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A SMITH AT KOMEN, A. D. 1551.
In or about the year 1551, a smith was apprehended for the divine truth, at Komen, in Flanders. He freely confessed his faith, and as he would not depart from it, he was sentenced to death in two ways, namely, if he recanted, he was to be executed with the sword; otherwise to be burned alive. To this end, two-fold preparations were made; but seeing the multitude, and fearing trouble, the authorities kept the brother in prison. Hence, some climbed to the top of the prison and broke through the roof, to see what was being done with the doomed man. At last, one knocked at the door of the prison, desiring to know whether the brother was alive or dead. Having been admitted, he immediately returned with blood on his hand, which he showed to the people, saying: “He is dead! He is dead!” The dead man was then brought out on a ladder, with his head lying between his legs, and the ladder placed upon the wall of the churchyard, where the priest made a long speech (a sermon probably), saying among other things, that he had renounced his heretical belief, and re-accepted the Roman church and her saving faith; and “holding now a good resolution,” said he, “he was instantly executed, lest he might fall back into his old error.” But it was firmly believed that the priest slandered the dead man, and this the more so, since after relating the sentence, he said that he obstinately adhered to his previous confession. Thus God constrains the wicked, in the telling of their lies, themselves, unawares, to reveal the truth of the matter.
GILLIS AND ELIZABETH, A. D. 1551.
On the 21st of July, A. D. 1551, two pious Christians, a brother by the name of Gillis, and a sister named Elizabeth, were sentenced to death as heretics, pursuant to the imperial decree, at Ghent, in Flanders. They were not led forth to death at the usual time, but at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. Having ascended the scaffold, they prayed to God. In the meantime, the executioner unlaced the gown of Elizabeth, which, when she arose, fell down, so that she stood there in her shift and linen trousers, which the executioner, by way of mockery, had made her put on. Feeling greatly ashamed on this account, she immediately went to the stake, and then said: “I thank thee, O Lord, that I am worthy to suffer for thy name. I now stand at the touchstone, at which God’s elect are tried. O Lord, strengthen me, and delay not.”
Gillis said: “Dear sister, be patient in your suffering, and comfort yourself in God; he will not forsake you.”
“O dear brother,” said she, “I will never depart from him.”
Gillis then cried: “O Lord, forgive them their sins, who inflict death upon me; for as they do not know thee, they know not what they do.”
Finally they cried out: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands we commend our spirits.” And thus, through fire, they died a blessed death well pleasing unto God.