# Hans Smit, Hendrick Adams, Hans Beck, Matthijs Smit, Dileman Snijder, And Seven Others, A. D. 1558.

1558 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: HANS SMIT, HENDRICK ADAMS, HANS BECK, MATTHIJS SMIT, DILEMAN SNIJDER, AND SEVEN OTHERS, A. D. 1558.

Source heading; not independently verified

In the year 1558, brother Hans Smit, a minister
of the word of God, was sent forth by the church to
seek and gather those that were eager for the truth.
Acts 13:3. When he therefore, being divinely called,
undertook to travel through the Netherlands, he, together
with five brethren and six sisters, was apprehended
in the city of Aix-la-Chapelle, on the ninth of
January. While they were assembled there in a
house, to speak of the word of God, and were engaged
in prayer, many servants and children of Pilate
came there in the night through treachery, with
spears, halberds, and bare swords, and well provided
with ropes and bonds, and surrounded the house,
and bound and apprehended these children of God.
They even took with them a mother with her infant
that lay in the cradle. But the prisoners were valiant
and comforted one another, to be undismayed, since
they were imprisoned for the truth of God; and being
thus of good cheer, they began to sing for joy.
They were very soon separately confined, in which
the sisters rejoiced, and sang, so that the people
were astonished. In the morning they were brought
before the Judge, who talked with each separately,
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and then remanded them to prison, when he perceived
their steadfastness. However, the next day
the minister was again summoned before the lords,
that he should tell them, how many he had baptized,
who they were and where the church held their
meetings. But he told them, that they should know
that he would rather lose his life (John 15:13) than
by telling this become a traitor, whereupon he was
tortured and racked for about a quarter of an hour,
to which he willingly submitted, himself taking off
his clothes, and going to the rack. When they could
accomplish nothing by it, they went away, but soon
returned, and said: “You must tell us what we have
asked you, or we shall torture you so as to rack
your limbs asunder.” They also questioned him
with regard to infant baptism. He replied that infant
baptism was a human institution, and that as such
he regarded it, and not as the true Christian baptism.

They also asked him what he thought of the sacrament.
He replied: “I think much of it; but that
which the priests use is not at all the true supper
of Christ, but a piece of idolatry.”

Thereupon they bound him hand and foot, and
tied to his feet a large stone weighing little less than
a hundred pounds, and thus drew him up, so that
the ring on the stone broke, and the stone remained
on the ground. But they took a rope, fastened it to
the stone, in place of the broken ring, and hung the
stone to his foot, and left him suspended thus for
some time; however, they could not accomplish
their purpose. Hence they let him down, and put
him in prison until Sunday morning, when the lords
came from the city with seven priests, who asked
him concerning his calling; whereupon he said that
he had not put himself into the ministry, but God
and his Spirit in his church: for as God sent his
Son, and the Son the apostles into all the world,
so he still sends his ministers through his Spirit,
that they should first preach the word of God, and
then baptize such as hear, understand and believe it,
but not young infants. They also asked him concerning
the magistracy, whether he regarded it as
Christian or not. He replied that in the first place
he regarded them as ministers of God, but that they
were deceived and wrongly taught by the priests,
and not incorporated into the Christian church.
They also inquired of him the origin of the magistracy.
He replied that office and power are of God.
They then asked him, whether they were Christians.
He answered that if they denied and forsook themselves,
took up the cross, abandoned their tyranny
and pomp, and followed Christ, they could be Christians,
not otherwise. They also interrogated him
with regard to swearing. He said that Christ had
forbidden it. And much more, which it would take
too long to write.

Finally they asked him concerning the incarnation
of Christ. He said that he believed that Christ
was true God and true man, sin alone excepted. At
last they told him, that if he would renounce his baptism,
and confess that he had erred, they would show
him favor. But he replied that he had taught the
pure truth, so he would adhere to it. Thereupon
they said that he was in their city, and that he
could not do so there; and that if they did not
punish this, the King or the new Emperor should
punish them on their bodies; thus they defended
themselves like Pilate. But the brother said that it
would go hard with them for this; for though God
forgave every sin, yet he should judge the innocent
blood, and they should not think that they should
escape punishment, if they killed him, since the
matter should come before Christ, who should judge
it, and take care of it, at his day. After this they
put him back into prison, where they left him until
Monday evening, when the Judge came again, with
several others, and also a monk, to dispute with
him. But they did not accomplish much, for he put
the monk to utter confusion, so that the latter was
glad to get away. Many other monks and priests
were sent yet, to dispute with him; but they were
all put to shame and derision, and were not able to
cause this pious man to apostatize. Shortly after
they were brought forth again and examined; but
God continually gave them bold utterance, and wisdom,
so that they could find no fault, or cause of
death in him, save only that they did not sufficiently
esteem the Emperor. At one time they brought to
brother Henderick alone a subtle serpent and blasphemer,
and said: “You don’t want any ecclesiastics
(monks and priests); hence we have brought
to you a learned layman, to instruct you.” But
Henderick said that he did not want to be instructed
by him, unless he were sufficiently instructed by
God and his word, since he did not want to seek life
from the dead. This learned man then wanted to
prove infant baptism, asserting that the apostles had
ordained it. But Henderick replied and spoke to
him in such a manner that he had to confess openly,
that no infants were baptized in the days of the
apostles, and that they had no faith during their
infancy. This, Henry wrote upon the table with
a piece of chalk, and called upon the obstinate lords
to bear witness to it, and also how he had been
silenced. He further said: “Thus will all your
learned men be confounded before the word of the
Lord.”

Several of the lords said that if these should be
put to death, they should leave home. Once the
brethren and sisters were all twelve left together
from four o’clock in the morning until ten in the
evening. They were joyful and of good cheer, and
conversed with one another from the word of God,
and began to pray and praise God.

Brother Hans, as the minister, led them in prayer,
as loud as he could, so that the people ran together
and listened. But when the lords heard of this, they
sent the Bailiff thither, who asked them why they
had made such a loud noise. They replied that they
had been praying; however, they had concluded
just before he came. Brother Matthias said: “We
will call upon God whether anybody opposes or
not.” In the evening about ten o’clock they were
separated again, and led away. On their way
through the city, they joyfully sang, and made
known their faith. Some of the councilors were
blood-thirsty, and desired to put them to death;
but others were opposed to it; for they felt persuaded,
and confessed, that they were innocent.
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The executioner came at least five times, expecting
to execute them, but his intention was frustrated
each time. They intended to execute the minister
and brother Henderick (who had defended themselves
and contradicted the most) first, if perhaps
the others might be deterred thereby. When the
minister heard that he was to die, he commenced
to sing joyfully and thanked God for it, and earnestly
besought him to count him acceptable.

The 23d of August was the day fixed for the execution
of the minister, Hans, and brother Henderick.
They were brought before the court into
the vault near the pillory. Much people flocked
together, also some who were their friends, and had
sent them food and drink. They went smilingly
through the people to the place of execution, and
seeing the great concourse of people coming from
every direction, the minister said: “O what a beautiful
feast-day we shall have, since so much people
are coming.” They were very joyful, and hoped to
get into paradise the same day, to their brethren
and sisters that had preceded them, and to all the
pious, of whom he had known very many. Revelation
6:11. There also came two monks, who sought
to mislead them with false doctrine. For a while
the minister contradicted them, showing them how
deceitfully they dealt; but finally he refused to speak
with them any longer, and said: “I will adhere to
the truth, and the hour of my departure is at hand;
I have something else to attend to now, than to talk
with you.” When the time had come that sentence
was to be passed upon them, the seven judges could
not agree in the sentence, and sent word to them,
that they would send them another learned man
to instruct them, whom if they should hear, they
would defer the matter for their best; otherwise
they would have to put them to death, though they
did not like to do it. But Hans and Henderick
boldly said that they would remain steadfast, and
depart from the truth neither to the right nor to
the left, and that on their account they need not
spare them or delay any longer, but might pass
sentence; but if they thereby sought more accusation
against them, they acquiesced in what it pleased
the Lord to do. The lords put their heads together,
and dismissed the people assembled. When the two
men perceived that sentence was not passed, they
were sorry, since they had completely resigned
themselves to death, and thought that they had
contended long enough against the wiles of the serpent.
Thus the multitude dispersed, each going to
his own, like people that had lost a battle. When
evening came, they had to go back to prison,
which caused them sorrow, since they had hoped
now to seal the truth with their blood; but they
had to wait for another time. Their being taken
back to prison, caused much thought among the
people; some said that God opposed the matter,
and had frustrated it.

One of the councilors had firmly resolved that
their execution should take place at the end of eight
days, and not be deferred any longer; however, this
also proved futile; for they remained in prison
until in autumn, and had to suffer and be tempted
much yet; after which they were condemned and
executed.

Hans Smit, as the minister, was first executed.
When being led through the city, he sang joyfully;
he did not speak much afterwards, but went briskly
to the place of execution, as a patient, dumb lamb.
There he was strangled at the stake with a rope,
and then bound fast with a chain, and singed with
fire. Thus he offered his sacrifice, on the 19th
of October, A. D. 1558. Three days after, the others
were brought forth, and sentenced to death,
namely, Henderick Adams and his brother-in-law,
Hans Beck. There was one among the councilors
at Aix-la-Chapelle, who was always violently opposed
to the brethren, and hence it happened on
one occasion, when they were disputing with Henderick,
and the latter would not be moved, that this
councilor became angry, and said: “Away with
them, away with them, to death and the fire; for all
is lost on them; no pardon should be offered them
any more,” etc. But brother Henderick said to
him: “You will not live to see my death;” which
was verified, for he died three days before Henderick,
on the same day that the minister Hans
Smit was executed. When on his death-bed, and
near his end, he fell into great despair, plucked out
his beard, and cried out most dreadfully, declaring
that he had judged many persons, and had certainly
sinned therein, and that God would punish
him for his blood-thirstiness. He also said many
other things of a similar character. Ps. 55:23.

Now when brother Henderick Adams and the
other brother were led to death, the executioner
bound his hands so tightly, that his fingers turned
black; but he lifted up his hands to God, praising
him, that he was counted worthy to suffer this. In
the mean time the bonds on his hands became
loose. They were tied again, just as hard as before;
but it was of no avail; for when he lifted up his
hands again, the bonds fell off as before, which occurred
several times, so that the Judge became angry,
and said to the executioner, that he should
bind them fast; but the executioner replied: “You
can easily see that binding is of no use here.” The
last time Henderick flung the bond away among
the people, so that he was not bound any more,
and said; “It is not God’s will, that I should be
bound.” He also said that such violence was contrary
to God, and continued to speak boldly unto
the end. Thereupon these two brethren, Henderick
Adams and his brother-in-law were (like previously
the minister) strangled at the stake, with a rope,
and then bound to the stake with a chain, and
singed with fire; which took place on the 22d day
of the month of October, A. D. 1558. A great number
of people were present on this occasion, as was
also the case afterwards when the brethren Matthijs
Smit and Dileman Snijder were executed, on the
fourth of January, 1559. Thus all five valiantly and
steadfastly testified with their blood to the divine
truth, though some of them had not yet become
united with the church.

The sixth brother that had been apprehended
with the others, through much disputation with
the ungodly, apostatized from his faith; but after he
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was released he sincerely bewailed his apostasy,
earnestly and truly repented, and again joined the
church. The six sisters that had been apprehended
at the same time, were severely scourged with rods,
and then allowed to go their way, and thus returned
joyful in the Lord, and constant in faith, to their
fellow-believers that were known to them.





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Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-hans-smit-hendrick-adams-hans-beck-matthijs-smit-dileman-snijder-and-seven-others-a-d-1558/

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