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you are become a wolf to the sheep； 。 。 。 you would make us believe you are
a supreme bishop； but you rather behave like a tyrant。 。 。 。 Whereas you
ought to be a servant of servants； as you call yourself； you endeavor to
become a lord of lords。 。 。 。 You bring the commands of God into contempt。 。
。 。 The Holy Ghost is the builder of all churches as far as the earth
extends。 。 。 。 The city of our God； of which we are the citizens； reaches to
all the regions of the heavens； and it is greater than the city； by the holy
prophets named Babylon； which pretends to be divine； wins herself to heaven；
and brags that her wisdom is immortal； and finally； though without reason；
that she never did err； nor ever can。〃Gerard Brandt； History of the
Reformation in and About the Low Countries； b。 1； p。 6。
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Others arose from century to century to echo this protest。 And those early
teachers who； traversing different lands and known by various names； bore
the character of the Vaudois missionaries； and spread everywhere the
knowledge of the gospel； penetrated to the Netherlands。 Their doctrines
spread rapidly。 The Waldensian Bible they translated in verse into the Dutch
language。 They declared 〃that there was great advantage in it； no jests； no
fables； no trifles； no deceits； but the words of truth； that indeed there
was here and there a hard crust； but that the marrow and sweetness of what
was good and holy might be easily discovered in it。〃Ibid。； b。 1； p。 14。
Thus wrote the friends of the ancient faith； in the twelfth century。
Now began the Romish persecutions； but in the midst of fagots and torture
the believers continued to multiply； steadfastly declaring that the Bible is
the only infallible authority in religion； and that 〃no man should be
coerced to believe； but should be won by preaching。〃Martyn； vol。 2； p。 87。
The teachings of Luther found a congenial soil in the Netherlands； and
earnest and faithful men arose to preach the gospel。 From one of the
provinces of Holland came Menno Simons。 Educated a Roman Catholic and
ordained to the priesthood； he was wholly ignorant of the Bible； and he
would not read it for fear of being beguiled into heresy。 When a doubt
concerning the doctrine of transubstantiation forced itself upon him； he
regarded it as a temptation from Satan； and by prayer and confession sought
to free himself from it； but in vain。 By mingling in scenes of dissipation
he endeavored to silence the accusing voice of conscience； but without
avail。 After a time he was led to the study of the New Testament； and this；
with Luther's writings； caused him to accept the reformed faith。 He soon
after witnessed in a neighboring village the beheading of a man who was put
to death for having been rebaptized。 This led him to study the Bible in
regard to infant baptism。 He could find no evidence for it in the
Scriptures； but saw that repentance and faith are
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everywhere required as the condition of receiving baptism。
Menno withdrew from the Roman Church and devoted his life to teaching the
truths which he had received。 In both Germany and the Netherlands a class of
fanatics had risen； advocating absurd and seditious doctrines； outraging
order and decency； and proceeding to violence and insurrection。 Menno saw
the horrible results to which these movements would inevitably lead； and he
strenuously opposed the erroneous teachings and wild schemes of the
fanatics。 There were many； however； who had been misled by these fanatics；
but who had renounced their pernicious doctrines； and there were still
remaining many descendants of the ancient Christians； the fruits of the
Waldensian teaching。 Among these classes Menno labored with great zeal and
success。
For twenty…five years he traveled； with his wife and children； enduring
great hardships and privations； and frequently in peril of his life。 He
traversed the Netherlands and northern Germany； laboring chiefly among the
humbler classes but exerting a widespread influence。 Naturally eloquent；
though possessing a limited education； he was a man of unwavering integrity；
of humble spirit and gentle manners； and of sincere and earnest piety；
exemplifying in his own life the precepts which he taught； and he commanded
the confidence of the people。 His followers were scattered and oppressed。
They suffered greatly from being confounded with the fanatical Munsterites。
Yet great numbers were converted under his labors。
Nowhere were the reformed doctrines more generally received than in the
Netherlands。 In few countries did their adherents endure more terrible
persecution。 In Germany Charles V had banned the Reformation； and he would
gladly have brought all its adherents to the stake； but the princes stood up
as a barrier against his tyranny。 In the Netherlands his power was greater；
and persecuting edicts followed each other in quick succession。 To read the
Bible； to hear or preach
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it； or even to speak concerning it； was to incur the penalty of death by the
stake。 To pray to God in secret； to refrain from bowing to an image； or to
sing a psalm； was also punishable with death。 Even those who should abjure
their errors were condemned； if men； to die by the sword； if women； to be
buried alive。 Thousands perished under the reign of Charles and of Philip
II。
At one time a whole family was brought before the inquisitors； charged with
remaining away from mass and worshiping at home。 On his examination as to
their practices in secret the youngest son answered： 〃We fall on our knees；
and pray that God may enlighten our minds and pardon our sins； we pray for
our sovereign； that his reign may be prosperous and his life happy； we pray
for our magistrates； that God may preserve them。〃Wylie； b。 18； ch。 6。 Some
of the judges were deeply moved； yet the father and one of his sons were
condemned to the stake。
The rage of the persecutors was equaled by the faith of the martyrs。 Not
only men but delicate women and young maidens displayed unflinching courage。
〃Wives would take their stand by their husband's stake； and while he was
enduring the fire they would whisper words of solace； or sing psalms to
cheer him。〃 〃Young maidens would lie down in their living grave as if they
were entering into their chamber of nightly sleep； or go forth to the
scaffold and the fire； dressed in their best apparel； as if they were going
to their marriage。〃Ibid。； b。 18； ch。 6。
As in the days when paganism sought to destroy the gospel； the blood of the
Christians was seed。 （See Tertullian； Apology； paragraph 50。） Persecution
served to increase the number of witnesses for the truth。 Year after year
the monarch； stung to madness by the unconquerable determination of the
people； urged on his cruel work； but in vain。 Under the noble William of
Orange the Revolution at last brought to Holland freedom to worship God。
In the mountains of Piedmont； on the plains of France and the shores of
Holland； the progress of the gospel was
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marked with the blood of its disciples。 But in the countries of the North it
found a peaceful entrance。 Students at Wittenberg； returning to their homes；
carried the reformed faith to Scandinavia。 The publication of Luther's
writings also spread the light。 The simple； hardy people of the North turned
from the corruption； the pomp； and the superstitions of Rome； to welcome the
purity； the simplicity； and the life…giving truths of the Bible。
Tausen； 〃the Reformer of Denmark；〃 was a peasant's son。 The boy early gave
evidence of vigorous intellect； he thirsted for an education； but this was
denied him by the circumstances of his parents； and he entered a cloister。
Here the purity of his life； together with his diligence and fidelity； won
the favor of his superior。 Examination showed him to possess talent that
promised at some future day good service to the church。 It was determined to
give him an education at some one of the universities of Germany or the
Netherlands。 The young student was granted permission to choose a school for
himself； with one proviso； that he must not go to Wittenberg。 The scholar of
the church was not to be endangered by the poison of heresy。 So said the
friars。
Tausen went to Cologne； which was then； as now； one of the strongholds of
Romanism。 Here he soon became disgusted with the mysticisms of the
schoolmen。 About the same time he obtained Luther's writings。 He read them
with wonder and delight； and greatly desired to enjoy the personal
instruction of the Reformer。 But to do so he must risk giving offense to his
monastic superior and forfeiting his support。 His decision was soon made；
and erelong he was enrolled as a student at Wittenberg。
On returning to Denmark； he again repaired to his cloister。 No one as yet
suspected him of Lutheranism； he did not reveal his secret； but endeavored；
without exciting the prejudices of his companions； to lead them to a purer
faith and a holier life。 He opened the Bible； and explained its true
meaning； and at last preached Christ to them as the sinner's righteousness
and his