To God, my Lord, the Creator, Preserver and Redeemer of my soul, be praise, honor and majesty, forever and ever. Pardon me, O my Lord and my God! that I, who am but dust and ashes, approach Thee. Gen. 18:27. I fear to come to Thee, because Thou art a consuming fire, while I am wood, hay and stubble, subject to be burned; yet I must not remain away from Thee, because I have that which is Thine, yea, which is Thy most precious treasure, even the blood and offering of the saints; I must needs come and offer it to Thee. May it be well-pleasing to Thee, my dear Savior, that I offer that which long since has been offered up to Thee. But…

The Bloody Theatre, or, Martyrs Mirror of the Defenseless Christians Who baptised only upon confession of faith, and who suffered and died for the testimony of Jesus, their Saviour, from the time of Christ to the Year A. D. 1660. Compiled from various authentic chronicles, memorials, and testimonies, by Thieleman J. Van Braght, 1660 Translated from the original Dutch or Holland language, by Joseph F. Sohm, 1886