Poems in the Original Language

First Part the Bloody Theater

FIRST PART THE BLOODY THEATER

MARTYRS MIRROR OF THE ANABAPTIST OR DEFENSELESS CHRISTIANS

WHO SUFFERED AND WERE SLAIN FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS

CHRIST, THEIR SAVIOR, FROM THE TIME OF CHRIST UNTIL THE YEAR 1660

First Century

AN ACCOUNT OF THE HOLY BAPTISM OF THE MARTYRS IN THE FIRST CENTURY,

That is, from the first year of the ministry of Jesus

Christ to the year 100.

SUMMARY OF THE BAPTISM IN THE FIRST CENTURY

[We have begun with the baptism of John, who in Holy Scripture is properly called the Baptist, because he was the first and chief one who truly administered baptism with all that belongs to it; and concerning this we have noted the time, the place, the persons, and so on. From there we went on to Christ and the command which He gave concerning baptism; then to the apostles, and how they carried out Christ's command. But since the apostles who wrote of baptism did not live to the close of this century, we, in order to accomplish our purpose, turned to the fathers who lived shortly after the apostles and wrote on baptism; and so the first century is concluded with their testimony.]

We shall begin to give an account, from century to century, up to the present day, or at least to the time of our fathers, of how the true baptism upon faith, with the rejection of infant baptism, has always prevailed and been practiced, as far as it was possible, by the true church of God, or at least by some of the orthodox believers, according to the freedom or the oppression prevailing at any particular time; and how this same faith, on account of which the world calls us Anabaptists, was begun by God through John, was confirmed by Christ, and was spread and maintained by the apostles as well as by their successors, until the time of our fathers; together with an account of the persons who suffered for that faith.

Coming, then, to the article of baptism, we shall begin and finish the subject in this way: In the first century, which covers chiefly the time of Christ and His holy apostles, we shall set down, not by inferences, but in express words, what Holy Scripture has to say about it, as being the foundation of the matter, and afterwards what is recorded by trustworthy authors.