Louwerens the Shoemaker, in the Year 1576

In the year 1576, at the time of the Spanish Fury (on the 4th of November), there was held in prison at Antwerp a God-fearing, pious brother named Louwerens the Shoemaker, for no other reason than that he would not follow the world and all its false inventions and wickedness (in which it lies), but forsook it, and sought with the people of God to lead a godly life, and to follow Christ in the regeneration. He was therefore arrested and tormented with great and dreadful tortures by the enemies of the truth, the bloodthirsty papists. They tortured him in such an unchristian-like and tyrannical manner that his body was completely crippled; for in the Spanish Fury the prisons were opened, and the prisoners ran out, so that the jailer said: "Louwerens, run out too." He answered: "Where shall I run? For I am so crippled that I cannot earn my bread." And remaining in prison in this condition, he was brought out after the Spanish Fury was over, and confirmed the faith of the truth with his death and blood, at that place. Therefore, at the glorious appearing of Christ from heaven, he will receive the glorious crown, which no one will ever take from him; and having thus been planted with Christ in the likeness of His death, he will also forever be a partaker with Him of the glorious resurrection. Revelation 20, verse 4; Acts 1, verse 11; Second Thessalonians 1, verse 10; Second Timothy 4, verse 8; John 16, verse 22; Romans 6, verse 5. [n1159-1]