Several Letters Written In Prison, By Adrian Corneliss, Including A Prayer, An Admonition, And A Confession Of Adrian Corneliss, Glazier, Who Was Imprisoned At Leyden, And Also Put To Death There For The Testimony Of Jesus, In The Year Of Our Lord, 1552.

Adrian. “That is true.”

Bailiff. “You were here before the prison, with six of your friends, and exhorted the prisoners, that they should strive valiantly, and adhere to their faith; and you went and hired a boat for six stivers. Who was the fellow to whom the boat belonged, and the one who was in the other boat, who gave the skipper half a stiver, into whose charge he committed his chest, because he was to sail with you? And he knew the fellow’s name, and knew also what we had done, and that a woman was with us, and how we had read, and that two, sat there, bareheaded, and where we had gone up. I then acknowledged that it was so, and they wrote it down; however, I excused the two from those that were in the boat; but it was of no avail, and thus the matter was left. They then showed me the letters, about four or five in number. “Yes,” said I, “I wrote them.” Upon this they said: “This is the placard writer.” “It is certainly not proper,” said the judges, “that you disparage the Emperor in such a manner.” I replied: “I do not disparage the Emperor; however great the Emperor is, the Supreme Emperor is still greater. Bring me a Bible; I shall prove to you what I have written.” Thereupon they said: “Why did you write these letters?” I replied: “I wrote them because my grief was stirred, and that you might no longer stain your hands with blood, and might repent, as did those of Nineveh.” Jonah 3:5. Thus the matter rested.

They then asked me what I thought of the sacrament of the altar. I told them that it was good for nothing.

Ques. “How long have you not been to it?”

Ans. “Not for four years.”

Ques. “Have you belonged to this belief so long?”

Ans. “No.”

Ques. “Why did you not go, then?”

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Ans. “Even in my ignorance I knew that it was good for nothing?”

Thereupon they went away, having been engaged with me from eight o’clock until half-past eleven in the forenoon.

This is what I said on that occasion. Dear friends, be not discouraged, though what I have written presents rather a gloomy aspect; the Lord helps his own; if the Lord had not helped me, it would not have been possible for me to bear it; but we can do all things through him who strengthens us, that is, Christ. And as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also our consolation aboundeth by Christ, 1 Cor. 10:13; Ps. 46:1; Philip. 4:13; 2 Corinthians 1:5.

Here I will let this matter rest. I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus, spoken of by Paul. Gal. 6:17.

On Sunday morning they came, and read to me my examination, and asked me whether it was correct. Then I remembered the words of the prophet: “They are evening wolves, that let nothing remain till the morrow, yea, whose feet run swiftly to shed innocent blood.” Zeph, 3:3; Prov. 1:16. I then asked the bailiff, whether he was not yet sated with innocent blood, since he was so diligent in the way of unrighteousness. He replied: “I do not put you to death.” I said: “The Emperor’s edict puts us to death; but you ought therefore be satisfied with what you have, and not ask for more. By what will you prove that you may put us to death? It is written: If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more; and if he will still not hear, tell it unto the church; and if he will then not hear, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.” Matthew 18:15–17. Here the Scripture says nothing about putting to death.

Bailiff. “We have another Scripture, where Paul says: The powers are not ordained in vain; for God himself has ordained them.” Rom. 13:1.

Adrian. “Yes, for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the evil (1 Peter 2:14); but it seems to me the order is inverted, that they are for the punishment of the good, and the protection of the evil.”

Bailiff. “We shall prove to you from books, that we may put you to death.”

Adrian. “You can not do this with the gospel?”

Under bailiff. “What do you know about the gospel?”

Adrian. “It is written: Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15.

Under bailiff. “There are eight gospels written.”

Adrian. “I am well content with four; if these cannot teach me, neither can the others.”

Bailiff. “Shall we send you learned men, to instruct you with the word of the Lord?”