Antichrist threatens those who fear God with great severity and ignominy. Therefore we beseech thee, O Lord, strengthen thy feeble vessels: but we know, that if we patiently endure all this for thy namesake, thou, in thy faithfulness, wilt not forsake us; but dost renew and strengthen us daily, that we may continue on thy narrow way. Matt. 7:14. We cry to thee through Christ, for the sake of his bitter suffering (Is. 53), in which we recognize thy faithfulness and love; and this consoles us on our pilgrimage. Do not forsake us, thy children, henceforth unto the end; but constantly offer us thy Fatherly hand that we may finish our course; for when we have finished our course, the crown is prepared by the young man (2 Esd. 2:43) who hung on the cross for us, on which he suffered greatly for our sakes. Grant, O Lord, that we may be thankful, so that we may joyfully behold thee, our Father. O Father, through grace thou didst choose us, and didst not despise to put us into thy work; grant that, when the evening comes, that we may receive the hire with rejoicing. Matt. 20:1,8.
Through Christ thy Son make us ready for the heavenly supper, and clothe us with thy Holy Spirit. In that supper, thy Son, our Redeemer, shall serve us at the table. Luke 12:37. O, how blessed are they which are called to this supper (Rev. 19:9), and who in all sorrow adhere to Christ unto the end, even as he steadfastly suffered for us on the cross; and thus it is with all his followers on the earth; and all who shall keep their wedding garment undefiled to the end. Upon their heads the young man shall set crowns. But he who is not clothed with this garment, when the King will inspect his guests, shall be sternly reproved, bound hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness. O Lord, give us true love so to walk, that when we come we will not find the door closed, as was the case with the foolish virgins, who had no oil in their lamps, and said: “Lord, open to us,” but could not go in: but that we may happily watch with the five wise virgins, and may also enter into the glorious marriage feast of eternal heavenly joy, when the King, with his trumpets, shall call and assemble his elect. Therefore, O Zion, thou holy church of God, see that thou hold fast unto the end that which thou hast received, and keep thyself unspotted from sin, and thou shalt, through grace, receive the eternal crown. 1 Cor. 9:25: 2 Tim. 4:8.
VIGIL PLAITNER, A. D. 1529.
In the year 1529, Brother Vigil Plaitner, a minister of Jesus Christ, at Scharding, in Bavaria, was condemned and executed, after great steadfastness (Matt. 24:13), for the faith and the divine truth. He would depart neither to the right hand nor to the left, and did not love his life unto death (John 12:25), but surrendered it for Christ, in order that in the abode of the righteous above he might receive it again forever with all the saints and pious. 2 Peter 3:13.
LOUIS, AND TWO OTHERS, A. D. 1529.
In this year also a brother named Louis[228], a minister of Jesus Christ, learned and well versed in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, and experienced in the holy Scriptures, was executed with the sword, at Constance, on the lake of the same name, after being long imprisoned there. At his departure he gave many excellent instructions, so that many were astonished, and were moved to weep with him.
JOHN HUT, A. D. 1529.
In this year, John Hut[229], a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, was apprehended for the divine testimony, at Augsburg, in Swabia, where he was brought into a tower. Finally they ceased their severe questions and tortures, and he was left lie as one dead. Then they went away, leaving a light in the prison, near the straw, by which the straw was set on fire. When they returned to the tower they found him dead. They then carried him, dead as he was, in a chair on a wagon, before the court, where he was condemned to be burned. His son, Philip Hut, fell asleep in the Lord, in the church at Heim. This John Hut composed a hymn of thanksgiving, which we sing at the memorial or supper of the Lord; besides this he composed one or two other hymns.
WOLFGANG BRANDHUBER, HANS NIEDERMAIR, AND MANY OTHERS, ABOUT SEVENTY IN ALL, A. D. 1529.
In this year, also Brother Wolfgang Brandhuber of Passau, and Hans Niedermair, both ministers of the word and Gospel of Christ, were apprehended, together with many of the pious at Lintz, in the country above the Enns, for the divine truth; they were condemned to fire, water and the sword, and were immediately executed, in all over seventy persons. Among these also Peter Niedermair of Hirschberg, at Gminden, was apprehended, on St. Andrew’s eve, A. D. 1529, and though, in the extreme fear of death, he was tempted in various ways, yet he remained faithful and constant. Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:22. Ultimately, through the providence of God, he was set free, after being imprisoned there for over three years.