JOHN SCHUT, A. D. 1561.

In the year 1561 another valiant hero and soldier of Jesus Christ, named John Schut, fell into the hands of the tyrants and persecutors, for following 629 Christ, and living according to God’s holy word, in the city of Vreden, in Westphalia. There he suffered and, through the grace of God, endured, severe imprisonment and threats of death. When brought bound before the lords, to give an account of his faith, he freely confessed the same, saying that he believed according to the word of God:

1. They asked him concerning his baptism, and what he held in regard to infant baptism. He replied that he was baptized upon his faith, as Christ his faithful Savior has commanded us in Mark 16, that baptism is to be given only to believers, and not to ignorant children, and that he had never read of infant baptism in the holy Scriptures, and that it could therefore by no means be proven with the word of God, but that baptism belonged only to those who had amended their sinful life. They angrily asked him, whether he would not give up these views. He answered that it were by no means expedient for him, to forsake the word of God, and die an eternal death, but that he would rather suffer for the truth, though the pain should be as great again.

2. In regard to the Lord’s Supper, he also thoroughly confessed before them that it must be observed according to the institution of Christ, and that we must by it remember, with an humble heart, his bitter sufferings and innocent death, and how he shed his precious blood on the cross for us poor sinners.

3. They all asked him with many words, whether Christ our Savior was not of Mary’s flesh and blood. But as this point is a principle article of our Christian faith, he likewise answered thoroughly upon it, saying that he had never read this assertion of theirs in the word of God. He asked them: “How could he be of the earth whom God the Father sent down from heaven? But he was conceived of the Holy Ghost by the pure virgin Mary, and became man through the effectual power of the Most High, so that the holy thing which was born of her is called the Son of the most high God, without partaking in the least or most of man’s polluted or sinful flesh. But the Word, according to the testimony of John, became flesh or man, so that the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father was handled and seen. Thereby the promises of God concerning his proceeding from the seed of David, are completely fulfilled in Christ, through whom we all who were lost have been redeemed and reconciled to God.

4. They asked him concerning their magistracy, whether they were not of God. He replied: “Yes, for the protection of the pious, and the punishment of evil-doers; they are ordained of God to rule their dominions in peace.”

5. They asked him what he held in regard to marriage. He replied that a man and a woman are united together in marriage, and that such union may not be dissolved, save on account of adultery; following herein the teaching of Christ, Matt. 19.

6. They asked him concerning uproar and sedition. But he answered that he did not approve of such evil things; but that he and his fellow-brethren, on the contrary, were taught to love their enemies, and to do good to them that do us evil, and persecute us. And that with truth nothing else should ever be heard of him and his fellow-brethren.

7. They asked him who his captain was. He replied that it was Christ with his doctrine, who had called him in peace. And to this his faithful Savior, and his blessed doctrine he hoped to adhere, and to confirm it with his death and blood.

Thereupon he was sentenced by these tyrants, and executed with the sword. The chief judge who had passed this sentence, riding by the body of John Schut, a few days after his execution, called out mockingly: “Schut, sing us a song;” for Schut had been cheerful in his tribulation, and sung much in prison and on his way to death. Upon this the judge was struck with apoplexy, and never spoke again, but died in a short time; which by many was looked upon as the vengeance and punishment of God upon him.

Concerning this account, read his own hymn, in the old hymn book; it begins: “O Heer ick magh wel klagen.”