The Bloody Theatre, or Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians / who baptized only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their savior, from the time of Christ to the year A.D. 1660

by Thieleman J. van Braght

Hearken, thou whose time for bearing is half fulfilled: Prepare thy bed; for thou shalt bring forth. What shall I bring forth? The fruit of thy labor, with pain and anguish, and afterwards death. Hearken, thou on the right hand: Prepare the measure. What shall I prepare it for? To measure thy neighbor, and then shalt thou also be measured. Get thee ready, thou fire, and do not tarry. Hearken, I speak to you who are of one mind with the horns (Rev. 17:13), the day of your feast has come, your meat is ready; eat quickly the fat flesh of the drunken, that the power may be given to the beast. It has been put into your hearts, so to do. After the beast you shall have power for a little while. You fight against the Lamb, but the Lamb shall overcome you; he is King of kings, and Lord of lords, and his kingdom will endure forever. Amen.

We testify of him that it is he that shall come, yea, he comes quickly, the Lord Jesus, who shall reward every man according to his works.

A LETTER OF JANNIJN BUEFKIJN, CALLED HANS KEESKOOPER, A NATIVE OF VERURCKE, WHICH HE WROTE WHILE IN PRISON AT GHENT, A. D. 1550.

A holy conversation, a living, spiritual faith, hope, and a true evangelical confidence in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our only Helper and Savior, I wish to my beloved friends, for glad tidings and an affectionate salutation, that through said faith and confidence in God you may grow up in a new and pure life, which life is perceived and richly found in the holy Gospel. O blessed are they who purify and sanctify themselves according to the tenor of the Gospel; without which purification and sanctification no man shall see God nor the Lord. Thus follow the advice of the Lord Jesus, who says: “Search the Scriptures.” John 5:39. I have done nothing else; as I and my fellow-prisoners said before the lords of the Imperial Council; and they can not, in truth, bring any charge against us. They asked us, me first, and then the others, one after another, whether we were baptized.

I said: “Yes, my lords.”

Ques. “How long since?”

Ans. “Four years, my lords.”

Ques. “What do you hold concerning your baptism received in infancy?”

Ans. “Nothing at all, my lords.”

Ques. “Concerning the sacrament of the priests, do you not believe that flesh and blood is there, and that it is God?”