JOOS VERBEECK, A. D. 1561.
On the 7th of June 1561 the Margrave of Antwerp went out with a large retinue, well armed with sticks and staves, and they apprehended Joos Verbeeck, a minister of the word of God and of his church. On the 9th he was examined; he confessed his faith very freely, as also his ministry; of which the Margrave and the lords made much sport. He was also very severely tortured; but God kept his lips in everything, so that he inculpated no one. Although he was treated so unmercifully that a rope broke in two on his body, and that in four days he had to go to the rack twice, and was once scourged till his blood flowed, he bore all patiently; this, however, he greatly lamented, namely, that they had broken, or lamed by torturing, his right hand, and thus disabled him from writing.
On the 20th day of the month he was brought into court, where the Bailiff asked him whether he was rebaptized. He answered: “Ask me for my faith, which I confessed in prison before the lords and the Margrave”. The Bailiff then asked him what he thought of infant baptism. He said: “I confessed that it is not of God, but a human institution.” The Bailiff asked again whether he was rebaptized, and said: “Say yes or no; for I know you will not lie; therefore, tell me the truth.” He said: “I was baptized upon my faith, as Christ teaches.” Matt. 28, Mark 16.
Having confessed his faith, baptism and doctrine, he could not well say much more. The lords concluded his sentence, he, in the meantime saying to the people: “Dear citizens, I have lived here eleven years, and no one can complain of me, since I have never wronged any one, and my life and doctrine agree with the word of God.” “That is true,” exclaimed a brother: upon hearing which, the thief-catchers arose and searched for this brother, but did not find him.
Joos said: “O that I might publicly defend myself against the priests who came to me in prison; as Paul could do before Agrippa; but we are forbidden to speak.” Acts 26:2.
Coming out of the court, he said: “He that delivered Daniel out of the den of lions, will also preserve me; for what I suffer is for the name of the Lord, and not for evil-doing.”
“That is true,” cried a brother; and others cried: “Fight valiantly, dear brother.” Joos boldly and cheerfully said: “Dear citizens, thus must all the children of God suffer; this way was trod by the saints of God, the prophets, and so many pious men.”
When he approached the little house, yea, stood before the door of the hut in which he was to offer up his burnt sacrifice, he cast his eyes up to heaven, saying: “O holy Father, assist thy servant in this extremity.” The executioner’s servant wanted to thrust a gag into his mouth, to prevent him from speaking; but he did nevertheless not keep silence, for he was heard to exclaim: “O Lord, thou Son of David, have compassion upon me.”
The executioner performed his task, trembling with fear. When the fire was kindled, Joos cried: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. O Lord of hosts, who didst separate me from my mother’s womb, succor thy servant in this last extremity, since I suffer for thy name.” Jeremiah 1:5; Gal. 1:15. Once more he cried: “O heavenly Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” And with this, he quietly offered up a fiery sacrifice, for an example and pattern to us all.