In 1660, Dutch Mennonite Thieleman J. van Braght published this immense and beautifully crafted collection of the stories and testimonies of Christian martyrs from the preceding seventeen centuries, focusing mostly on Anabaptists, or Christians who practiced nonresistance. The stories can at times be dreadful, but the letters written to family members, the professions of faith in the midst of certain death, and the staunch preparedness for persecution have served as an inspiration for thousands of Christians over the centuries. The book documents the stories of some 4,011 martyrs, who chose to die for their faith with the promise of resurrection before them – something many of us cannot even imagine. This is a book that inspires us to keep the faith and believe steadfastly in the call Christ makes upon us: to take up our crosses, and follow Him.Laura de JongCCEL Staff Writer