Hans SchlæFfer And Leonhard Frick, In The Year 1528.

In the year 1528, Brother Hans Schlæffer, formerly a Roman priest, but afterwards a teacher of the word and Gospel of Christ, a highly gifted man, was apprehended at Schwartz, in the valley of the Inn, and with him Brother Leonhard Frick. They tried him greatly with many severe tortures, and disputed with him, through the priests, about infant baptism; but he, orally as well as in writing, showed them his defense, as it is commanded, and as it will be found, throughout the entire New Testament, namely: That the word of God must first be taught, and that only those who hear, understand, believe, and receive it, are to be baptized. This is the true Christian baptism, and no anabaptism. The Lord has nowhere commanded to baptize infants; they are already the Lord’s, and as long as they are in their innocence and simplicity, they are not to be condemned at all. They also asked him, in what the foundation of these anabaptistic sects did properly consist. To this he replied: “Our faith, practice, and baptizing is founded on nothing else than the command of Christ: ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved’ (Mark 16:16; Matt. 28:19); and many other Scriptures.”

They also asked what design lay concealed under this anabaptism, since they had thus exhorted them to raise a new uproar and sedition. But he replied that it had never entered his heart, to make an uproar; neither had he ever approved of it in others; yea, he had fled from a house in which they lived in contention; which he could prove by all with whom he had ever lived. And there is no other design concealed under it, than to amend the life, and to forsake the vicious ways of the world; so that in the doctrine which he teaches, this is not the least commandment, that we are in duty bound to be subject to the authorities in all good things; how, then, should he raise and purpose uproar and sedition?

They also desired to know of him, who were the true authors and principals of these heretical and chief sects, as they falsely call them. He told them that he knew of no other principal of his faith, than the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is the true Captain of the faith. Heb. 12:2. But as regards that they are called heretics and seditious sects, he referred them to the complaints of the Jews against Christ before Pilate, and the complaints against the apostle Paul, before Felix the Governor. Matthew 27:1; Acts 24:2.

He was likewise asked what had caused and induced him to forsake his office as priest. Concerning this he told them, that he had done it for conscience’ sake, because he knew that he was in the place of a prophet, and believed that God had sent him.

They would also know of him, who had told him to go into Germany, to plant the evil seed of Anabaptism. He told them, that no one had ordered him thither; but that, since he had no abiding place as yet, and had to go about in misery, he came there to one of his friends, with whom he staid, and thence came to Schwatz, where he was apprehended, according to and for the will of God. As to the evil seed of which they spake, he knew nothing at all; he intended nothing evil, but much rather the pure divine truth.

After this and other things, when he had been in prison for some time, and could not be moved, he and his fellow-prisoner and brother were condemned to death, and executed with the sword at Schwatz, thus testifying with their blood to the divine truth. He left the following admonitory thanksgiving to his brethren in Christ:

“O God, I beseech thy grace; do not impute to me my sins, since Christ atoned for them before I was born. Rom. 5:10. I was thine enemy, and thou hast loved and graciously accepted me, and given for my redemption the innocent blood of thy beloved Son (1 Pet. 1:19), though I still experience in me much molestation from remaining sin, which rises in my flesh. For when I would do good, evil is present with me. Rom. 7:21. For this cause I am sorrowful, and may well sigh and exclaim with the apostle Paul: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:24. And I must reply to myself and say: But thanks be to God, which giveth me the victory through Christ. Thou art my comfort; for if I thus believe with the heart, I can not be condemned. The spirit is willing and ready, but the flesh is weak, so that it cannot fulfill the law of God, until Christ strengthens us with his Spirit. Where human laws reign on earth, there the distressed minds are seduced; yea, where Christ Jesus is not the sole Ruler, that which he does not build, is always torn and broken; and no building can stand, which he does not uphold. Though the world highly esteems other things, they are contemned before God; and hence we all pray together, young and old, great and small, that thou, O God, wouldst have compassion upon us, and send us poor children faithful shepherds and stewards of thy gifts (Matt. 9:38), that all human doctrine may be rooted out; for it is time to truly repent and forsake evil; for the severe judgment of God is at hand. Mark 1:15. Hence let us take our refuge to the chastisement of our Father, and submit ourselves in obedience, that he may chastise us as his children. The 411 world is blinded, does not know the Christian life, abominates it, flees the cross, and thinks it is enough, if they can talk finely of the Christian life, but do little in deed.

“But, my brethren, he that would be a true Christian, must put on Christ (Rom. 13:14), and resemble him in his humble form while on earth, and be of good cheer in everything which happens to him in this world. No external semblance of loving Christ, and of suffering for his name, avails here; we must not be ashamed of him, who first loved us (1 John 4:19), and gave himself for us to an ignominious death. It is in truth not otherwise, than that judgment must first begin at the house of God. 1 Pet. 4:17. Thus the Holy Scripture is now fulfilled, so that the punishment with which the world is to be visited, is ready and at hand; hence no one ought to be negligent; for the sword is drawn, the bow is bent, the arrow laid upon it, and aim is taken.

By this I do not mean that we are to seek any other refuge, than to accept the chastisement of the Father, as has been said above; by which he refines us for that whereunto he has sealed us, that we may be assured of the eternal and imperishable kingdom with him, and forever to possess it with him in life everlasting; to this may God strengthen us all. Amen.”