Hans Schlaeffer and Leonhard Frick

In the year 1528, Brother Hans Schlaeffer, formerly a Roman priest, but afterwards a teacher of the Word and Gospel of Christ, a highly gifted man, was apprehended at Schwartz, in the valley of the Inn, and with him Brother Leonhard Frick. They tried him hard with many severe tortures, and disputed with him, through the priests, about infant baptism; but he showed them his defense, by word of mouth as well as in writing, as it is commanded, and as it is found throughout the entire New Testament, namely: that the Word of God must first be taught, and that only those who hear, understand, believe and receive it are to be baptized. This is the true Christian baptism, and no anabaptism. The Lord has nowhere commanded that infants be baptized; they are already the Lord's, and as long as they are in their innocence and simplicity, they are not to be condemned at all. They also asked him what the foundation of these anabaptistic sects really consisted in. To this he replied: "Our faith, practice and baptizing is founded on nothing else than the command of Christ: 'Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.' (Mark 16, verse 16; Matthew 28, verse 19); and many other Scriptures."

They also asked what purpose lay hidden under this anabaptism, since they had in this way urged them to raise a new uproar and sedition. But he replied that it had never entered his heart to make an uproar; neither had he ever approved of it in others; indeed, he had fled from a house in which they lived in contention, which he could prove by everyone with whom he had ever lived. And there is no other purpose hidden under it than to amend the life, and to forsake the vicious ways of the world; so that in the doctrine which he teaches, this is not the least commandment, that we are bound in duty to be subject to the authorities in all good things; how, then, should he raise or plan uproar and sedition?

They also wanted to know from him who were the true authors and leaders of these heretical and chief sects, as they falsely call them. He told them that he knew of no other leader of his faith than the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is the true Captain of the faith. Hebrews 12, verse 2. [n583-2] But as regards their being called heretics and seditious sects, he referred them to the complaints of the Jews against Christ before Pilate, and the complaints against the apostle Paul before Felix the Governor. Matthew 27, verse 1; Acts 24, verse 2.

He was likewise asked what had caused and led him to forsake his office as priest. Concerning this he told them that he had done it for conscience' sake, because he knew that he stood in the place of a prophet, and believed that God had sent him.

They also wanted to know from him who had told him to go into Germany, to plant the evil seed of Anabaptism. He told them that no one had ordered him there; but that, since he had no abiding place as yet, and had to wander about in misery, he came there to one of his friends, with whom he stayed, and from there came to Schwatz, where he was apprehended, according to and for the will of God. As to the evil seed of which they spoke, he knew nothing at all; he intended nothing evil, but much rather the pure divine truth.

After this and other things, when he had been in prison for some time, and could not be moved, he and his fellow prisoner and brother were condemned to death, and executed with the sword at Schwatz, thus testifying with their blood to the divine truth. He left the following admonitory thanksgiving to his brothers in Christ:

O God, I beg for Your grace; do not charge my sins against me, since Christ atoned for them before I was born. Romans 5, verse 10. I was Your enemy, and You have loved me and graciously accepted me, and given for my redemption the innocent blood of Your beloved Son (First Peter 1, verse 19), though I still feel in myself much trouble from the sin that remains, which rises up in my flesh. For when I would do good, evil is present with me. Romans 7, verse 21. For this reason I am sorrowful, and may well sigh and cry out with the apostle Paul: O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7, verse 24. And I must answer myself and say: But thanks be to God, who gives me the victory through Christ. You are my comfort; for if I believe in this way with the heart, I cannot be condemned. The spirit is willing and ready, but the flesh is weak, so that I cannot fulfill the law of God, until Christ strengthens us with His Spirit. Where human laws reign on earth, there the distressed minds are led astray; indeed, where Christ Jesus is not the sole Ruler, whatever He does not build is always torn and broken; and no building can stand which He does not uphold. Though the world highly esteems other things, they are condemned before God; and so we all pray together, young and old, great and small, that You, O God, would have compassion on us, and send us poor children faithful shepherds and stewards of Your gifts (Matthew 9, verse 38), that all human doctrine may be rooted out; for it is time to truly repent and forsake evil; for the severe judgment of God is at hand. Mark 1, verse 15. So let us take refuge in the chastisement of our Father, and submit ourselves in obedience, that He may chastise us as His children. The world is blinded, does not know the Christian life, detests it, flees the cross, and thinks it is enough if they can talk finely of the Christian life, while doing little indeed.

"But, my brothers, he who would be a true Christian must put on Christ (Romans 13, verse 14), and resemble Him in His humble form while on earth, and be of good cheer in everything that happens to him in this world. No outward show of loving Christ, and of suffering for His name, avails here; we must not be ashamed of Him who first loved us (First John 4, verse 19), and gave Himself for us to a shameful death. It is in truth not otherwise than that judgment must first begin at the house of God. First Peter 4, verse 17. Thus the Holy Scripture is now fulfilled, so that the punishment with which the world is to be visited is ready and at hand; therefore no one ought to be careless; for the sword is drawn, the bow is bent, the arrow laid upon it, and aim is taken.

By this I do not mean that we are to seek any other refuge than to accept the chastisement of the Father, as has been said above, by which He refines us for that to which He has sealed us, that we may be assured of the eternal and imperishable kingdom with Him, and may possess it with Him forever in life everlasting; to this may God strengthen us all. Amen."