Here is an example of Roman Catholic persecution of Christians.
After a long trial on the day of his departure from this world, the articles
being many, Michael Sattler requested that they would be read to him again
and that he should have another hearing. This the bailiff, as the governor
of his lord, opposed and would not consent to it.
Michael Sattler then requested permission to speak. After a consultation,
the judges returned as their answer, that if his opponents would allow it,
they (the judges) would consent. Thereupon the town clerk of Ensisheim, as
the attorney of said Governor spoke thus: "Prudent, honorable and wise Sirs,
He has boasted of the Holy Ghost. Now, if his boast is true, it seems to me,
it is unnecessary to grant him this; for if he has the Holy Ghost, as he
boasts, the same will tell him what has been done here." To this Michael
Sattler replied: "Ye servants of God, I hope my request will not be denied;
for said articles are as yet unknown to me." The town clerk responded:
"Prudent, honorable and wise Sirs, Though we are not bound to do this, yet
in order to give satisfaction, we will grant him his request that it may not
be thought that injustice is done him in his heresy, or that we desire to
wrong him; hence let the articles be read to him."
ARTICLES OR CHARGES AGAINST MICHAEL SATTLER
First, that he and his adherents have acted contrary to the mandate of the
Emperor.
Secondly, he has taught, held and believed that the body and blood of Christ
are not present in the sacrament.
Thirdly, he has taught and believed that infant baptism does not conduce to
salvation.
Fourthly, they have rejected the sacrament of extreme unction.
Fifthly, they have despised and condemned the mother of God and the saints.
Sixthly, he has declared that men are not to swear before the authorities.
Seventhly, he has commenced a new an unheard of custom in regard to the
Lord's Supper, placing the bread and wine on a plate, and eating and
drinking the same.
Eighthly, he has left the order, and married a wife.
Ninthly, he has said that if the Turks should invade the country, no
resistance ought to be offered them; and if it were right to wage war, he
would rather take the field against the Christians than against the Turks;
and it is certainly a great matter, to set the greatest enemies of our holy
faith against us.
Thereupon Michael Sattler requested permission to confer with his brethren
and sisters, which was granted him. Having conferred with them for a little
while, he began and undauntingly answered thus: "In regard to the articles
relating to me and my brethren and sisters, hear this brief answer:
"First, That we have acted contrary to the imperial mandate, we do not
admit; for the same says that the Lutheran doctrine and delusion is not to
be adhered to, but only the Gospel and Word of God. This we have kept; for I
am not aware that we have acted contrary to the Gospel and the Word of God;
I appeal to the words of Christ.
"Secondly, That the real body of Christ the Lord is not present in the
sacrament, we admit; for the Scripture says: Christ ascended into heaven
and, sitteth on the right hand of His heavenly Father whence He shall come
to judge the quick and the dead; from which it follows, that if He is in
heaven, and not in the bread, He may not be eaten bodily. Mark 16:19;
Acts 1:9; Col. 3:1; Acts 10:42; II Tim. 4:1.
"Thirdly, As to baptism we say: Infant baptism is of no avail to salvation;
for it is written that we live by faith alone. Again: He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved. Peter likewise says: The like figure whereunto
even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the
flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:17; Mark 16:16; I Pet. 3:21.
"Fourthly, We have not rejected the oil; for it is a creature of God, and
what God has made is good and not to be refused; but that the pope, the
bishops, monks and priests can make it better, we do not believe; for the
pope never made anything good. That of which the epistle of James speaks is not
the pope's oil. Gen. 1:11; I Tim. 4:4; James 5:14.
"Fifthly, We have not condemned the mother of God and the saints; for the
mother of Christ is to be blessed among all women; for to her was accorded
the favor of giving birth to the Saviour of the whole world. But that she is
a mediatress and advocatess, of this the Scriptures know nothing; for she
must with us await the judgment. Paul said to Timothy: Christ is our
Mediator and Advocate with God. As regards the saints; we say that we who
live and believe are the saints; which I prove by the epistles of Paul to
the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians; and in other places where he always
writes: To the beloved saints. Hence we that believe are the saints; but
those who have died in faith we regard as the blessed. Luke 1:28; Matthew 1:21;
I Tim. 2:5; I Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Rev. 14:13.
"Sixthly, We hold, that we are not to swear before the authorities: For the
Lord says: Swear not; but let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay.
Matt. 5:34; James 5:12.
"Seventhly, When God called me to testify of His Word, and I had read Paul,
and also considered the unchristian and perilous state in which I was;
beholding the pomp, pride, usury, and great whoredom of the monks and
priests, I went and took unto me a wife, according to the command of God;
for Paul well prophesies concerning this to Timothy: In the latter time it
shall come to pass that men shall forbid to marry, and command to abstain
from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving.
I Cor. 7:2; I Tim. 4:3.
"Eighthly, If the Turks should come, we ought not to resist them; for it is
written: Thou shalt not kill. We must not defend ourselves against the Turks
and others of our persecutors, but are to beseech God with earnest prayer to
repel and resist them. But that I said, that if warring were right, I would
rather take the field against the so−called Christians, who persecute,
apprehend and kill pious Christians, than against the Turks, was for this
reason: The Turk is a true Turk, knows nothing of the Christian faith; and
is a Turk after the flesh; but you, who would be Christians, and who make
your boast of Christ, persecute the pious witnesses of Christ, and are Turks
after the spirit.
"In conclusion: Ye ministers of God, I admonish you to consider the end for
which God has appointed you, to punish the evil, and to defend and protect
the pious. Whereas, then, we have not acted contrary to God and the Gospel,
you will find that neither I nor my brethren and sisters have offended in
word or deed against any authority. Therefore, ye ministers of God, if ye
have not heard or read the Word of God, send for the most learned, and for
the sacred books of the Bible, of whatsoever language they may be, and let
them confer with us in the Word of God; and if they prove to us with the
Holy Scriptures, that we err and are in the wrong, we will gladly desist and
recant and also willingly suffer the sentence and punishment for that of
which we have been accused, but if no error is proven to us, I hope to God,
that you will be converted, and receive instruction." Wisd. 6:4; Acts 25:8;
Rom. 13:4; Acts 25:11.
Upon this speech the judges laughed and put their heads together, and the
town clerk of Ensisheim said:
"O you infamous, desperate villain and monk, shall we dispute with you? The
hangman shall dispute with you, I assure you."
Michael said: "God's will be done."
The town clerk said: "It were well if you had never been born."
Michael replied: "God knows what is good."
Town Clerk: "You arch−heretic, you have seduced the pious; if they would
only now forsake their error, and accept grace."
Michael: "Grace is with God alone."
One of the prisoners also said: "We must not depart from the truth."
Town Clerk: "You desperate villain and arch−heretic, I tell you if there
were no hangman here, I would hang you myself, and think that I had done God
service."
(It is amazing to see the Bible brought to life with this person's own
words, John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time
cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.)
Michael: "God will judge aright."
Thereupon the town clerk said a few words to him in Latin, what we do not
know.
Michael Sattler answered him Judica.
The town clerk then admonished the judges and said: "He will not cease from
this talk today; therefore my Lord Judge, proceed with the sentence; I will
commit it to the law."
The judge asked Michael Sattler whether he also committed it to the law.
He replied: "Ye ministers of God, I am not sent to judge the Word of God; we
are sent to bear witness of it, and, hence, cannot consent to any law, since
we have no command from God concerning it; but if we can not be discharged
from the law, we are ready to suffer for the Word of God whatever sufferings
are, or may be imposed upon us all for the sake of the faith in Christ Jesus
our Saviour, as long as we have breath within us; unless we be dissuaded
from it by the Scriptures."
The town clerk said: "The hangman shall convince you; he shall dispute
with you, arch−heretic."
Michael: "I appeal to the Scriptures."
Then the judges arose, and went into another room, where they remained for
an hour and a half, and determined on the sentence. Matt. 6:10; John 16:2;
I Cor. 4:5; John 1:8; Job 27:3; Acts 25:11.
In the meantime, some in the room treated Michael Sattler most unmercifully,
heaping reproach upon him. One of them said: "What have you in expectation
for yourself and the others, that you have so seduced them?" With this, he
also drew forth a sword which lay upon the table, saying: "See, with this
shall they dispute with thee." But Michael did not answer upon a single word
concerning his person, but willingly endured it all. One of the prisoners
said: "We must not cast pearls before swine." Matt. 27:14; 7:6.
Being also asked, why he had not remained a lord in the convent, Michael
answered: "According to the flesh I was a lord; but it is better so." He did
not say more than what is recorded here, and this he spoke fearlessly.
The judges having returned to the room, the sentence was read. It was as
follows: "In the case of the Governor of his Imperial Majesty versus Michael
Sattler, judgment is passed, that Michael Sattler shall be delivered to the
executioner, who shall lead him to the place of execution, and cut out his
tongue; then throw him upon a wagon, and there tear his body twice with red
hot tongs; and after he has been brought without the gate, he shall be
pinched five times in the same manner."
After this had been done in the manner prescribed, he was burned to ashes as
a heretic. His fellow brethren were executed with the sword, and the sisters
drowned. His wife, also, after being subjected to many entreaties,
admonitions and threats, under which she remained very steadfast,
was drowned a few days afterwards. Done the 21st day of
May, A.D. 1527.
Praise the Lord!
London Baptist Confession 1689
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the
church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the
calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a
supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be
head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition,
that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called
God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
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