Paul Glock, in the Year 1576

In the year 1576, Paul Glock, who had been imprisoned without interruption for nearly nineteen years in the country of Wurtemberg, came to his deliverance, after he had suffered much during his imprisonment, and had at first been greatly tormented and tortured, and at such times tempted in many and various ways, by the authorities as well as by noblemen and Lutheran preachers; they tried him with hard imprisonment and also with light imprisonment. In the year 1566 they did not try him for a whole half year, and they also permitted him to go out several times, when he promised them with his word that he would not go away without their knowledge. Later, when the court chaplain of the prince and others examined him, and he still firmly held to his faith, and would not regard their magistracy, sword, and war as in harmony with Christianity, they said that he was not worthy of going among the people; that he must remain in confinement all the days of his life, even until his death, or until he should say that they were good Christians. In the year 1567 he was sick, from Epiphany until Saint John's day, being very feeble and miserable, lame in his hands and also in his knees, so that he was not able to stand up. He also had great pain in his mouth, so that for some time he could eat no bread, and there was no hope that he would ever get well again. When his enemies learned of this, they thought, "Now is our time," and sent two priests to him, who were to dispute with him, and to persuade him about infant baptism and the sacrament, and were to convert him to themselves, since God so visited him with sickness. But brother Paul said

"Show me a Christian flock that has grown up by your preaching, doctrine and faith, and I will unite with it; and if there is anything in me that is contrary to God, I will lay it aside and forsake it, and adopt what is better." Then the two priests said: "The Christian church cannot be pointed out with the finger." Brother Paul said: "It is evident what false prophets you are; Christ showed His church and disciples when He stretched out His hand over His disciples and said: 'Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.' Matthew 12, verse 50. Also: 'A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.' Chapter 5, verse 14. Further: 'You are the light of the world.' The apostle Peter also speaks of it, where he says: 'You are a chosen generation, a holy nation.' First Peter 2, verse 9. Paul also shows her [the Christian church] where he says: 'You are the temple of the living God, the seal of my apostleship.' Second Corinthians 6, verse 16; First Corinthians 9, verse 2. But since you do not know her, you are the children of the night and of darkness, and not members of the body of Christ; and since you cannot show me Christ's body, how should I trust and commit myself to you, that you should make a Christian of me, when you have not yet shown me one Christian in your church. You are just like Ahab's four hundred false prophets, into whose deceitful mouth a false spirit has been put, to deceive the whole world; indeed, you are the thieves and murderers that now come to kill and steal." First Kings 18; John 10, verse 8.

When he gave them such an answer, they were astonished that he could answer them so in his sickness, and they did not come to him again for a long time to dispute with him. They also said

"Even though your cause may be right and good, it still cannot be tolerated, for it has never been tolerated." Brother Paul said: "Yes, the ungodly and the world could not tolerate Christ, His apostles, or any of the righteous; and so it is with you, for you are ungodly, unrighteous, and wicked men, whose belly is their god. Philippians 3, verse 19."

In the year 1572 the preachers of the prince came to him the third time, to the castle of Hohenwithing, talked much with him, and examined him about many things. In the year 1573 they had him brought into the city of Aurach, where the preachers and the steward of the country (who is next after the prince) then were, and they disputed with him about infant baptism. They said

"Children have faith, and so they are rightly brought to baptism; for the apostle says: 'Without faith it is impossible to please God.'" Hebrews 11, verse 6. But Paul said: "The apostle does not say this of children, nor does he speak to children, but to adults; and he further says in the same place: 'He who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.' Now place a child before me, and if it shows so much confession and faith, then baptize it freely." They said: "A child needs no confession." "Then it also needs no baptism," he said. Then they were silent about that, and began to speak of the magistrates, saying that they were Christians, since the apostle calls them God's ministers. The brother replied: "The apostle calls them ministers (Romans 13, verse 4) because of the council, and the council does not belong in the house of God or of Christ." They said: "The council certainly does belong in the house of God." The brother said: "Then show me a lawful magistracy in the house or church of Christ; for the apostle ordained all offices in the house of God: so show me where he ordained the princes or worldly kings with their offices in the church." Then the preachers began and said

"Cornelius was a centurion over soldiers, and became a Christian." Acts 10, verse 1. They also mentioned Sergius Paulus, and said that he had been the deputy of the country. Acts 13, verse 7. Then the brother asked them whether they also believed that the apostle had preached the Gospel to them, by which they had to become believers, and whether the apostle had also been a true follower and teacher of Christ. They answered: "Yes." He asked further: "Did he also judge in a worldly manner, or bear a sword?" [n1149-1] They said: "No; but he wielded a spiritual sword and judgment." "As you then also confess," said the brother, "you also know well that the apostles preached the Gospel to Cornelius and Sergius Paulus; also that the people wanted to make Christ a king, and that He fled (John 6, verse 15); again: 'The princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them; but it shall not be so among you; you shall not resist evil' (Matthew 20, verse 25; chapter 5, verse 39): from all this they could easily learn that in following Christ they could not administer any worldly magistracy or governorship; or if they wanted to be like Paul, who says: 'Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.'" First Corinthians 11, verse 1.

At this they were silent, and then began and said: "God forgives all people, or sinners, however great their sins may be." The brother answered and said: "I believe this too, if they truly repent and are sorry for their sinful works." But he asked them whether they also likewise forgave their fellow members and brothers when they had sinned. They said: "Yes." He said: "Why then do you hang your criminals, and help them to the gallows and the wheel, since you have forgiven them their sins, and they are your brothers?" Then they laughed at their own folly, and finally said: "The magistracy is ordained for this reason, that they should punish what is evil." The brother said: "Is repentance then a crime too?" The preachers said: "No; but it is a benefit." The brother said: "Does the magistracy then have power, or a command from the Old or the New Testament, that they may put to death the righteous or the penitent (as you say that they have eaten your sacrament, and have also become Christians)?" They said: "They must nevertheless be punished, as a warning to others." The brother asked further whether they also believed that when, by their preaching of infant baptism and the sacrament, they had made such a criminal in prison pious, and he accepted the two articles, he was then a Christian, and could be regarded as a Christian. The preachers said: "Yes." The brother said: "If he has then become a believer, as you say, he has also been sealed with the Spirit of God, according to the words of Paul; is this not your belief too?" They said: "Yes." The brother said: "Then his body must also be a temple of God, because the Holy Ghost dwells in him." Second Corinthians 6, verse 16. They said

"Yes." "See now then," the brother said, "how you act, how you dishonor the temple of God, hanging it on the gallows; do you not know what the apostle says: 'If anyone dishonors the temple of God, God will also dishonor and destroy him?' First Corinthians 3, verse 17. Behold your magistrates, what fine Christians they are, if they thus slay the penitent and dishonor the temple of God, if it is as you say and confess."

When he said such things to them, they looked at each other, as though they wanted to say: "We are doing badly with such a confession of Christianity." They then began to speak of the Supper, and asked him what he thought of it. He answered: "I think much of it when it is observed as Christ ordained it; but as you observe it, I think nothing of it, and it is also useless to speak much with you about it." Then they were silent.

Finally the steward of the country began to speak in Latin with the court preacher, and when they had finished speaking, the preacher asked the brother if he would leave the country and not return to it any more, and then they would release him from prison. The brother replied: "If you will give me a letter, that wherever I go they shall freely receive me, I will leave your country." They said they could not do this. Then he answered: "Then I also cannot leave your country; but I will go out of it, and if I return to it and do anything by which I merit the sword, then use it." This pleased them well. Then the steward of the country again spoke much in Latin to the preacher, and then said to the brother: "If you will be pious for yourself, or remain in your belief, and seduce no one else, we will release you yet." The brother answered: "If I am wrong, use the sword, for this is your office; but if I am right, then it is also right for the one who hears and learns something good from me, and I will govern myself according to this." Then the preacher said

"We will not force you to the faith, but we will always keep you imprisoned, so that you will not seduce anyone else." They then had him brought back to prison; so he had to suffer and endure imprisonment quite innocently, only for his faith and for the sake of the divine truth; and this for about nineteen years.