A Confession of Faith of the Prisoners in England

Concerning our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior: we not only believe in His incarnation, but we also hold that whoever denies that Christ has come in the flesh is the antichrist. First John 4, verse 3. Therefore we believe with the heart and confess with the mouth that the eternal Word of God was from the beginning with God; that the Son of God became man when the fullness of the time had come, for the salvation and redemption of men; that He was conceived of the Holy Ghost, and through the power of God the Most High was born of the blessed virgin Mary, and shown to be of the seed of David; that He is the fruit of the body of Mary; and that since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same. Hebrews 2, verse 14.

Finally, we believe that He is the promised seed of the woman who has bruised the serpent's head; we also believe everything else that is written about Him in the holy Scriptures; and we place the hope of our salvation in His death and resurrection alone. But the difference lies in this alone, that as yet we cannot find it in our conscience to say that He took His flesh from the substance of the flesh of the virgin Mary, since we do not find this stated in the Scriptures; therefore we refrain from inquiring into the mystery of God.

As for the baptism of children, we believe that infants are in a saved state and belong to the kingdom of God; but since we find no commandment or example in the holy Scriptures for baptizing them, we judge, according to the ordinance of Christ, that one ought to wait to baptize them until they are able to confess their faith in the church of God. In the meantime we do not condemn the churches that hold other views.

Regarding the magistracy, so far as the office in itself is concerned, we confess that it is not only good and useful for maintaining the common welfare, but also ordained by God, for the protection of the good and the punishment of the evil; that he has not received the sword in vain, and that by God's commandment we too are bound, and ready, to show him all subjection and service. We believe that it is not for us to inquire further into this matter or to judge it.

But since our conscience is pressed by questions as to whether the magistrate can be a Christian, we say that to human eyes it will be hard and difficult, because of many obstacles; nevertheless we do not despair of it, since what seems impossible to men is possible before God, according to what Christ says in the Gospel concerning the rich. Matthew 19, verse 26.

Finally, as to swearing: in this article we agree with the Dutch preachers, that we may, with a good conscience, call God to witness in a matter of which we have knowledge and are certain.

These articles, as they stand here, we simply believe, in spite of the conclusions which some, out of their own understanding, draw from them to the contrary.

Therefore we ask her majesty, for Christ's sake, to bear with our weakness, and to consider that if we could feel somewhat differently in our conscience, we would most gladly accept it from the heart, and confess it with the mouth.

So we humbly pray God for her majesty's long life, prosperous reign, and eternal salvation. We do not doubt that she will be pleased to show us poor prisoners and strangers such grace as has already been shown to our companions, for which thanks be to God and to her majesty.

Subscribed by:

HENDRICK TERWOORT,

JAN PIETERSS,

CHRISTIAEN KEMELS,

GERRIT VAN BYLER,

HANS VAN STRATEN.