Christians must love even their enemies, and if they can prevent harm and hurt to them they should.

On this day 16th May 1569 there perished in the flames of martyrdom a Dutch man called Dirk Willems. His story is particularly touching, because he forfeited a real chance to escape when he turned back to help one of his pursuers.

Dirk had been imprisoned in his home town of Asperen. Knowing that death awaited him if he remained in prison, Dirk made a rope of strips of cloth and was able to escape. A guard chased him. Dirk risked a dash across a near by frozen pond. He made it to safety, but the ice broke under his pursuer who cried for help. Dirk believed the Scripture that a man should help his enemies. He immediately turned back and rescued the drowning man.

His pursuer in appreciation would have let Dirk escape, but a town magistrate witnessed the event and commanded the guard to seize Dirk. Returned to prison, he shortly thereafter was condemned to die. On the day appointed he was chained to tthe pile and the torch was applied. The wind blew the flame away from him so that his death was long and miserable.