Tuesday, December 28, 2010

QUOTES FROM FELIX MANTZ, A. D. 1526

From the Martyr's Mirror:

Felix Mantz was also an originator of the Reformation of the faith, in Germany, and when he, with great zeal, practiced, taught, and preached, the recognized truth of the Gospel, he was envied, accused, and imprisoned by his adversaries, and finally drowned at Zuerich, for the evangelical truth, thus becoming a witness of the sufferings of Christ. This occurred in the year of our Lord 1526. He left the following admonition to his fellow brethren, for their comfort:

"My heart rejoices in God, who gives me much knowledge and wisdom, that I may escape the eternal and never-ending death.  Therefore I praise Thee, O Lord Christ from heaven, that Thou dost turn away my sorrow and sadness; Thou whom God has sent me as a Saviour, and for an example and a light, and who has called me into His heavenly Kingdom, already before my end has come, that I should have eternal joy with Him, and should love Him and all His righteousness, which exists here, and which shall endure forever hereafter, and without which nothing avails or subsists; hence so many who do not have this in truth, are deceived by a vain opinion. But alas! how many are found at the present who boast of the Gospel and speak, teach, and preach much about it, but are full of hatred and envy, and who have not the love of God in them, whose deceit is known to all the world, as we have experienced in these latter days, that those who have come to us in sheep's clothing are ravening wolves, who hate the pious on the earth, and obstruct the way to life and to the true sheepfold. Thus do the false prophets and hypocrites of this world, who curse and pray with the same mouth, and whose life is disorderly. They call upon the authorities to kill us, by which they destroy the very essence of Christianity. But I will praise the Lord Christ, who exercises all patience towards us; for He instructs us with His divine graces, and shows love to all men, according to the nature of God His heavenly Father, which none of the false prophets are able to do.

"Here we must observe this difference, that the sheep of Christ seek the praise of God; this is their choice, and they do not suffer themselves to be hindered either by possessions or temporal good, for they are in the keeping of Christ. The Lord Christ compels no one to come to His glory; only those that are willing and prepared attain unto it by true faith and baptism. Whenever a person brings forth genuine fruits of repentance, the heaven of eternal joys is, through grace, purchased and obtained for him by Christ, through the shedding of His innocent blood, which He so willingly poured out; thereby showing us His love, and enduing us with the power of His Spirit, and whoever receives and uses it grows and is made perfect in God. Only love to God through Christ shall stand and prevail; not boasting, denouncing, or threatening. It is love alone that is pleasing to God: he that cannot show love shall not stand in the sight of God. The true love of Christ shall not destroy the enemy; he that would be an heir with Christ is taught that he must be merciful, as the Father in heaven is merciful. Christ never accused any one, as do the false teachers of the present day; from which it is evident that they do not have the love of Christ, nor understand His Word; and still they would be shepherds and teachers; but at last they will have to despair, when they shall find, that everlasting pain shall be their recompense, if they do not reform. Christ also never hated any one; neither did His true servants, but they continued to follow Christ in the true way, as He went before them. This Light of life they have before them, and are glad to walk in it; but those who are hateful and envious, and do thus wickedly betray, accuse, smite and quarrel, cannot be Christians. They are those who run before Christ as thieves and murderers, and under a false pretense shed innocent blood. By this we may know them that are not on the side of Christ; for they, as children of Belial, prompted by envy, destroy the ordinances of Jesus Christ; even as Cain slew his brother Abel, when God accepted the offerings of Abel.

With this I will finish my discourse, desiring that all the pious be mindful of the fall of Adam, who when he accepted the advice of the serpent, and became disobedient to God, the punishment of death came upon him. Thus it shall also happen to those who do not accept Christ, but resist Him, love this world, and have not the love of God. And thus I close with this that I will firmly adhere to Christ, and trust in Him, who is acquainted with all my needs and can deliver me out of it. Amen.

I Pet. 5:1; John 16:20; Gal. 5:21; John 5:42; Matt. 7:15; II Thess. 3:7; John 10:3; Acts 2:38; Luke 6:36; John 8:12; John 10:1; Gen. 4:8; 3:6; I John 2:15; John 5:42.

OF A CERTAIN DECREE WHICH THOSE OF ZUERICH PUBLISHED AGAINST THE ANABAPTISTS A.D.1525

Huldrych Swingli was a Swiss reformer who lived from 1484-1531.  Along with the Catholics, Martin Luther, John Calvin and the other reformers, he harshly persecuted the Anabaptist using the power of the state and his fake church. There were two groups of Anabaptists at different times:  Ones who were nonresistant to evil by force--a voluntarily defenseless and impoverished little flock; and the others who used the power of the state and took up the sword against their enemies.  Anabaptist simply means re-baptized. 
From the Martyr’s Mirror:

At this time not only the papists, but also the Zwinglians or so-called Reformed in the city of Zuerich laid their hands on the innocent and defenseless flock of Christ; yet not, as far as we can learn, punishing them with death, or depriving them of life by the executioner, but confining them under severe imprisonment, until ultimately, as may be inferred, death followed.

However, in order to determine from this time on, what course was to be pursued in this matter, the magistrate of said city ordained, among other things, the following:

"Therefore we ordain and will, that henceforth all men, women, youth, and maidens forsake Anabaptism, and practice it no longer from this time on, and that they have their infants baptized; and whosoever shall act contrary to this public edict, shall, as often as it occurs, be fined one mark silver; and if any should prove utterly disobedient and obstinate, they shall be dealt with more severely; for we shall protect the obedient, and punish the disobedient according to his deserts, without bearing with him any longer. Let everyone act accordingly. All this we confirm by this public document, sealed with the seal of our city, and given on St. Andrew's day, A. D. 1525."

Compare Chron. van den Ondergang, page 1010, col. with Henr. Bull. Against the Anabaptists, lib. 1, cap. 5, 6; also the open letter of the council of Zuerich, published A. D. 1525.
The Zwinglian church at Zuerich, where this decree was made, was at this time only about five years old, and was also subjected to the hatred and persecution of the papists; certainly a lamentable matter, that those who had but a short time before purified themselves in many respects from the leaven of popery and were opposed to the tyranny of the pope, should nevertheless continue, in this respect, united with the papists; that is, in persecuting others who did not have the same faith with them.

Still, it would have been well if they had stopped with this decree, since with one mark of silver one could have atoned for the first offense in neglecting to baptize a child. But this was not the end of it, as a few years later, especially in A. D. 1530, when they became a little bolder, they decreed, that the so-called Anabaptists should be punished with death, which we shall show in its proper place.

THE SECOND EDICT BY THOSE OF ZURICH, IN WHICH ALL SO CALLED ANABAPTISTS ARE THREATENED WITH DEATH, A.D. 1530

Huldrych Swingli was a Swiss reformer who lived from 1484-1531.  Along with the Catholics he broke away from, Martin Luther, John Calvin and the other reformers, he harshly persecuted the Anabaptist using the power of the state and his fake church.  There were two groups of Anabaptists at different times:  Ones who were nonresistant to evil by force--a voluntarily defenseless and impoverished little flock; and others who took up the sword against their enemies.  Anabaptist simply means re-baptized.

The below information is from the Martyr’s Mirror:

There has existed, writes a certain author, in the Zwinglian churches, from their beginning, a great hatred and bitterness against the Anabaptists, or more properly speaking, against those baptized according to the ordinance of Christ as history certifies; by which they commenced very early to tyrannize over them; for we believe the Zwinglian church was not yet ten years old when said abuse occurred. Yet it did not stop at this, but they proceeded, the longer, the worse, in this tyranny; so that those of Zurich, A. D. 1530, emitted an edict very much like the bloody decrees of the Roman Emperor, in which they write as follows:

"Therefore we strictly command all the inhabitants of our country, and those who are in any wise united with them, particularly high and low magistrates, bailiffs, constables, judges, elders of churches, and ecclesiastical officers, that, if they hear of any Anabaptists, they give us information concerning them; by virtue of the oath with which they are bound to us; that they nowhere tolerate them, or allow them to multiply; but that they apprehend them, and deliver them to us; for we shall punish with death, according to the purport of our laws, the Anabaptists with all those who favor them or adhere to them; and we shall also punish without mercy, according to their deserts, as having violated the faith and oath which they swore to their authorities," those who assist, and do not report, drive away, or bring as prisoners to us, all such persons.

This we have taken word for word from the edict, as Bullinger (contra, etc.) has cited it. Compare the note in the preface to the Offerboeck der Doopsgesinde, A. D. 1615, letter Y, with P. J. Twisck's, Chron., p. 1031, col. 1, from different authors.

OF THE EDICT ISSUED BY EMPEROR CHARLES V AGAINST THE ANABAPTISTS, A. D. 1535

From the Martyr’s Mirror, pages 442-443:

By the Emperor: To our beloved and faithful commanders-in-chief, the president and members. of our Privy-Council, the Chancellor and members of our council in Braband, the Governor and Councilors in Limburg, the President and Councilors in Flanders, the Governor, President and Councilors in Artois, the chief Bailiff in Hainault, the Councilors of Bergen, the Lieutenant, President and Councilors of Holland, Namur, Friesland, and Utrecht, to the Lieutenant of Over-Yssel, the Governor of Rijssel, Douay and Orchies, the Bailiff and: Councilors of Doornick and Tournesis, the stewards of Bewest and Beoosterschelde, in Zealand, the Provost of Valenciennes, the Bailiff of Mechlin, and all other judges and officers of our territories, cities and seigniories, and of our subjects, or their governors, to whom these presents shall come, happiness and favor.

In order to guard against and remedy the errors which many sectarians and authors of contempt, with their adherents, have dared for some time to sow and spread in our territories, against our holy Christian faith, sacraments, and the commandments of our mother the holy church, we have at different times ordained, and caused to be executed and proclaimed many decrees containing statutes, edicts and ordinances, as also penalties to be incurred by transgressors, so that by means thereof the common, simple people, and others, may beware of said errors and abuses, and that the chief promulgators and sectarians may be punished and corrected, as an example unto others. And since it has come to our knowledge, that notwithstanding our aforesaid decrees, many and various sectarians, even some who call themselves Anabaptists, have proceeded, and still daily proceed, to spread, sow, and secretly preach their aforesaid abuses and errors, in order to allure a, great number of men and women to their false doctrine and reprobate sect, to seduce them and to re-baptize some, to the great reproach and disregard of the sacrament of holy baptism, and of our edicts, statutes and ordinances; therefore we, intending to guard against and remedy this, summon and command you, that, immediately upon receipt of this, you cause it to be proclaimed within every place and border of your dominions, that all those, or such as shall be found ,polluted by the accursed sect of the Anabaptist, of whatever rank or condition they may be, their chief leaders, adherents, and abettors, shall incur the loss of life and property, and be brought to the most extreme punishment, without delay; namely, those who remain obstinate and, continue in their evil belief and purpose, or who have seduced to their sect and re-baptized any; also those who have been called prophets, apostles or bishops-these shall be punished with fire. All other persons who have been re-baptized, or who secretly and with premeditation have harbored any of the aforesaid Anabaptists, and who renounce their evil purpose and belief, and are truly sorry and penitent for it, shall be executed with the sword, and the women be buried in a pit.

And in order to better detect these Anabaptists, their adherents and accomplices, we expressly command all subjects, to make known and report them to the officer of the place where they reside or shall be found; and if any one shall know of persons of this sect, and do not report them to the officer of the place, he shall be punished as a favorer, adherent, or abettor of the sect of the Anabaptists; but he who shall report or make them known, shall have, if the accused is convicted, one third of their confiscated property.

Moreover, we prohibit all our subjects from asking for mercy, forgiveness, or reconciliation for the aforesaid Anabaptists, or from presenting any petitions for this purpose, on pain of summary punishment; for because of their evil doctrine, we will not have or permit that any Anabaptists shall have any mercy shown them, but that they shall be punished, as an example unto others, without any dissimulation, favor or delay. And in order to do this with all that pertains to it, we give each and all of you full power and special command.

Given at Brussels, under our counterseal, stamped here in the margin, on the tenth day of June, in the year 1535. Subscribed by the Emperor and his council, and signed Pensart.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Hymn from the 16th century Anabaptist Ausbund "There are two ways"

“There are two ways” A hymn from the sixteenth century Anabaptist Ausbund, reads as follows:

(Verse one)

There are two ways, in this, our day, One narrow and the other broad;
Who now will go the narrow way Will be despised by all abroad.

This plainly God’s word teaches us, The narrow entrance way go in;
Straight is the gate, who enters thus, Must first endure great suffering.

(Verse two)

There—after, there’s eternal rest, Therefore, O man, Thy way prepare;
Wilt thou be in God’s kingdom blessed Eternally with righteous there.

After this time nought shall transpire But peace and joy eternally;
The righteous then, this shall acquire Who God’s will honor constantly.

(Verse 3)

But he who the broad way shall go, The stairs to hell, this is the same;
He now is lost, God’s wrath shall know, But blessed is he who’s born again.

To him hath God prepared, impearled A crown eternity shall hold;
It shall not pass away, O world, Away then, with your gain and gold.

(Verse 4)

O, take the straight and narrow way That thou the lasting crown obtain;
Which God doth but His church convey Which He hath cleansed from sin and stain.

Therefore away with all man’s gain, Desire, vain pomp, and arrogance;
Turn sharp away from all known sin, So thou be known as God’s child hence.

(Verse 5)

Nought other can the way become, Who will eternal suffering flee;
Must righteous be, this is the sum, Go on your way, nor fancy see.

Press toward the mark till endless day, For who the prize at last will gain;
All must forsake upon this way Would he the lasting crown obtain.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Anna of Rotterdam: Martyred 1539 A.D.

ANNA OF ROTTERDAM, PUT TO DEATH, A. D. 1539.  The following is the Testament which Anna of Rotterdam left and presented to her son, Isaiah, on the twenty-fourth of January; A. D. 1539, at nine o'clock in the morning, as she was preparing herself to die for the name and the testimony of Jesus, and took leave of her son, at Rotterdam.
Isaiah, receive your testament, "My son, hear the instruction of your mother; open your ears to hear the words of my mouth.  (Proverbs 1:8)  Behold, I go today the way of the prophets, apostles and martyrs, and drink of the cup of which they all have drank.  (Matthew 20:23)  I go, I say, the way which Christ Jesus, the eternal Word of the Father, full of grace and truth, the Shepherd of the sheep, who is the Life, Himself went, and who went this way, and not another, and who had to drink of this cup, even as He said: 'I have a cup to drink of, and a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!'
Having passed through, He calls His sheep, and: His sheep hear His voice, and follow Him whithersoever He goes; for this is the way to the true fountain.  (John 10:27; 4:14)  This way was traveled by the royal priests who came from the rising of the sun, as we read in revelation, and entered into the ages of eternity, and had to drink of this cup.'  (I Peter 2:9) "This way was trodden by the dead under the altar, who cry, saying: Lord, Almighty God, when wilt Thou avenge the blood that has been shed? White robes were given unto them, and it was said to them; Wait yet for a little season, until the number of your brethren that are yet to be killed for the testimony of Jesus, be fulfilled.  (Revelation 6:9-11)  These also drank of the cup, and are gone above to keep the eternal, holy Sabbath of the Lord.
This is the way in which walked the twenty-four elders, who stand before the throne of God, and cast their crowns and harps before the throne of the Lamb, falling down upon their faces, and saying: Lord, unto Thee alone be praise, glory, power, and strength, who shalt avenge the blood of Thy servants and ministers, and shalt through Thyself gain the victory. Great be Thy name, Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.  (Rev. 4:8; 10)  
"In this way walked also those who were marked by the Lord, and received the mark upon their foreheads (Ezekiel 9:6), who were chosen from among all nations of men, who were not defiled with women, (understand this), and who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.  (Revelation 14:4), "Behold, all these had to drink of the cup of bitterness, as, will also all those have to do, who are still wanting to complete the number and fulfillment of Zion, the bride of the Lamb, which is the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven (Revelation 21:2), the city and throne of God, in which the glory of the great King shall be seen, when the feast of tabernacles will be kept and celebrated in the days of eternal rest and joy (Zechariah 14:16), "Behold, all these could not attain to this, without first suffering judgment and chastisement in their flesh; for Christ Jesus, the eternal truth, was the first, when it is written: 'The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.' (Revelation 13:8)  
So Paul says: 'Thus it pleased the Father, that all whom He predestinated from eternity, He called, elected, justified, and made to be conformed to the image of His Son.'  (Romans 8:29, 30)  Our blessed Saviour also says: The servant is not above his Lord; but it is sufficient for him, that: he be like his Lord and Master.  (Matthew 10:24)  Also Peter says: 'The time has 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 obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?'  (I Peter 4:17, 18)  Read also in Proverbs (11:31): 'Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.'
See, my son, here you can hear that no one can come unto life, except through this way. Therefore enter in through the strait gate, receive the chastisement and instruction of the Lord, bow your shoulders under His yoke, and cheerfully bear it from your youth, with thanksgiving, rejoicing and honor; for He accepts or receives no son, whom He does not chasten.  (Hebrews 12:6)  
Paul further says: 'If you forsake the chastisement, whereof they were all partakers, ye are bastards, and not children, and shall be cast out from the inheritance of the children of God,’ "If you, therefore, desire to enter into the regions of the holy world, and into the inheritance of the saints, gird your loins, and follow after them; search the Scriptures, and it shall show you their ways.  (John 5:39)  
The angel who spake to the prophet said: 'There is also another thing: A city is builded, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things: the entrance thereof is narrow, and set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water: and one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that there could but one man go there at once. If this city now were given unto a man for an inheritance, if he never shall pass the danger set before it, how shall he receive this inheritance?'  (II Esdras (Apocrypha) 7:6-9)  (Note:  The Apocrypha was part of the Authorized King James Version until 1885; the Protestant Geneva Bible used by John Calvin and puritans, Tyndale-Matthews Bible, and the Bishop’s Bible all contained the Apocrypha as well.  They were used by Christians for nearly 1900 years, but I believe because they contained many prophecies and emphasized righteousness, that they were discontinued.  The timeline on the Apocryphal books is from the reign of King Solomon about 970 B.C. to near the time of Christ 4 B.C.) 
See, my son, this way has no retreats; there are no roundabout or crooked little paths; whosoever departs to the right or to the left, inherits death: Behold, this is the way which is found by so few, and walked by a still far smaller number; for there are some who well perceive that this is the way to life; but it is too severe for them; it pains their flesh. Therefore, my child, do not regard the great number, nor walk in their ways. Remove thy foot far from their paths, for they go to hell, as sheep unto death; even as Isaiah says: 'Hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude . . . shall descend into it.'  (Isaiah 5:14)  'It is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them.'  (Isaiah 27:11)  But where you hear of a poor, simple, cast-off little flock (Luke 12:32), which is despised and rejected, by the world, join them; for where you hear of the cross, there is Christ; from there do not depart. Flee the shadow of this world; become united with God; fear Him alone, keep His commandments, observe all His words, to do them; write them upon the table of your heart, bind them upon your forehead, speak day and night of His law and you will be a pleasant tree and a sprout in the courts of the Lord, a beloved plant growing up in Zion.  (Psalm 92:13)  
Take the fear of the Lord to be your father, and wisdom shall be the mother of your understanding. If you know this. my son, happy are you if you do it.  (John 13:17)  
Observe that which the Lord commands you, and sanctify your body to His service, that His name may be sanctified, praised, and made glorious and great in you. Be not ashamed to confess Him before men; do not fear men; rather, give up your life, than to depart from the truth. If you lose your body, which is earthly, the Lord your God has prepared you a better one in heaven.  (II Corinthians 5:1), "Therefore, my child, strive for righteousness unto death, and arm yourself with the armor of God. Be a pious Israelite, trample under foot all unrighteousness, the world and all that is in it, and love only that which is above.  (I John 2:15)  
Remember, that you are not of this world, even as your Lord and Master was not.  (John 15:19)  Be a faithful disciple of Christ; for none is fit to pray, unless he has become His disciple and not before.  (Colossians 1:7; John 9:31)  
Those who said: 'We have left all,' also said: 'Teach us to pray.'  (Luke 18:28; 11:1)  They were those for whom the Lord prayed, and not the world (John 17:9); for when the world prays, they call upon their father, the devil, and desire that his will be done, as is also the case. Therefore, my son, do not become like them, but shun and flee them, and have neither part nor fellowship with them.  (Romans 12:2; II Peter 1:4)  
Do not regard that which is before your eyes, but seek only those things which are above.  (Colossians 3:1)  
O my child, be mindful of my admonition, and forsake it not. May the Lord cause you to grow up in His fear, and fill your understanding with His Spirit.  (II Peter 3:18)  Sanctify yourself to the Lord, my son; sanctify your whole conduct in the fear of your God.  (Leviticus 20:7)  
Whatever you do, do it all to the praise of His name. Honor the Lord in the works of your hands, and let the light of the Gospel shine through you. Love your neighbor. Deal with an open, warm heart thy bread to the hungry, clothe the naked, and suffer not to have anything twofold; for there are always some who lack.  (Matthew 26:11)  Whatever the Lord grants you from the sweat of your face, above what you need, communicate to those of whom you know that they love the Lord (Genesis 3:19; Psalm 112:9); and suffer nothing to remain in your possession until the morrow, and the Lord shall bless the work of your hands, and give you His blessing for an inheritance.  (Deuteronomy 28:12)  
O my son, let your life be conformed to the Gospel, and the God of peace, sanctify your soul and body, to His praise. Amen.  (Philippians 1:27; I Thessalonians 5:23)  "O holy Father, sanctify the son of Thy handmaiden in Thy truth, and keep him from the evil, for Thy name's sake, O Lord."
Thereupon . she sealed this with her blood, and thus, as a pious heroine and follower of Jesus Christ, she was received among the number of the witnesses of God who were offered up.