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

Matthias Servaes, of Kottenem.

THE FOURTH LETTER, WHICH MATTHIAS SERVAES WROTE FROM PRISON TO ALL BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN GENERAL.

The grace of God that bringeth salvation, and the peace of Jesus Christ, be multiplied unto all believers that are scattered here and there, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, sanctified and justified through faith in Jesus Christ his dear Son, and washed in his own blood from all our sins, in order that we should henceforth be holy and without blame before him in love, to his praise and honor, now and forever. Amen.

O my most affectionately beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, we ought justly to thank God the Father without ceasing day and night, through Jesus Christ his Son, for our salvation, yea, for the fatherly grace he has shown us, and has foreseen and ordained us from the beginning, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, which latter he did not forget to show us. Though for a time we regarded him but little, yet he, according to his goodness (as he alone is good) did not forget us. Yea, when we were dead through infirmities and sins, he called us to life; and this not according to our works (for these were evil), but according to his great mercy he saved us; and while we were sinners, he reconciled us by the death of his Beloved. And though we have set at naught and disregarded all this, he notwithstanding, at the end of the world, yea in these evil days and deplorable times, now that wickedness is at its height, has manifested his long-suffering toward us, and not desired our death (nor that of any sinner), but that we should be converted, and live, and commit the keeping of our souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator and Shepherd. Hence it behooves us, dear brethren and sisters, that we attend in the fear of God to the calling wherein we are called; for we are called with a holy calling; mark, to what: not to uncleanness, not to lasciviousness, not to fornication, not to gluttony, not to carousing, not to pomp and pride, that one should please himself, or put on a pleasing appearance before others, in order thereby to seek praise with men, which praise is not of God, but contrary to God; for all the abovementioned points, if we practice them, shut us out from the kingdom of God. Neither are we called to covetousness, which is idolatry, that we should lay up treasures for ourselves, and seek riches, that we should prepare an earthly, present kingdom, or to trust in uncertain riches, and thus be conformed to the world. Mark, he says: to the world. But whom does the world serve? who is its lord? who is its prince? What does Christ say on this subject? He calls the devil the prince of this world. What is it like, with all its glory, the lust of the eyes, and its pride? It is like the grass with its beautiful flowers, which to-day is pleasant, green and glorious to behold; but in the morning, yea, also in the evening, all its beauty and all its glory are vanished. Thus it is also with all the comeliness of man; but few know themselves. I speak not only of those that are without, but include also ourselves. For who is there that, if riches come to him, does not to some extent set his heart upon them? Or who does sincerely pray with King Solomon: “Lord, give me neither riches nor poverty; but give me only that which I need.” Prov. 30:8. O, consider it well, all you who profess to be Christians, and give diligence to walk with a pure conscience in the truth before God, that in the melting furnace (if you should get into it yet) you will have no regrets to cause you to prove dross, or to look back. For, my dear brethren, in this trial a dead faith is of no account, however glorious the same may seem in the eyes of men, and with however many Scriptures it may be clearly demonstrated, and professed with the mouth; much less will it avail before a strict God and his righteous judgment; for whatever is to stand here and there must be genuine; yea, it must be done through a living faith which works by love. And such a faith is not in him who does not firmly grasp God, and believe and confess that heaven and earth, and all creatures, the sea and all that therein is, owe to him praise and blessing, thanks and honor (to him alone, and to none else, I say, it is due); and who does not write it in his heart and inmost thoughts, and learns to know himself, that he is preeminently created and made exalted and glorious, namely in the image of God and after his likeness, a possessor and ruler of the things that in this world are created for him; yea, adorned and endowed with reason and knowledge, to discern between good and evil, and to know him who is the Creator of all things, and who has given us our free will, whereby we present ourselves to him, not by constraint, as other creatures, but in voluntary surrender, and from pure, filial love, thus: Lord, here am I; what wilt thou have me to do? For I acknowledge that I owe it to serve thee, and to do only thy will, with all my ability, yea with all my strength, so that I am to withhold nothing in this earth, whatever it be, not even my life, nor to refuse in my thoughts to pay thee the willing debt of obedience, which I owe to thee, and am to give thee, not because I expect a reward from thee, but only that I show thereby that I love thee; so that we learn to hate all visible things for the Lover’s sake, that we may love him alone above all, and may also be loved by him.

I write this, my brethren and sisters, in order that we may learn to know God, and why he created man, yea, what he requires of him that he shall do and not do, and why we are to show him love and obedience; so that we may not seek righteousness or salvation from our works, from what we do or not do; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified before the Lord, as Paul says. Gal. 2:16. Nor shall we be able to pay what we owe; but we hope to be justified and saved only through the grace of God, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 15:11. Hence let every one take heed that (as said above) he so love God, that he obey him only from such love, without hoping for a reward for any works or merits of his own; but let him commit everything to him, so that he may give us what he will, and do with us what is well-pleasing to him. If we are thus resigned in everything, we shall not miss it, and our hope will not be vain, but sure. But if this (as said) be not found thus with us, though we speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have a faith so that we could remove mountains, and bestow all our goods upon the poor, and give our bodies to be burnt, what is it all if it is a work of constraint, and not a voluntary work of love?

Therefore wake up, all you that have to be driven to piety like horses and mules, that must be driven and beaten to the field. As soon as driving and beating is left off, there is no more work. O the unfaithful Christians and slothful servants, who have in their faith no more force to work than that if they are told: Do this and leave undone that, they are impelled to take a few steps forward. I say, alas! for such poor Christians, that do not drive themselves! Hence let also those take good heed who show liberality or minister of their substance, that the Pharisaical trumpet of boasting be not blown or heard before them; for if any showeth mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness and gladness; and if any giveth, let him do it with simplicity, (Rom. 12:8) without seeking any glory, for it is a work which we are in duty bound to show to our neighbor out of love. Therefore, all our works are to be done in love, that we may not show such ministration through hope of reward, but from sincere love and mercy. For it is not man’s, but the Lord’s. 1 Corinthians 10:26. Hence I believe that if righteousness came by our works, then Christ would have died in vain; but God forbid. Gal. 2:21. Therefore let also every one that receives such benefactions, take heed, for Christ says: Ye gave me meat, ye gave me drink, ye clothed me, ye took me in. Matt. 25:35. Hence if we give food or drink to Christ, they who receive such benefaction must be ingrafted members of Christ. And if one receives the ministration who is none of his, how will he be able to answer for it when he is placed before him?

Hence, you that receive the alms dispose of them in the fear of the Lord, that you may be able to stand before God; for there account and answer must be rendered for everything. And watch diligently over the poor, and over the forsaken widows and orphans, and let them have a place in your heart, as your own children.

Remember the words of Sirach where he says: “Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of a husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as a son of the Most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.” Sir. 4:10. Beware also with all diligence that no discriminating may be found to exist among you, in the matter of bringing up, and of showing love; for herein some err greatly so that it is not a service of love, but of constraint; which is not pleasing to God.

And I desire of the widows, that they be quiet and attend to their business, and not think that they are more than others. No, that is neither the meaning nor intention of Paul; (1 Tim. 5:3) but this is what is meant: That they should be watched over, and counsel and instruction given them, if they need such, and that they should also follow brotherly advice, and beware of unprofitable conversation, of wantonness, and of the lust of the flesh; also of slothfulness, and going about from house to house, for this, first of all, ought not to be, and she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, will also beware of it; and she trusteth in God alone, and continueth in supplications and prayers to God day and night; but she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

I also sincerely desire of all believing brethren that have wives (over whom they are placed as the head, even as Christ is the head of his church), that you watch over them; and diligently attend to your office, so that you may rule your house, and your wives, even as Christ his church.