HANS JACOB HESS, WITH HIS WIFE, A. D. 1639.

Among those who suffered in the Swiss persecution, there was none of the least Hans Jacob Hess, a chosen and confirmed minister of the Christian church.

He was apprehended for the third time in the year 1639; for from the two preceding imprisonments, the first of which had occurred already, in the year 1637, the Lord, beyond all expectation, had remarkably delivered him, through the aid of those that were imprisoned with him; as also out of this third imprisonment. The first lasted nineteen days, the second, eight weeks, the third, eighty-three weeks, or more than a year and a half.

But in the meantime his life was made very bitter and vexatious: for he was stripped, and, together with some of his fellow-believers, put in iron bonds, sixteen weeks, which he nevertheless patiently bore with a steadfast mind, until the time of his deliverance.

While this was taking place, namely in the same year, also his wife was apprehended, who was first imprisoned in the council house, and then in Othenbach, where, through bad treatment and unfit food and drink, for sixty-three weeks, she was so impaired in her constitution, and weakened, that she was seized with consumption, and after suffering much misery, died in prison.

This then was the end of this pious heroine of Jesus, who, to receive the eternal, blessed life, because of the uprightness of her faith, chose to die a lingering death rather than enjoy the temporal rest and pleasure of this life; wherefore the gracious God shall hereafter crown and reward her, with all those that have valiantly suffered and fought for his name’s sake, with the unfading crown of honor. (1 Peter 1:4.) Tract, Jer. Mang., fol. 16, A. B., and fol. 17, A., etc.

Note.—The property of Jacob Hess was seized by the authorities, who realized from the sale of it 4000 guilders, without restoring anything of it to those who remained. O great injustice! How will they be able to account for this before the righteous judgment seat of Jesus Christ?