In Questions and Answers.
Question. “What is your name?” Answer. “Pieter Witses.” Quest. “How old are you?” Ans. “Twenty-seven years.” Quest. “When were you to confession last?” Ans. “I confess every day, and acknowledge that I am a sinner.” Quest. “What do you think of the sacrament?” Ans. “I esteem it highly.” Quest. “What do you think of the sacrament which the priest gives on Easter?” Ans. “Nothing.” Quest. “Christ said: ‘Take, eat; this is my flesh.’ ” Ans. “It is true; but he spake it to those who were obedient to him.” Quest. “Are you also rebaptized?” Ans. “I know of no rebaptism; I was baptized once, and that according to the teaching of God.” Quest. “How long ago?” Ans. “About a year and a half.”
Then Pieter was put into a dungeon, and having been there for about an hour, was again taken before the lords, and asked anew: “Pieter, are you seduced? Will you not suffer yourself to be instructed?” Ans. “Yes, gladly; he that rejects reproof and instruction is miserable. Prov. 10:17. Take a Testament, and instruct me.” Quest. “We are no teachers; will you not suffer yourself to be instructed by priests?” Ans. “God is the best priest; he will instruct me, and to this I shall adhere by the grace of God.” Quest. “Some vagabond has been preaching to you.” They further said that they had read in the Old Testament, that many children were baptized. Pieter replied: “I have read nothing about this; I have read that Christ commanded to baptize believers. Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; that it was practiced by the apostles, Acts 2:38; and that Peter taught: ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children,’ ” etc. He also quoted John 3.
Then they said: “Pieter, you are deceived; are your brethren also thus minded?” He replied: “What do I know about my brethren? I can speak of what God has given me; that I know.” He further quoted the words of Christ, where he says: Go into all the world; preach and teach: he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16:16. Also, that Christ came to John at the Jordan, to be baptized of him, in order that he might fulfill all righteousness for us, to be an example, that we should follow his steps. Matt. 3:13,15; 1 Pet. 2:21. And after Christ’s suffering the apostles, who were his body and church, practiced it.
Concerning their supper, he confessed, that he thought nothing at all of it. They admonished him with the Gospel, which he regarded as all right, but not as having been said with reference to their church; for Christ, said he, said to his apostles: “Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you.” Also the cup: “Drink ye all of it; for this is the cup of the new testament in my blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:26–28.
Christians are to observe it, as Paul teaches the Corinthians, where it is clearly expressed. 1 Corinthians 10:16. They said that the supper which they eat and drink was true flesh and blood, and asked me whether we did not also thus eat and drink it. I replied: “Christ said: ‘The flesh profiteth nothing, eaten outwardly; but the word is spirit and life.’ John 6:63. And our church is not without the body of Christ.”
A BRIEF ADMONITION FROM PIETER WITSES.
Christ said, Matt. 24:5: “Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many;” which words are true; for when you confess your sins to them, they forgive them, as they say. This they have carried on since the Gospel has been hid, and they do it yet. Paul also foretold this to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:2; 2 Tim. 3:2); Christ says, Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets,” etc., and John also writes much concerning this, in the tenth chapter of his Gospel. Also, Jude and Peter. But these are as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed; they speak evil of the things that they understand not. Again: They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web. Is. 59:5. They daub the wall with untempered mortar, and put pillows under men’s arms. Ez. 13:10,18. And although the church flee into caves, the confession abides forever. They cannot resist: for they deny the power of God; they love the broad way; the cross of Christ is foolishness to them. 2 Tim. 3:5; 1 Cor. 1:18.
Concerning these, God gave me something to speak. I perceive nothing but the abomination of desolation of which the prophet Daniel speaks, and of which Christ also says that he will scarcely find faith upon earth. Dan. 9:27; Luke 18:8. But be of good cheer; and fight in faith, well knowing that it is the word of truth, which cannot fail. Upon this, through the grace of Christ, I have built and he will keep me, and I will daily trust in him, knowing and feeling confident that there is no power, might, or dominion in heaven or on earth, save only of him. Hence, give diligent heed; prove yourselves in your consciences, as to what you seek—every work will be made manifest. Read and examine diligently for it greatly concerns us all. The authorities can by no torturing seduce one, but the erring spirits come with deceitful snares, in the name of Christ; but we are sufficiently warned. Matt. 7:21; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:5; Tit. 1:10; Rom. 16:17; Philip. 3; 2 Pet. 2. Jude 1.
My dear friends, they thus assail me with questions as much as they can. Give the young and simple hearts good instruction regarding the Lord’s Supper, for I know what happens to me. If the house is truly built upon the corner-stone, it cannot fall. Let every one take good heed; for the time of trial is at hand, and we know that it will not always stop at mere words; for Christ himself suffered. If they laid their hands on his blessed body, they will do the same to us. Let us arm ourselves with the word of God; for the word of God is the true door. It is the bread of life. The time of weeping is come; hence our deliverance is nigh. Let us pray for grace. The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that believe not in the word? 1 Pet. 4:17. My brethren, do not forget us poor sheep in your prayers, for us who for the truth are kept in bonds by the authorities. Care for them that live among you; for Christ will say: “I was naked, and you clothed me,” etc. Matt. 25:36. Pray and watch; the abomination of desolation is drawing nigh; cease not, but be of good courage, for greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4. I affectionately desire, that you be diligent, lest you be deceived, for the times now are perilous. Know, that whenever I was brought before them, I kept down my own thoughts, and prayed Almighty God, that he would open my mouth according to his good pleasure, and believe it freely, he gave abundant comfort to the humble. They assented to me in many things, when I spoke with them with a meek spirit by the grace of God. My dear friends receive it kindly. May the Lord preserve you from wicked deceivers. Pray and watch, the times are perilous; and do not forget us in your prayers, and visit us sometimes, it is very edifying; may the Lord preserve us all.