Even Unto Death

The 1561 Belgic Confession speaks of the duty of all Christians to join the true church despite whatever obstacles may providentially stand in the way, even the violent opposition of wicked magistrates, including capital punishment.

Belgic Confession, Chap. 28:

EVERY ONE IS BOUND TO JOIN HIMSELF TO THE TRUE CHURCH

We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and out of it there is no salvation,1 that no person, of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself to live in a separate state from it;2 but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it, maintaining the unity of the church;3 submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ;4 and as mutual members of the same body,5 serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them.

And that this may be the more effectually observed, it is the duty of all believers, according to the Word of God, to separate themselves from all those who do not belong to the church,6 and to join themselves to this congregation wheresoever God hath established it,7 even though the magistrates and edicts of princes be against it, yea, though they should suffer death or any other corporal punishment.8 Therefore all those who separate themselves from the same, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God.

8 Dan. 3:17, 18—If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan. 6:8-10—Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Rev. 14:14—And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. Acts 4:17—But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. Acts 4:19—But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Acts 17:7—Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. Acts 18:13—Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.

Guido de Brès, the author of this confession of, sealed these words with his own blood on May 31, 1567, when he died a martyr's death at a prison in Valenciennes, France. The story of his life and death is a remarkable one, even in an age when many held fast to the faith even unto death itself. Wes Bredenhof, among others, has done a great service through his research and translation work concerning de Brès, and rather than give a biographical sketch of our hero of the faith here, I encourage the reader to tolle lege, take up and read, concerning his life and death, most particularly, a first-hand account of the martyr's death, and de Brès' final letter to his wife, which is comparable to those letters from Christopher Love to his wife (and hers to him) as he likewise awaited death.

The Apostle Paul teaches that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3.12). It is worth considering if this text speaks truly of us. Yet, not all are called to lay down their lives for the gospel, at least not as martyrs, though no Christian should shrink from the privilege of walking the same path which our Master walked at such a cost if it is given to us to lay down our lives for his sake. We do not choose the age in which we live "but," as Gandalf told Frodo once, "that is not for [us] to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."

As we remember Guido de Brès on the anniversary of his death-day, his entrance into the heavenly reward of the faithful, we do well to consider what William Gouge reminds us, that even in an age of peace and calm for the Church of Christ -- and while it is so in many respects today in the United States, there are places even now where there is great persecution against the saints, and our brethren who suffer for righteousness sake stand in need of our prayers -- it is our duty, and our blessed privilege, to be martyr-minded:

O that all who profess the Faith of Christ were like minded! It well becomes us all to be so minded. And if indeed we be so minded, God who knows the mind, heart, and spirit of a man will answerably account of him, and accept him, though he never be brought to the fiery trial, as if he had been brought to it, and endured it to the very uttermost: The virtues and graces of the mind sometimes are manifested in their deed or work: and sometimes lie hid in their habit, as the virtue of Martyrdom. Many may have the same prowess that Martyrs have, who are not brought to the same proof thereof....As it is therefore needful and useful in the prime and strength of our age, when we have best health to meditate on the sundry kinds of diseases, and manifold casualties whereunto we are subject, and on death, the end of all: so in the most flourishing times of the Church, meditation on the uttermost that may be endured even to the shedding of blood for fast-holding our profession of Christ, is a most meet meditation.