Know, dear brother N., and sister N., that I give you a hymn for remembrance, and will hereby commend you to the Lord, until we come upon mount Zion, and there sing the new song with all God’s chosen. 2 Esdr. 2:42. Dear brother and sister, when I composed this hymn, a great torment and temptation came upon me, so that I was very sorrowful, and it seemed to me that the Lord had utterly forsaken me. I fell down upon my knees, and wept bitterly before the Lord, and prayed for strength and power. And the Lord heard my prayer and lifted me up again; for he does not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, and will with the temptation make also a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13. I then received such grace and joy, that for joy I composed this hymn, to the edification of my fellow men. Greet J. de H. much with the peace of the Lord, and you, N., greet your master likewise much with the peace of the Lord, and say good night to your wife; I cannot offer her peace, for it is written: “Woe unto them that comfort men with a vain hope.” Know, dear friends, that I greatly rejoiced when I went to the court, so that it seemed to me that there could be no joy like this, that I should confess my Lord and God, before the world. The Bailiff asked me whether I was rebaptized. And the Holy Ghost spake through my mouth and said that I was baptized according to the doctrine of Christ, and that they were Anabaptists,[265] since they baptize against Christ, hence the name by which you call us, belongs to you. And I asked them to let me go to my brethren, since we had the same faith, but they gave me no answer. Thus, my dear friends, we will await you under the altar.
JERONYMUS, LAURENS VAN GUELDERS, PIETER THE MILLER, JACOB VAN YPERES AND MAERTEN THE WALLOON, A. D. 1557.
In the same year, 1557, there were also apprehended at Antwerp, five brethren of Christ, named Jeronymus, Laurens van Guelders, Pieter the miller, Jacob van Yperes, and Maerten the Walloon, who trusted so firmly in the promises of God, and were so fervently united to the love of Christ, that they were not to be drawn away therefrom by any man, nay, not even by great promises, severe persecutions, perilous temptations, or threatenings with the sword; for which reason all five were beheaded in prison, for the testimony of their faith, and firm adherence to the same; and even as they lost their heads for the truth, so God shall set them as heads to convict and judge those who judged them.
MARGRIETE, WIFE OF JERONYMUS, KLAERKEN AND JANNEKEN OF DEXTELAER, A. D. 1557.
In the year 1557, there were drowned in prison, at Antwerp, three women, namely, Margriete, wife of the aforementioned Jeronymus, and Klaerken and Janneken of Dextelaer, because they steadfastly adhered to the truth, and would not depart from it. After being drowned, they were ignominiously thrown naked into the Scheldt; but they shall be clothed, and enter in honor, with their bridegroom, to the marriage of the Lamb, where they, together with all the chosen of God, shall joyfully sing the new song, and live in eternal, imperishable joy.
ALGERIUS, A YOUTH, A STUDENT OF PADUA, MISERABLY BURNED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, AT ROME, A. D. 1557. A CONSOLATORY LETTER FROM HIM.[266] AN ACCOUNT OF HIS SACRIFICE.
To my beloved brethren and fellow-servants of Jesus Christ, who have gone out of Babylon unto mount Zion, whose names I do not omit without cause, grace, peace and mercy from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. In order somewhat to sweeten or take away the pain which you suffer on my account, I would communicate to you the sweetness which I experience, that you may rejoice with me, and shout for joy with thanksgiving in the presence of the Lord.
I will tell to the world an incredible thing, namely, that I have found infinite sweetness in the bowels of the lion. And who will in any wise believe what I am going to relate here? who can believe it?
In a dark hole I have found pleasure; in a place of bitterness and death, rest and hope of salvation; in the abyss or depths of hell, joy; where others weep, I have laughed; where others fear, I have found strength; who will believe this? In a state of misery I have had very great delight; in a lonely corner I have had most glorious company, and in the severest bond, great rest. All these things, my fellow-brethren in Jesus Christ, the gracious hand of God has given me. Behold, he that at first was far from me, is now with me, and him whom I knew but a little, I now see clearly; to whom I once looked from afar, him I now behold as present; he for whom I longed, now offers me his hand; he comforts me; he fills me with joy; he drives from me bitterness, and renews within me strength and sweetness; he makes me well; he sustains me; he helps me up; he strengthens me. O how good is the Lord, who does not suffer his servants to be tempted above that they are able! O how easy, pleasant and sweet is his yoke! Is there any like God the Most High? who sustains and refreshes those that are tempted; he heals them that are bruised and wounded, and restores them all together. Is. 41; 43:20. None is like him. Learn, most beloved brethren, how sweet the Lord is, how faithful and merciful; who visits his servants in trial (Is. 43:2); who humbles himself and condescends to be with us in our huts and humble abodes. He gives us a cheerful mind and peaceful heart.
But will the blind world believe these things? No; she will much rather say (since she is unbelieving): You will not be able long to endure the heat, cold and discomfort of this place. And how then will you be able to bear the cross, the thousand-fold contempt, wrong, reproaches, and undeserved ignominy? Will you not regard your dear native country, the riches of this world, your parents, rank and honor at the court? Will you be able entirely to dismiss from your mind your glorious learning, which strengthens and recreates for all labor spent? Will you lose so much for nothing, yea, all the labors you have undergone, your much watching, laboring and assiduity? For what purpose have you labored and studied so much, even from your very youth up?