# Another Letter Or Confession Of Joos Kindt.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: ANOTHER LETTER OR CONFESSION OF JOOS KINDT.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

To the praise of the Father.

I Joos Kindt, imprisoned for the testimony in
Jesus Christ, entreat and admonish all dear friends,
and all dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, with
the grace of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost, entreating by this grace, that they not only
heed or live according to my entreaty or admonition,
but that each (as I hope by the help of God)
will heed the warning of the Lord, and that each
endeavor to amend his sinful life, which I doubt not
everyone does who fears the Lord with all his heart;
for the Scripture says: “He that feareth the Lord
will do good; yea, the fear of God is the beginning
of wisdom.” Sir. 15:1; 1:14. Since then the fear
of God guides us to virtue, let us fear the Lord; for
Christ Jesus requires this of us with his blessed lips,
when he says: “Fear not them which kill the body,
but are not able to kill the soul; but fear him which
after he hath killed, hath power to cast soul and
body into eternal damnation.” Matt. 10:28. Therefore
I admonish you with these words, and not with
them alone, but with the whole sum of the Scriptures,
that each will strive to keep them (Luke
12:28); for Christ says: “Therefore whosoever
heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a wise man, which built his
house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and
the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon
that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon
a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto
a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
and the rain descended, and the floods came, and
the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it
fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matt. 7:24–27.

Therefore, let every one strive to give diligence
to take heed to himself, and to redeem the perilous
time; for Paul says: “Redeem the time, because the
days are evil.” Eph. 5:16. Hence, make good use
of the time, and exhort one another; for necessity
demands it; and let each arm himself well, even as
Paul admonishes us: “For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood.” Eph. 6:12. Paul was right when
he taught this. I well experience it now. The Lord
be praised, who assists me so faithfully with these
weapons, and, even as he promised to give us a
mouth to speak, when we should be brought before
such, has now opened my mouth, praise to him, so
that through the grace of the Lord I valiantly
defend myself with the word of my Lord, and have
manfully resisted my enemies five times, not only my
enemies, but the enemies of the cross of Christ, as
you will hear further.

Know, that on the afternoon of the day called St.
Thomas, in Babel, as I was lying in the cell I have
always occupied, I saw and heard that carnal and
worldly lords came into the prison, and also the
chief Bailiff. The servants then came and said:
“Joos, come out.” Then said I in my heart: “O
Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew
forth thy praise.” Ps. 51:15. With this I came in
before them. Then Ronse and Polet both lifted
their caps, and said: “Joos, God greet you,” and
nodded their heads to me. I also lifted my cap,
saying: “I esteem God worthy of such greeting,
yea, and more, I am ready to give back these members—which
he has given me through his grace—for
his name and to his praise; I deem the
Lord worthy of so much; for he has deemed us of
sufficient value in his sight to die a better death for
us.” Then the inquisitors said: “Joos, have you
not yet considered the matter? Will you not yet
desist?” I said: “Yes, always from doing evil.
Why did you not ask me this, when I yet ran in
wickedness, and practiced all manner of unrighteousness?”
They replied: “You could have gone
and heard the sermons.” They also inquired concerning
my faith, which I freely confessed. Then
they said: “Speak to us, and tell us whether you
have not yet considered the matter.” I said: “I
will not speak to you; for you are not of God; how
should I believe in you? Christ died for me; in this
I believe; but you would not be willing to die for
me; neither this dean nor that (there were two deans
present, Ronse and Olymaecker); neither this curate
nor that, would be willing to die for me. I am
imprisoned for my life; set me free and die for me.”
Ans. “Who teaches this?” I said: “Christ. He
says: The good shepherd loves his sheep, and gives
his life for his sheep. John 10:11. You say that
I shall be damned, if I persist in my purpose.”
Ronse said: “Yes.” I said further: “It is surprising,
then, that you should kill me; seeing,
therefore, that I hold a purpose for which I shall be
damned; let me go until I exchange it for a better.”
Ans. “We will leave you.” “Yes,” said I, “and
deliver me over.” Matt. 27:2. Polet said: “Paul
delivered some into the hands of the devil.” 1 Corinthians
5:5. I said: “So do you also; you have
damned me; hence, be satisfied, without delivering
me into the hands of the judges. Paul did not do
so, nor did Christ teach it in Matt. 28 and Mark 16,
where he says: Go, and preach the gospel to every
creature. Christ says not: Them that will not believe
you, shut into cells, or put great fetters on
their legs. Did they all believe Christ, who heard
him preach? Did all believe the apostles, who heard
them?” Rom. 10:16. Ans. “No.” Joos. “Were
they put to death, then, who did not believe the
apostles.” Ans. “No.” “How comes it then, that
the apostles did not do this, and that you, who say
that you are vice-regents of the apostles, dare
put us to death? even admitting that we were evil,
as you say, but you have a better opinion of us,
than you say?” Polet said: “That I will tell you:
have you not read how Elijah put to death the
priests of Baal!” I said: “Yes; and this is just
what is wanting yet to subdue you; for you serve
Baal even more than they did, and you carouse and
banquet with Jezebel much more than they did?”
Ans. “What does that concern you? You are
always looking to our works.” I said: “Christ has
taught me to know the tree by the fruit, and says
that a corrupt tree cannot bear good fruit, nor a
good tree evil fruit,” etc. And I further said:
“Since your works are not good, I do not believe
you to be good.” Ques. “Are you good?” Joos.
“You do not hear me say this; there is none good
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but God alone, and though we were to say that we
are good, which we do not, you, on the other hand,
say that we are evil, and this for the reason you
told me when we were in the hall of justice, namely,
that when men will not believe us, we kill them.”
Ronse. “I say this yet.” Joos. “Where did you
see this in me; since you say that I taught the people?
did I kill any one or hurt a single hair, on
account of my doctrine, which you say I teach as
an opinion?” Ans. “We do not know anything
of such a character of you.” Joos. “But I know
such things of you; you burn or murder those who
will not adhere to your false worship. You have
justly judged yourselves in this matter.” 2 Samuel
12:7. Ans. This brings us no further; let us dispute
about the faith?” Joos. “I will not dispute
here alone.” Then they said: “Do you acknowledge
yourself vanquished?” and would have delivered
me to the judges, had I said, yes. I replied:
“No; wherein have you overcome me? I have said
it not once, but fifty times: Show me a better way,
with the word of the gospel, and I will renounce.”

Ans. “Let us begin then.” Joos. “Very well,
before the hall of justice, near a big fire, and the one
that is overcome shall be cast into it.” Ans. “This
will not be granted you.” The under-bailiff then
said: “You seek to make disturbance.” Joos.
“You have made it by apprehending me; if you had
let me work, Kortrijck would not be in the condition
it is in now; it was not in such a state for seven
years.” Polet. “You will not be taken there, and
this for the reason that you may not spread your
poison.” Joos. “You ought to come before the hall
of justice, and the more people present, the better,
for if I have the lies, and you the truth—are you
ashamed of the truth before the people? Take me
there, and show me that I am in the wrong, and
you will stop the mouths of the people, and when
you have overcome me, say: ‘This is the man who
has taught contrary to the Christian faith; we now
prove to him with the Scriptures, that he is in the
wrong,’ and then throw me into the fire, and the
people will be edified. If you will not do this, you
are not willing that the people should know the
truth.” Ronse. “You will not be brought thither
to speak; when you are brought there, speaking on
your part will be prevented.” Joos. “Why? the
people have their five senses, and he that hath five
senses, will hear whether I speak good or evil.”
Ronse. “You will be prevented from speaking
there.” Joos. “Do it then; put me boldly into
a bag, and smother me by night, so that no one will
see it; if he sees it, who searches the hearts and
reins, enough people see it; and he will see it, and
avenge himself; I leave it to him, for I am ready any
way, to put off this flesh, whether in the fire or
in the water, before the hall of justice or here in this
fire (the fire on the hearth); it is not big enough,
make it bigger.”

They then again proposed to me to dispute, and
said that they were sent from God, and appointed
his vice-regents. I said: “This is not so; for you
have bought your benefices, or they have been given
you, or you have gained them by serving; but those
whom God has sent, from the beginning of the
world, have been sent differently.” They said that
they would prove it to me by the Scriptures, that
they were sent. I said: “Prove it?” Ans. “This
is it, that to Peter the key was given, and he was
Pope, and it was given to him and his successors.”
Joos. “Show me, that anything is said there about
successors?” Ans. “This will be shown you.”
Joos. “Show me then?” Then Ronse read from a
Testament, Matt. 16, from the place where Christ
asks: “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man,
am?” to where he says: “I will give unto thee the
keys;” but there was nothing said about successors.
He then said: “You have heard it, have you not,
Joos? it is so long: I would read further, but it is too
long a task?” Joos. “I desire that you read on.”
Ronse. “How far?” Joos. “To where it speaks
about successors.” Ronse. “You have heard that
he says: ‘Upon this rock I will build my church.’
Hence it is founded upon St. Peter, and he was
Pope.” Joos. “Christ is the foundation, as Paul
says (1 Cor. 3:11): ‘Other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ But
Peter is not the foundation, nor did Christ found
the church upon Peter, but upon the confession of
his faith where he confesses: ‘I confess that thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living God;’ therefore,
Christ is the foundation. But,” said I, “let us speak
about the key; you skip from the key to the church;
you say that I run from one thing to another, stick
to your text yourselves, and show me, as you have
asserted, that Christ says: ‘I give unto thee the
key, and unto thy successors.’ ” They replied:
“We shall show it to you. But listen, it is this,”
said Polet, and produced a sophism. I said: “You
cannot satisfy me with arguments; show it to me in
the book?” Then Ronse said: “We know it by
heart, and so do you; hear us repeat it from memory?”
I said: “Read it?” They replied: “Is it
not the same whether we read or speak it? Joos,
hear what I shall tell you?” I said: “Telling will
not satisfy me.”

When they would not read it, I addressed the
chief Bailiff, and Roegaergijs, and said: “My lords,
I demand that you assist me in this matter, and
compel them to read it; else I say that you are
tyrants and not judges.” Then said they: “Read it
to him.” Thereupon they read Matt. 16. Ronse
read, and when he could not find it, he turned
as white as a sheet, and then said: “It is not here.”
Polet said: “These words are not there, but the
sense is in Matt. 28.” He then read: “I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world.” I said:
“This is not where he says: ‘I give unto thee the
keys, and unto thy successors.’ ” Polet. “Would
you have just these very words; they are not here;
why make so much ado about it?” Joos. “No,
but because you will say you will show it to me.”
Ronse. “Be silent, you are not worthy to speak.”
Joos. “Why should I keep silence, when you with
your false mandates have brought about, that
neither proctor, nor attorney, nor friend may speak
for us; if you are not willing to let me speak, you
ought to have let me remain in my cell; but I shall
keep silence neither for you nor any one else; I am
neither a thief, nor a murderer, nor a ravisher
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of women; why should I forbear speaking? I shall
defend myself, because my life is at stake, and not
keep silence as long as I can move my tongue; but
do you N. keep silent; you are not worthy to
speak, you soul-murderers, you enemies of the
cross of Christ.” Again they proposed to me to
dispute. I said: “Before the hall of justice, but not
here.” Ans. “You will not be taken there.” Joos.
“Well then, do as you please; I have confessed my
faith to you when I first came here, and I have told
you more than fifty times before, and tell you again,
that I think nothing of all your trumpery, nor of a
single point held by the Roman church.” Ronse.
“Do you think nothing of the sacrament? Let us
hear what you think of it?” Joos. “An idol, a little
flour; and if I had your oil, I would grease my
shoes with it.” Ronse. “We can hear that you
are audacious enough.”

Then a contention arose, and they thought to fall
upon me; but I defended myself valiantly with the
word of the Lord, as behooves a servant who loves
his master. And the Lord gave me such a mouth
to speak, that for three hours I did not make one
assertion, which they were able to refute. Then the
incarnation was made the subject of discussion,
which they would carry out to the dead letter.
Matt, 1: The book of the generation of Jesus
Christ, the son of David. Thereupon I said that
Matt. 22:41 it was written: “Then Christ asked
the scribes and the Pharisees: What think ye of
Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him the
son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth
David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord
said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till
I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then
call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was
able to answer him a word.” I also told them of
the figure of Melchisedec, and the last chapter of
Revelation, that he is the root of David; which
they would not hear, but adhered to their dead
text.

When I perceived that they would not acknowledge
their error, I said: “If you want to
speak of the incarnation, or of any other matter of
the faith, come before the city hall.” Then Polet
said: “Who should judge there, who is right or
wrong?” I said: “These good lords.” Polet said:
“They do not understand the scriptures.” I said:
“They understand them well enough for you, to
dispute here, or in the hall of justice; hence they
ought also to understand them, to dispute in the
city hall. And if they do not understand the Scriptures,
then they ought to feel ashamed that they are
judges in this matter, when they do not understand
the Scriptures.” So much was said, that as much
paper as I could hold in my hand would not suffice
me to write down all their sophistry. I commend all
dear friends, and all brethren and sisters in the
Lord, into his hands, and entreat them all, to arm
themselves wisely, for it is necessary; and when they
come as far as I am, not to engage in disputation,
for, if it were possible, they would draw us away
from the truth. Know, that I am of such good
cheer, that it would be impossible for me to describe
the joy or gladness I have, and I hope that the seal
of this letter will be the putting off of my body. To
this end, may the Lord give me his grace, that his
name may be glorified thereby; for I seek nothing
but the glory of the Lord. Nothing more; I commend
you to the Lord, and to the word of his
grace. Pray the Lord for me; I will gladly pray
him for you also.

They say that Christ by origin is David’s Son;

If he be David’s son, he’s not the Father’s Son:

For no one has two Fathers—’twere unnatural;

He’s God’s only Son, and not creatural.





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