Philip de Keurs, in the Year 1537

In the year 1537, there was at Cassel, in Flanders, a God-fearing, pious brother, whose name was Philip Keurs, a joiner by trade. And since he too had separated from this present wicked world, and had entered upon the peculiar way of the cross, which leads to the kingdom of God, he, like his Lord and Master, Jesus, was hated, despised and persecuted by the servants of this world, so that he finally fell into the hands of tyrants, who cruelly mistreated him with severe imprisonment. But since he was not founded upon drifting sand, but upon the immovable Rock (Matthew 7, verses 24 and 26; Matthew 16, verse 18), he remained steadfast in every respect, as gold that is tried in the fire. First Peter 1, verse 7. And since nothing could move him to swerve from the truth, he was sentenced to death at that place, in this way confirming the faith of the truth with his death and blood. And as he here became a partaker of the sufferings of his Lord and Master Christ Jesus, so he shall also, when His glory is revealed, receive and enjoy great gladness and joy, and in eternity the crown of everlasting glory. Second Timothy 4, verse 8.