Burger, Martin (17th century)
Martin Burger, a Swiss Mennonite, born "auf der Burg," in 1643 joined the
Mennonite congregation in Rynach, canton of Bern. He
was seized on 2 March 1646 and cross-examined on 6 January 1648, in which he
made detailed statements about his confession of faith. He says that he left
the state church because its doctrine and life did not agree; therefore he
united with the Anabaptists because he heard that
they were a peaceful and upright people; he had also found that they gave alms,
loved one another, did not swear, and were not unchaste. Therefore he wanted
to stay with them. Concerning infant baptism he says he does not believe that
it harms the children, but whether it is beneficial he will leave to God. The
Bible says, "He who believes and is baptized"; faith must precede baptism.
But a child knowing nothing about faith can neither consent nor refuse. The
government is instituted by God to punish the evil and protect the good, and
a Christian can be a member of the government if he conducts himself according
to God’s will. Of warfare he replies that Christ has proclaimed peace and commanded
prayer for the enemy.
Concerning the oath he states that it is said at a certain place that the oath
settles a thing. But he remains with yea, yea and nay, nay. Again on 13 January
1648 he and Hans Stentz were asked whether they will change their minds. Then
Martin Burger declared that he would stick to that which God has given him
to understand, let it cost what it would. Thereupon both were placed in the
penitentiary at Zürich, but soon escaped. Nothing more
is known of Martin Burger.
Bibliography
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: I, 302.
Müller, Ernst. Geschichte der Bernischen Täufer. Frauenfeld: Huber, 1895. Reprinted Nieuwkoop : B. de Graaf, 1972: 107-115.
Additional Information
©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
To cite this page:
MLA style: Neff, Christian. "Burger, Martin (17th century)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 03 December 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B8480.html>
APA style: Neff, Christian. (1953). "Burger, Martin (17th century)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 03 December 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B8480.html>
