# Answer To The Question, Whether All The People Mentioned In This Work, None Excepted, Have Confessed The Same That The Anabaptists Of This Day Confess.

Date not assigned · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, WHETHER ALL THE PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS WORK, NONE EXCEPTED, HAVE CONFESSED THE SAME THAT THE ANABAPTISTS OF THIS DAY CONFESS.



Concerning this we say that a distinction must be
made between the first and last martyrs;—not that
they have differed in the faith, for this we have not
found; but because they were not all examined in
regard to the same articles of faith; and consequently
did not reply in one and the same manner; and
this from the fact, that some suffered among the
pagans, some among the Jews and the Mohammedans,
and some among the false Christians, that is,
the Romanists.

Those who suffered among the pagans were, for
the most part, examined concerning the first article
of the Christian faith, wherein we confess: “I believe
in one God, the Father, the Almighty Creator
of heaven and earth,” etc.; and if the apprehended
Christians confessed only this, viz., that they believed
in one God, they were condemned to death:
for the pagans recognized many gods.

Those who suffered among the Jews or the Mohammedans
were examined concerning the second
article, wherein we confess: I believe “in Jesus
Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, our Lord,
who was conceived of the holy Ghost,” etc. When
they had confessed this, they had also forfeited
their lives; for the Jews and the Mohammedans do
not acknowledge Christ as the Son of God, much
less as his only-begotten (or own) Son, and that he
was conceived of the Holy Ghost.

On account of this article many believers were
killed among the Arians.

Those who suffered among the false Christians,
especially among the Romanists, were examined
concerning nearly all the articles of faith, in regard
to which difference of opinion existed between us
and them, viz: the incarnation of Christ, the office
of the secular authorities, the swearing of oaths, etc.,
but above all others, the article of holy baptism,
namely: whether they were denied infant baptism?
or, whether they were re-baptized? which latter
principally caused their death; as sentence of death
18
was immediately passed upon them, and their
life taken.

Besides these articles (on account of which they
also had to suffer among the followers of Zwingli
and Calvin) the Papists laid before them also, either
for denial or for confession, the manifold papal institutions,
which at different times and above and
contrary to the most holy faith and life, had originated,
and been forced, as necessary articles for salvation,
upon the innocent plain, and orthodox people,
that they should believe, and live according
to them, such as the invocation of deceased saints;
sacrifices for the dead; pilgrimages to the sepulchres
of the saints; the worshiping and salutation
of images made with hands; masses; vigils; ceremonial
night watches; choral prayers whether paternosters,
Ave Marias, or rosaries, or others; the
making the sign of the cross; sprinkling with holy
water; the tonsure; the wearing of white, gray,
black, or other clothes; the chasuble; and innumerable
other things which it is almost impossible to
mention.

When the orthodox martyrs were examined by
the Papists concerning these and similar matters,
they must necessarily express their opinion in regard
to them, and, therefore, unfold the articles of
their own faith, which were opposed to them; so
that on such occasions frequently the whole foundation
and all the particulars of the saving faith
which they held in common with us, were discussed.

This is the reason, therefore, that only those
martyrs who suffered among the false Christians,
especially among the Papists, made confession of
nearly all the articles of faith; while all the others,
though faithful and sincere confessors of the evangelical
truth, who sacrificed their lives among the
pagans, Jews, or Mohammedans, confessed but very
little thereof: because they were not examined concerning
them.

Moreover, at first there were not so many articles
of faith concerning which different opinions prevailed,
than there were in later times; for which
there was a reason; for, since in the beginning there
were not so many apostates and different sects than
in later times; the points which had to be asserted
against those who disputed them originally, were
fewer than afterwards, when many churches began
to spring up, and each defended his own; from
which the true believers had to distinguish themselves
by their confession of the controverted articles
of faith.

No true Christian of the Anabaptists of this day
will stumble at the fact that the first martyrs have
not confessed so many articles of faith as the last
ones, or as are confessed now; which, as has been
said, is founded on a satisfactory reason.

However, we have found, and are fully satisfied
therewith, that although, for the reason already
mentioned, some have confessed more, and others
less, of the articles of faith, they notwithstanding
did not differ from each other in regard to their
purpose and meaning; we speak with reference to
those things which are of considerable importance,
and may be considered as necessary for salvation.

But should it nevertheless be true, that one or
the other (whereof one have not heard), on account
of the earliness, degeneracy, or darkness of
preceding times, was not truly enlightened; either
in the faith or in the knowledge of it, or possessed
some serious weakness or deficiency; but nevertheless,
keeping the true foundation of salvation, that
is, Christ,22 though weak and frail, died, sacrificing
his life through a violent death, with a good purpose,
to the honor of God, the edification of his fellow
brethren, above all, to the preservation of his
own soul; such a one should, according to the nature
of love, be excused, and counted a true martyr,23
because of his entirely good intention, and his total
renunciation, even unto death, of his possessions as
well as his own self; for which the Lord has promised
everlasting life, yea, the crown of life, Matt.
19:29, compared with Rev. 2:10: “Be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of Life.”

This is what we have thought proper to call attention
to in regard to the title and contents of these
two books; but before we dismiss the subject, it behooves
us to make a brief statement in regard to
the preceding or old work.





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Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-answer-to-the-question-whether-all-the-people-mentioned-in-this-work-none-excepted-have-confessed-the-same-that-the-anab/

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