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by C.J. Hermann Fick
(tr. by BackToLuther)
XX.
"O God! we praise you."
(Heinrich at his desecration.)
What the Holy Scriptures have prophesied: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry;" 1 Tim. 4:l-3: so this is obviously fulfilled in the papacy. As is well known, the Pope prohibits his so-called clergymen, that is his priests, monks and nuns the marital estate, and thus also herein demonstrates clearly that he adheres to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. But what has happened for unspeakable, so dreadful atrocities as a result of this papal ban on marriage or celibacy, there countless, irrefutable facts testify to the story. Rightly therefore the Holy Scriptures also call the Roman Church "the great whore," "the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth," "which did corrupt the earth with her fornication," Rev. 17:1,5; 19:2.
Against these diabolical atrocities of the papal marriage ban our dear martyrs with God's Word have witnessed now steadfast unto death. So also with Master Heinrich, of which we unfortunately know only his Christian name. He was [page 143] born in Flanders and initially belonged to the Order of Augustinian monks, many of which came through the writings of Dr. Martin Luther to the knowledge of the true religion. Among them, the dear Heinrich was not the least to preach and defend the truth of the Holy Gospel in Flanders. However when he was pursued over this, he fled to Contrach (now Kortryk, Belgium) and took off all his monk clothes. But he could not be there in secret for long. He was seized and led to Doornick [or Tournai, Belgium], the episcopal capital in Flanders, where he was forced to lie seven months trapped in a deep stinking hole with a large weight.
The pious Master Heinrich had entered into holy matrimony out of love for chastity. Moreover, the Papists were especially incensed. The Official, Master Balthasar Strang, had the outrageous anti-Christian impudence to make him the offer that if he would confess that his married wife was his whore, so could he save his life. But the dear martyr resolutely refused to accept this unfair and shameful condition, but remained steadfast in the confession of his faith, which he had at first initially given before the Official and his assessors. So he could be sure of nothing otherwise than to expect execution. First, the consecration was taken from him after the popish habit. Master Heinrich rejoiced over it sincerely and began to sing: "O God, we praise you." [? hymn?] Then he was condemned to be burned alive. This painful death he endured with great steadfastness in March 1528 and thus sealed with his blood the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, that marriage was a sacred, divine order, in which everyone, whether he is a listener or preacher, could enter with a clear conscience.
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= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =In the next Part 21 – the Magdeburg school children, and a story of our sad modern state of Christianity.
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