A Statement How He was Examined by the Magistrates

Grace, peace and love be to you, from God our heavenly Father, through His Son Jesus Christ. Amen. This I wish you, my dear and beloved wife, as an affectionate greeting.

And after all greeting, I inform you, my very dear wife, that it is still fairly well with me, according to the flesh; and according to the spirit it is my mind and purpose, with the help of God, to hold to the Lord to the end of my life.

The reason for my writing is further to inform you that I have been before the lords once, and they questioned me concerning my faith, which I confessed to them. And they asked me whether I had had myself baptized. I said: "Yes." They asked me how long ago it was. I said: "About eight years." They then asked me concerning my children, whether they were not baptized. I said: "No." They asked whether my wife was like me.

I said: "Yes." Then they asked in what house I had been baptized. I told them that it stood in the southeast corner. They asked me what the name of the man was who lived in it. I said "Pieter." "And his surname?" they said. I said "We do not ask much about surnames." So they wrote down all that I told them. And they sent for the pastor, and read to him what I had confessed before them. And the pastor spoke much to me about baptism, and said that the children must be baptized, in order to be cleansed from original sin. I said that Paul, in Romans 5, says that as death came upon all men through Adam, so righteousness came upon all men through Christ Jesus. Indeed, just as we all die through Adam, so we are all made alive by Christ. This he would not accept, but said that John says: "Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." Therefore the children must be baptized, if they are to be delivered from original sin. I said to him: "The Scripture does not say in John 3, 'Unless a man is baptized of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God'; but the Scripture says, 'Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,' and this the children cannot do, and need not do, since they have not committed sin, that they must be born again." So, my dear and beloved wife, we had many other words as well, which I have forgotten, and which do not deserve to be written. So I do not know what they will do with me, whether they will pursue their old course or not. But, my dear wife, though they deal with me as they have been accustomed to do in old times, let us therefore not be surprised, just as Peter writes: "Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings. For if you [he says] are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part he is spoken evil of, but on your part he is glorified." First Peter 4, verses 12 to 14. Not, my dear wife, that I have heard as yet that they will kill me; but even if they should do it, it would be nothing new, for Christ Himself has foretold: "The time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is doing God service. And these things they will do to you, because they have not known the Father, nor me." John 16, verses 2 and 3. So, my dear wife, be of good cheer in the Lord, and let us commit our cause to Him, and expect from Him a day that will comfort us. For this is what is first promised here on earth, namely, weeping and lamenting; but the world will rejoice; we must now be sorrowful, but our sorrow will be turned into joy. And Paul says: "I know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us." Romans 8, verse 18. So, my dear wife, be of good cheer in the Lord; I hope that He will help us; and do the best you can with the children, to bring them up in the fear of God. And since your burden is great, it weighs on me so much when I think of you and the children; the tears often flow from my eyes, because I have had to leave you under so great a burden and with little worldly means. But, my love, when I think that we must leave each other for the Lord's sake, or we cannot be worthy of Him, I hope that the Lord will care for you, because it is written: "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all that you need will be added to you." Matthew 6, verse 33. And Peter says: "Cast all your care upon the Lord; for he cares for you." First Peter 5, verse 7. So, my dear wife, since the Scriptures comfort me, that we have such a good Provider, I hope that He will provide you and me and our children with all that we need. Therefore, my dear wife, do not lose heart. Write me how it is with you and with the children, according to the flesh and according to the spirit. But, my dear wife, I must also inform you that the pastors have often talked with me here in prison; but we cannot agree. Sometimes they use harsh words, and sometimes fair words, and they always want to prove their infant baptism from John 3, bringing forward many other Scriptures as well, such as Romans 6; Colossians 2; Ephesians 5; Titus 3, and others, which do not serve their purpose, but treat of regeneration, of the burial of sin by baptism, or that God has cleansed His church by the washing of water in the Word. These Scriptures, which do not serve their purpose, they quote to prove their infant baptism. So I have a great conflict here; it seems to me that I am in the wilderness at Marah, where the children of Israel were, at the water of Meribah,* where the waters were bitter; but the Lord showed them a tree, which they were to throw into the waters, to make them sweet. Exodus 15, verses 23 to 25. [n1182-2] So the Lord has also shown me a green tree which sweetens all this water; which is Christ Jesus, the true green tree. When I think of Him, how He was delivered over by the chief priests and the scribes, to be crucified and put to death, it makes it very sweet for me; for I think that the servant is not better than his master, but that it ought to be enough for the servant that he should be like his master.

With this I will commend you, my dear wife, for this time, to the Lord, and to the rich Word of His grace, who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you His eternal kingdom.

Written on the 2nd of January, in the year 1588, by me, your husband.

CHRISTIAEN RIJCEN.