Confession Of Jacques D’Auchy, Made Before The Commissary And The Inquisitor.

On the 27th of January of the aforementioned year I was again brought before the same inquisitor. After a few words he asked me to what conclusion I had come with regard to what he had said, namely, with reference to baptism and the sacrament. Thereupon I replied to him as I had done at other times, that I knew nothing better than to adhere to my first confession, seeing I could not find in the Scriptures that which he laid before me, and which he would constrain me to believe. Inq. “Will you then remain obstinate herein, and not believe otherwise?” Jac. “I am not obstinate, but I do not find in the Scriptures that which you say I must believe.” Inq. “Not? do you not find in the Scriptures what you must believe concerning the sacrament?” Jac. “Yes, but not in the manner in which you believe; for I cannot understand it so.” Inq. “The reason is you do not want to understand it.” Jac. “How, my lord, do you mean that I want to resist God against my conscience? in this case I should be worse than an irrational beast.” Inq. “Why then do you not understand it?” Jac. “Because it is not given me to understand it differently; and be not surprised at this, for it is written in the prophets, where the Lord says: ‘They shall all be taught of God.’ ” Is. 54:13. Inq. “Nevertheless, it seems to me, that if I lay it before you with the Scriptures, it is nothing but opinionativeness and obstinacy, if you do not want to believe it.” Jac. “I cannot understand it so; think not that if I understood it differently, I should want to find my pleasure and amusement here in being imprisoned and chained day after day, having forsaken my wife and family, to my great damage, expecting death from day to day, for this were contrary to human nature.” Inq. “Well then, believe only in the word of God as it is written there, and I will be satisfied, namely, that when we eat the bread, we partake of the body of Christ, and when we drink the wine, we have part in his blood, as Paul testifies to the Corinthians.” 1 Cor. 10:16. Jac. “Be satisfied then; I believe as Paul testifies there.” Inq. “Do you believe then that there is a communion of the body of Christ?” Jac. “Yes.” Inq. “Well then, you cannot be a partaker of the body without eating of it; hence you 580 must certainly say that it is the body of Christ which you eat.” Jac. “Paul does not say this.” Inq. “How can you be a partaker of the body without eating of it?” Jac. “How did Israel become partakers of the altar, who did not eat the altar, but only the sacrifices?” 1 Cor. 10:18. Inq. “Ha ha! see how Calvin or Zuinglius has instructed you.” Jac. “I do not hold the doctrine of Calvin or Zuinglius.” Inq. “Whose then, Menno Simon’s?” Jac. “My doctrine and faith are not founded upon men, but upon the word of God.” Inq. “Who then is the head and captain of you people?” Jac. “Christ.” Inq. “But who is it that instructs you here upon earth, who is your teacher?” Jac. “The word of God.”

When I perceived that he did not know to what church I belonged, I did not want to tell or indicate it to him.

Inq. “Nevertheless, you must be instructed herein by some men.” Jac. “We are not founded upon men, but upon the living Rock.” Inq. “Have you then no pastor or bishop?” Jac. “Yes.” Inq. “Who is it?” Jac. “Christ the Son of God.” Inq. “You know very well what I mean; but you do not want to answer; however, have you any adherents of Calvin or Zuinglius? are you opposed to Menno Simon?” Jac. “I believe that there is not much difference between my faith and Menno Simon’s” Inq. “Do you then believe like Menno, that Christ did not assume our flesh in the virgin Mary?” Jac. “My lord, you said that you would not dispute about the matter; have you changed your mind?” Inq. “Well then tell me simply what you believe concerning it.” Jac. “I believe that he is the Son of God in every respect, in flesh and spirit; but as to whence he took his flesh, this I leave in the mystery of God; the apostles did not dispute concerning it.” Inq. “Yes, yes.” We had also many other words yet, which I have not written here.