# John Styaerts, And Peter, A. D. 1538.

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About this year, there were, in Flanders, two
cousins, one named Styaerts, the other Peter.
These two blooming and God-seeking youths resided
with their parents in a village called Mereedor,
in Flanders. And as they were very zealous for
God, and searched the holy Scriptures, they soon
perceived, that the believing and regenerated—according
to the doctrine of Christ, as a sign of having
buried the former sins, and risen with Christ, and
walking in newness of life—had to receive Christian
baptism, in the water; and since they were desirous
of this, they journeyed to Germany, to seek others
of their fellow believers. But as they could not
find such as suited their wishes, they soon returned
to their parents in Flanders, where they earnestly
sought the Lord their God, so that they had a good
report, doing much good to the poor, and saying
with Zaccheus, that if they had defrauded any one,
they would restore it fourfold. Luke 19:8. When
the blinded papists, who most bitterly hated the
light of truth, perceived this, they took these two
young lambs out of the houses of their parents, at
Mereedor, and brought them beyond Ghent, into a
village called Vinderhout, where they most severely
imprisoned them in a dungeon. Jer. 38:6. Once
when their sister came to bring them some fine
shirts, they told her that they could not keep them
from the worms, which were in their food, eating it,
and in their clothes and shirts on their bodies.
They further said: “Here is a Bible, the contents
of which, as well as the cause of our bonds, will yet
come to light after our death.” The aforesaid John
Styaerts was once released from prison, on account
of sickness, and, as is thought, could easily have
obtained his liberty; but he voluntarily returned to
prison, desiring gladly to die with his dear brother
for the name of Jesus. Thus after a certain time
they were led to the slaughter. Peter, who came
forth first to die, casting his eyes up to heaven,
boldly called out to John Styaerts: “Fight valiantly,
my dear brother; for I see the heavens open
above us. Acts. 7:56. They were together put to
death with the sword at Vinderhout. Thus these
young branches in the court of the Lord (Jer. 17:8;
Ps. 1:3), were also devoured by the awful beast
which rose up out of the sea (Rev. 13:1), but they
had no power over their immortal souls, which
escaped from them unto God, where they shall forever
live in unspeakable joy. When their parents
came from Mereedor to Vinderhout, and inquired
for their children, the villagers told them that they
had already been executed with the sword. And
thus they were deprived of their children by these
tyrants.



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_433)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

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