Gerrit Corneliss, in the Year 1571

In the year 1571, a young brother named Gerrit Corneliss was arrested at Amsterdam in Holland, for the truth's sake, as he was standing and working in a lighter boat. The bailiff bound him and led him to the city hall, where the next day he was examined and questioned about his faith, which he freely confessed. But when they wanted him to name some of his fellow believers, he would not do it, and so he had to suffer the torture. When he had been tortured once and was dressed again, his eyes were blindfolded with a cloth, and his hands were tied together and he was drawn up by them and left hanging there. Then he was stripped again and severely scourged with rods; but no matter how he was tortured, he did not name anyone. He was then laid on the rack again, and while he lay on it they had him scourged with rods, urine poured into his mouth, and burning candles held under his arms. Then, having been stripped naked again, with his shirt bound before his nakedness, he was drawn up by his hands as before, with a weight attached to his feet; and leaving him hanging there they went out. Returning after some time, they spitefully told him that if he would name no one, they would deal with him in this manner all day. But God (whom he thanked for it) kept his lips, so that no one was brought into trouble by his speaking. In short, he was so tortured that he could not walk, but had to be carried in a chair.

Some days later he was brought into court, mockingly crowned with a hat of flowers, and sentenced to be strangled and burned. As he listened to this sentence he showed joyfulness and patience, until he came to the stake, where he prayed very fervently in this manner: "O Father and Lord, be gracious to me; let me be one of Your least lambs, or the least member of Your body. O Lord, You who look down here from on high, and who discern the hearts and every hidden thing, before whom all things are to be counted as nothing, You know my simple love toward You; accept me, and forgive those who inflict this suffering on me." Having risen, he cried out to the people: "O men, eternity is so long; oh yes, eternity is so long; but these sufferings here are over very soon. But the conflict here is so fierce and severe. Oh, how afraid I still am. O flesh, bear up and resist a little longer, for this is the last conflict." When the rope had been placed around his neck, he cried out: "O heavenly Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit;" and with this he sweetly died, and was then burned. So he offered up his sacrifice, boldly standing up for the name of Christ, fearing neither pain, suffering, shame, nor these worldly lords, but constantly striving valiantly to the death. Therefore on the last day, when the Lamb that was slain opens the books of life, his name will also be found in them; but the apostate will be written in the earth, and the earth, with the works that are in it, will be burned. Revelation 2, verse 10; Revelation 5, verse 6; Revelation 20, verse 12; Revelation 3, verse 5; Jeremiah 17, verse 13; Second Peter 3, verse 10.

NOTE. Since we have obtained a true copy, from the book of criminal sentences of the city of Amsterdam, of the death sentence as well as of the two torturings which this friend of God endured before his death, together with clear information about when all this happened, we think it well to add it here, so that no one may in any way doubt the truth of what has been told, but may be fully assured of it.