that it grew up in wisdom; concerning which you shall hear our views afterwards from the confession of our faith, which we prove from the Scriptures, which later we must believe. Furthermore, you say that God knows the times, and that the Son does not know them. Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32. Our answer is, that Christ speaks this according to His humiliation; for there are other passages which testify concerning Him, that He knows all things; as where Peter said, "Lord, thou knowest all things;" and Christ did not contradict him, saying, "'No, Peter, I do not know the last day."

He did not even reply to it. Again, when the disciples said to Him, "Now are we sure that thou knowest all things." John .16:30. You further say that God knows the hearts of all the children of men. Ps. 7:9; Jeremiah 11:20; 17:10; 12:3. We say that Christ also knows them; for He knew what was in man, and needed not that any should testify of man. II Tim. 4:8; Revelation 2:23; John 2: 25. And Christ said, "I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you." John 9:42. And in John 6:61, we read that Jesus knew in Himself that is disciples murmured at it. But that you write concerning the revelation of John, that God gave Him the same, this does not imply that He [Christ] does not know anything.

You further say that God is Almighty, and does all things without the assistance of any one. Answer: Above we have proved that Christ Jesus and the Holy Ghost are comprehended in the word God, or you must prove that the Father does some things without the Son or the Holy Ghost, contrary to the words of Christ where He says, "What things soever the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." And, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." And"As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will." John 5:19; 17:21. And if we are to honor the Son as we honor the Father, as the Father requires, we must certainly confess Him God, for the Father is honored as God, and if we now deny the Son, we have neither the Father, nor the Son, and we are also the spirit of antichrist. I John 2:22.

And as God did the miracles by Him, so He, again, did them by the Father. And He said to two blind men, "Believe ye that I am able to do this to you?" And they believed it and were helped. Matthew 9:28. This I state, that you may know that He frequently ascribes to Himself the works which He does, and sometimes to His Father; in order that you may know that they are one God, who worketh all things. You say that God requires the Holy Spirit, which is true. Now you must observe that a certain thing is sometimes ascribed to God the Father, and sometimes to the Son; for we read, John 3:16, that God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son. Rom. 5:8; I John 4:9. And John 10:17, we read that Christ says, that He lays down His life; no man takes it from Him; but He lays it down of Himself. Again, that He gives His flesh for the life of the world. John 6:51. And that He also imparts the Holy Ghost, and also sent Him to His disciples. John 20:22; 16:7, 13; 15:26; Luke 24:49.

You further quote I Cor. 15:28. Our answer is, as above: That sometimes a work is ascribed to the Father and sometimes to the Son; that all men might know that they are one. For we read that God the Father set Jesus Christ at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Eph. 1:20. And we also read, that the Lord sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb. 1:3. Therefore my friend, you may well take heed before you proceed in such a weighty matter, and first well prove with the word of Christ and His apostles, that you do not run away with a word, without first proving whether it agrees with all the words of God. Farewell, and read with the understanding.

Our belief and ground concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ is, that we confess and believe, that the only begotten Son of God, who was with the Father before the foundation of the world (John 17:24), and was in the form of God (Phil. 2:6), was foreordained before the foundation of the world; whose goings forth are from the beginning; by whom the world was made, John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2; and who, though He was rich, became poor for our sakes, and came forth from the Father, came into the world; came down from heaven; and through the power of the Most High was conceived in Mary, and became man in her. For the Word became flesh (John 1:14), so that it was seen with the eyes, and handled with the hands; of the word of life. I John 1:1. Born of Mary (Luke 2:7); given unto us as a son (Isa. 9:6), and crucified, died, and buried for us; raised from the dead, for God raised up His child Jesus (Acts 3:15; 10:40; I Thess. 1:10); and He ascended up where He was before (John 6:62), for He that descended is the same also that ascended, Eph. 4:10. We also believe, that the Son of God, when the time was fulfilled, became Abraham's son, David's son, Abraham's seed, the Son of man; and the son and fruit of Mary, when He became man; not that the Son of God took His origin or beginning from Abraham, or David, or Mary; for we have above shown by the Scriptures, that He was with the Father before the foundation of the world; and was before Abraham was. John 8:58.

We therefore believe, that Jesus Christ, without any division, visible or invisible, mortal or immortal, wholly and entirely, is the first begotten, own, true, Son of God, as all believers have confessed Him, as we can read in the holy Scriptures. Peter confessed Him as the Son of the living God. Likewise also John the Baptist confessed Him; for he said: I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1:34. Nathanael said, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God." Martha in like manner confessed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God, who had come into the world. John 1.1:27.

This is our confession concerning the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now if some one should ask us whether we do not believe that the Son of God assumed flesh and blood, in which He dwelt; and that the Son of God remained the same as He was, invisible, immortal, unchangeable, as is the Father; we answer thus."If it were true that the Son of God remained invisible, immortal and unchangeable, as the Father, and assumed flesh and blood from Mary, in which He dwelt, it could not be said with truth, that the Son of God became man, but according to truth it would have to be said, that the Son of God assumed a man, in whom He dwelt; for to assume is to assume, and to become is to become, and assuming cannot be called becoming.

There further follows from it, that if the Son of God remained invisible, as the Father, He could not be crucified, and in this case He that hung on the cross, is not the Son of God; for He was seen, and God has but one Son. It further follows from it, that if the Son remained invisible, God did spare His Son, contrary to the words of Paul, where he says, that God spared not His Son, but delivered Him up for us all. Rom.~8:32. And God would in this case also not have given us His Son, contrary to the teaching of John, where he says, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son." John 3:16.

 

[turnorburn]

Furthermore, if He remained immortal, it can not be said, that we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son, contrary to Paul, where he says, that we are reconciled to God by the death of His Son. Rom. 5:10. Nor can it be said that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. It can only be said that the flesh and blood of Mary cleanses us from all sin, contrary to the teaching of John, where he says, that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Nor can it be said, that God raised up His child Jesus; for if He did not die, He did not raise Him up, contrary to the teaching of Paul, I Thessalonians 1:10; Acts 2:24; 10:40. Now if someone should ask us, whether we believe, that the Son of God was changed; we answer, that we believe, that the Son of God for our sakes was changed so much that He became what He was not, namely, He, who before was rich, for our sakes became poor. And He, who was in the form of God, became man; for the Word became flesh, so that it was seen with the eyes and handled with the hands.

And He, who before was invisible, became visible; and arose from the dead; and ascended up where He was before. For He that descended is the same also that ascended; and He sits on the right hand of the Majesty on high, and is our Advocate, our Mediator, and ever lives to reconcile us. See, my friend, thus confess we the love which God has shown toward us. So that Jesus Christ humbled Himself for our sakes, became lower than the angels, and was found in fashion as a man. Phil. 2:8; Heb. 2:7. Behold, my friend, this is the answer to the remark that the child grew up in wisdom. For when He became like unto man, as Paul teaches, He became in all things like unto His brethren. Heb. 2:17.

Now, another man grows up in wisdom; therefore the Son of God humbled Himself, put Himself in our stead before God His Father, and took upon Him our sins, and paid for them in our stead, so that in our place He cried to God with strong crying and tears, and offered up [prayers and supplications] unto Him that was able to save Him from death. Heb. 5:7; Matt. 27:46. Not, my friend, that He needed to be saved on the part of His own person. Now if someone should ask us, whether by such an incarnation as you have confessed here He did not lose His Sonship, and unity with God, we answer: We have proved above by the Scriptures, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God before every creature (Col. 1:15) , and was with the Father before the foundation of the world; whose goings forth are from the beginning and from eternity. And He did not lose His Sonship by His incarnation; for, while He was man, the Father confessed Him as His Son. Matt. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22. And Christ said, that He was the Son of God. John 10:36. Likewise did Peter. Matt. 16:16. John the Baptist, Nathanael, Martha, and Thomas confessed Him as their Lord and God. And Christ said, "I and the Father are one."

From these words it is easy to understand, that by His incarnation He did not lose His first identity and unity; for the Son of God could become man, so that He died; but nevertheless remain God and the Son of God. For we read concerning the first man Adam, who was a figure of Christ, that God made him of the earth, so that Adam became a living soul, flesh and blood, capable of suffering and dying, and yet remained earth; for God said, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Rom. 5:14; Gen. 1:19; Sir. 17:1.

Abraham also confessed, that he was dust (earth). Gen. 18:27. Now, when the word earth is named, everything is comprised in it, that is earth and takes its origip from the earth. Now Adam and Abraham, who were earth died, and all men who are of the earth, will be able to die; but the earth on which we walk can not die. Nevertheless, both are earth, and both are comprehended in the term earth. Now, when the word God is named, everything is comprised in it, that is God, and all that has its origin from and with God; namely, with the word God, we express Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Now the Scriptures testify, as we have abundantly stated above, that the Son of God became man, so that He was seen, and that He died; but the Father and the Holy Ghost did not die. Nevertheless, God reconciled the world, and purchased His church by His blood; for God was made manifest in the flesh. Read Baruch 4:22.

For God is man's Saviour. Read Isaiah 43:11; I Tim. 1:15; Tit. 1:4. Now if Christ's body were of the earth, in which body our propitiation lies, as Peter teaches, that we were healed by His stripes, and Isaiah, that we are healed by His stripes; and Paul, that we are reconciled by His death; then the earth must be our savior, and not God; and John must have spoken falsely, when he said, that the Word, which is called God, became flesh. And before we will believe that Christ's body is of Mary's blood, we want to see this assertion pointed out to us in the Scriptures, word for word, and we will say nothing against it; for we must believe as the Scriptures teach us. John 7:38. And if any one wishes to accept our faith, we will show him word for word where this is written, namely, that the Word became flesh.

Farewell.

Read with the understanding. HARMAN TIMMERMAN.

 

[turnorburn]

DISPUTATION BETWEEN HERMAN VLECKWIJK, IMPRISONED BY THE LORDS OF THE COUNTRY VAN DEN VRYE IN BRUGES, AND FRIAR CORNELIS, IN THE PRESENCE OF MR. JAN VAN DAM, ON THE 10TH OF MAY, A. D. 1569

Fr. Corn. I would say, Good-day, Herman; but I am quite wrought up and angry yet from yesterday, at your accursed hedge-preacher, or teacher, who has so wickedly seduced, deceived, crazed, be deviled and bewitched you and your fellow Anabaptists by his damnable, hellish, Anabaptistic heresies, out there in the miserable Gruthuysbosch. Hence I must now come here and try whether I can draw you away again from this Anabaptism, and convert you to our Catholic Christian faith; have you a mind for it, or not? Let us hear now.

Herm. To judge from your speaking, I should think that you are angry, and if you had not told me yourself, I would have thought, that you wanted to frighten me. But why are you so angry at that friendly, pleasant man, who I think did not give you one hard word?

Fr. Corn. He nevertheless called me a papist once or twice; but I do not care * * * for that; but I am very angry that he would in no wise suffer himself to be converted from his accursed Anabaptism and all other accursed heresies, in regard to which I have spent so much labor in vain; and the most vexatious of all is, that though I so well showed, and convinced him of, his bad, evil, wicked, false, heretical faith, as these good lords have well heard, it was all of no avail; ill betide him.

Herm. I think, that he nevertheless clearly showed you with the holy Scriptures, that his faith is in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God; whereby then could you show him, that his faith is bad, evil, wicked, false, and heretical, as you say?

Fr. Corn. Fie, alas! I already hear by this answer, that I shall win no laurels in the way of converting you. But in good faith, do you people think it enough, only to believe in Jesus Christ? Ali, bah, all the devils of hell believe in Jesus Christ; bah, see here now, what we are tormented with. Bah, you ought to, and must also, on pain of the damnation of your soul, believe in all the other articles of the Christian faith, and the excellent, holy institutions of our mother the holy Roman Church, which by our holy fathers, the popes, have in all general holy councils, been ordained and decreed to be believed and observed. But you Anabaptists neither believe nor observe anything of them, except it be very plainly stated in the holy Scriptures; for if there are any matters contained in the Scriptures, that seem somewhat obscure to you, you will by no means believe them; as, for instance, all that is contained in the holy Scriptures concerning prayer for the refreshing and deliverance of the souls in purgatory; nor all that is said in them respecting the seven sacraments; nor all that they say concerning priestly authority; nor all that is found in them regarding the transubstantiation, or change, of the bread and wine into the real flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of the altar; nor all that they contain concerning the perpetual virginity and purity of Mary, the blessed mother of God. No, these and very many other holy articles you will not believe; yea, what is still more abominable, the worthy blessed mother of God, whom you ought and are in duty bound to honor, serve, invoke, and entreat, that she would intercede for you with her dear Son, her you Anabaptists do not esteem better than your filthy, * ,* sinful wives. And in like manner you despise and reject all the holy saints and sainfesses whom you ought to honor, fast to them, celebrate, invoke,.and entreat; that they would stand as advocates or mediators between God and you, .and intercede, for you; bah! is this not a fine thing? Bah, you are silent: answer me, why you heretics bear such enmity and hatred to the worthy, blessed mother of God, and to 211 God's saints'; let us hear now.

Heym. That we should hate Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, and the saints of God; this be far from us; but that we do not invoke and entreat them that they should stand as advocates or .mediators between God, and us, this is because John, in the second chaptr of his first epistle .says, "If any man sin, we. have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world," In like manner, Paul writes to Timothy, in the second chapter of his first epistle, "There is one God, and one mediator 'between God and man, the roan Christ Jesus: who gave himself a ransom for all." In the same manner he also writes to the 'Hebrews; in the ninth chapter. But we do not hate our enemies; how then should we hate God's saints, our, fellow brethren and sisters in the Lord?

Fr. Corn. Indeed? if they are your fellow brethren and sisters in the Lord, why then do you bear such enmity and hatred to them, that you help burn or destroy their relics or bones; and break their images to pieces, wherever you have been able to get at them? is this not a fine brotherhood and sisterhood? accursed Anabaptists that -you are.

Herm. We do not meddle with your affairs; if you would leave us alone in our faith and in our walk and conversation, as we leave you alone, in your religion, and with your images, relics or dad men's bones, your hands would remain unstained with and innocent of our blood.- But you generation of Cain first killed the saints of God; and then take them to exalt and honor them with fasting and celebrating, and erect to,' them idolatrous images, which they themselves despised and rejected, and you honor their bones, as Christ says, Luke 11:47, "Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets: and your fathers killed them." Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build, their. sepulchres. Therefore also saith the wisdom' of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and' persecute: that the blood of all the prophets [which was shed from the foundation of the world], may 'be 'required of this generation; from the blood of Abel. Matt. 23.

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah! would you * * * 'accursed Anabaptists compare yourself to the prophets, apostles, and to' God's holy martyrs, popes and ~ iests, whose blood was shed for the Catholic, Christian faith, of which you Anabaptists are now such enemies, that you through the rejection of the sacrament of the priesthood reject, not only the six othei sacraments, and all our Christian ceremnies and acts of worship, but also all the articles of' the Christian, Catholic faith, as I have said; therefore you are put to death; do you understand this, you uncouth, blockheaded Anabaptist that you are?

Herm. However uncouth and blockhead I am, I understand very well that you put us to death because we do not believe or observe these popish, or Romish, church articles, part of which you have mentioned. And you think that you do God service by killing us for it, as Christ says (John 16:2, 3), "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoe~er killeth you will think that. he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me."

 

[turnorburn]

Fr. Corn. Bah l you bewitched and devil-possessed Anabaptists, would you also fain claim this for your side; would you? Bah, and would you charge and upbraid us priests and Catholics with such things, would you? Bah, and would you also say., that we priests know neither God nor His Son Jesus Christ, would you? Ah, bah! who knows God and Jesus Christ better than we Catholic priests? Hence this is all spoken concerning the Jewish priests, and concerning the Anabaptists; Calvinists, Lutherans, and other heretics, who in France and Spain in these lands and elsewhere, so tyrannically .persecute, trouble, torment, and martyrize us priests, because we have the true knowledge of God and Christ, see.

Herm: It is to _ be feared that Christ will not know you, though you think that you know Him so very well; for you are of so many different orders and rules. You are a Franciscan, the other an Augustinian, the other a Carmelite, the other a Jacobine or Dominican, the other a Benedictine; yea, innumerable are the orders and sects into which you are divided, and each has its special ceremonies and rules, according to which he must live, of which not a word is found in the teaching of Christ; how then shall lie know you!

Fr. Corn. Indeed? you hellish, devilish Anabaptist, though we are so diverse in regard to orders, rules and ceremonies, are we ecclesiastics not all comprehended in one sacrament of priesthood, eh?

Herin. Your sacrament of priesthood is nevertheless an article like all the other articles of your faith, of which nothing is found written in the holy Scriptures, hence I have no knowledge of, nor faith in it.

Fr. Corn. Ah, you accursed Anabaptist, answer me then, why God the Father should not be willing to know us, who are His priests, for do we not daily, in the mass, offer up His Son Jesus Christ, in flesh and blood? Bah, whom should they both know better than us, their priests? What will you say now, eh?

Herm. How shall I here tell you the secret of the mass? I do not myself know it; but you know it very well.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? if you do not know the secret of the mass, how comes it then that you heretics undertake to describe such an accursed"Death-bed of the mass?" in which it says, that the mass, as it were, is lying sick of a putrid ulcer, which she has in her canon, and of which she will have to die. Bah! and do you accursed heretics then not know the secret of the mass, as you call it? Bah! may the devil skin you with the"Death-bed of the mass," accursed Anabaptists that you are.

Herm. We have not composed or written the book of the"Death-bed of the mass," and do you take it so ill that I speak of the secret of the mass? is it not a common saying, also among the papists when they are asked in regard to something which they do not wish to tell, they generally answer, "I do not want to tell the secret of the mass."

Fr. Corn. Bah! the devil and his mother have introduced this saying among the laity. I would that all who use it would sink together through the earth into the abyss of hell, that I would.

Recorder. O father Cornelis, the people say it without thinking any evil by it; I have frequently heard priests say it, and to confess the truth, I have often said it myself, without any evil thought or reflection.

Fr. Corn. Well, it is enough of it; but, you Anabaptist, answer me whether you believe, that the real flesh and blood of Christ Jesus are offered up by us priests in the mass, let us hear.

Herm. You must ask me concerning things that are contained in the holy Scriptures; for I have not studied your faith or religion.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? You crazy, bedeviled Anabaptist, and would you only be asked concerning things that are expressly contained in the holy Scriptures? Come on then, now I will soundly ask you in regard to things that are most clearly contained in the holy Scriptures. Bah! I have heard it said, that you have grown-up children running about at home, that are still unbaptized, nevertheless Christ, in the third chapter of John, says to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, except every man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Bah, is this not something that is contained in the holy Scriptures, eh?

Herm. When the apostles, according to the command of Christ (Matt. 28), went and taught all nations to believe in Jesus Christ before they baptize them, did the converts to the faith, in the meantime, while they were being instructed, also go about unbaptized at home?

Fr. Corn. Bah, and if your children should die in the meantime, would they not go to the devil in hell, I suppose?

Herm. No, no more than the children or converts to the faith in the time of the apostles.

Fr. Corn. Ali, Bah! that was another thing; those children were circumcised, and thereby they were saved, though they died unbaptized; bah, here you are in a corner, happen what will, yes, yes, yes!

Herm. Those children were not all circumcised; for the faith in Jesus Christ was preached and taught also among the uncircumcised Gentiles; now I am out of the corner again.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? I shall put you in the corner again. Bah! as the children of the uncircumcised Gentiles, that died without baptism, went to the devil, so your children that die without baptism also go into eternal perdition; do you understand this?

Herm.. Our children that die before baptism certainly do not go into eternal perdition, any more than did the children of the Old Testament, that died uncircumcised before the eighth day.

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah! do you think that the children of the Old Testament, that died uncircumcised before the eighth day, are saved? bah, this were a fine thing.

Herm. Yes, this we think, without once doubting it, and I am surprised to hear you doubt it.

Fr. Corn. Bah, what do you make of the original sin then, which the children inherit from Adam and Eve, eh?

Herm. What do you make of the death of Christ? for John the Baptist said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which beareth away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

Fr. Corn. Bah, Christ bears away all the sin of the world, as you Anabaptists understand, think and believe. Bah, who then shall be damned? no one, I suppose.

Herm. Christ says in the sixteenth chapter of Mark, "He that believeth not shall be damned;" but He nowhere says, "He that is not baptized (understand, in infancy) shall be damned."

Fr. Corn. Bah, here you lie with your vile, false, lying mouth; for did I not tell you, that in the third chapter of St. John it is written, that Christ said to Nicodemu's ."° erily, verily, except every man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God?" bah I here I have certainly cornered you, have I not, eh?

 

[turnorburn]

Herm. No; for. Christ there speaks of no external baptism, nor does He mention baptism; but He speaks of the regeneration which is performed by the Spirit of God, who is sometimes also called a water in the holy Scriptures. For thus says the Lord by the prophet Isaiah in the forty-fourth chapter (v. 3), "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed." Again, by the prophet Ezekiel, in the thirty-sixth chapter (verses 25, 26), "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: , from all your filthiness, and from x.11 your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart a so will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you." Again, in the thirty-ninth chapter (v. 29), the Lord says by Ezekiel, "I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel." Again, by the prophet Joel, in the second chapter (v. 28):, "> , "Then will I pour out my Spirit upon all flesh," etc

Fr. Corn. Well, all this is done through the sacrament of baptism, when the children are baptized; for then the devil is exercised by the priest, and they are cleansed from the original sin, inherited from Adam and Eve, and they obtain a new heart and a new spirit; bah, thus does God pour or shed His Spirit upon all flesh; you will not cheat me out of this-you are cornered and remain cornered, see!

Herm. I tell you again, that Christ, when He talked with Nicodemus, meant such a regeneration as does not concern external baptism, nor does it children; but it concerns the true believers in Christ, who are begotten according to the will of God, by the word of truth, as James says in the first chapter. Again, Peter, in the first chapter of his first epistle, says, "See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." Of similar Scriptures which do not concern little children or external baptism, there are more yet.

Fr. Corn. Bah, but if the regeneration of water and of the Spirit does not concern children, they must certainly and unmistakably go to the devil; for you acknowledge yourself, that he who does not believe will be damned. Bah, children do certainly not believe as you also say. And when they besides remain unbaptized, and die thus, they must surely be damned; for by what other way could they be saved, eh?

Herm. By the death of Christ, as I have told you. And Christ also says (Matt. 5:18, 19), that to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.

Fr. Corn.. Yes, these are the same arguments with which your hedge-preacher yesterday made my spleen run over. Bah, what does all this disputing and arguing amount to; if you would suffer yourself to be converted, you must be willing to be taught, and brought to the Catholic, Christian faith of our mother, the holy Roman church, and to her baptism and religion. Bah, why will you trust so much in the heresies of that damned arch-heretic, Menno Simons, and so firmly rely upon this bewitched hedge-preacher? Bah, why do you not believe me as well as that Menno Simons? for I am as learned, and have read as much, and certainly much more, as this * * * bishop, Jacob the weaver, and as a Dietrick Phillips, and an Ubbo Frisius, and such devil's brood, I suppose, eh?

Herm. I trust (or build) not upon Merino Simons, nor upon any man; for the propkiet Jeremiah says in his seventeenth chapter (v. 5), "Thus saith the Lord: Cursed, be the man that trusteth in man."

Fr. Corn. This is very true; in this you say very well, see; if you begin to talk like this, I feel quite hopeful, that I will convert you with the help of God, from this miserable Anabaptism. So I will first prevail upon you, to renounce the same, and to have your unbaptized children baptized in the Catholic church, by a priest, as a good Christian is in duty bound to do, see. Well, Herman, what think you of this, eh?

Herm. I do not think that you are the man that will convert me to your mother, the Roman church, or who will bring me to it, that I shall have my unbaptized children baptized in the papistic church.

Fr. Corn. Ali bah, how do you talk in this strain again; a thousand devils (God bless us), what has come over you? It seems, as though he would trust no longer in Menno Simons, nor in any other man; but as soon as I begin with kindness and friendliness to admonish him to renounce Anabaptism, and to have his unbaptized children baptized in our Catholic church, he instantly pipes another tune. Is this not a fine thing? If you will not be converted, and have your unbaptized children baptized in our church, after the Catholic rite, you can be burned alive at the stake, see.

Herm. This you papists could also do just as well, even if I turned from my faith, and had my unbaptized children baptized in your church.

Fr. Corn. Be sure, we could; but we would give you the sword. If you will suffer yourself to be converted with kindness. I insure you the sword, that I do.

Herm. For what purpose should you give me a sword? it would be of no use to me, for we use no swords.

Fr. Corn. Tush, tush, tush! you well understand what I mean by it: you would only be beheaded with the sword, see.

Herm. After I should have truly and unfeignedly confessed, that I had erred in the faith, and after I should have my unbaptized -children baptized in your church, would I then, according to your saying or meaning, not be a good, upright Christian?

Fr. Corn. Jesus, yes, Herman, and should you not in every manner, yes, you, faithful Herman, be as good a Christian as any one can be? This is what I like to hear, see.

Herm. And would you papists make no sin of it, to shed the blood of such a good, upright Christian?

Fr. Corn. Fie, tusk, tush, tush, bah, is it noth. ing else? You would have to die nevertheless, because of your having apostatized from the Catholic Christian faith, and having yourself rebaptized, see.

Herm. The shepherd of the hundred sheep, of whom Christ speaks in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, did nevertheless not cut the throat of the lost or strayed sheep, when He had found it; but He laid it upon His shoulders, and carried it home rejoicing.

Fr. Corn. Ali, bah! what is the use of all this raving and prating? if you want to be converted, be converted, and recant; what shall I say of this? Bah, I should sooner convert the devil in hell and his mother, than I could convert one of these obdurate, petrified Anabaptists; this I swear to you, that I do.

Herm. Therefore I said, that you are not the man who shall be able to prove to me from the holy Scriptures, that my faith, and my baptism, which I received upon confession of my faith in Jesus Christ, is evil; how then should you be able to convert me from it?

Fr. Corn. Indeed? but what devil in hell makes you people so presumptuous as that you have yourselves rebaptized, who have once been baptized? Show me once from the holy Scriptures, that a Christian that has once been baptized is to have himself rebaptized. Bah, I stake my neck, that you will not be able to show this to me with the holy Scriptures, see.

Herm. Alas! poor Friar Cornelis, you have already lost your neck; for in the nineteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles it is written, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Now, poor Friar Cornelis, here you lose your neck.

Fr. Corn. Enough, ah, bah, if they had been rightly baptized. Paul would not have caused them to be rebaptized. No, I have not yet lost my neck, that I have not.

Herm. Well then, I answer the same; if I had been rightly baptized, I would also not have had myself rebaptized. But now you can well hear, that you have unjustly so often called me an accursed Anabaptist.

Fr. Corn. But you were certainly very well baptized; for the priest had baptized you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And afterwards, only six or seven years ago, you had yourself baptized again; are you therefore not an accursed, damned Anabaptist, eh?

 

[turnorburn]

Herm. I was not baptized upon my faith in Jesus Christ, but in my unbelief; and when I heard and understood this, I had myself baptized upon my faith, as Christ Himself has said in the sixteenth chapter of Mark, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Am I therefore an accursed, damned Anabaptist?

Fr. Corn. Yes, you are and remain a damned, accursed Anabaptist, if you do not become converted. For St. Paul says, that there is but one God, one faith, and one baptism; is it not Anabaptism then, to have one's self rebaptized?

Herm. For this reason you papists are justly (according to your saying) called Anabaptists by the Calvinists, because you have rebaptized in your churches their children, that had been baptized once out here in their preaching.

Fr. Corn. O you awkward, block-headed Anabaptist, those children were not rightly baptized, and you know yourself well enough how to prove from the nineteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, that St. Paul caused those who had not been rightly baptized under John's baptism to be rebaptized. Bah, are we Catholics Anabaptists? I suppose so, * * * What shall I say now, does it now become fool's work altogether with the sacrament of baptism-see wherewith we are now tormented and vexed; would you accursed Anabaptist now begin to call us Catholics Anabaptists? Bah!

Herm. I do not call you Anabaptists; for I only say, that the Calvinists call you Anabaptists, because you rebaptize their children, which they had once baptized.

Fr. Corn.* * * (He spoke here only vile words of abuse.)

Herm. Our baptism is nevertheless administered according to the institution of Christ; for in our church the believing are baptized, but you baptize the unbelieving.

Fr. Corn. Bah, the sponsors believe in behalf of the children, until they are old enough to believe themselves, do you understand this?

Herm. No; I find nothing said in the Scriptures, about sponsors, nor about one man believing in behalf of another.

Fr. Corn. Bah, now you are clearly cornered; for does not St. Luke say in the fifth chapter, that Christ saw the faith of the bearers who let down the man afflicted with the palsy, through the roof with his couch, and that He therefore healed him and forgave his sins, eh? Bah, here for once I have clearly cornered you; get out if you can. Now you have spectacles on your nose, have you not, eh?

Herm. No; for from this it is not to be understood, that the man afflicted with the palsy did not himself believe, or was without faith, as are the children which you baptize.

Fr. Corn. Bah, the old fathers or teachers of our mother, the holy Roman Catholic church do nevertheless understand, that the bearers of the man afflicted with the palsy signify the sponsors, who hold the children when they are being baptized, and believe in behalf of the children, till these are old enough. to believe for themselves; for to this end the sacrament of confirmation is instituted, to put the children, when they are old enough to believe themselves, in remembrance that they were baptized. Bah, I could very well show you this from the ancient fathers, but you Anabaptists will rely most firmly on the holy Scriptures alone, so that you will not once hearken to the ancient fathers or teachers of the holy church. Bah, it seems, as the provincial of the Augustinians tells me, that, when one begins to mention something to you from St. Jerome, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, St. Gregory, or some other ancient fathers, that you people carry on in just such a crazy and ugly manner, as though one began to speak to you of the very devil -is this not a fine thing?

Herm. Because we wish to be only Christians, therefore we do not want to hearken to the teachings of the ancient fathers; for they describe popery, as of sponsors, of the sacrament of confirmation, and the whole popery which you follow and observe:

Fr. Corn. O you damned, accursed Anabaptist, do you call the sacrament of confirmation popery?

Herm. What else is it then? for I have never read in the holy Scriptures of the sacrament of confirmation.

Fr. Corn. Bah, and are so dull, awkward and block-headed, that you do not understand it, though you read of it; for confirmation means the imposition of hands, see.

Herm. Ah, does it mean this? pardon me, that through my awkwardness and dullness I do not understand such very high and fine Latin.

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah, did I say it is Latin, see here.

Herm. What language is it then? I certainly would like to know.

Fr. Corn. Bah, that I do not know myself; but we Catholics understand it by the word confirmation, the sacrament of confirmation, or the laying on of the hands of the bishop, when our bishops and suffragans confirm grown-up children or adults, as also the apostles did; hence it is that I say, that you sectarians read of many holy sacramental things in the Scriptures, which you do not understand, and therefore you do not know our sacrament of confirmation, that you do not.

Herm. If your bishops or suffragans by such confirmation and laying on of hands could give to the grown-up children and adults the Holy Ghost, and that they spake with tongues, and prophesied as did the apostles, and also those upon whom they laid their hands, then I should very well understand and know your confirmation.

Fr. Corn. Bah, there had to be miracles then, when the people did not believe yet, in order that they might believe the apostles; do you understand this, you stupid Anabaptist?

Herm. If Christ had commanded you to imitate such laying on of hands, He would also do those miracles though you. Hence, when your bishops do such miracles with their confirmation and imposition of hands, then I shall believe you too.

Fr. Corn. Tush, tush, tush, these are the same arguments and chatterings which also your accursed hedge-preacher advanced yesterday against the sacrament of confirmation, and the sacrament of extreme unction. Bah, though Christ Himself did not command us to imitate it, the apostles commanded us to do it; for does not St. James, in the fifth chapter, command that when any one is sick, he priests of the church are to be sent for, to pray over him, and to anoint him with oil, eh?

Herm. The oil of which James writes must have been another oil than your oil; for with that the sick were anointed, that they should recover from their sickness, and they did recover from it. But you priests do the very opposite; for if you knew beforehand, that the sick should recover, and not die, you would not anoint them with oil; for you anoint no sick persons with oil except those who you think will die.

Fr. Corn. Bah, my lords, did I not well know, that it would be the same thing which it was yesterday with their hedge-preacher? Bah, I lay you a wager, that if I begin to prove to him, from the same fifth chapter of St. James, the sacrament of confession, he will also say, as his hedge-preacher said yesterday, that I also ought to confess my sins to him; just see, with what we are tormented and vexed.

Herm. Did this seem to you so strange an answer from him? for it is nevertheless written, "Confess your sins one to another.." But when you priests learn from people all that you wish to know, then you let them go, and do not yourselves confess to them who have confessed (as you call it) their sins to you.

Fr. Corn. Yes, we call it confession, and it is confession, and shall remain confession, in spite of your teeth. Ah, bah, would it not be a fine thing, if we priests also had to kneel down and confess ourselves to the laity; and would they have the power to absolve us from sin? I suppose so. Bah, what a fine absolution that would be! Bah, and if I here confess myself to you, would you be so presumptuous as to think that you have power to loose or forgive my sins, eh?

Herm. Such power as you or all priests have to forgive sin, all men have; for Christ says, Mark 11:25, "Forgive, if ye have aught against any
that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." Again, Luke 6:37, "Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."

Fr. Corn. O you accursed Anabaptist, have you laymen priestly authority to forgive sin in confession? .Bah, the forgiveness of sin of which Christ speaks, Mark 11; Luke 6, does not concern confession or absolution. * * * Bah, we priests have in the sacrament of confession and absolution a special priestly authority to forgive and to retain sin, that we do.

 

[turnorburn]

Herm. Whence do you priests get a special authority to forgive sin, more than we, whom you call laymen?

Fr. Corn. Bah, this special authority which Christ delivered to His vicar, St. Peter, and St. Peter left it to his vicars the popes, and the popes impart to us of that power, because they cannot themselves in person everywhere hear confession, and absolve, see.

Herm. That the popes and you priests have the special power to forgive and to retain sin, which Christ gave to Peter, this you will not be able to show to me with the holy Scriptures.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? O you accursed Anabaptist, the executioner will be able very well to show it to you, by kindling a good fire * * * and the very devils in hell will also show it to you with burning pitch, brimstone, and tar .in the fire of hell; this I swear to you, that I do.

Herm. You papists can demonstrate your faith, doctrine and religion with nothing better than with the executioner, and with sword, fire, rope and gallows; for these are the best demonstrations or proofs which you have, and thus your forefathers demonstrated their faith and doctrine to God's prophets, to Christ, to His apostles, and to the saints of God, from the blood of Abel until now.

Fr. Corn. Ha, you hellish, devilish, damned, accursed Anabaptists, for what do you take our holy fathers the popes and us priests? may thunder and lightning kill, burn and pulverize you. Bah, that I should thus excite, exasperate and disquiet myself for such an accursed Anabaptist.

Clerk of the criminal court. Tush, tush, Father Cornelis, and Herman, speak gently with each other.

Fr. Corn. Yes indeed, be gentle towards such bedeviled, bewitched, heretics, who do not believe anything. In good faith, do you Anabaptists then go thus unconfessed and unabsolved to your supper? I suppose so; for,you regard it but as a bit of simple common bread, and a little draught of com, mon, flat wine. The transubstantiation in the sacrament of the altar with you is only popery, .yea, sorcery, and we priests are regarded as sorcerers by you, because we adjure and conjure the true flesh and blood of Christ in the host and in the cup, as you Sacramentarians say, ill betide you.

Herm. Such confession, or absolution, or sacrament of the altar we do not use in our church, but we observe such forgiveness of sins, as Christ commands us, Mark 11; and Luke 6, and such breaking of bread, and distribution of the cup, as He in His last supper commands us to do for His remembrance.

Fr. Corn. Bah, but with that forgiveness of sins Christ means this when your neighbor has done aught amiss to you; but I ask concerning the sins which you people have sinned against God whether you go with these unconfessed and unabsolved to your devil's supper, eh?

Herm. We pray as Christ has taught us, Matthew 6:12."Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." And we use no devil's supper.

Fr. Corn. Your breaking of bread, and distribution of the cup is the devil's supper of which Paul writes in the tenth chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians, "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils: But the cup of blessing which we bless," that is, we Catholics,"is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion.of the body of Christ?" Bah, and is your bit of bread, and your cup with a little draught of flat wine not a devil's supper? for you sacramentarians do not bless your cup, nor do you consecrate your bit of bread, but it is wine and bread, and remains wine and bread; bah, let us hear what you can answer against this, that will be conclusive.

Herm. In regard to this, I must ask you, whether you yourself believe, that Christ in His last supper meant no other body or flesh, and no other blood, than that which was to be broken and shed on the cross for the remission of sins.

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah; and should I not believe this? this is quite Catholic, that it is.

Herm. Well you will certainly also confess, I think, that the bread which the apostles le at the supper was not crucified.

Fr: Corn. Bah, what hellish, devilish, heretical question is this; never in all the days of my life did I hear such a deep question. Bah, I believe and know very well, that the apostles ate the same body or flesh of Jesus Christ, which the day after the supper was to be crucified, see.

Herm. Therefore, poor man, you do not understand the sense or meaning of Christ, though Paul in the tenth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians very clearly explains the same, saying, "Behold Israel after the flesh; are not they which eat of the sacrifice partakers of the altar?" Thus also are we in the eating of the bread, and in the drinking .of the wine, partakers of the body and blood of Christ.

Fr. Corn: Bah, you accursed Sacramentarian, would you compare the flesh of God to the rotten flesh of oxen, and the lousy flesh of sheep, and to the, rotten, putrid flesh of goats and other beasts and carrions? * * * Bah, fie, what abominable and horrible heresy is this?

Herm. You understand neither Paul nor me; for what I say is this, that Paul by this comparison of the sacrifices of the altar (which the Jews ate, and thereby became partakers of the sacrifice in the remission of sins) explains and expounds the communion or participation of the broken bread and of the cup of wine (which we eat and drink in remembrance of the body and blood of Christ), that we thus also become partakers in the washing from sins through the body and blood of Christ, which He offered up for the sins of the world.

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah, see, now I plainly understand your heretical, Sacramentarian meaning, that you only make comparisons and memorials of the flesh and blood of Christ. Eh, accursed Anabaptist, why then does St. Paul say, in the eleventh chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." Bah, answer me once to this, you accursed Sacramentarian, that you are.

Herm. In the tenth chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians Paul writes, "We being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." Again in the twelfth chapter, "We are all members of one body." If we then are members of one body, unto which Christ has united us together by His baptism and by His Spirit, no external sign can be fitter, to show or signify the union of one body, than that in the breaking of bread we all become partakers of one bread, in token that we being many are one bread and body. Likewise it is also with the wine; for as many grains are ground together, and made into one bread, so of many grapes one drink is made. Therefore let every one examine himself, whether he be worthy of the communion of the bread and of the cup of the Lord, and whether he love his fellow brother with a pure heart: for if he hates his brother, and does not love him, and would besides make himself a partaker yet of the bread and of the cup of the Lord as though he were a member of Christ, he shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, and shall eat judgment to himself, not discerning, that the body of the Lord is signified by this communion or participation, that we are members of one body, into which Christ has united us.

Fr. Corn. Tush, tush, tush I it seems that you also could preach a little sermon in the Gruthuysbosch. Bah, this people know nothing else to do but to preach; but you would have to preach a long time to me, before I would believe that a man will eat and drink judgment to himself on a bit of common bread, and a little draught of wine, by which you Sacramentarians would only signify the body and blood of Christ. Bah, I would rather believe that God's name is Henry, that I would.

Herm. What greater importance was there in the sacrifices of the Jews, of sheep and doves, than in the bread and wine, which are all types of the true sacrifice which Christ made on the cross in His own flesh and blood? And if the Jews had nevertheless, according to the command of Christ, to lay down their offering before the altar, and first go and become reconciled to their brother, before they were to offer, then a Christian also ought first to examine himself, before he partakes of the bread and .the cup of the Lord.

Fr. Corn. Bah, a thousand devils, God bless us, if the bread and the wine are only types of the true sacrifice of the flesh and blood of Christ on the cross why then does He say in the sixth chapter of John, "The bread that I will give is my flesh;" again, "My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed; therefore he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, shall live forever," eh?

 

[turnorburn]

Herm. This argument is against yourself, for you would say that the bread is therefore the body of Christ, and the wine His blood, because Paul says, that whosoever eats and drinks it unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself. And here Christ says, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, shall live forever." If therefore that bread and wine of which Paul writes, were the flesh and blood of Christ, no one could therein eat judgment to himself.

Fr. Corn. Bah, this accursed Sacramentarian would torment and pester us here, I suppose, with all these abominable blasphemies against God's true body and blood. Bah, the very devil of hell sits in his accursed mouth.

Herm. I have not mentioned one word about the body and blood of God; how then can I have blasphemed there against?

Fr. Corn. O you accursed Anabaptist and Sacramentarian, are the body and blood of Christ not also the body and blood of God? are God the Father and the Son of God not one God, or would you make two Gods of them. Bah, are you also a Trinitarian, I suppose, eh?

Herm. Yet you said, when you wanted to dispute about the mass, that you priests daily in the

mass, offer up to God His Son Jesus Christ; hence you make a distinction between God and the body of His Son, which you now begin to call the flesh and body of God.

Fr. Corn. Bah, the devil and 'his mother wag your tongue. You would now like to bite into my trap, would you? Ali, you wicked, vile, false, crafty Anabaptist and Sacramentarian, yea, also Trinitarian, because you speak so abominably of the holy Trinity, do you then not believe, that Christ is the second person in the Godhead of the holy Trinity? Bah, it seems not from your speaking.

Herm. We only know to speak of things that are mentioned in the holy Scriptures.

Fr. Corn. O you Trinitarian, do we not read in the holy Scriptures of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Ghost, eh?

Herm. Yet the holy Scriptures speak of only one God, and of the Son of the living God, and of the Holy Ghost.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? you accursed Trinitarian; if you would read the symbol* of Athanasius, you would read of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Ghost, which three persons are therein called one true God, of whom the Father is the first person in the Godhead; the Son is the second person in the Godhead, and the Holy Ghost is the third person in the Godhead; and these three persons constitute the holy Trinity, that they do. Do you understand now, you Trinitarian, eh?

Herm. I have not studied the symbol of Athanasius; for it is enough for me, that I believe in the living God, and that Christ is the Son of the living God, as Peter believed (Matt. 16), and in the Holy Ghost, which is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, as Paul writes in the third chapter of his epistle to Titus.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? you are certainly fine fellows, that God should shed His Holy Spirit upon you who will not believe that the Holy Ghost is also God Himself. But this heresy you pick up and study in the devilish books of that accursed Erasmus of Rotterdam, who in his preface to the books of St. Hilary writes, that St. Hilary, at the end of his twelfth book, says, that the Holy Ghost is nowhere in the holy Scriptures called God, but that we have become so presumptuous as to dare call the Holy Ghost God, which the ancient teachers of the church did not dare do. In like manner this wicked Erasmus is also a great enemy of the divinity of Christ. Ah, bah I would you follow this damned Trinitarian, eh?

Herm. We follow neither Erasmus nor Hilary, but we follow the holy Scriptures, as Hilary and Erasmus herein do.

Fr. Corn. Though the holy Scriptures nowhere call the Holy Spirit God, what matters it? The Holy Ghost Himself has inspired our mother the holy Roman Catholic church, to call Him God, as appears from the symbol of Athanasius, see. But in good faith, if you believe the holy Scriptures, why then will you not believe in the divinity of Christ, eh?

Herm. That be far from us, that we should not believe in the divinity of Christ, that He is divine and heavenly, and not earthly, as you people believe; therefore we are put to death by you.

Fr. Corn. * * * Bah, we put you to death, because you people will not believe, that Christ assumed the seed of Mary His blessed mother, see.

Herm. We believe that the Word became flesh, as John writes in the first chapter of his Gospel.

Fr. Corn. Bah, now I have got you well cornered; for God was the Word. And if God became flesh, why then would you bite into my trap, because I say, God's flesh, God's body, and God's blood, eh?

Herm. We too believe that God was the Word; but would you then therefrom understand, that the living God (of whom Christ is the Son) became Himself flesh? this were certainly contrary to the entire holy Scriptures.

Fr. Corn. Yet Christ says, John 10:30, "1 and my Father are one." Again, John 14:9, "He that bath seen me bath seen the Father." Bah, where are you now, eh?

Herm. Christ also says (John 17:21-23), "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one." Again (Acts 4:32), "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." Again, Paul to the Galatians (3:8) says, "For ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Again (Ephe sians 5:31, 32), "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery."

Fr. Corn. Tush, tush, you have preached enough; for all this you have drawn from the venomous breasts of Erasmus. But answer me, why Christ says, "He that bath seen me bath seen the Father," see.

Herm. Christ also says, John 6:46, "Not that any man bath seen the Father, save he which is of the Father, he bath seen the Father." Again, John 1:18, "No man bath seen God at any time." Again, John 14:28, "For my Father is greater than I." Again, Mark 13:32, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." From this it is sufficiently shown that the Father Himself did not become flesh.

Fr. Corn. Bah, this you need not teach me; for I say myself that Christ, the second person in the Godhead, or of the holy Trinity, became man, whom you will not call God; do you understand this, you accursed Trinitarian that you are?

 

[turnorburn]

Herm. I call Him the Son of the living God, as Peter called Him. (Matt. 16:16), and Lord, as the apostles call Him.

Fr. Corn. O you accursed Trinitarian, I could jump out of my skin for anger, that I could.

Herm. Then you must jump out of your skin, when in the second chapter of the Acts of the apostles (verse 22), you read that Peter calls Him but a man of God, saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, a man* approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him." Again, in the same chapter (verse 32), "This Jesus bath God raised up." Again, in the third chapter (verse 15)"Whom God bath raised from the dead." Again in Acts 4:10, "Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead." Again, Paul (Acts 17:31) says, "Because he bath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he bath ordained; whereof he bath given assurance unto all men, in that he bath raised him from the dead."

Fr. Corn. Yes, yes, tush, tush, tush, bah I these are the same arguments which this damned Erasmus prefers, in his book, de modo orandi, and in Apologia ad Episcopum Hispalensem, Alphonsum Mauracum. But you Trinitarian, if you will call Christ only the Son of God, you do not esteem Him better than Adam; for Luke says in his third chapter, that Adam also was the son of God. Bah! see once, with what we are tormented.

Herm. That be far from us, that we should not esteem Christ better than Adam; for because we believe, that the body of Christ is not earthy of the earth, as was Adam the first man, but that He is a heavenly man, as Paul writes in the fifteenth chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians; therefore we are put to death by you; hence you yourselves do not esteem Him better than Adarii.

Fr. Corn. O you accursed Trinitarian, how the devil does wag your tongue. Bah, if you, will not. believe, that Christ is truly man; and if you will also not believe that He is the true God, what * * * is He then?

Herm. Do not talk so unbecomingly; for 'Christ is no devil; but He is the true Son of God, 'as John writes in the fifth chapter of his first epistle; and He is also a true man; as Paul writes in the fifth chapter of his epistle to the Romans.

Fr. Corn. Bah, but does not St. John in the same chapter say of the Son, "This is the true, God;" eh?

Herm. No, for John says, "We know that .the Son of God is come, and hath given us an under standing, that we may know the true God, and that we should be in his true Son. 'This is the true God, and eternal life." Hereby John means this true God whom the Son taught us to know:

Fr. Corn. Bah, you Trinitarian; now it occurs to me that St. John says in the same chapter, "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one." Bah, here you are, soundly cornered, poor Trinitarian that you are.

Herm. I have often heard it said; that Erasmus in his Annotations charges you papists with having interpolated these words, and that they are not contained in the Greek text, even as you people have taken out and added many other things' in the holy Scriptures.

Fr. Corn. Bah, may the fire of hell forever burn and torment you with your devilish, damned, accursed heretic Erasmus. Bah, I 'could tear my cap for anger; that I could:

Herm. Why then do you not tear, your cap, when you read that Greek text yourslf; and' see that this is not contained in it?

Fr. Corn. Bah, my lords, what do you think of this-am I wrong in so sharply attacking in my sermons this damned heretic, , this wicked Trinitarian Erasmus? For it is true, this he writes; yea, what is still worse, in his Annotations to the fourth chapter of St. Luke he has written.; that a very great and strange corruption has been wrought:in the holy Scriptures in the Greek and Latin copies, that sometimes something is added and interpolated and sometimes something taken away, omitted, and erased, on account of the heretics; yea, that the marginal notes which were now and then written by one or the other have all been foisted into the text, my lords, is it not a fine thing?

Recorder. Ali, Father Cornelis, we are no theologians; we do not understand these things.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? Bah, I believe it; but this Trinitarian would certainly understand it very well, as you hear, that he charges us with it. Bah, he would dare charge us Catholics with his archheretic, this wicked Erasmus, that in the ,ninth chapter of Romans, where Paul says, "Whose are he fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came;" we' have interpolated, "Who is over all, God blessed forever: Amen." For this accursed .Erasmus writes, that he has great doubts with regard to this clause, "Oui est benedictus in saecula. Amen." Or these words are to be interpretedand understood- as a thanksgiving to God the Father; thus,"Christ, etc., who is over ail. God be blessed for ever. Amen.""Otherwise," he writes;"I have great doubts; whether this clause has not been interpolated, as I find also in some other texts, that they have added similar clauses, for .the conclusion of discourses, as, Tu autem Domine; etc.; Gloria Patri et Filio, etc., as their lessons and prayers are all concluded with such clauses." But as regards the words of St. Thomas, in the twentieth chapter of St. John's gospel, you have no way of escape; for there St. Thomas said to Christ, "My Lord and my God." Bah, to this he does not reply, yea, with this he is soundly cornered- nevertheless, he spitefully writes with regard to this, "This is the first and last passage in the Scriptures, where Christ is called God." Bah, but you Trinitarian, let us hear what you can say to this.

Herm. I reply to this, that Thomas said very well here; for David says in the eighty-second Psalm, "I have said, Ye are gods'; and all of you are children. of the Most High." Christ Himself also quotes these words in the tenth chapter of John. When the Jews took up stones to stone Him, because He had said,"I and the Fattier are one," esus answered them, "Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me?' The Jews answered him, saying: For a good work we stone thee not; but for'blaspherny; and because that thou, being a man, iiiakest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods. If he called.them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest;. because I said, I am the son of God?" Again, Ex. 22:8, 9, "If the thief, be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the gods, etc. The cause of both parties shall come before the gods; and whom the gods. shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbor."

Fr. Corn. Bah, but tell me without many words, why Christ did not say to St. Thomas, "Stay: I am not your God?" let us hear.

Herm. In regard to this my previous answer, John 10; David in Ps. 82 will serve; but answer

Te why Christ did not reply to these words of homas, " Vpon this rock I will build my church," as He .said, .1Vlatt. 16:18, when Peter answered Him, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God?" He also did not say to Thomas, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which i's in heaven." Why also does Christ, John 20:17; say to His disciples, "I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God, and your God? Again, Matt. 27:46, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

 

[turnorburn]

Fr. Corn. Tush, tush, you Trinitarian. Bah, from this would probably follow diabolical arguments which would transcend all human comprehension. Ah, bah, is Christ not truly God? why then do we call His blessed mother the mother of God, eh?

Herm. Because you will nowhere follow the holy Scriptures, but would call everything by a contrary and different name; for the holy Scriptures call her the mother of Jesus, as in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, in the nineteenth chapter of John, and in many other places of holy Scripture, where she is not once called the mother of God.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? Bah, do you think that we Catholics pay so much regard to the naked, bare, meagre Scriptures? Ah, bah, the worthy, holy council of Nice has ordained and decreed that she should be called the mother of God. What do you say to this?

Herm. Do you not hold the last council of Trent to be of as great authenticity, dignity, and holiness as the council of Nice?

Fr. Corn. Yea, in troth, and should we not? Ah, bah, the Holy Ghost taught and spoke just as well through the fathers in the worthy council of Trent, as though the fathers in the council of Nice. Bah, what need is there of asking this question? have you nothing else to ask me? Bah, I well perceive that you would fain drop the subject concerning the mother of God.

Herm. I had to ask this in order to hear your confession in regard to it; for now I know by the council of Trent all the other councils, because I have in my time heard and seen how things went at the former council, which mocks and puts to shame all previous councils.

Fr. Corn. O you hellish, devilish, accursed Trinitarian, you blaspheme the Holy Ghost. It is a wonder that we do not all together with you sink into the earth. My lords, I am absolutely afraid to speak any longer with this Beelzebubian Anabaptist, Sacramentarian and Trinitarian, and enemy of the mother of God, that I am.

Recorder. Can you not keep still in regard to these things, Herman, as we requested of you?

Herm. I do not blaspheme the Holy Ghost, nor am I an enemy of the mother of Christ.

Fr. Corn. Bah, do you not blaspheme the Holy Ghost, when you ridicule, villify and deride the worthy council of Trent, and all the previous holy councils? and will not call the worthy, holy, blessed virgin Mary the mother of God, as the holy council of Nice teaches and commands us to do? Bah, are you not then a blasphemer of the Holy Ghost, and an enemy of the mother of God eh?

Herm. You papfists were so presumptuous in your council of Nice, that you dared call the mother of Jesus Christ the mother of God, whom neither the apostles nor the evangelists dared call the mother of the Son of God.

Fr. Corn. O you damned, devilish Anabaptist. you hellish Trinitarian, Sacramentarian and deadly enemy of the blessed mother of God, we will call her the mother of God in spite of your teeth, and she is too the mother of God. Yea, she is the mother of God, that she is?

Herm. You said yourself that there are three persons in the holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that these three persons are but one true God. If Mary then is the mother of this true God, then she is just as well the mother of the Father and of the Holy Ghost, and of the Son.

Fr. Corn. O you devilish heretic, I have proved to you from the symbol of Athanasius, that the Father is God, and that the Son is God, and that the Holy Ghost is God, and that there are nevertheless not three gods, but that these three are one true, inseparable God, see.

Herm. If these three are not each a distinct, separate God, but if the three are but one true inseparable God, and if Mary is the mother'of God, then she must be the mother of all three, or the three must each be a separate God. Where are you now with your council of Nice?

Fr. Corn. Bah, may the fire of hell burn you, you wicked, evil, vile, false, crafty Trinitarian; the devil wags your accursed tongue. Bah, you would drive an hundred thousand doctors of divinity mad and crazy. Jesus, Jesus, worthy mother of God, how you are reviled, despised and rejected by this hellish devil's brood. But in good faith, how would you have her called-Maeyken Timmermans,* as you call her in your hellish, devilish sermons in the Gruthuysbosch, eh?

Herm. We call her the mother of Jesus, as she is called in the Scriptures, And how can you say that we revile, despise and reject her?

Fr. Corn. O you accursed Anabaptist, I will drop this, that you will not call her the mother of God; but is this not odious reviling, despising and rejecting, that your arch-heretic, Menno Simons writes, that Christ did not assume the sinful earthly seed of Mary, but that He came with flesh and blood, with skin and hair, from heaven, into Mary, and thus became man, and that He merely passed through her body, as water through a sieve, or through a spout; bah, is this not reviling, blaspheming, despising and rejecting?

Herm. You do not understand what Menno Simons writes; for what you here say, cannot be found in his writings; but he shows with many Scriptures, that the Word became flesh (as John writes in his first chapter), and not the seed of Mary.

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah,. was Christ then not born of the seed of David according to the promise; which seed He assumed in the blessed virgin Mary,

Probably an allusion to the fact that Mary's husband Joseph was a carpenter. of her most pure blood, and of that became flesh and man, eh?

Herm. That Christ was born of the seed of David (as regards the generation of which He was born) we well believe; but the angel said to Joseph, "That which is begotten in her is of the Holy Ghost," Matt. 1:20. Again, John 16:28, Christ Himself says, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world."

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah, Christ says this of His divinity, that the same proceeded, and came into the world from the Father, and not from His humanity, you stupid Anabaptist.

Herm. Why then did Christ say, John 6:62, "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?" Again, John 3:13, "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man." Again, Paul says, Eph. 4:9, 10, "That he ascended; what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens."

Fr. Corn. Bah, you stupid Anabaptist, did Christ then come from heaven into Mary with flesh and blood, with skin and hair, entrails and all, as He ascended up to heaven? Bah, what do you say of this, you great, stupid, awkward ass?

Herm. I do not say this; but I say that the Word came from heaven, and became flesh in Mary, as John writes in his first chapter.

Fr. Corn. And we Catholics say that the most pure blood of Mary became flesh, in spite of your miserable teeth, see.

Herm. This defiance to my teeth is a small matter; but this defiance to the holy Scriptures is a great blasphemy.

Fr. Corn. Ha, you damned Anabaptist, I do,not blaspheme the holy Scriptures; but you revile the holy, blessed, pure virgin Mary. Bah, I am surprised that you do not say, that she conceived her son Christ of her husband Joseph, as your hedgepreachers preach in the Gruthuysbosch; is it not a fine thing?

Herm. You wrong us greatly, that you say this of us; for we believe as Matthew writes in his first chapter, "Joseph took his wife, and knew her not till she had brought forth her first born son."

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah! did Joseph know her afterwards, eh?

 

[turnorburn]

Herm. It matters not to me whether he knew her afterwards, or not.

Fr. Corn. Indeed? and do you then not believe in the perpetual virginity:of the blessed virgin Mary? let us hear now.

Herm. We find nothing said in the Scriptures, concerning her perpetual virginity.

Fr. Corn. Bah, this accursed Anabaptist would pester me with the Scriptures. Will you then positively believe nothing else but what is contained in the holy Scriptures? Bah, hence it comes that you hus despise, reject and revile the worthy mother of God and imagine, yea, teach and believe that she did the carnal works of the married state with Joseph her husband, just as well as your filthy, sinful wives do, with you, and that she had many children by Joseph her husband; hah, is this not a fine thing?

Herm. And if she had done the work of the married state with her husband Joseph, and brought forth more children (which is ordained and commanded of God, Gen. 1, and is a blessing) would she thereby have sinned?

Fr. Corn. Bah, God blessed Adam and Eve, and said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth," before they transgressed the commandment; but they did not continue in ~h~e blessing but transgressed the commandment of God, and thereby the work of marriage became sin to them; bah, now you are cornered.

Herm. You are cornered yourself; for, Gen. 9: 1, it is written, "God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them: Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." Again, the prophet Jeremiah, in the twenty-ninth chapter, says, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased."

Fr. Corn. Bah, tush, tush, you have talked enough; bah, hear how much talk there is in this miserable Anabaptist. Bah, now that I hear you talk, I will believe, that you Anabaptists undisguisedly and presumptuously preach out there in the Gruthuysbosch, that Maeyken Timmermans, as regards the work of marriage, was not a hair better than your filthy, unchaste, carnal wives area Yea, in order utterly to loose the marriage bond, and to show, that women may have divers husbands, you wicked Anabaptists dare preach and teach that Mary had children of many different husbands, like your wives, whom you have in common-is this not a fine thing?

Herm. Of such things as you here say I never heard our teachers speak once, when they preached the Word; but it may sometimes have been asked among us, whether the brethren and sisters of Christ, of whom the holy Scriptures make mention, Matthew 13; Mark 6, etc., were natural children by Joseph or Mary.

Fr. Corn. O you accursed Anabaptist, the holy Scriptures call some apostles, as St. James, St. Simon, St. Judas, the Lord's brethren, who were merely His cousins, you stupid Anabaptists that you are.

Herm. Yet, in the first chapter of Acts it is written (after the eleven apostles are enumerated), "These all continued with one accord in prayer [and supplication], with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." Nevertheless, I will not insist upon, or maintain, that
Mary the mother of Jesus gave birth yet to other children.

Fr. Corn. Bah, but when you Anabaptists are assembled in the Gruthuysbosch, you will maintain it, and other things yet concerning her, which are still much more wicked and abominable; for I know it well, that I do.

Herm. We are greatly slandered, even as also you often stand in your pulpit and preach about us all that you please.

Fr. Corn. Indeed, do then any Anabaptists sometimes come to hear me preach, eh?

Herm. Though we do not hear you preach ourselves, yet we are told, that you stand in your pulpit and preach, that the Calvinists and Anabaptists teach and preach, that Mary the mother of Christ was a filthy whore, for which you are censured by learned men (in letters which they write to you), how you slander us thereby.

Fr. Corn. Bah, * * * you miserable Anabaptist * * * for such * * * letters I do not care, do you understand this? And do you know nothing else to say? Bah, you do not answer me in regard to having the women in common: bah, you Anabaptists have certainly gone about it very cunningly, that you have the women and maidens in common; for thereby you gain such a great number of adherents for your Anabaptism. Bah, but show me once from the Scriptures, that the women and maidens are to be had in common, as you Anabaptists do in your devil's supper;--bah, see; let us hear, whether you will be able to show me this.

Herm. No; for this I could show to you just as little, as you can show to me from the holy Scriptures, that the women and maidens must be scourged, as you do in your secret disciplining. But you have certainly well practiced the secret disciplining or scourging of the maidens and women, for thereby you gain such a great retinue of devotaries.

Fr. Corn. Bah, I would rather * * * than reply to all your talk; but answer my question.

Herm. All such barefaced lies, as that we have the women and maidens in common, I do not deem worthy of an answer.

Fr. Corn. Ah, bah I Is it a barefaced lie, that you Anabaptists have the women in common? Why then does all the world speak of it, and why then is it printed in so many books, which by us Catholics are written against you, and which I daily read. Fie, you adulterers! fie, you dishonorers of marriage I

Herm. All that are of the world are liars; hence you and your Catholics cannot be believed.

Fr. Corn. Ah, am I of the world, * * * you accursed, bewitched, damned Anabaptist that you are. Bah, you stupid beast, and do you not see, that I am spiritual? But you evince worldly works by having all the women in common; but I have vowed chastity; do you understand this, you dishonorer of marriage that you are?

Herm. We do not dishonor marriage; but if you are spiritual, and have vowed chastity, then it is surprising that you have your delight in this carnal, unclean, secret disciplining, or scourging of the women.

Fr. Corn. O you devilish Anabaptist and dishonorer of marriage, I could almost fly into your eyes or into your mouth; bah, what do you understand about my secret disciplining which I employ with my devotaries? Bah, you are filthy, carnal, unchaste, voluptuous rogues, that you thus use the women in common, like dogs. Yes, you damned dishonorers of marriage are nothing more than rotten, stinking dogs, carrions; for you go about it in this respect like dogs, though you would deny it before us; bah, fie, fie! shame upon you * * * Bah, if I cannot prevail upon you with kindness, I must try whether I can do it with severity; see now.

Clerk of the criminal court. Ah, father Cornelis, do be modest and keep your temper.

Recorder. Yes, converse together with kind, calm words; for it seems that you will continue to quarrel and bicker here like harlots.

Fr. Corn. Bah, my lords and may I not accuse him of what is true? I suppose so. Did you not hear yourselves yesterday, that that * * * bishop of the Anabaptists at first also wanted to deny everything; but when he perceived that I was so well acquainted with the matter, he acknowledged that there were some among them, who taught and practiced these things in secret, and when I soundly berated and convicted him with plain and conclusive arguments, he denied it no longer. Bah, why then should I not also have liberty to accuse and convict this one of it? Am I not come here to instruct and convert him? I think I am. See with what we are tormented. Why does he deny a matter which is true? * * * One may certainly talk here, I suppose?

Herm. Then I may also reply to you, that this matter is not true, because these things are lies; and I presume that Jacob, my fellow brother did well reply against it.

Fr. Corn. Yes, until I told him that the Anabaptists at Amsterdam and elsewhere, in Holland, ran stark-naked through the streets, men, women, boys and maidens, and said to one another, "My spirit desires your flesh." Bah I was this not a fine thing, eh?

Herm. No, this was not a fine thing; and hence we never regarded such as our brethren.

Fr. Corn. Bah! why would you deny it so strongly; for it is well enough known, that you Anabaptists do not regard the sacrament of marriage at all, because for a very little matter you loose and sever the marriage bond.

Herm. Since you bring so many untrue charges against us in regard to our marriage, I must ask you something respecting marriage that concerns you, and which is certainly no lie, for Paul writes thus to Timothy, in the fourth chapter (first epistle), "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving."

 

[turnorburn]

Fr. Corn. Tush, tush hold your tongue; for we do not want any more preaching here; bah, begone, get you hence. * * *

Heron. If I could be gone .from here I would no longer listen to your blasphemies and lies.

Fr. Corn. Ah, you accursed, hardened, petrified Anabaptist, how the devils in hell (whither you will shortly go) will sit in your accursed mouth, with burning pitch, brimstone, tar, and Greek fire; just wait.

Herm. No; but I shall go under the altar which John saw in his Apocalypse, as is written in the sixth chapter, to the souls of them that, were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held; who cried with a loud voice, saying,"How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"

Fr. Corn. Yes, the devil's martyr you will be. * * * But this preaching would probably last all night; hence I go to my convent, and let you preach as long as you will, you damned, accursed Anabaptist, Sacramentarian, Trinitarian, and marriage dishonorer that you are; see.

In the meantime one of the aforesaid two martyrs, namely, Jacob de Roore, or the chandler, while imprisoned, wrote several letters replete with holy and divine things, which we deem it profitable to communicate to the reader; they are the following

To be continued...

 

[turnorburn]

ANOTHER LETTER OF JACOB THE CHANDLER WRITTEN IN PRISON AND SENT TO POUWEL VAN MEENEN, ONE OF HIS FELLOW MINISTERS IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, IN ANSWER TO A LETTER WHICH HE HAD RECEIVED FROM HIM

The eternal, incomprehensible God, who is alone wise, grant you His grace, mercy, and peace, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and fill you with all wisdom, knowledge and understanding, through the Holy Ghost, that you may walk worthily before God, to do His will, to the praise of His holy name, to the edification of His church, and to the salvation of your soul; this I wish, my much beloved and very dear brother Pouwel, as a friendly greeting and for a parting farewell.

After all proper greetings, I inform you, my dear brother, that I understood from your letter, that you request of me, that I should write to you, for a remembrance, concerning all the articles of faith; which I would willingly do for your sake, but I do not think that I shall have the time. In the second place, I understood, that after the writing of the first letter you saw the articles of faith which I briefly wrote to my children.

In the third place, I understand from the little note which you wrote subsequently, that you particularly desire to know my views as to what is to be done with persons who will not avoid those whom the church has excommunicated according to the Scriptures, and are not willing to confess to guilt in the matter. I am greatly astonished that this spirit also manifests itself; but I fear that he is different in his nature from what he pretends to be; for the avoidance is very much in the way of Satan, yet the apostle teaches that it is a good means to make the excommunicated ashamed, that is, to bring him to humility or repentance. II Thess. 3: 14. But now I hear that the defect in regard to this avoiding lies chiefly, not with those that are avoided, but with those that should avoid. From this it is quite evident, that the reason why they will not avoid, lies with them, and not with those that are avoided, which also appears so to me, since I have noticed and feared that there was a covetous, selfseeking spirit with many, so that the mind was far more exercised in temporal business, traffic, and the like, than in godliness; yea, that they sought more to lay up treasures on earth, than in heaven.

And this avoidance is often greatly in the way of this spirit, for it inconveniences him sometimes in his business; hence one begins to consider, whether this cannot be set aside, and this with Scripture; for this spirit is of such a nature, that he does not like to make himself known; but he seeks to cover himself with the cloak of righteousness. He is also not reproved much in the church, or if he is to be reproved, he must be called by another name; for he is sometimes reproved as a heretic, sometimes as a juggler, sometimes as an idolater. And this is the reason, that he can conceal himself so well, but yet manifests his nature in this wise; for wherever he goes he does not go to be idle. Hence the apostle writes, "The love of money is the root of all evil." I Tim. 6:10.

The apostle further writes, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us." II Thess. 3:6. And he further writes, "If any man obey- not our word, signify that man by an epistle, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." II Thess. 3:14, 15.

With this the apostle indicates, that the church is as much bound, to have nothing to do with the disobedient, as she is bound to withdraw herself from such . as walk disorderly, even though the word withdraw might be understood only with reference to excommunication; for as the church must withdraw herself, lest she should be leavened or defiled by such persons, so she must have nothing to do with them, that they may be ashamed. Again, the church defiles herself, when she does not avoid, since this is commanded and taught her by the apostle, for he taught this, that it should be done, as may be perceived in his epistle to the Corinthians;..for he writes, "I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators." I Cor. 5:9.

From this it seems that he had written them before that time; but as they did not observe it, he explained it to them more fully, for he says, "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world; or with the covetous, or extortioners or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But I. have written unto you, not to keep company with these." See, he says again, "I have written unto you."

From this it can well be seen, that he repeats it, in order that they should observe it better, than they had done before; for they did also not observe excommunication, because they could not avoid; for where no excommunication is, there is also no avoidance, for avoidance springs from excommunication. Hence he reproved them as being puffed up, and that they did not mourn that such heinous deeds were committed among them; and determined concerning him that had done this deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when they were gathered together, with His spirit, and with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver him unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus.

Hence it is evident from this, that for whatever excommunication is good, avoidance is also good, and that they serve the same purpose. For the apostle says, that he delivered him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that is, for the mortification of the flesh; and concerning avoidance he says, "And have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." Mark, for what this shame serves; for it serves a woman to wash herself when she is toldthat she is begrimed; a man, also, that is disrobed, does not want to be seen in his nakedness, for he is ashamed; hence, when someone comes that would see him, he immediately puts on his clothes, that he should not be seen in his nakedness.

As Adam, when he knew that he was naked, he forthwith sought to cover himself, for he was ashamed; and he made an apron of fig leaves, to cover his shame. Now we must, according to the words of the apostle, avoid the excommunicated, that they may become ashamed; for if we withdraw ourselves from them, and avoid them, they have cause to consider why this is done, and through this considering to know . their nakedness; and become ashamed before the Lord their God, against whom they have sinned, and are thus smitten in their conscience, so that in this condition they dare not appear before the Lord, and hence seek a means to cover their nakedness, but not with fig leaves, as did Adam, .but with the skin of the Lamb Christ Jesus, who must be received through faith with a broken and contrite heart.

As Adam, when he humbled himself, God put a coat of skins on him, to cover his nakedness. Thus, dear brother, excommunication and avoidance have the same purpose, and they .are not contrary to each other; hence the apostle says, "Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." Admonition is not contrary to avoidance, for admonition serves to amendment, even as avoidance and excommunication serve to it. Hence the apostle does not prohibit it, but teaches that they are to be admonished as brethren; for all that is not contrary to them, namely, excommunication and avoidance, they do not prohibit; but where excommunication is, there must also be avoidance, for it proceeds froth excommunication.

Hence, when he wrote to the Corinthians, how they should deliver the fornicator to Satan, and purge out the old leaven, he also wrote to them, "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that it called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?" Mark, he says, judge; yet he had not written anything from which they might have understood, that the world should be excommunicated; but he had written that they should have no company with fornicators; and m order that they should not understand it with reference to the fornicators of the world, that one should have no company with them, he says, "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous; for then must ye needs go out of the world. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?" See, he calls it judging, that, as he said, one should have no company with them; although avoidance is not excommunication or the judgment itself, but it confirms the judgment; for when I say:

You must have nothing to do with that man, I thereby declare that he is excommunicated, and all that avoid him show that he is judged. Hence he says, "Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

 

[turnorburn]

From this we can well perceive, that avoidance is as well founded in the Scriptures as excommunication; hence those who now reject avoidance, reject the Scriptures, since it is founded in the Scriptures. Therefore, they that will not avoid, sin, not against men, but against the Lord; hence the church may not tolerate such, who so sin against the Lord, and will not confess to guilt; for they are servants of the Lord, to punish all disobedience.

ow we perceive, in the first place from the words of Christ (Matt. 18:15 ), that if any one sins against his neighbor, by any transgression, he must be reconciled to his neighbor, or he cannot, after sufficient admonition, remain a brother, but he must be regarded as a heathen man or publican, who was excluded from the covenant of the Lord, and with whom the Jews would have no fellowship. John 4:9. And since they must be regarded as persons that are excluded from the covenant of the Lord, because they have only through weakness sinned against their neighbor, and will not confess to guilt; how much more shall they be regarded so who sin against the Lord, and transgress His doctrine-which is frequently done through heedlessness, or self-interest, or for the sake of friends or relatives-and yet will not become reconciled to the Lord?

In the second place Moses writes, that if any one touched a dead body, and would not wash himself the third and the seventh day, he was to be cut off. Yet the dead had to be touched, for they must be buried; and yet, if they would not wash themselves, they had to be cut off; and the priest might not defile himself with any dead person; he was not allowed to go to any dead, for he had the anointing oil on his head. Num. 19:11; Lev. 21:1; 8:12; EX. 19:10. Hence, if they in Israel had to be so punished who would not wash themselves with water from a pollution'which was caused by necessity how shall they now be tolerated in the church, who without necessity, yea, often for the sake of gain, or through the prompting of flesh and blood, defile themselves with these dead, after they have been separated from the church, and yet will not wash themselves, or bear or confess their guilt?

These people may not thus be tolerated, according to the view which I have from the Scriptures: and if they are allowed to go unreproved, it must be declared as a liberty, and then perhaps tomorrow already another will arise and demand the abolishment of excommunication, and will prove to you, that you have just as much power to maintain avoidance, as you have to maintain excommunication; and then you will be beaten with your own staff, and thus the hedge will be completely broken down, and the wild boars will run into the vineyard of the Lord, and root it up. Ps. 80:13; Isa. 5:5. 0 dear brother, take heed; blow the trumpet onMount Zion; let Israel hear the word of the Lord; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering. Joel 2:1; II Tim. 4:2.

With the simple that are led astray in understanding, deal in a fatherly, longsuffering manner, if .God may haply yet enlighten them by His Spirit. Bind up the wounded; seek the erring; break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. Isa. 61:1; Luke 10:34; 15:4; Isa. 42:3. Always take heed unto yourselves, and to the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28. Hence feed the flock of Christ not by constraint, but willingly (I Pet. 5:2), and remember that the apostle says, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me." I Cor. 9:16, 17. Hence he also says, "Though we might have used authority, as the apostles of Christ, we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. I Thessalonians 2:6-8. And he said, that as a father admonishes his children, so he had exhorted, comforted, and charged them, that they should walk worthy of God. vv. 11, 12; Phil. 1: 27; Col. 1:10.

Thus, my dear brother, take heed to your sheep, and tend to your flock with a ready mind, and, when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. I Peter 5:4; Jas. 1:12. Thus, my dear brother, be watchful, and do the work of a true preacher; make full proof of thy ministry (II Tim. 4:5) and say like the prophet, "For Zion's sake will I rtot hold my peace and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." Isa. 62:1. Be on your guard, and watch over their souls, as one that must give an account thereof. Heb. 13:17. If you see the sword coming, blow the trumpet, and warn the people in the name of the Lord, that the drowsy may awake, and the feeble knees make straight paths, and the hands which hang down be lifted up, and you be free of their blood. Hebrews 13:17; Ezek. 3:19, 21; 33:3; Heb. 12:12, 13. To this end may the Lord grant you His grace, and strengthen you by His Spirit, that you may receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. Amen.

I pray you, dear brother, receive my brief exhortation in good part, for it has been written out of love; and here you have my simple views with regard to avoidance, and briefly what is to be done with those who do not avoid, and will not confess to guilt. I should have written more fully concerning it, but there was no good opportunity. Herewith I will commend my dear and much beloved brother, whom I love with all my heart, and his dear wife, to the Lord and to the Word of His grace. Pray the Lord for us. I thank you heartily for what you sent me; thank Peter very much in my name, this I ask of you. Written on the 17th and 18th of May by me, JACOB DE Room

I wish that you would send a copy of this letter to one of the ministers at Armentiers, or to my wife for this is my desire. Dear brother Pouwel, if you desire anything further, and I have the time, I am at your service, though there is little to be obtained from me. Greet your ministers very much in my name, and all them that fear and love God, where it is convenient.

Alle die lijden na den wille Godts, wilt hierop

mercken,

Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Schepper

met goede Wercken.

 

[turnorburn]

ABRAHAM PICOLET, HENDERICK VAN ETTEN, AND MAEYKEN VAN DER GOES, A. D. 1569

At Antwerp there was one Abraham Picolet, who was very intimately acquainted with Henderick van Etten, born at Breda, and a certain Herman N. Now it happened that as said Henderick intended to go home, he requested his companion, that they would yet once before his departure enjoy and rejoice themselves together (walking) by singing and speaking of the word of the Lord, as a leave-taking from the good fellowship which they had had together in the Lord. But as there was a great persecution at that time under the government of the Duke of Alva, these two young men, while walking in a forest in the vicinity of Wilrijck, near Antwerp, were apprehended by the bailiff of Borgerhout, who searched them, and finding in their possession several books, as, a New Testament and others, he strictly examined them; and asked them where they had last been to confession and to the sacrament.

Thereupon Abraham answered, that it had been in Italy. He further asked, how long ago it had been, whereupon he replied, "Four years." Learning these and other things from them, he on the second day of Whitsuntide brought them prisoners to Antwerp. But as the aforesaid Herman was not firmly built upon the cornerstone Christ, his building did not stand, for his sandy foundation could not endure these storms.

When examined, he confessed that he had been to confession and to the sacrament last Easter, though this was not true. And in order to confirm this, the parish priest or pastor of St. George's church testified to it, and by this means he was released from prison. But the other two, adhering to their faith, had many conflicts and disputations during their long imprisonment, with the blind sophists, who went to great pains and labor to draw them from the truth. But as they fled for refuge to the Captain of the faith they were not forsaken, but their assurance waxed stronger and stronger, so that they constantly wished for the day of their deliverance. Rom. 7:24.

They were also very diligent, constantly to edify their neighbors by writing an exhortation, so that by their letters and steadfastness in the faith they gained some yet in their bonds. Philem. 10. After they had lain in confinement for a while, the tyrants, seeing that there was no hope of moving them from the truth, proceeded further to deprive them of their lives, and as the bailiff held his court near the Kroonenburgh gate, he had them brought there twice before his judges, but this leading to no result, they were put the third time into a wagon and thus again placed before the judges. But as they were of good cheer and strong in the faith, Abraham, as he stepped to the wagon said, "Let no one among you," says Peter,"suffer as a thief or robber or as one that seeks other men's property; but if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf." I Pet. 4:15, 16.

Henderick spoke very little, yet nothing but boldness could be seen in him. As they stood before the judges, their sentence was read to them, namely, that they should be burned alive. When the reading of the sentence was finished, Abraham said that he thanked the lords for having been troubled with him, and that he prayed God to enlighten them. They were then put back into the wagon, and brought to the prison, where some more God-fearing persons were confined, of whom the margrave caused a woman to be sentenced to the same death, namely, Maeyken van der Goes, who valiantly followed her husband, jasper the Taschrinekmaecker, who had been offered up before. Thus the tyrants satisfied their desire onthese three lambs for the slaughter, and had them burned alive the following day, after they had fastened their tongues out of their mouths with screwplates to prevent them from speaking. But in all this they valiantly overcame through Christ, who was their strength; and went boldly onward with Joshua and Caleb, to possess the land of promise, to the comfort and strength of many witnesses who beheld it. After they were burned, the bodies of the two men were given as food to the birds (Ps. 79:2) on the way from Wilrijck because they had been apprehended under that seignioralty.

These two valiant heroes and champions, though they had not yet received water baptism upon confession of their faith, showed that they had nevertheless been baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

They wrote many letters full of comfort and earnest exhortations, especially Henderick, who, having formerly been a soldier, exhorted the brethren much to fight manfully in the spiritual war, to keep good watch, and to persevere unto the end, in order to receive from the spiritual captain Jesus Christ, as wages and reward, the crown of eternal life. But all these letters have remained undiscovered, on account of the severe persecution; only one by Abraham Picolet has fallen into our hands, which we have added here for the satisfaction of the sincere reader.

 

[turnorburn]

A LETTER BY ABRAHAM PICOLET, WRITTEN TO
HIS SISTERS

Love God above all, attend to the Word of the Lord, and have your delight therein. Matt. 22:37; Ps. 1:2.

The abundant great grace and eternal peace of God our heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort may He grant you Christian wisdom, unchanging faith, a steadfast mind, and a true understanding of the divine word in truth; this I wish you, my beloved sisters, with all my heart. Amen. Rom. 1:7; II Cor. 1:3; Matt. 24:13.

Know, my sisters, that I, Abraham your brother, imprisoned for the Word of God, let your love know, that I receive such strength and courage from the Lord, that I hope not to depart from Him; and since He does not forsake me, I trust by the help of the Lord, to confess His divine Word before the blind men as long as there is breath in me, for He helps us remarkably, so that I see and feel it, thanks to Him for the grace which He shows me, poor sinner, for which I can never sufficiently praise Him. Acts 12:3; Rev. 1:9; Heb. 10:38; 13:5; Matthew 10:31; II Cor. 2:14; Ps. 37:39. After all proper and friendly greetings, know, my sisters, that it rejoiced me very often, to have heard from you, that you also trusted to follow the Lord, to adhere to the eternal truth all the days of your life, and to serve and fear Christ; for He is the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6.

He that obeys Him shall inherit eternal joy, since He promises eternal joy to them that love Him and keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous, and His promises are true. I John 5:3. Hence, my beloved sisters, since you know His will, and the great grace which He has given your love, take heed that you may keep His commandments according to your weak ability; for He does not require more than that you do what you can. O dear lambs, believe the Gospel, and walk the narrow way, which is but a foot wide, and which leads to eternal life; for many shall seek for it, and shall not be able to get there. Luke 13:24. For not all that cry, Lord, Lord shall enter in; but they that do the will of the Father which is in heaven. Matt. 7:21. My beloved sisters, strive for the strait gate, namely, eternal life. Since you hear the voice of the Lord (John 10:27), see that you obey His words, and put off all concerning the former conversation, namely, the old Adam (Eph. 4:22), that is, the works of the curse, all uncleanness, evil desires, pride, presumptuous conceitedness, lying, cheating, strutting and boasting, evil speaking, guile, hatred, envy, and the like. For, dear lambs, this is idolatry, and upon such come the wrath and anger of God, and they shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, nor inherit the same, but everlasting destruction and eternal damnation are their part (if they do not become converted), in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death; where there will be only weeping and gnashing of teeth, and where their worm shall not die, but they shall be tormented forever and ever, Eph. 5:6; iI Thess. 1:8, 9; Rev. 21:8; Mark 9:46.

O my dear lambs and sisters, depart therefore from evil, for God shall hold judgment. without mercy upon all unbelieving and disobedient men who have not obeyed the Word of the Lord, but rejected and condemned it, yea, have persecuted and killed them that would fear the Lord. For, my beloved, God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; and spared not the old world, nor Sodom and Gomorrah, but turning them into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that commit ungodliness. II Peter 2:4-6.

Therefore, my beloved sisters, let us not be weary in well doing, though we must suffer a little for the name of the Lord. Blessed are ye, and rejoice, says Christ, if you suffer for righteousness' sake: for great is your reward in heaven. Matt. 5:10, 12. For, my beloved sisters, thus did they to the prophets that were before us. Suffering and affliction in the flesh are promised to all the Godfearing, as the apostle Paul says, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." II Timothy 3:12.

Mark, my beloved, how Christ was treated, who never had sinned, neither was guile found in Hismouth; how He suffered, and all this for our sakes, who was the Lord of lords, and the King of kings. I Peter 2:22'; Rev. 19:16. O dear sisters, consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, who, when He was smitten, did not threaten, but committed vengeance to God, who j udgeth righteously. Heb. 12:3; John 18:22; I Peter 2:23. And He that was rich, for our sakes became poor; yea, He left His divine habitation, took upon Him the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, and was more like a worm, than like a man. II Corinthians 8:9; Phil. 2:7, 8; Ps. 22:6. Therefore, God hath given Him a name which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of them that are in heaven and on earth. Phil. 2:9, 10.

The apostle Peter says, "Beloved brethren, forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us, arm yourselves with the same mind; for hereunto we are called, that we should follow his steps." I Peter 4:1; 2:21. As also Christ says, "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." Matt. 10:25; John 15:20. Mark, my dear sisters, whether more comes upon us, than has been promised us. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, says Christ. Matt. 10:22; John 15:21. And further, "The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me." John 16:2, 3. The Lord also says, "But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them." v. 4.

See, my dear sisters, thus nothing comes upon us, than what has been promised us, and what Christ Himself had. Hence we must put off all that is a hindrance to the salvation of our souls, namely, all the lusts of the flesh, all the works of darkness (I John 2:16; Rom. 13:12; Col. 3:8), and follow the crucified Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and obey Him; for he that saith that he knoweth God, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; and he that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as Christ walked. I John 2:4, 6. Mark, my sisters, fear the Lord, take courage in the Word of the Lord, search diligently the Scriptures, and entreat God the Lord, yea, importune Him day and night with prayer and supplication, and He will grant you to understand and to do what is necessary for your salvation. As Christ said, that His Spirit shall teach us, and we shall be taught of the Lord; for of ourselves we have nothing but all manner of weakness.

Thus, my sisters, pray the Lord, who says, "Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; seek, and ye shall find; seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all that you need shall be added unto you." Matt. 7:7; 6:33. Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near; the Lord is so merciful toward them who seek to fear Him (Isa. 55:6; Jonah 4:2), my sisters, as He says Himself, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30);"and his commandments are not grievous."

 

[turnorburn]

See, my beloved, how the Lord calls us to repentance, hence follow Him; for if one does what he can, the Lord is satisfied. He can well preserve him that trusts in Him. Repent therefore of your sins which you committed in your ignorance, before you knew the Lord (I Tim. 1:13; I Peter 1: 14); mourn and weep to the Lord, and He will have compassion on you. For the time past of your life may suffice you to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when you knew not God, and were very far from Him, when you walked in your lusts, in lasciviousness, in revelings, banquetings, in strutting and boasting. I Peter 4:3.

Therefore, my sisters, since the Lord has revealed His truth to you, see now that you serve Him faithfully, and fear not men, who kill the body; for after that they have no more power, and all the evil which they can do us is that they can help us into rest through the great grace of the Lord. Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4. Confess Christ before men, and He will confess you before His Father in heaven, and say, "Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 10:32; 25:34. Hence be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, which is created after Go-d. Put away lies, and speak the truth. Be followers of God, as His chosen children, and walk in love, in quietness, in kindliness, in gentleness. Eph. 5:1, 2. Flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, love and peace, with all them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart; for the servants of the Lord must not be contentious or quarrelsome but gentle unto all men. II Tim. 2:22, 24.

Adorn yourselves then, my sisters, with a chaste conversation. I Peter 3:2, 3. Be gentle unto all men. Be subject to your Lord, for He shall most gloriously reward you. Choose rather to suffer a little affliction with God's children, than to enjoy a little of the pleasures of this world for a season; for the end of these is eternal perdition. Heb. 11: 25. Let us then help bear the reproach of the Lord; it will through His great grace be most gloriously rewarded to us, when He will say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Heb. 13:13; Matt. 25:21.

Mark, my dear sisters, how gloriously it shall then be rewarded to us. Hence make great haste to fear the Lord; for we live today, but do not know whether we shall live tomorrow. Be thereforewatchful to fear the Lord; take courage; life up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees; and take diligent heed, for we know not when the Lord will come. Heb. 12:12; Matt. 24:42. The day of the Lord draws nigh; it comes as a thief in the night, when it is not expected. I Thess. 5:2. Look therefore not to men, for there are few that fear the Lord. Think how many there were when the whole world perished, and yet there were but eight who feared the Lord. Also, how many were saved when Sodom and Gomorrah perished. O think how few entered into the promised land, only Joshua and Caleb; the rest all perished because of their wickedness (even as it still goes with many on account of their wickedness), and because they would not believe God's words, but resisted, vexed and persecuted the righteous; and if these will also not repent, they shall all likewise perish, for all those are for an example to us. Luke 13:3.

Therefore, my dear sisters, take heed that it come not also thus upon us; for men are punished for sin, as the prophet says, "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God." Isa. 59:2. Behold, thus men are condemned for their wickedness and unbelief. Mark 16:16.

O my dear sisters, it is true there does some suffering come upon us for the name of the Lord; but as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Jesus Christ, and this little suffering is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. II Cor. 1:5; Rom. 8:18. O dear friends, how delightful it will be there where the mountains drop with sweet wine, and are covered with lilies and roses; with all this joy the Lord will fill His children. II Esd. 2:19. Hence let us fear and love the Lord without wearying; for he that loves God will do good and hate evil. Ps. 34:14.

O dear lambs, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him and keep His commandments. I Cor. 2:9; I John 5:3. Oh, consider what great joy there will then be for them that have loved God and confessed Him in the world. II Esd. 2:47. Oh, that this joy were rightly considered; I think we would use more diligence to fear the Lord, and not be afraid of men, that kill the body. Oh, how many there would be who would follow the Lord's steps; for He is not willing that any should perish, but that they should. repent, and that He might save them. II Peter 3:9. But it is, my dear sisters, as the prophet says, "With seeing eyes they see not, with hearing ears they hear not, nor do they understand, for their hearts are hardened, their ears they stop, and their eyes they cover; lest they should see, or hear, or understand with their heart." Isa. 6:9, 10; Matt. 13:14, 15; Acts 7:57.

Oh, mark, my dear lambs, whether it is not so also now; they love and prefer much rather fighting, strutting, boasting, banqueting, drinking, and to commit all kinds of abominations, than to repent and that the Lord might save them. These are cursed children, says the apostle; they forsake the right way, and what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves; they deceive and are deceived. I I Peter 2:14, 15; Jude 10; I I Tim. 3:13.

O dear lambs, turn from all the lusts of the world, for their damnation slumbereth not. II Peter 2:3. Take heed, now that the Lord has made known His truth to you that you obey Him and walk as obedient children of light in love and peace. Eph. 1:13; 5:8. Love one another, and always admonish one another with the word of the Lord. What is there that surpasses love? (I Cor. 13) what greater joy can men have, than to love one another. Always forbear one another, and accept everything in good part, and the Lord will also love you. Eph. 4:2. Be kind to one another.

Give diligence to fear the Lord, and to search His divine Word. Importune Him with supplication and prayer, and fear not men, who today are lords, and tomorrow are eaten by worms. The Lord will not forsake you, as you can well see in my case, and also in the case of all those that have feared Him with all their heart. The Lord preserves His own, even as He says, "Can a woman forget her child? though she forget it, yet will he not forget us." Isa. 49:15. Nay, who can pluck these out of His hand whom His Father has given Him. John 10:28, 29.