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

Alle die lijden na den wille Godts, wilt hierop mercken,

Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Shepper met goede Wercken.

1 Pet. 4:19.

THE FOURTH LETTER OF JACOB THE CHANDLER, WRITTEN TO HIS CHILDREN; BEING PROPERLY A CONFESSION OF HIS FAITH.

My chosen dear children, I hope briefly to write you my faith, that you may know, that I did not die as a deceiver or heretic, but for the true faith, which avails before God.

1. I believe and confess, that there is one true God, who created and made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that therein is, by his eternal, Almighty and incomprehensible Word, which was with God in the beginning, and was God with the Father. Gen. 1:1; John 1:1,2.

2. And God on the sixth day made man after his image or likeness, that is, according to his nature. But man did not remain as created, through the subtilty of the serpent, in whom the devil worked, so that he brought Adam with his whole seed into death, as is written. Gen. 3.

God created man immortal, and made him according to the image of his own likeness; but through the envy of the devil death came into the world, and all that are of his side follow him. Wisdom 23:24. As also Esdras writes: The first Adam having an evil heart transgressed and was overcome and also all them that are born of him. And he further says: O thou Adam, what hast thou done! for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but also all we that come of thee. 2 Esd. 7:48.

3. Now when the man Adam with his whole seed had fallen into death, the merciful Father through grace many times promised his Son, who as a spotless lamb, that had been foreordained before the foundation of the world, delivered us from death by his death and blood. Gen. 3:15; 1 Peter 1:19,20. And when the fullness of the time was come, he became man, and was born of the virgin Mary, as had been prophesied concerning him, in these words: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Is. 9:6. And again: “A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.” 7:14. Thus, through the power of the Most High he was conceived in Mary of the Holy Ghost, even as the angel said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” Luke 1:35. To Joseph he said; “That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of her shall be called the Son of God.” Matt. 1:20. For the Word which was with God in the beginning became flesh, and dwelt among men, visibly and tangibly, so that also his glory was seen, a glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. He humbled himself, and took upon himself the form of a servant, became as another man, and was found in fashion as a man. Philip. 2:7,8. And all that he saw and heard of his Father he taught and made known to us, and was obedient to his Father unto death; for he was innocently sentenced by Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, and the third day rose from the dead. And after his resurrection he commanded his disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature, and to baptize believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And he ascended up to heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father, from whence he shall come again, in the glory of his Father, and in the clouds of heaven, to judge the quick and the dead. Matt. 28:19; Luke 24:51; Rev. 1:7.

4. I further believe and confess, that there is a Holy Ghost, which proceeds from the Father, and is poured out, through Christ Jesus, upon the believing and regenerated children, as is written in Tit. 3 and Eph. 1, as an earnest of the Spirit, and as an assurance of the mind; by which Spirit they cry, Abba, Father. Rom. 8:15. By this Spirit they are guided into all truth, since he is also their teacher. John 16:13. By the same Spirit the prophets prophesied, since God through him distributes the spiritual gifts to believers, for the profiting of all. Hence the Apostle writes: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4–6. These three names are one true God. The Father is the Creator, who created everything by the Son, or his Word; and by his Spirit he has also renewed all things, and has purified believers by the Son, and by the Holy Ghost; in which three names the Apostles were commanded to baptize believers. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7.