Confession or Defense of Faith, of Jan, the Old Clothes Buyer, in the Year 1551

Question. "What do you think of infant baptism?"

Answer. "I do not think it is anything but a human institution."

Question. "By what, then, will you prove or maintain your baptism?"

Answer. "Mark 16."

Question. "What are your views concerning the sacraments?"

Answer. "I have nothing to say of the sacraments of men, but the Supper, as Christ held it with His apostles, I approve and esteem; for I think there are many who do not know what sacrament means."

Question. "What do you think of the Roman church?"

Answer. "Nothing, but I esteem the Christian church, which is the church of Christ."

Question. "What do you hold concerning the host which the priest holds in his hand? Do you not believe that our Lord is in it with flesh and blood?"

Answer. "No; for it is written, Acts 1, that He shall come again in the same way as He ascended into heaven."

Question. "What do you think of the pope?"

Answer. "That he is the antichrist." First Thessalonians 2, verse 3.

Question. "What do you think of the mass, the ceremonies, and the confession observed in the church?"

Answer. "Nothing, since the tree they spring from is good for nothing."

Question. "Where were you baptized?"

Answer. "My lords, if you know it, why do you still ask me?"

The bailiff then said: "I adjure you by your baptism, that you tell us where you were baptized." Matthew 26, verse 63.

Answer. "My baptism I hold to be good and right; but your adjuration I do not regard."

They then read to me the names and surnames of all who had been baptized with me, and said: "Assuerus has confessed it to us." I then said: "It is true."

Question. "Who baptized you?"

Answer. "It is not for me to tell."

Question. "We will make you tell."

Answer. "My flesh is before you; do with it as you please."