Chapter 13 . The Netherlands and Scandinavia
In The Netherlands the papal tyranny very early called forth resolute protest . Seven hundred years before Luther ' s time the Roman pontiff was thus fearlessly impeached by two bishops , who , having been sent on an embassy to Rome , had learned the true character of the " holy see ": God " has made His queen and spouse , the church , a noble and everlasting provision for her family , with a dowry that is neither fading nor corruptible , and given her an eternal crown and sceptre ; . . . all which benefits you like a thief intercept . You set up yourself in the temple of God ; instead of a pastor , 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 endeavour 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 .
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 endeavoured 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 neighbouring village the beheading of a man who was
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