# Another Letter Of The Prisoners: In Which We Vindicate Ourselves Of That Which Is Reported Of Us, And Briefly Notice The Principal Points Of Our Faith, As Is Stated More Fully Below. · Page 2 of 3 [Previous page: ANOTHER LETTER OF THE PRISONERS: IN WHICH WE VINDICATE OURSELVES OF THAT WHICH IS REPORTED OF US, AND BRIEFLY NOTICE THE PRINCIPAL POINTS OF OUR FAITH, AS IS STATED MORE FULLY BELOW.](/en/stories/mm-another-letter-of-the-prisoners-in-which-we-vindicate-ourselves-of-that-which-is-reported-of-us-and-briefly-notice-the-p/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: ANOTHER LETTER OF THE PRISONERS: IN WHICH WE VINDICATE OURSELVES OF THAT WHICH IS REPORTED OF US, AND BRIEFLY NOTICE THE PRINCIPAL POINTS OF OUR FAITH, AS IS STATED MORE FULLY BELOW.](/en/stories/mm-another-letter-of-the-prisoners-in-which-we-vindicate-ourselves-of-that-which-is-reported-of-us-and-briefly-notice-the-p/part-3/) 9. We also confess and believe in a marriage state, as being an ordinance of God, as we read, Gen. 2:24. A man and a woman joined together in the name of the Lord, in the holy church. 1 Corinthians 7:2. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph, 5:31. Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Matt. 19:6. For marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb. 13:4. 10. We further believe and confess that magistrates are appointed and ordained of God, Wis. 6:3; Sir. 17:17; Rom. 13:1, for the punishment of the evil, and the protection of the good; to which magistrates we desire from the heart to be obedient, even as is written (1 Pet. 2:13): “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake. For they bear not the sword in vain. Rom. 13:4. And Paul further teaches us, that, first of all, we are to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved. 1 Tim. 2:1. He further teaches us, that one should be subject to principalities and powers, obey magistrates, and be ready to every good work. Tit. 3:1. Hence we would kindly beg your Majesty, that you would rightly understand our meaning: that is, that we do not despise the august, noble, and gracious Queen, and her wise council, but esteem Her Majesty worthy of all honor, and we also desire to be subject to her in all that we can; for we confess with Paul as stated above; for she is the minister of God; and that whosoever resists this power resists the ordinance of God; for rulers are not a terror to them that do good, but to those that do evil. Hence we confess that we owe, and are ready to give, to the secular power, custom, tribute, honor and fear, even as Christ himself taught us, saying: “Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matt. 22:21. Hence, since she is a minister of God, we would kindly entreat Her Majesty, that she would be pleased to show mercy to us poor prisoners, even as the heavenly Father is also merciful to us. We hereby do not consent at all to those who would resist the higher powers, but confess with all our heart, that one must be obedient and subject to them, as we have stated above. 11. Furthermore, to the question put to us, whether we would not be willing to swear any oath, we reply: That we do not find ourselves free in our conscience, that we may do this, because, as is written, Christ says (Matt. 5:33): “Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Further, also James teaches us (Jas. 5:12), saying: “But above all things, my brethren, swear not; neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay. For these reasons we dare in no wise swear. 12. We further believe in the resurrection of the dead, as is written Isa. 26:19: Job 19:25; Daniel 12:2; John 5; 1 Cor. 15:12; 1 Thess. 4:16. That men shall rise from the dead in their own body, Job 19:26; Isa. 26:19; 1 Cor. 15, when the Lord shall come in the clouds, with his angels, when he shall judge every man according to his deeds, Matthew 25:31; Rom. 2:6. 13. We furthermore believe all that is contained in the holy Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testament. And we poor prisoners make humble entreaty, if we have in any wise done amiss to Her Majesty, or her subjects, praying them, to forgive us for it, and be merciful unto us, even as the heavenly Father is merciful; for we are a poor, simple people, of humble knowledge and understanding, 967 and we are sorry that we cannot write more courteously. Hence we beg your Highness, that your Majesty would accept our simple writing in good part. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_967) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: ANOTHER LETTER OF THE PRISONERS: IN WHICH WE VINDICATE OURSELVES OF THAT WHICH IS REPORTED OF US, AND BRIEFLY NOTICE THE PRINCIPAL POINTS OF OUR FAITH, AS IS STATED MORE FULLY BELOW.](/en/stories/mm-another-letter-of-the-prisoners-in-which-we-vindicate-ourselves-of-that-which-is-reported-of-us-and-briefly-notice-the-p/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: ANOTHER LETTER OF THE PRISONERS: IN WHICH WE VINDICATE OURSELVES OF THAT WHICH IS REPORTED OF US, AND BRIEFLY NOTICE THE PRINCIPAL POINTS OF OUR FAITH, AS IS STATED MORE FULLY BELOW.](/en/stories/mm-another-letter-of-the-prisoners-in-which-we-vindicate-ourselves-of-that-which-is-reported-of-us-and-briefly-notice-the-p/part-3/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-another-letter-of-the-prisoners-in-which-we-vindicate-ourselves-of-that-which-is-reported-of-us-and-briefly-notice-the-p/part-2/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Another+Letter+Of+The+Prisoners%3A+In+Which+We+Vindicate+Ourselves+Of+That+Which+Is+Reported+Of+Us%2C+And+Briefly+Notice+The+Principal+Points+Of+Our+Faith%2C+As+Is+Stated+More+Fully+Below.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+3&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AAnother+Letter+Of+The+Prisoners%3A+In+Which+We+Vindicate+Ourselves+Of+That+Which+Is+Reported+Of+Us%2C+And+Briefly+Notice+The+Principal+Points+Of+Our+Faith%2C+As+Is+Stated+More+Fully+Below.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+3%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-another-letter-of-the-prisoners-in-which-we-vindicate-ourselves-of-that-which-is-reported-of-us-and-briefly-notice-the-p%2Fpart-2%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-another-letter-of-the-prisoners-in-which-we-vindicate-ourselves-of-that-which-is-reported-of-us-and-briefly-notice-the-p--b00025-o000000%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+16th+century+%28source+section%29%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)