Andrew Smuel And Dirk Pieters. The Defense And Confession Of Faith Which They Made At Amsterdam Before The Commissaries, And Confirmed With Their Death, In The Year 1546.

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever, Amen. Hear my confession to the princes of this world. In the first place, they inquired concerning my faith. I therefore said to them: “A scribe came to the Lord, and asked him, saying: Master, which is the great commandment? The Lord said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself; this is the greatest commandment, and there is no other. The scribe answered and said: Thou hast answered well, that there is one God, and to love him with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

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To this they replied: “We know that there is one God; but do you believe, that when the priest stands at the altar, God is in his hands?”

I said, “No. Stephen said: Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of the Almighty Father.” Acts 7:56.

They again said: “Then you do not believe that he is there?”

I said, “No.”

Question: “We have been told, that when your pastor went on one side of the street, and you and two others on the other, you gave no honor either to him or to the sacrament; is this true?”

Answer: “Yes.”

Ques. “Why did you do this?”

Ans. “I will tell you, my lords: the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, chapter 2, verse 8: They worship the work of their own hands: that which their own fingers have made: and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.”

Ques. “Did you do it for the reason that it was made by the hands of men?”

Ans. “Yea, my lords, because I would not offend my Lord and my God with it.”

Ques. “How long ago is it since you went to confession the last time?”

Ans. “About two or three years.”

Ques. “Why so?”

Ans. “Because the Lord has said: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.

Ques. “Did you do it on this account?”

Ans. “Yes.”

Ques. “How long is it since you attended the sacrament?”

Ans. “Also about two or three years.”

Ques. “Why so?”

Ans. “Because Paul says: Christ presented to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:27.

Ques. “Did you do it because you were not worthy of it?”

Ans. “Yes, because I have spots and wrinkles.”

Ques. “What do you believe concerning the holy church?”

Ans. “I know of no holy church, except the congregation of the apostles, of which Christ is the corner stone.”

Ques. “We well know this, that there was a holy church then.”

Ans. “Can another foundation be laid, than that is laid? 1 Cor. 3:11. Paul says to the Galatians, in the first chapter: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another Gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it. Gal. 1:6–12. He further says, to the Corinthians: For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2.

Ques. “Well, what do you hold concerning Mary the mother of God?”

Ans. “Much, for she humbled herself before the Lord, and was exalted through her humility.”

Ques. “You have answered well. What do you hold with regard to purgatory?”

Ans. “I know of only two ways.” Matt. 7:13.

Ques. “Do you know your pastor well?”

Ans. “I know him well by sight; but I have never spoken to him, nor he to me.”

Ques. “Why did you not hear him?”

Ans. “Because James says in his first chapter: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

Ques. “Well, what did he say?”

Ans. “I have heard say that he said that man can not be saved through the death of Christ alone.”

Ques. “Did he say amiss in this?”

Ans. “Yes; Paul says: By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:39.

Ques. “It is well known that we can not be saved through the law.”

Ans. “Peter says, that there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby they can be saved, than through the name of Jesus Christ.”

Ques. “How long is it since you were baptized?”

Ans. “Ever since I was born.”

Ques. “Are you satisfied, that you can be saved by baptism?”

Ans. “I believe to be saved through the death of Christ.”

Ques. “We nevertheless must know whether you believe that you will be saved by it?”

Ans. “I believe to be saved through the death of Christ.”

Ques. “If you had the opportunity, would you not be baptized again?”

Ans. “I know not; for God knows both to will and to do.”

Ques. “Still, we want to know whether you regard the baptism which you received in your infancy as the true baptism, or that which is administered on faith?”

Ans. “If this is all you want to know, it is written that the Lord said to his apostles: ‘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. Further, the men said to Peter and the other apostles: ‘What shall we do to be saved? Repent, he said, 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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many 460 as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.’ ” Acts 2:37–47.

Ques. “There you say yourself, that the apostles went into the temple?”

Ans. “Yes, this is true; that was a temple which God had commanded to be built.”

Ques. “The apostles certainly went forth to teach; where did they go to teach?”

Ans. “Whithersoever they came, they went into the synagogues, and preached the Gospel of Christ.” Acts 13:14.

Ques. “We have heard, that you also teach wherever you go?”

Ans. “O Lord, what should I preach; we may have read the gospel together.”

Ques. “Where did you read it together?”

Ans. “At the dyke.”

Ques. “With whom did you read it?”

Ans. “This I do not know.”

Ques. “How should you not know with whom you read it?”

Ans. “How should I know it, sometimes with this one, and sometimes with another.”

They therefore mentioned the names of a good many, and said: “Do you know this and that one?”

Ans. “Yes, I know them well.”

Ques. “Have you any books of Menno Simon and of David Joris?”

Ans. “No, I have no books in the house, except a Bible and a Testament, and a little book on the faith.”

Thus they asked me many questions, and said, that so much had been reported, how we had preached in this and that place, and that there was no town where he had been, but they knew it better than myself.

Now, my dear brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to strengthen and keep you, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32. Hence, let every one see to it, that no one be so presumptuous as to pour water into the living fountain; for the Lord says, John 6:44–46: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father.” Is. 54:13. Therefore dear brethren and sisters, let us with one accord pray to God for wisdom, as the apostle James teaches us, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which is hypocrisy; hence let us follow our supreme Lord and Shepherd Christ, and praise him through God the Father, unto whom be praise forever and ever, Amen.