Seven Teachers and Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ Imprisoned at Berne

The little flock of Christ had fled from the borders of Zurich to the regions of Berne, and at this time they could obtain no freedom there either, since those of Berne, following in the footsteps of those of Zurich, also undertook to lay hands on them, but especially on the shepherds and leaders of the church, so that by this means, as it seems, they might cause the more terror among the innocent sheep and lambs of the scattered flock of Christ.

Seven of the teachers and chief elders of the church were arrested, and special prisons were prepared for them, namely, Uly Bogart, Anthony Hinnelberg, Jegly Schlebach, Hans Zaug, Uly Baumgarter, Christian Christians, and Rhode Peters.

For a while these men were kept at very hard work, and fed very poorly with heavy food, spelt and rye, to make good the expense they caused; besides this, much reproach, insult and abuse was heaped upon them.

They were told at first that they would be kept confined in this manner until the end of their life; and in this they patiently comforted themselves and surrendered themselves to the grace of the Lord. However, when they saw that there was no hope of turning these people from their faith and religion, they decided upon another plan (according to what we have been told from Alsace), namely, that they would have to choose one of these three things: (1) To go with them to church; or, (2) To be banished forever to the galleys; or, (3) To have to die by the hands of the executioner.

Certainly a hard and difficult choice; for the first proposal concerns the soul, and the last two the body. By choosing one of these things, either the soul or the body, or even both together, would surely be put in peril.

If a man denies his faith, he does violence to his conscience; or if he adopts another religion, contrary to his heart and mind, he exposes his soul to extreme danger, indeed, to the peril of damnation.

If, on the other hand, a man will keep his faith, not bend or violate his conscience, and hold and defend the religion which he has accepted and thinks necessary to salvation, then he brings his body into distress, so that he must wander about in misery, or meet an untimely and violent death.

However, in such a case it is necessary to consider that the soul is of infinitely greater importance than the body, which in any event must one day be laid aside, while the soul continues. So heed should be given to the instruction of Christ, where He says: "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10, verse 28.

As to what was done in this matter, either by the prisoners or by those who kept them imprisoned, we have not been able to learn. It is certain, however, that they were still in confinement as late as the year 1659, which sufficiently shows how immovable their faith was; and in that faith may the Lord, who is gracious, be pleased to strengthen them by His good Spirit, so that they, striving steadfastly, may hereafter, with all the saints, of whom we have mentioned many in this book, receive the blessed crown of unfading glory from the Lord.