Part 2-088-AN EPISTLE OR EXHORTATION OF REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO THE FRIENDS
AN EPISTLE OR EXHORTATION OF REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO THE FRIENDS
O dear friends, fear not, neither be surprised, when you are tried by manifold temptations which may come upon a Christian, and also do come upon him in bonds and imprisonment, as I now find, it is grievous according to the flesh, but very light according to the spirit, for it is the power of God. This I have experienced in these bonds, that the Lord is with those that seek and fear Him from the heart. Hence, my dear friends, who have received like faith with me, fear the Lord from the heart, that if it should be the Lord's will to have you here in such bonds or imprisonment, you may be able to withstand, for they employ much craftiness and subtlety, to draw us away from the truth, and they know how to exalt lies, and abolish truth, with feigned words of their own devising; sometimes with very gentle words, and sometimes with harsh ones, by which they think to weaken and discourage one, as they have done with me. And also Satan, as Peter says, walketh about us as a roaring lion, seeking where he can devour us; so he has also assailed me, but the Lord has hitherto kept me, for which I thank Him. But Satan, once assailed me with a temptation which I must write to you, to show you how crafty the evil One is. I once spake with a priest, who reviled us and said that they sang the psalms of David, while we sang hymns which men had made. And when I came back into prison, the tempter very craftily assailed me, that it was true, that we did sing hymns which men had made. And I was grieved that I should suffer, and it might be wrong, and I was still young in years, and it grieved me much. Finally I thought: I know better; I know that the hymns aTe made from the Holy Scriptures, and that it is right; if I could do according to them, I should be saved. Then I reflected on the priest's walk, and on their faith, and on the things which they had spoken against the Holy Scriptures, which are lies, and I entreated the Lord, and it entered my mind no more. Hence, dear friends, Satan is very crafty; but we must always pray the Lord in every assault which he makes upon us, in manifold temptations, for the almighty, eternal, merciful God will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, as he has spoken (1 Corinthians 10:13); for He is our Captain, our Champion in all our distress. And do not fear though they place me at the stake, and burn me; but be strengthened thereby, that the Lord is still so powerful in His works; and always fear Him, and praise Him, and thank Him, now and forever. Amen.
I further thank those who sent me that book, for it delighted and rejoiced me much in the Lord; and I commend all of you who fear Him to the Lord.
ANOTHER CONFESSION OF REYTSE AYSESS, MADE BEFORE THE COMMISSARY
After I had been imprisoned nineteen weeks, I was brought before the commissary of the royal court, who first demanded an oath of me, that I should tell the truth. I said: “The Lord has forbidden us to swear in anywise; hence I do not want to take an oath.” Then he said that I should answer to his questions with yes and no. I said: “I do not want to do this, for you might ask me something which it would not be proper for me to tell; hence I must first hear what you want to ask me.” He then first asked me my age. I answered
“Twenty-four or five years.” He wrote it down. He further asked where I was born, where I had last resided, and how many children I had. I said “One.” Com. “How old is it?” Reytse. “Half a year.” Com. “Is it baptized?” Reytse. “No, not that I know.” Cove. “What is the reason that it has not been done?” Reytse. “Because it is not commanded in the holy- Scriptures.” Com. “Are you baptized?” Reytse. “Yes, upon my faith, as Christ has commanded.” Com. “Were you not baptized in your infancy?” Reytse. “Yes, but I do not recognize that as a scriptural baptism.”
He wrote it all down. He asked me who the one was that had baptized me, where it had taken place, and who and how many had been at my father's house. I said: “I do not want to tell you this; I hope you will not ask me concerning it. If you thirst so much for the blood and life of men, you have me in your hands; do with me according to your pleasure, I shall by the help of the Lord freely offer my neck for it; but I hope of your grace, that you will not question me so severely in regard to it.” He said they should indeed question me more severely yet; hence you better tell me voluntarily, than involuntarily. I said: “The Lord my God will keep me, for this I trust His grace.” And after he had written down everything, he told me to go.
A LETTER FROM REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO HIS FATHER
Dear father, some time when it suits you, write me something concerning your intentions or purpose, as to where you intend to live, and how your temporal affairs stand, also in regard to my sister, and also some consolation, for this rejoices me much.
I further inform you that there are now two other prisoners with me; they are old men, and we agree tolerably well; for they have been confined with me for about a month, and we have spoken somewhat of the way of the Lord. They are willing to exchange that which they have for something better, and they think that they need salvation as much as I do. They have indeed formed the good resolve. to live no more unto sin, but to be transformed into newness of life, which I am glad to hear; but God knows the heart. I further let you know that one evening the colonel's wife came before the prison, just as we were about to he fed. She therefore first asked how many prisoners there were here. They told her. Then she asked what their crimes were Then one excused himself, as best he could. She then asked me, what my crime was. I said that my crime for which they held me was not very great. She had heard of me, and said I should suffer myself to be instructed by those who were wiser than I. I said, I would suffer myself to be instructed with that which was right. She further said that people said that I did not believe in the Father, nor in the Son, and also not in the Holy Ghost; which I earnestly contradicted, and said that I thought much thereof, and that my faith was resting thereon, and that if I did not believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, I should not be worthy to live. Then she inquired what it really was. The castellan's son said that I did not believe in the mass. Then she became angry, and I said that I did not believe in the ordinances of men, as, namely, infant baptism, and their sacrament-that the blessed Lord was not present in it, but I believed that He was in the
throne of eternal life. She became angry and said that if there were no executioner, she would rather put me to death herself, than that I should live, And she gave the two prisoners that are with me seven stivers, and forbade them to give me anything of it, and warned them, that they should not allow themselves, to be seduced .by me, and went away. Furthermore, dear father, deliver to my wife, at the first, opportunity, the letter which I have written he, and exhort her to that which is good, this I affectionately pray you.and all my dear friends; my dear old mother above all, and my two sisters, and my young brother, that he conduct himself well, when he gets a little more understanding
and also my poor child, for whose poor soul I am so greatly concerned, that it may please the Lord. But I hope the Lord will take it into His kingdom, before it commits sin. Walk in love. Ephesians 5:2. Further, dear father, I would desire a Testament, if you could send me one; for I have had our brother's Testament for a very long time, and he needs it himself, and has it now again.
Written in my bonds, by me, your dear son.
REYTSE AYSESS.
A LETTER FROM REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO HIS MOTHER
My dear mother, I wish you the gracious, eternal, merciful Father, and the love of God, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost. as a greeting; and the Father of peace rule in your heart. Amen,
My very dear and affectionately beloved mother, who bore me in your own body, and brought me into the world with great pain, yea, whose breasts have nourished me and who nourished and instructed me in all truth, you have kept me, from all sinful companions; yea, you have kept me from all false doctrine, yea, you have kept me from the whore of Babylon, yea, you have brought me into the church of the living God. You have kept me from all sin, according to your best ability. You have brought me thus far with the help of the Lord, Behold, my very affectionately beloved mother; it is therefore my entreaty and request of you, that you will not fret and grieve on my account, for I hope that you have not brought me up to the reproach, but to the praise, of God and His church. After all proper salutation it is my request and entreaty of you, that you will forgive and excuse me, if I have in anywise grieved you, whether it may have been done in my youth or ignorantly, this I request of you. Further, my dearly beloved mother, I must write you a little from the bottom of my heart and the inmost of my soul, though you know it, and are taught of God, and are my dear mother, yet I write to you that in none of us there may be found an evil heart of unbelief, and that none may be entangled by the, deceitfulness of sin, and depart from the living God on account of any tribulation. 2 Peter 1:12; John 6:45; Hebrews 4:12-13,
Behold, my dear, beloved mother;-let us not be troubled, or become despondent; though they have touched you in property and blood [kindred], fear not, but be of good courage, for the Lord is our Redeemer. Behold the afflictions of job, how the Lord helped him. And behold the end of the Lord; for the Lord will not forsake you and me, if we trust in Him, for the Lord has helped me to fight, for I have now been before them twelve times. The Lord is my Captain, He will not forsake me. Nor do I want to forsake Him, neither for life nor death. Hence, my dear and much beloved mother, let us go to and sincerely prostrate ourselves before the Lord, for all our lives end in death, and when we shall all be presented before the judgment seat of Christ, what manner of persons must we then be: Therefore, my beloved mother, who have obtained like faith with me, let us prepare ourselves, and gird up the loins of our mind. And let us lay aside every weight, and the sin Which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; and we shall receive a reward. Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:14. Dearly beloved mother, though they have touched you in your property, and me in my life, what does it matter. The Lord our God will help us; but we must trust in Him. The world shall rejoice, and we shall be sorrowful; but our sorrow shall be turned into joy. John 16:20. But, dear mother, we must patiently wait for it. Though they speak evil of us, dear mother, they treated the Lord our God in the same manner before us.
Hence I am not surprised; they have condemned me so often; yea, [have said] that I shall here receive the temporal fire, and hereafter the eternal; yea, that the devil is in me. Yea, they say that if they did not put such as Douwe Eeuwoutss and I out of this world, they should not be able to answer for it before God. Hence, dear and beloved mother, fear not, for they know no better. But let us heed our lesson, for the Lord demands and requires more of us, than of them; hence let us take heed to the correction and chastisement, and receive it patiently and joyfully; and we shall receive a reward, for whom the Lord chastens, him He will receive. But if we are without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are We bastards, and not children. Hence, my beloved mother, I rejoice from the depth of my heart, that the Lord our God has so loved me, as to have called me hereunto, that I may be found Christ's sheep for the slaughter. And I hope by His great grace and mercy, that He will make me fit, and shall receive me into His kingdom, as He promised those who seek Him from the heart. See, my very dear and beloved mother, let us not despise the correction of the Lord, but patiently receive it; and we shall receive a reward. Yea, hereafter all sorrow and tears shall be wiped away from our eyes. Yea, we shall stand upon mount Zion, with all the saints of God. Behold what great joy is prepared for them that have obeyed God. Therefore, dear and much beloved mother, let us take up our cross, and follow Him from the heart, as dear children, that we may not be blotted out of the book of life. My love, we must be holy and unblamable before Him in all our conversation. Our words must be seasoned with salt; as Paul says; that we may be able to stand before the almighty eternal God. Further, dearly beloved mother, as you have shown all love to me, it is my request of you, that you will love my dear, beloved child as you have loved me, as I trust you will do, and have a mother's heart for it.
O dear mother, take in good part what I have written here, for it has been done out of love.
Know, dear and much beloved `parents, that in the eighteenth week of my imprisonment I was before the bishop, where were assembled at least eight or nine persons. The bishop spoke first, that I should betake myself to the holy Catholic faith, and he should set me at liberty; and other words that he said. If I would not do this, they would cut me off as a heretic and an obstinate and disobedient person, who is opposed to the ordinances of the Roman Church. Finally I opened my mouth, very joyfully, and said: “Do what you will and can answer for before God, for I do not want to forsake my faith, for either death or life.” They said that I should advise with myself, or amend, since eternity was so long. Reytse. “Because eternity is so long, therefore I want to take heed;, if eternity were not so long, I would not sit in these bonds.”
Finally they asked me all the articles anew, and I confessed them. Then they read the sentence to me, but I did not understand it well, as it was written in Latin. It was that they delivered me over as a heretic, who'would not suffer himself to be instructed with the ordinances of the holy Church; and they gave me over into the hands of the judges; together with certain documents pertaining to this matter. Finally I sat there with uncovered head, and defended myself with many remarks, speaking joyfully, that they should take heed not to bring harm to themselves by laying violent hands on me. The bishop said that he would rather fast two weeks with water and bread, than pass sentence upon me.
Finally, when they had finished their business, they went away. After they had gone, a priest remained, who reviled much, and had much to say, and wanted to dispute with me a whole night; but I would not, because they had delivered me over already; for he had come of his own account. Then he went away, and I had to go back to prison; nevertheless, I am not dismayed. The Lord God has brought me thus far; I hope through His great grace, that He will help me further, for I know that He is the One that helps me; without Him I can do nothing. Hence praise the Lord always, and glorify Him forever and ever. I commend you to the Lord, for He is our Redeemer and Helper in all our tribulation and distress.
Written by me in the twentieth week of my imprisonment.
REYTSE AYSESS.
A LETTER FROM REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE
Grace, peace, mercy, love, and unity from God our heavenly Father, be with you my dear and beloved wife; may the almighty God keep you and me, and bring us into eternal life. Amen.
See, my dear and much beloved wife, whom I took before God and His church, I am greatly troubled and grieved on your account, and pray the Almighty God day and night for you, that He will keep you in your steadfast faith; for when you were with me, you comforted me with the word of the Lord, wherein I greatly rejoice, with joy unspeakable, and praise the almighty, eternal God for your faith.
Behold, my dear and much beloved wife, be not troubled on my account, but console yourself in the Lord, for the Lord is my helper, and He comforts me. I sometimes scarcely know that I am in prison, when I think of the promises which God has given us, and thank Gad that He has chosen me thereto. If we continue steadfast unto the end, the crown of life is laid up for us, and we shall be clothed in white raiment, and shall stand upon Mount Zion, with all God's chosen saints, and sing the good new song. O my dear, beloved wife, I could not forsake you for any riches of this world, but Christ says: “He that forsaketh not father and mother, sister and brother, house and home, wife and child, and his own life, is not worthy of me.” Luke 14:26. Behold, my dear, beloved wife, we have had each other two years, and have loved each other greatly; if I could die for you, I think it would not be too hard for me. My dear wife, though I am imprisoned here, it will not be to your disgrace, but to the praise of God. I am greatly troubled for you and my dear child. O that our dear Lord would take it into His kingdom; it would be such a great joy to me; but if not, may it grow up in the fear of God. My dear wife, be not troub'led on my account, but console yourself in the Lord. May the Almighty God keep you and me, that we may hereafter appear in eternal life. The Lord keep you and me, and confirm us unto eternal life. Amen.
By me, your dear husband
REYTSE AYSESS.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE
Grace, peace, mercy, unity, and love be with you, my dear wife and sister in the Lord; may the almighty God comfort you in your misery and tribulation which you have on my account.
Behold, my very dear and beloved wife and sister in the Lord, whom I took before God and His church, the eternal Almighty God, console you in your tribulation and distress which you endure on my account.
Behold, my beloved, though we are to suffer here (for in the world we shall have tribulation, but our tribulation shall be turned into joy), let us firmly cleave to the word of the Lord, and depart neither to the right nor to the left. O dear and much beloved wife, I am so greatly troubled and concerned for you, and pray the Almighty God for you day and night, that He will keep you, and that you may continue steadfast unto the end; for he that continues steadfast shall be saved.
My dear, beloved wife and sister, when you were with me you comforted me with the word of the Lord, so that the castellan's wife said: “I could not do this;” and you said I should cleave to the word of the Lord; wherein I greatly rejoice, and thank the eternal God for your strong faith. Pray the Lord who has begun this good work in you, that He will keep it in you unto the end, that you may obtain the salvation of your soul. My beloved, be of good courage, and be valiant in the Lord; and we may well say with the prophet: “O Israel, how happy are we, that God has made known His word unto us.” Bar_4:4. What thanks shall we render to the Lord for the good that He has shown us? for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. 1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 8:9. Hence, my dear and beloved wife, if we suffer with Him, we shall also rejoice with Him; if we die with Him, we shall also reign with Him. 2 Timothy 2:11-12. O beloved, be of good courage, and cleave to the word of the Lord, and be firmly rooted in Him. Even as Jacob took hold of the angel, and wrestled with Him all night, until the breaking of the day. The angel said: “Let me go.” Jacob said: “I will not let thee go, till thou have blessed me.” Genesis 32:24.
Let us therefore be followers of God, as dear children in love. Ephesians 5:1. O my beloved wife, I have such a great care for you, and am so much troubled for you. O love, I beseech you from the inmost of my soul, that you will not forsake the Lord your God all the days of your. life. O love, I am so greatly troubled and grieved for my dear child, that I do not know whither to turn, and I pray the eternal, almighty God day and night in regard to it. O my dear and beloved. be of good courage, and console yourself in the Lord, and be not troubled on my account-the Lord is my helper. My beloved, if it should please our dear Lord, that we should meet no more, may we meet hereafter in eternal life. May the Lord help you and me to this end, and keep us, that we may be saved.
Written by me, your beloved husband and brother in the Lord.
REYTSE AYSESS.
SENTENCE AND DEATH OF REYTSE AYSESS
After Reytse Aysess had confessed his faith with all boldness before the, lords and princes, and had taken leave from his ood friends, he was finally brought before the lords and sentenced to death. His sentence reads as follows
Whereas it has appeared to the Court of Friesland, that Reytse Aysess, at present a prisoner, has, by the sentence of the high, worshipful Lord Bishop of Leeuwaerden, been condemned as an obstinate heretic in his opinions and errors concerning the holy church, and as such been committed into the will and hand of the secular justice, to be dealt with according to law, according to the full power of the sentence existing with respect to this; therefore, the aforesaid court, having duly regarded and considered all that ought to be considered in this matter, in the name and in behalf of the King of Spain, etc., Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy Brabant, etc. Court of Holland, Zealand, and Lord of Friesland, have condemned, and by these, presents do condemn the aforesaid prisoner, to be executed with water, and brought from life to death; declaring, furthermore, all his property to be forfeited and confiscated for the benefit of his majesty. Done the 23d of April, A. D. 1574.
Upon this, Reytse was very bold and joyful, praising and thanking the Lord, that he had become worthy to suffer for His name; and in the evening, at nine o'clock, he was brought into the castellan's house by the beadles.
There were some monks there, who tormented and tempted him much, but they were not able to resist the spirit that was in him; he remained bold and fearless, and spoke with a person which bears this testimony concerning it, and sent greetings to all his good friends; especially to his parents, wife, and nearest kindred, informing them that he was of good cheer and in greater joy than he had ever been in his life. Thereupon, about twelve o'clock in the night, the castellan, the beadles, the executioner, the monks, and others, assembled and conducted him to the torture tower, whither he gladly went, singing
“I call upon Thee O heavenly Father,
Be pleased to strengthen my faith.” etc.
When he came into the torture tower, he fell down upon his face, and called upon the Lord in fervent prayer, after which he rose, and offered up his sacrifice with all boldness, and was drowned there. He rests now under the altar, waiting for the number of his fellow brethren to be fulfilled.
How signally the faithful God is filled with compassion over His people, how He comforts and strengthens them by His Spirit, how He goes with them into water and fire, yea, He remains with them in the bitterness of death, never forsaking them; and how He also regards every injury inflicted upon His own, as though the apple of His own eye were touched; this can be seen and perceived, in both the Old and New Testaments, in the avenging hand of God, with which He many times smote bloodthirsty persecutors. Exodus 14:8; 2Ma_9:28; Acts 12:23.
The same can also be seen;in many tyrants and persecutors of these latter days, as, among other instances, may be seen in the case of a certain no bleman, named Andries Grijpen, who, searchinf for some thieves, laid his hands on this aforesaid God-fearing Reytse Aysess. And though their consciences (that is, his own as well as his wife's con science), greatly troubled and accused them with regard to this deed, so that they said they much deplored that these people were so exceedingly oppressed; these people who, he said, harmed no one, nor desired any one's property, but were well satisfied with what they had. That these were thus harassed, was a grievous cross to his heart; and though he felt thus in his conscience, he nevertheless, through the instigation of his secretary, and because he, like Pilate, would remain the emperor's friend, and not lose his office, set at naught this conviction of his heart, and bound and ironed the aforesaid Reytse Aysess, and sent him thus to Leeuwaerden to prison. But the righteous God, who is not mocked, very soon after this deed, sorely smote the said lord with His avenging hand, so that the freebooters, coming from Holland, fell upon his house and completely demolished it, and subjected him to much affliction and ignominy, taking him with them to Holland, and setting a ransom of six thousand guilders upon him, in addition to which he had to give a hundred guilders each week as personal expenses, until the ransom had been fully paid. In consequence of this he and his family fell into extreme poverty, so that other people, filled with compassion, aided and fed him in this his great need. Besides this he was afflicted with gravel and consumption, of which he ultimately miserably died. Some others of his kindred also were taken out of this world in a miserable manner. Moreover, in these afflictions his conscience greatly accused him of this deed, so that he penitently prayed to God, desiring that through his temporal afflictions and suffering, he might, by the grace of God, escape and turn away the eternal torment of hell, which he seemed to experience in himself. Hence this ought to serve as an example to all tyrants and persecutors, carefully to beware of such deeds.
HENDRICK PRUYT, A. D. 1574
About the year 1574 there was another pious brother, named Hendrick Pruyt, born at Harderwijck, in Guelderland, and a seaman by occupation, who came and sailed in the Zuyder Zee, on the coast of Friesland And as a Spanish colonel was stationed at Wurekom, who was a zealous servant of the King of Spain, and a great war was carried on at that time between Holland and the King of Spain, the soldiers of the latter came in a yacht, on board of said Hendrick Pruyt's vessel. And as he saw no way of escape, he said to his wife: “Trijntjen Jans, lamb, there comes the wolf;” exhorting her to boldness and to answer without dissimulation to whatever she might be asked. When these robbers came on board they asked: “Where does this craft hail from?” They answered: “From Harderwijck.” Though that place was at that tithe at peace with the king, they nevertheless had to go on shore with them, and Hendrick Pruyt was put in prison at Wurckom. His wife, who came to him, was greatly concerned how to obtain his release, for they were young people who greatly loved each other: and' as Hendrick Pruyt had little hope of being released, he asked his wife not to go to much trouble on his account, but that she should travel to her brother and friends, who were principally interested in the vessel, that they might see how to get the vessel released, which wasalso done. While she went home, they in the meantime examined Hendrick Pruyt and found that he was a brother of the Mennistic persuasion.
On account of this they dealt with him so. cruelly and tyrannically, that they, cbuld not, wait until the return of his wife, whom they might hen also have made to tread this way of suffering. But they took this pious man and cast him into a boat which they had well smeared with tar. They also tarred the prisoner's body, and'bound his outstretched hands to the ends of the mast-thwart, and took him thus without the harbor, set fire to the boat, and started him burning seaward. But as his hands through the fire had become. loosed or disengaged from their bonds, it seemed probable that he might yet deliver himself from the fire; but these murderers, seeing this, hastened to him, and thrust him through, and ended his life. Thus this friend of God passed valiantly through the conflict, and the seed of God, which he had received in his heart through the preaching of the divine Word, remained in him unto the end, whereby he through patience overcame his enemies, kept the faith, and through God's grace obtained the crown of eternal glory.
When this colonel perceived that Trijn Jans, his wife, hearing this report, would not readily be willing to run into the ands of these wolves, he was very much dissatisfied with it; saying: “If I had her here, she would have to go the same route “and that if he could at any time get hold of this woman, though. she were buried somewhere in a city, he would nevertheless dig up her dead body and burn it.
Consider, beloved. reader, how such awful bloodthirstiness and” tyranny accord with the Word, spirit and example of Christ and His apostles, whose followers they, without shame, still dare call themselves.