Leonard Bernkop, in the Year 1542

In the year 1542, Brother Leonard Bernkop was arrested for the faith at Salzburg. Much was tried to induce him to apostatize, but since he steadfastly persevered in the narrow way of the truth of God, and there was no hope that he would apostatize, they condemned him to death, led him out to the place of execution, and built a fire close to him, at which they immediately roasted him; but he held firmly to the Lord, and said to the bloodhounds and executioners: "This side is roasted enough; turn me around, and scorch and roast the other side also; for through the power of God this suffering is insignificant compared with the eternal." Romans 8, verse 18. Thus he gained the victory over the beast and his image, over the abomination of desolation and his mark. Revelation 15, verse 2. Rather than receive his mark, or do anything that was contrary to God, His heavenly Father, he, like the seven valiant and God fearing sons (Second Maccabees 7), gave his body to be roasted and executed by fire, which could in no way separate him from the love of God (Romans 8, verse 39); hence he shall also have in his hands the harp of God, and, together with all conquerors in the faith, who have come out of great tribulation, shall have his mouth filled with laughter, and his tongue with praise, and shall sing the new song with the servants of God, and the song of the Lamb; indeed, he shall forever behold the Almighty God. Revelation 15, verse 2; Revelation 7, verse 14; Revelation 14, verse 3. First Corinthians 13, verse 12.