I believe I shared with you a little about a part member
family we met and are getting to know a little better. The member’s first wife
died several years ago and he remarried not too long after that. His new wife
is Baptist, when we first visited them we asked the wife if she would be interested
in hearing the Missionary discussions and she said, no!. She explained that
when they were married they agreed that they would both continue in their
respective religions. They are both very good and gracious people, we suggested
that we get together and do something socially with them, maybe a game night.
Then we followed up and a Friday night date night with
them where we played a game they had and got to know them a little better. His
granddaughter is one of the young women in the branch and the young women were
in charge of the Harvest social. She wanted to have it at her grandfather’s
place. He has one of the nicer places in the branch, a newly remodeled house,
which sits on a hill in the middle of 180 acres and several ponds on the
property. The Baptist wife seemed a little uneasy about the upcoming social and
said she didn’t know anyone in the branch, we told her she knew us. We offered
to come early and help set up. He said they would be find and wouldn’t need any
help. However, Later he called and said he would take us up on the offer for
some help. The social was yesterday, we arrived early and I presented the wife
with a gift. It either something someone shared with me or something I found on
the internet several years ago.
It was a confession of Faith written by several Baptist
Martyrs in 1575. I shared with her that what they believed was fairly close to
what we believe, and maybe there is a possibility they could eventually be
united in their faith. She said that was interesting and that the two of they
had watched part of General Conference together and she had some questions he
was not sure what the answer was. They had decided that the next time we get
together for a social evening maybe we could answer her questions. Of course we
said we look forward to having that opportunity. They are a fun couple, the
event yesterday went well and we truly do look forward to getting together with
them again.
This is a copy of the Baptist Martyrs confession of
faith.
A
1575 Confession of Faith by Two Baptist Martyrs
http://nonprotestantbaptists.com/CofF.html
This account is found in the addendum of The Broadmead Records 1640 – 1687.
The following Confession was written while Terwoort and Peters were in the Marshalsea, "for the witness of Jesus Christ," to remove the many slanderous accusations which were circulated concerning their faith. It is probable that this confession was delivered either in whole or in part at their first examination. They revised and signed it on the eve of their martyrdom. It is given in its entirety, as it throws much light on the general orthodoxy of the Baptists at that period.
This is the Confession of our belief in God, our heavenly Father.
1. We believe in one
God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, as it is written. Gen.
1:1, in whom Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all the prophets believed. Heb.
11.
2. We believe in Jesus
Christ, the only Son of the Father, who was in the beginning with God. John
1:1. And when the time was fulfilled, Micah 5: 2, 1 John 1: 1, 2, which God had
promised, Gal. 5:4. 4, the Word was made flesh. Gen. 3: 15, Isa. 7: 14, John 1:
14, and born of the seed of David, Rom. 1: 3, of the undefiled Virgin Mary,
being betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the seed of David, Matt. 1:
18, Luke 1 and 2 blessed among women, Luke 1: 28. We believe that this true Son
of God, with many signs and wonders which he did, announced to us the word of
his Father, John 15: 24. And after this, was betrayed into the hands of the
Jews crucified under Pontius Pilate, died, and was buried. Matt. 27: 1, Mark
15: 1, Luke 23: 1, John 28.
3. We believe that this
same Jesus Christ is truly God and man and for our sins voluntarily laid down
his life, Isa. 53: 7. When we were his enemies, he suffered a bitter death for
us, Rom. 5: 8 that they who believe in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life John 3: 6.
4. We believe also that
this our Savior has risen from the dead Matt. 28: 6, Mark 16: 6, Luke 24: 6,
John 20: 9, as he had foretold. Matt. 17: 9, Mark 9: 9, Luke 9: 22, and sits at
the right hand of his Father, Mark 16: Acts 7: 55.
5. We believe in the
Holy Ghost, John 15: 26, as it is written, I John 5: 7, saying. There are three
that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these
three are one.
6. We believe also in
the communion of saints, I John 1: 3, whose prayers avail much for us, James 5:
16. We believe also in the holy church, of which are they who believe in Jesus
Christ, baptized by one spirit into one body, as Paul says, I Cor. 12: 13. And
Jesus Christ is the head thereof, that is, of the holy church, as it is written
Eph. 5: 23, and Col. 1: 18. We believe that this holy church has power to open
and to shut, to loose and to bind; and whatsoever they loose on earth is loosed
in heaven. Matt. 16: 19, and whatsoever they bind on earth is bound in heaven.
We believe also that God has ordained in his holy church, apostles, prophets,
and teachers, I Cor. 12: 28, bishops, and deacons, I Tim. 3: 2, 8.
7. We believe and
confess also baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost, as the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded and ordained, Matt. 28: 19; and
was practiced by the apostles. Acts 2: 38, 41; and as they have written thereof
Rom. 6: 3, I Cor. 12: 13, Gal. 3: 27, Eph. 4: 5, and I Pet. 3: 21. We believe
that they who are baptized, are members of the body of Jesus Christ, and of the
holy church.
8. Of the holy supper of
Jesus Christ, we believe and confess even as Christ has taught; as it is
written. Matt. 26: 26, And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed
it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said. Take eat; this is my
body. And he took the cup, and gave, thanks, and gave it to them, saying. Drink
ye, all of it; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for
many for the remission of sins. Mark 14: 24 ; this do in remembrance of me,
Luke 22: 19 We believe as Paul testifies, saying. The cup of blessing which we
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we
break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? I Cor. 10: 16. Whoso
eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him
up at the last day, John 6: 54.
9. We confess and believe
that marriage is an ordinance of God, as we read. Gen. 2: 24. One man and one
woman joining together in the name of the Lord in the holy church. I Cor. 7: 2.
For this cause shall a man, leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his
wife; and they twain shall be one, flesh. Wherefore they are no more twain, but
one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Matt. 19: 5, 6. For marriage is honourable to all, and the bed undefiled; but
whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, Heb. 13: 4.
10. We believe and
confess that magistrates are set and ordained of God, Wisd. 6: 4, Sirach 17:
18, Rom. 13: 1, to punish the evil, and to protect the good ; which magistracy
we from our hearts desire to obey, as it is written in the first of Peter, 2:
13, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the, Lord's sake. For he
beareth not the sword in vain, Rom. 13: 4. And Paul teaches us that we should
offer up for all, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks for all kings
and magistrates ; that me may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour,
who desires that all men, should be saved, I Tim. 2: 1, 2, 3, 4. He further
teaches us to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, and
to be ready to every good work. Pet. 3: 1. Therefore we pray your majesty
kindly to understand aright our meaning; which is, that we do not despise the
eminent, noble, and gracious queen, and her wise councils, but esteem them as
worthy of all honor, to whom we desire to be obedient in all things that we
may. For we confess with Paul, as above, that she is God's servant, and that if
we resist this power, we resist the ordinance of God; for rulers are not a terror
to good works but to the evil. Therefore we confess to be due unto her, and are
ready to give, tribute, custom, honor, and fear, as Christ himself has taught
us, saying. Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and God the things
that are God's. Since, therefore, she is a servant God, we will kindly pray her
majesty, that it would please her to show pity to us poor prisoners, even as
our Father in heaven is pitiful Luke 6: 36. We likewise do not approve of those
who resist the magistrates; but confess and declare with our whole heart that
we must be obedient and subject unto them, as we have here set down
11. Further, if any
should ask us, why we will not swear an oath? We answer, that we have not
liberty in our consciences to do this, since it is written in Matt. 5: 33, that
Christ said, Ye have heard that it hath been, said of them of old time. Thou
shalt not forswear thyself, but shall perform unto the Lord thine oaths; but I
say unto, you. Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor
by the earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city
of the great King. Neither shall thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not
make one hair white or black. But let your communication be. Yea, yea; Nay,
nay! for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Thus also the apostle
James teaches in the fifth chapter, saying. Above all things, my brethren,
swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath:
but let your yea he yea ; and your nay, nay. For these reasons we will not, we
dare not, swear.
12. We believe in the
resurrection of the dead, as it is written, Isaiah 26: 19, John 11: 25, Dan.
12: 2, John 15: 25, in the first epistle to the Corinthians, 15: 22, I Thess.
4: 16. That we shall rise from the dead in our own bodies. Job 19: 25, Isaiah
26: 19, I Cor. 15. When the Lord shall come in the clouds with his angels, then
shall each one be judged according to his works ; Matt. 25: 34, Rom. 2: 6.
13. We believe all that
is contained both in the Old and in the New Testaments.
And
now we poor prisoners humbly pray, that wherein we may have misbehaved towards
her majesty or her subjects, it may be forgiven, that mercy may be shown to us
even as our Father in heaven is merciful; for we are a poor and lowly people,
of little knowledge and understanding, and it is our sorrow that we are not
able to write more courteously. Therefore we pray your highness, that your
majesty will receive graciously this our simple confession. We commend your royal
majesty to the Lord; Acts 20: 32. The Lord be with you and us. Amen.
In
our prison in London, the 21st of July, in the year of our Lord, 1575.
By
me, HENDRIK TERWOORT. By me, JAN PIETERS.
The pity, forgiveness and mercy for which they pleaded were not given. These men were executed.
