Pieter Van Olman, Or Van Werwijck, Put To Death At Ghent. Also A Letter, Which The Said Pieter Van Olman, Or Van Werwijck, Wrote In Prison In That City, Where He Gave His Life For The Testimony Of Jesus, A. D. 1552.

My most beloved, know that I fought a great conflict against the rulers of darkness and false prophets; for they said that one may nevertheless hear, and be taught by, them, though they do not live according to the commandments of the Lord. I then asked: “Is not he a stranger to the Lord who walks not in his commandments?” They replied: “Yes.” Then I said that Christ says (John 10:27): “My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me; but they hear not the voice of strangers, but flee from them:” hence, if I should hear strangers, I would not be of Christ’s sheep; for his sheep hear not strangers. They replied: “They certainly preach 517 the truth; the word is therefore not diminished.” I replied: “John says (1 John 2:4): He that saith that he knoweth God, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Now, if there is no truth in him, how can he speak the truth? Else John must lie. Christ says (Matt. 7:18): A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Again (Matt. 12:34): How can ye, being evil, speak good things? Solve this question, and I will believe you.” I tell you, though he should take a Testament, and read it from beginning to end in your church, as the apostles have written it, yet I will prove to them, that they lie. But let a man speak the same words, who walks in the ways of the Lord, and he will speak the truth. If one of your people should preach these words in your temple, with regard to drunkards, adulterers, thieves, murderers, covetous, defamers, evil-speakers, etc., and say: Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the virtues of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1 Pet. 2:9,10); if he should speak these words with regard to this wicked people, would he not lie? But if a godfearing man were to speak these words with reference to the godfearing people, he would speak the truth. Again, if you should preach: For thy sake we are led to death, as sheep for the slaughter; would this not also be a lie from you? But a godfearing man would speak the truth.”

Thus we had many words, but all to no purpose. I then asked whether the children of the Lord must not all be spiritual. “Yes,” he replied. Thereupon I asked, why then they were called spiritual, and the others secular, when they must all be spiritual. This they were not able to explain. I then said: Christ prays not for the world, but for them that are not of the world (John 17:9); now, if you are spiritual, how comes it that you are not all of one mind? for some may only go in gray; are not allowed to handle money, and their shoes must have an opening on the top; others must all go in black; some, again, all in several colors; and others may not eat cooked food, and may not talk with father or mother when they see them; but when they do not see them, they talk with them. I said: “These are all different sects, planted by men, and not by God; therefore they will all be rooted up.” Matt. 15:13. To this they did not have much to say. I then said: “Your doctrine is the doctrine of the devil; for all that is done and observed, is contrary to the truth, as Paul says (1 Tim. 4:1,3): That in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created. Now I see that you teach this; for you forbid to marry, and command to abstain from meats.” Then they bade me go away.

Soon after, the Dean of Ronse came, and with him another priest; they assailed me most severely with subtle questions; but the Lord preserved me, so that I was not betrayed. He asked me whether I did not believe that the bread which Christ gave his apostles was the body of Christ, when he said: “Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you?” I replied: “That bread was not the body of Christ, which was broken for us; it was for a memorial.” He rejoined: “The bread became changed into his body.” But I said, that it was for a memorial, and was not the body itself. They then questioned me in regard to baptism, whether infants did not have to be baptized. I said: “There is nothing written of infant baptism, but of baptism upon faith.” Then they said: “Behold, we will prove that infants must be baptized. Does not Christ say, John 3: Except a man be born again, of water and of the Spirit, he cannot inherit the kingdom of God?” I said: “This is not spoken to infants, but to those who can hear.” But they said: “It is,” and would thereby prove and establish infant baptism. Thus we had many words, but agreed in nothing.