# A Testament Written By Mattheus Bernaerts, Called Van Lincken, Imprisoned In Ghent, To His Children, Janneken, Joosken And Mijntken.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: A TESTAMENT WRITTEN BY MATTHEUS BERNAERTS, CALLED VAN LINCKEN, IMPRISONED IN GHENT, TO HIS CHILDREN, JANNEKEN, JOOSKEN AND MIJNTKEN.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

The salutation.

God the heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and
earth, and the waters, and all that therein is; who
dwells in the light which no man can approach unto;
whom no man hath seen, nor can see (1 Tim. 6:16);
the same eternal, only, almighty God, grant you,
my dear children, through Christ Jesus his only
Son, and the power of the Holy Ghost, till your
full age, grace and mercy, wisdom and understanding,
that your senses may become exercised to discern
both good and evil (Heb. 5:14), so that you
may from your youth, through the fear of God,
learn to shun sin, and to avoid all evil and wickedness,
and thus grow up in the knowledge of God
that you may inherit salvation and eternal glory,
so that I may find you in life eternal. This I, Mattheus
Bernaerts, your father, wish you, my dear
children, Janneken, Joosken, and Mijntken, from
the depth of my heart, that this may be done.
Amen.

I, Mattheus Bernaerts, or Mattheus van Lincken,
your father, am now, for the word of God, confined
in prison at Ghent. Hence, my dear children, my
first wish is, that, when you are come to years of
understanding, you diligently inquire why it came
that your father had to suffer; and search also ardently
in the holy Scriptures, and you will by the
901
grace of God readily perceive that it is not for any
evil doing or heresy that I have to suffer, as I and
my fellow-brethren that have obtained like faith
with me, have been accused by the false prophets;
but we are reproached, because we firmly hope in
the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially
of those that believe, 1 Tim. 4:10. In the
living God, I say, who so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. John 3:16. We confess that the same only
Son of the Father has existed from everlasting to
everlasting. For he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end, the first and the last, by whom
all things were created, and by whom we also have
reconciliation, even the forgiveness of sins. Revelation
1:8,17; Col. 1:16,14. For when we were
yet ungodly, Christ died for us, and we were reconciled
by the death of the Son of God when we were
yet enemies through the knowledge of evil works,
and now are we reconciled by the body of his flesh
through death, for the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son cleanseth us from all our sins. Romans 5:8;
1 John 1:7. He is also the innocent, spotless Lamb,
that took Adam’s sin upon himself, who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth, and who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Pet. 2:22;
1 Cor. 1:30.

In short, I believe and confess with many saints
of God, that Christ is the Son of the living God,
even as Peter confessed him, with many apostles,
Nathanael, Martha, the thief, the angel Gabriel, the
Father from high heaven, and many Christian witnesses.
This only Son of God revealed and made
known to us the will of the Father, after he arose
from the dead. He gave his apostles a command,
saying: “All power is given unto me in heaven and
in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you.” Matt. 28:18–20. Mark writes: “Go ye into
all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15,16. But man must then first become
converted and repent, for Christ caused repentance
to be preached in his name, for the remission of sins,
and to Christ give all the prophets witness, that
through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sins. Acts 2:38; 10:43. And
the apostles as faithful servants followed the command
of Christ, as we read in Acts, where Peter
taught the people of Jerusalem, saying: Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and they that
gladly received his word were baptized. Acts
2:38,41. Likewise we also find concerning the
eunuch from Ethiopia, that he was baptized by
Philip upon the confession of his faith. Acts 8:37,38.
Philip also baptized both men and women, when
he had preached to them the things concerning the
kingdom of God. v. 12. Peter also commanded to
baptize Cornelius and his household, when he and
all his household, by faith, had received the Holy
Ghost. 10:47,48. The jailer and his household
also were baptized, when they had come to believe
in the Lord Jesus. 16:33. Thus the apostles baptized
only believers, after they had first taught them
to repent, to die unto sin, and to be buried by baptism,
to rise again in newness of life. Rom. 6:4.
Thus baptism is a burial of sin, a washing of regeneration,
the like figure whereunto even baptism,
says Peter, doth also now save us, not the putting
away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a
good conscience toward God. 1 Pet. 3:21. For
by baptism it is indicated to believers, that they,
through Christ, are inwardly baptized with the
Holy Ghost and with fire, concerning which we
have many testimonies in the Scriptures, and thus
enter into a covenant with the Most High, who
assures them by his Holy Spirit, of the grace and
merits of our Lord Jesus Christ that he is their God,
and that they are his children.

This in brief is our belief respecting baptism, and
we, moreover, renounce everything that has been
instituted by men, contrary to it.

We further have from the word of God the Supper,
or breaking of bread, which the Lord himself
instituted, and commanded his apostles, for a remembrance
of his sufferings and death, as Paul
writes: “The Lord Jesus, the same night in which
he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had
given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this
is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance
of me. After the same manner also he
took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This
cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye,
as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as
often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do
shew the Lord’s death till he come. Wherefore
whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup
of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink
of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself,
not discerning the Lord’s body.” 1 Cor. 11:23–29.
Thus did Christ Jesus institute the Supper with
bread and wine, to be used in the Christian assembly,
in the name of the Lord, for a token of brotherly
love and unity, for a sign that we, through his
merits, by faith in his holy name, have become partakers
of Christ, the true bread from heaven, as
Paul declares: The cup of blessing which we bless,
is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion
of the body of Christ? For we being many are one
bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of
that one bread. 1 Cor. 10:16,17. But they that
are meet for this bread must have died unto sin,
and have buried it [sin] by baptism, and have risen
again with Christ in a godly Christian life; they
must have become new creatures in Christ, and
been cleansed in his blood; they must be saved
by the washing of water by the word, be flesh of
Christ’s flesh, and bone of his bones; they must be
partakers of the divine nature, and further flee all
902
the perishing lusts of this world; they must also by
one Spirit be baptized into one body, and have been
made to drink into one Spirit. 2 Cor. 5:17; Ephesians
5:26; 1 Cor. 12:13. This Supper is wholly
perverted by the world, for they hold their supper
with harlots and rogues, with drunkards, adulterers,
idolaters, liars, thieves, murderers, railers, and
sorcerers, of whom it is written, that such shall not
inherit the kingdom of God, for their part shall be
in the fiery lake which shall burn with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death. Gal. 5:21;
Rev. 21:8. They also believe that in eating the
bread and drinking the cup they eat the real body
of Christ, and drink his real blood, whereas Christ
says to the Jews, when they also understood it carnally,
even as these do still understand it, that flesh
and blood did profit nothing; it is the Spirit that
quickeneth: the words that I speak unto you, they
are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63. We also
find in many places, that Christ sat down on the
right hand of his Father in heaven, and that he shall
possess heaven, until the time that there will be fulfilled
what God has spoken by the mouth of his
prophets. Acts 3:21. And because I, my dear children,
have from the heart accepted and believed
these three articles, from the word of God, as from
the mouth of the Lord by the Holy Ghost, and
have, according to my weak ability, avoided and
shunned evil, and all that is contrary thereunto,
as many different abominations, idolatry, infant baptism,
the idolatrous, perverted supper, auricular confession,
and divers other abominations; therefore
I must suffer and die. But it has been so from the
beginning of the world, that the righteous have had
to suffer much, as Christ says: “They shall put you
out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God
service. And these things will they do unto you,
because they have not known the Father, nor me
(John 16:2,3); for “had they known him, they
would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians
2:8. And Christ says: “If ye were of the
world, the world would love his own; but because
ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out
of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John
15:19.

Thus the children of God are called and chosen
from this dark, wicked world to the light of Jesus Christ,
that their works, which are done in God, may reprove
the world and bring to light its wickedness;
therefore they are enraged against them, after the
manner of Cain. Because Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable
before the Lord, therefore he was slain by
Cain; for that which is pure and clear cannot come
forth; he that departed from evil, and doeth good,
is every one’s prey. Is. 59:14,15. And all that will
live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution.
2 Tim. 3:12. The angel said to Tobit: “Because
thou wast pleasing to God, it had to be thus; thou
couldest not remain without temptation, that thou
mightest be tried.” Tobit 12:13. “The disciple is
not above his master, nor the servant above his
lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be
as his master, and the servant as his lord. If
they have called the master of the house Beelzebub;
how much more shall they call them of his
household? If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying,
they will keep yours also.” Matt. 10:24,25; John
15:20. My dear little children, what I, your father,
must now suffer for, will not be to your disgrace, for it
is for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence be
not ashamed of it, for we cannot die a more glorious
death for the Lord, than for the word of God.
Peter and John departed joyfully from the presence
of the council, when they had been scourged, because
they were counted worthy to suffer shame for
the name of Jesus. Acts 5:41. And the same apostle
says: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,
happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God
resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Pet. 4:14.

It is further my wish, my dear children, that you
keep yourselves from the evil works of this world,
the number of which is very great, that you be not
condemned with it; for the world and all the lust
thereof shall pass away, but he that doeth the will
of God abideth forever, yea, the Lord will keep him
as the apple of his eye, and his good works as a
signet. 1 Cor. 11:32; Sir. 17:22. Therefore strive
from your youth for that which is best, submit your
shoulders to the truth, flee all youthful lusts, and
endeavor to take up the yoke of the Lord, namely,
the doctrine of Jesus Christ, now in your youthful
days, even until old age, yea, unto the end of your
life, then a wise and perfect man will be beheld in
you. Diligently search the holy Scriptures, that
you may thereby go on perfect in the divine life,
from which the world is alienated; and let the word
of Christ be planted in you, that it may dwell in
you richly in all wisdom. Col. 3:16. Remember
always God’s commandment, and continually his
word, which shall make your heart perfect, and
give you wisdom, as you desire; for the word of
the Most High is the fountain of wisdom, and her
entrance are the everlasting commandments. Sirach
1:5. Through the word of God you receive godly
senses that are exercised to discern both good and
evil, for the holy Scriptures testify of God’s goodness,
and makes the ignorant (that desire it) wise
to fear God, and to flee all wickedness, and do
good. For he that fears God will do good. The
fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and to depart
from evil is understanding. Job 28:28. The
fear of the Lord is a fountain of wisdom, to depart
from the snares of eternal death. Prov, 14:27. And
the wages of sin is death. Rom. 6:23. Hence, my
dear children, shun the cause which leads to death,
that is sin, which is seen very much in those that
are carnal, for the world lieth in wickedness, for sin
is very lightly esteemed by them, yet the teeth
thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of
men, for all sin and iniquity is as a two-edged sword,
the wounds whereof can not be healed. 1 John 5:19;
Sir. 21:2,3. O my dear children, keep your souls
with the greatest diligence, so that you also speak
no iniquity with your mouth; and beware of lying,
for man, says Christ, shall have to give account of
every idle word which he shall have idly spoken.
Matt. 12:36. Hence Paul says: Put away lying,
903
and speak truth with one another. Eph. 4:25. For
idle words shall not go free, and the mouth that
lieth slayeth the soul; and liars have no part in the
kingdom of God, but their part shall be in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone. Wis. 1:11;
Rev. 21:8.

Dear children, be faithful wherever you live, or
wherever you are be good and faithful to all men;
and beware of stealing, for thieves have no place in
the kingdom of God, for it is an abominable, great
sin; hence let neither your eye nor your heart covet
ought of that which is not yours, for a thief is nowhere
liked, for wherever he goes he and his hands
are watched.

Thus, my dear children, conduct yourselves honestly
toward every one, and whatever you hear in
the house that should be kept secret, do not proclaim
in the streets, or to every one from house to
house, but observe secrecy and attend to your work,
and be not negligent through idleness, for idleness
makes thieves of boys, and harlots of girls, which is
frequently seen to happen, that daughters reach the
brothel, and sons the gallows; this often comes from
the fact that they are lickerish, and will not work.
Hence conduct yourselves well with those with
whom you are, and obey them, even as you ought
to obey your father, and be not stubborn and obstinate,
but obey them willingly from the heart, and
treat them and all men courteously and kindly; and
beware of backbiting, for this too is a great sin, a
thief is a shameful thing, but a backbiter is more
shameful still, for the backbiter reveals what he secretly
knows. Sir. 5:14. Hence keep your tongue
from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.
Eschew evil, and do good: seek peace, and ensue
it; for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the
face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Ps. 34:13; 1 Peter 3:10–12. Therefore put off now
all envy and backbiting (1 Pet. 2:1), and do not envy
one another, nor any one, for envy destroys all
friendship, and separates good friends, and through
envy Cain slew his brother Abel. Out of envy the
sons of Jacob cast their brother Joseph into the pit,
and sold him.

O my dear children, keep constantly in the
house, and do not go in the street much, when you
have nothing to do there; for there one learns
nothing but roguery, as fighting, playing, gambling,
cursing, swearing, and to speak many unprofitable
words. O children, it is very injurious
for you, according to soul and body, to run in the
street; but, when you do not have to work, take a
Testament in your hand, and read in it; that will be
very appropriate for you. And you Janneken and
Joosken, you are older than your sister Mejntgen;
show mercy according to your ability in assisting to
provide for her board, and work diligently with
your hands, that you may have to give to him that
needeth (Eph. 4:28), for you are under great obligation,
after my departure to do the best for one
another, that you may properly help one another
according to your ability. Let the younger obey the
older, that there may be no contention. In this and
all other things show your humility; for God resisteth
the proud, and giveth grace to the humble,
1 Pet. 5:5. And those that are proud of heart he
has cast down from their seats, and set them of low
degree thereupon. Luke 1:52. Hence, my dear
children, let not pride rule in you, in word or in
deed; for David says: A froward heart shall depart
from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso
privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off;
him that hath a high look and a proud heart will
not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful
of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that
walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. Psalm
101:4–6. O my dear children, be good and kind
to one another, and let no spiteful words be heard
from you, either to one another or to any one else.
Be also obedient to my wife, your mother; for the
Lord’s sake, and for my sake, for she was very dear
and precious to me; but now I must leave her and
you for the name of the Lord, according to the
command of Christ, which I would not do for all
the world, but for the Lord and the gospel’s sake
we must forsake everything, father, mother, wife,
child, brothers, sisters, lands, house, home, yea,
moreover, even our own life, else we are not
worthy to be his disciples. Matt. 10:37; Mark 8:35.

Herewith I will now bid adieu to my dear children
and take my leave from them; the Lord grant
them his abundant, rich blessing, that they may
grow up in a becoming godly life, and increase in
the knowledge of Christ.

O my dear children, neglect not to thank your
Lord and God before eating and drinking (Deuteronomy
8:10); and when you lie down to sleep and
when you arise, upon your knees, with folded
hands, entreat him for his grace.

I now commend you and your mother, my dear
in God beloved wife, to the Lord, who is able to
provide for you above that we are able to ask in
our prayer, in soul and body. And it is also my
wish, that this testament be copied for you, and that
it be preserved for Heyne and the children, in remembrance
of me, and when it begins to wear out,
have it copied again, that it do not perish; this I
kindly request. Adieu, Heyne. Farewell, adieu,
Janneken, my oldest daughter, and farewell, adieu,
Joosken; farewell, adieu, Mijntken, and adieu, my
dear in God beloved wife and sister in the Lord.
Adieu, we must now part. The almighty God, who
blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, also bless you
in heavenly places, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

The crucified Christ, blessed be he, be your comfort
and abundant, rich treasure of grace. The
peace of God and the communion of the Holy
Ghost be with you. Once more adieu.

Farewell and adieu, dear Neelken. I thank the
Lord and you for the kind fellowship and the love
you have shown me. I go before; the Lord direct
your hearts in the love of God and the patience of
Christ, that I may find you with the Lord. 2 Thessalonians
3:5.

By me, from my prison at Ghent, written on the
second day of Dec. 1572.

Mattheus Bernaerts.

904





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