Chapter 13

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 scepter; . . . 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 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.

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

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

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

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 only hope of salvation. Great was the

wrath of the prior, who had built high hopes upon him as a valiant defender

of Rome. He was at once removed from his own monastery to another and

confined to his cell under strict supervision.

To the terror of his new guardians several of the monks soon declared

themselves converts to Protestantism. Through the bars of his cell Tausen

had communicated to his companions a knowledge of the truth. Had those

Danish fathers been skilled in the church's plan of dealing with heresy,

Tausen's voice would never again have been heard; but instead of consigning

him to a tomb in some underground dungeon, they expelled him from the

monastery. Now they were powerless. A royal edict, just issued, offered

protection to the teachers of the new doctrine. Tausen began to preach. The

churches were opened to him, and the people thronged to listen. Others also

were preaching the word of God. The New Testament, translated into the

Danish tongue, was widely circulated. The efforts made by the papists to

overthrow the work resulted in extending it, and erelong Denmark declared

its acceptance of the reformed faith.

In Sweden, also, young men who had drunk from the well of Wittenberg carried

the water of life to their countrymen. Two of the leaders in the Swedish

Reformation, Olaf and Laurentius Petri, the sons of a blacksmith of Orebro,

studied under Luther and Melanchthon, and the truths which they thus learned

they were diligent to teach. Like the great Reformer, Olaf aroused the

people by his zeal and eloquence, while Laurentius, like Melanchthon, was

learned, thoughtful, and calm. Both were men of ardent piety, of high

theological attainments, and of unflinching courage in advancing the truth.

Papist opposition was not lacking. The Catholic priest stirred up the

ignorant and superstitious people. Olaf Petri was often assailed by the mob,

and upon several occasions barely escaped with his life. These Reformers

were, however, favored and protected by the king.

Under the rule of the Roman Church the people were sunken in poverty and

ground down by oppression. They were destitute of the Scriptures; and having

a religion of mere signs and ceremonies, which conveyed no light to the

mind, they were returning to the superstitious beliefs and pagan practices

of their heathen ancestors. The nation was divided into contending factions,

whose perpetual strife increased the misery of all. The king determined upon

a reformation in the state and the church, and he welcomed these able

assistants in the battle against Rome.

In the presence of the monarch and the leading men of Sweden, Olaf Petri

with great ability defended the doctrines of the reformed faith against the

Romish champions. He declared that the teachings of the Fathers are to be

received only when in accordance with the Scriptures; that the essential

doctrines of the faith are presented in the Bible in a clear and simple

manner, so that all men may understand them. Christ said, "My doctrine is

not Mine, but His that sent Me" (John 7:16); and Paul declared that should

he preach any other gospel than that which he had received, he would be

accursed (Galatians 1:8). "How, then," said the Reformer, "shall others

presume to enact dogmas at their pleasure, and impose them as things

necessary to salvation?"--Wylie, b. 10, ch. 4. He showed that the decrees of

the church are of no authority when in opposition to the commands of God,

and maintained the great Protestant principle that "the Bible and the Bible

only" is the rule of faith and practice.

This contest, though conducted upon a stage comparatively obscure, serves to

show us "the sort of men that formed the rank and file of the army of the

Reformers. They were not illiterate, sectarian, noisy controversialists--far

from it; they were men who had studied the word of God, and knew well how to

wield the weapons with which the armory of the Bible supplied them. In

respect of erudition they were ahead of their age. When we confine our

attention to such brilliant centers as Wittenberg and Zurich, and to such

illustrious

names as those of Luther and Melanchthon, of Zwingli and Oecolampadius, we

are apt to be told, these were the leaders of the movement, and we should

naturally expect in them prodigious power and vast acquisitions; but the

subordinates were not like these. Well, we turn to the obscure theater of

Sweden, and the humble names of Olaf and Laurentius Petri --from the masters

to the disciples--what do we find? . . . Scholars and theologians; men who

have thoroughly mastered the whole system of gospel truth, and who win an

easy victory over the sophists of the schools and the dignitaries of

Rome."--Ibid., b. 10, ch.4.

As the result of this disputation the king of Sweden accepted the Protestant

faith, and not long afterward the national assembly declared in its favor.

The New Testament had been translated by Olaf Petri into the Swedish

language, and at the desire of the king the two brothers undertook the

translation of the whole Bible. Thus for the first time the people of Sweden

received the word of God in their native tongue. It was ordered by the Diet

that throughout the kingdom, ministers should explain the Scriptures and

that the children in the schools should be taught to read the Bible.

Steadily and surely the darkness of ignorance and superstition was dispelled

by the blessed light of the gospel. Freed from Romish oppression, the nation

attained to a strength and greatness it had never before reached. Sweden

became one of the bulwarks of Protestantism. A century later, at a time of

sorest peril, this small and hitherto feeble nation--the only one in Europe

that dared lend a helping hand--came to the deliverance of Germany in the

terrible struggle of the Thirty Years' War. All Northern Europe seemed about

to be brought again under the tyranny of Rome. It was the armies of Sweden

that enabled Germany to turn the tide of popish success, to win toleration

for the Protestants,--Calvinists as well as Lutherans,--and to restore

liberty of conscience to those countries that had accepted the Reformation.

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