# Hendrick Alewijns, Hans Marijns Van Oosten, And Gerrit Duynherder, A. D. 1569. · Page 1 of 9 [Previous page: DIRK WILLEMS, A. D. 1569.](/en/stories/mm-dirk-willems-a-d-1569/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: HENDRICK ALEWIJNS, HANS MARIJNS VAN OOSTEN, AND GERRIT DUYNHERDER, A. D. 1569.](/en/stories/mm-hendrick-alewijns-hans-marijns-van-oosten-and-gerrit-duynherder-a-d-1569/part-2/) In the year 1569 there were imprisoned for the testimony of Jesus, at Middleburgh, in Zealand, the following pious sheep and followers of Christ: Hendrick Alewijns, a purse-maker by trade, and Hans Marijns van Oosten, with Gerrit Duynherder. These suffered from the ministers of antichrist manifold assaults, and threats and tortures terrible to the flesh, all of which they, through faith and the power of God (which was in them) patiently and valiantly resisted. And after they had suffered all this for Christ’s sake, they were together burnt alive at said place, on the 9th of February 1569, confirming the belief of the ever-abiding truth with their death and blood, and now serve as a beacon to all true believers, that they may follow their unfeigned faith. Phil. 3:17. The Hendrick Alewijns mentioned here was in his time a very zealous follower of Christ, and was elected and chosen by the brethren to serve the church of God with the word of the holy Gospel, in which he was very diligent, and, though young in the service, he exceedingly abounded and increased in the work of God. 2 Cor. 8:19; Luke 1:2; 1 Tim. 4:15. And though he had neither silver nor gold, nor temporal means, yet his hands gained him and his wife and children a livelihood, and he sought to minister to the flock of Christ not for the milk and wool, but this hero followed the good, true and faithful Shepherd Jesus, and willingly, of a ready mind, ministered to the work of God, wherefore, at the appearance of the chief Shepherd, he shall receive the imperishable crown of honor. Acts 3:6; 20:34; Matt. 10:16; Ezek. 34:3; 1 Pet. 5:2,4. During the time of his imprisonment he also did not forget his brethren and sisters, but wrote beautiful letters, descriptions and hymns, worthy of being read, to them, as also to his three little orphans; some of which have previously already appeared in print. We pray the reader attentively to read those adduced here, the first of which was sent to the beloved children of God in Zealand, and reads as follows: 712 An epistle from Hendrick Alewijns, sent to the beloved children of God in Zealand, written in his prison at Middleburgh, where he steadfastly testified to the truth of God with his death, on the 9th of February, A. D. 1569. A most Christian greeting and salutation in the Lord! Hendrick Alewijns, unworthy, a weak brother and simple companion in the faith in God, a partaker of his sufferings, also of patience, and of the hope of eternal life, with all the saints, all through the grace of God, unmerited. Grace, peace, the mercy of God, salvation, prosperity, and everything good from above, through Christ Jesus, constantly to be kept stirred up, and the ardent impelling of the Holy Spirit, even unto the blessed end, these things I wish all my beloved friends, brethren, sisters, and companions, from God the Father, through Jesus Christ our dear Lord, Redeemer and Savior. Amen. This I send as a greeting, in a good intention, from the very depths of my love, to you, as my special acquaintances and friends, to exhort and stir up one another to good devotion, while absent, yet in one hope of the kingdom and glory of God, though I am now confined at a distance from you. My very kind, especially peaceable and ever well-meaning friends, seeing before me my departure from this life, and having time to write, I gladly turn to your love for a little while, to give you intelligence and glad tidings, which, I presume, is according to your wish and desire. Behold, be it known to you all, that I, your friend, am still prospering in the Lord, in both respects, that is, in body and soul, in the unchanging determination, to endeavor with a good resolution, to keep body and soul surrendered to and in God, pleasing to you to hear, and to my salvation. May God grant this to the blessed end of my faith, O dear Lord. Amen. Further, the cause of my writing to you, and to your love, is also to ask you to help me pray in my behalf, for steadfastness in God’s truth, and that I may live in his grace, and for God’s faithful assistance towards me. I inform you that I am of very good cheer in my imprisonment, tribulation, sorrow, reproach, and suffering for righteousness’ sake; and also I have, with all the saints, in my tribulation, a bright prospect, the hope and consolation of the Spirit, and the rich promises of God to succor us in this present time, who also assures us of eternal life hereafter, of which so abundantly mention is made in the Scriptures. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_712) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: DIRK WILLEMS, A. D. 1569.](/en/stories/mm-dirk-willems-a-d-1569/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: HENDRICK ALEWIJNS, HANS MARIJNS VAN OOSTEN, AND GERRIT DUYNHERDER, A. D. 1569.](/en/stories/mm-hendrick-alewijns-hans-marijns-van-oosten-and-gerrit-duynherder-a-d-1569/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-hendrick-alewijns-hans-marijns-van-oosten-and-gerrit-duynherder-a-d-1569/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Hendrick+Alewijns%2C+Hans+Marijns+Van+Oosten%2C+And+Gerrit+Duynherder%2C+A.+D.+1569.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+9&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AHendrick+Alewijns%2C+Hans+Marijns+Van+Oosten%2C+And+Gerrit+Duynherder%2C+A.+D.+1569.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+9%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-hendrick-alewijns-hans-marijns-van-oosten-and-gerrit-duynherder-a-d-1569%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-hendrick-alewijns-hans-marijns-van-oosten-and-gerrit-duynherder-a-d-1569%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1569%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.)