you that which is too grievous. I well know, my chosen lamb, that you
are in great sorrow on my account; but lay aside all sorrow, and look
to Jesus the Captain and Finisher of our faith, and let us henceforth
walk in all righteousness and holiness, as children of peace, and let
us make good use of the time of grace, and consider what great mercy
the Lord has shown us. O my dear wife, remember how faithful a God we
serve; he will not let us be confounded. Remember how faithfully he
led the children of Israel with an outstretched arm, from Pharaoh’s
house of bondage, and out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and remember
how they had to prepare themselves, before they could go out, and how
they did eat the paschal lamb with unleavened bread. They had to eat
the paschal lamb standing, and the unleavened bread which they had,
they bound up in their clothes, and began to go out to the wilderness.
And the angel of the Lord went before them, by day in a pillar of
cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire, and thus he gave them light.
But when they were closely pressed by Pharaoh and his host, the people
began to murmur against Moses; for they had not firm confidence in the
Lord, that he would lead them out. But the Lord told Moses, what he
would do, and how he would show his power on Pharaoh and his host; and
he commanded Moses, to take the rod and smite the sea; and when Moses
smote the sea, it dried up, and the waters were divided, and stood
like walls to the right and to the left, so that they went through the
sea on dry ground. Pharaoh followed with his host, and was drowned,
with all his lords and people; but Israel passed through unharmed, and
praised and thanked God, that he had delivered them from Pharaoh’s
house of bondage. But they were not yet in the promised land; they
came into the dreadful wilderness, where there was no bread. The bread
which they had brought from Egypt, was but a small quantity; it was the
unleavened dough which they had bound up in their clothes, when they
left Egypt. Then they were troubled, because they had nothing to eat;
but the Lord fed them with bread from heaven.
So also, my most beloved wife, we have not gained all, when we have
confessed the truth, separated ourselves from the world, and renounced
all lusts and desires; but we must also fight against the enemies,
that is, we must here contend against emperors and potentates, and the
princes of this world. We must suffer in this world; for Paul has said
that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
1 Tim. 3:12. We must overcome the world, sin, death and the devil,
not with external swords or spears, but with the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God, and with the shield of faith, wherewith we
shall be able to ward off all sharp and fiery darts of satan, and
with the helmet of salvation on our head, and with the breastplate of
righteousness, and our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel.
If we are thus strengthened with these weapons, we shall get through
the wilderness with Israel, and overcome and withstand all our enemies:
they shall be confounded, who fight against the truth. 2 Tim. 3:8. Now,
when the children of Israel were out of the wilderness--the dreadful
and horrible wilderness, where the serpents spewed fire,--after they
had been wandering forty years through it, had passed through so many
dangers, and taken so many cities and countries on this side of Jordan;
they nevertheless were not yet in possession of the promised land, for
they had not yet crossed the Jordan; however, the Lord showed Moses the
promised land from afar. O my dear wife, I have also seen the promised
land from afar; I hope soon to come into the beautiful city of which
John writes; which is greatly adorned; her foundations are twelve
precious stones, and her walls and streets are of pure and clear gold;
and the city has twelve gates, each gate of one pearl; and there is
no night there, for the Lord her God lightens her, Rev. 21. And the
Lord told Moses, that he should not lead the people into the promised
land; but Joshua brought them into it, and the Lord led them over
Jordan dry-shod, and commanded them to keep his commandments and laws,
and he should drive out their enemies from before them. But when they
transgressed his commandments and laws, the Lord delivered them into
the hands of their enemies, so that they were defeated by them. After
they had passed over Jordan, they still did not have the promised land,
which flowed with milk and honey; but they had to take it by sheer
force, destroy all their enemies, and burn the cities with fire. So
must also we take the promised land by force; for Christ says that the
kingdom of heaven suffers violence. Not until now have I known what it
is to contend; no one knows it better than he who has tried it, such is
the subtlety with which they come to seduce us.
Know, that I received your letter through my mother. I read it with
tears. I thank you, that you so affectionately comfort me thereby, and
I rejoiced when I heard that you are so well contented.
Let me inform you, my chosen and beloved wife Lijsken, that I have
been before the margrave. He had with him two Dominicans, two judges,
and the clerk of the criminal court. He asked me whether I had changed
my mind yet, and added that he had prevailed upon these two good men
or lords, to try and win my soul, if I would repent. I replied that I
would not forsake my faith, since it was the truth. They then asked
me what my faith was, I said to the monks: “Ask the Margrave, I have
confessed my faith to him; ask him.” They tormented me much, but I
would not tell them anything. They asked whence I knew that it was
the truth--whether God had spoken orally with me. When they could get
nothing else out of me, my confession was read, namely, that I had no
regard for the sacrament. I said: “No, it is nothing more than a god of
bread.” The priests were angry, because I thus despised their god. They
all wished to talk with me. I said: “I will not hear you, nor talk with
you; but let my brother come here to me, and I will talk with you, and
confess our faith.”
They then asked me whether I was not strong enough in my faith, since I
appealed to my brother.
I replied: “Yea, my faith is strong enough; but that you may not
pervert our words.”
They then said: “We shall not pervert your words.”
I said: “I know you and your roguery well.”
The Margrave said: “It shall be granted to you.”
I understood him to say, that he should bring a Bible with him.
The priests said that when the children are baptized, they then have
faith.
I laughed at it, and said: “Why then do you not go into Turkey, and
baptize the Turks; if thereby men become believers, as you say, they
would all become believers.”
They replied: “Though the Turks should be baptized, they would still
remain Turks.”
They importuned me greatly, to apostatize, and become a child of the
Roman church. And the Margrave and the judges felt such unrighteous
compassion for me, that they said: “If your life should be spared, and
you should repent and become a good child of the Roman church, I should
have good hopes of you; for you have been brought to this in your youth
and innocency. I well know by whom (he meant Jelis of Aix-la-Chapelle);
and because you descended from such good parents, and your mother is
almost dead with grief.”
I replied: “Though the door should stand open, and you should say: Go,
only say: I am sorry; I should not go; for I well know that I hold the
truth.”
The Margrave then said: “I shall cause you to be burnt alive, if you
will not hear.” I laughed again, and said: “All that you inflict upon
me for my faith, I will willingly suffer.” He said: “His wife is the
greatest heretic in the city.”
I cannot thank the Lord enough for all the great strength and power
which he gives me in this distress. I perceive now, that the Lord
is with us; for he helps us so faithfully out of all distress (Psalm
91:15); he is such a faithful Captain, he gives his servants such
courage and strengthens them, that they are not afraid (Job 5:22); they
neither fear nor tremble, because of the great love which they have to
their heavenly Father: for Paul says: “Who shall separate us from the
love of God? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are
killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to
come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Rom. 8:35–39.
Therefore, my most beloved wife Lijsken, redeem the time; be patient
in tribulation, continue instant in prayer, and look constantly to the
beautiful promises that are promised us everywhere, if we persevere
unto the end. And let us guard well the treasure; for we have this
treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7), and cannot conceal it; it
breaks out everywhere; it is far too precious to be hid. We rejoice
greatly in this treasure, which treasure is our faith, hope, and love;
and these will not leave us destitute, even though they put us singly
into dark dungeons, separated from one another. The treasure is of such
a nature that it will not be hid; one calls to the other, and so pours
out his treasure, that it may be seen. We are so cheerful, eternal
praise and thanks be to the Lord! we call, we sing with each other,
we have such joy in comforting and strengthening each other; the Lord
gives us such strength and power, that we cannot thank him sufficiently
for the great grace which he shows us. Mal. 3:16. “For which cause
we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man
is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen.” 2 Cor. 4:16–18.
Hence, my dear wife, cease not to serve the Lord thy God with the whole
heart, and to follow his footsteps; “For we know that, if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is
from heaven ... not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon
... for whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the
Lord.” Mark 12:30; 1 Pet. 2:21; 2 Cor. 5:1,2,4,6.
Therefore, my dear wife, give diligence that you pass the time of your
sojourning here in fear and trembling (1 Pet. 1:17); not with such fear
and trembling as that we should fear the world, and tremble before it,
because they rage so against us; but we are to fear and tremble before
the Lord, so that we shall keep his commandments and statutes, and
thus pass the time of our sojourning here in the fear of the Lord,
and receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls;
then shall we rejoice forever with the Lord, and go to meet him in the
resurrection of the dead. Is. 51:11; Philip. 3:11. Therefore do not
fear the world; for the very hairs of your head are all numbered; they
have no power, except it be given them from above. Matt. 10:30; John
19:11. And Christ says: Be not afraid of them that kill the body; but
fear him, who after he has killed the body has power to cast the soul
into hell; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, and their
worm shall not die, and they shall have no rest day nor night. Luke
13:28; Is. 66:24; Rev. 14:11. May the Almighty, eternal and strong God
so strengthen and comfort you with his blessed word, that you will
remain faithful unto the end, and you shall also come under the altar
to all the dear children of God, where all tears shall be wiped from
our eyes. Rev. 2:10; 6:9; 21:4. There all tribulation will have an
end, and there shall our vile body be glorified, and be like unto the
image of his glory. Philip. 3:21. Then shall our weeping be turned into
laughter, and our sorrow into joy (John 16:20); then shall we, who for
a little while have been despised and rejected, yea, persecuted and
dispersed, and put to death with great ignominy, pain and reproach,
for the testimony of Jesus Christ, triumph forever, and live eternally
with the Lord. We shall be clothed with white robes, as John testifies
in his Revelation concerning the souls of them that were slain for
the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they lay
under the altar, and they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O
Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of
them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little
season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that
should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev. 7:9; 20:4;
6:9–11.
O what a glorious people shall we be, when we shall be with that great
multitude of which Esdras writes, and John in his Revelation, says:
“I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of
all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the
throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our
God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. These are they
which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before
the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he
that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger
no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them,
nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall
feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:9,10, 14–17. Esdras
also declares of the same multitude: “that they stood upon mount Sion,
and were clothed in white, and that in the midst of them stood one
taller than all the rest, who gave palms into the hands of every one,
and set crowns upon every one of their heads.” 2 Esdras 2:42,43,46.
And John says: “I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and
them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image,
and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of
glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses, the
servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.” Rev. 15:2,3. Behold, my dear
wife, what glorious promises we everywhere find, which God will give
to all his dear and true children who here faithfully adhere to him,
who have ended their lives to the praise of the Lord, and washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 1 Cor. 2:9.
O my dearly beloved wife, I cannot thank the Lord enough for all his
great goodness shown to me; he gives me such strength and power that
I cannot express it. O, now I experience that the Lord is a faithful
helper in time of need; he does not forsake those that trust in him,
for he that trusts in the Lord shall not be confounded. Isaiah 45:17;
Rom. 9:33. He will keep us as the apple of his eye; he will deliver us
from all the power of the devil, and the tyranny of this world; yea, he
will keep us, that we shall not go into hell, if we remain faithful to
him unto the end; for Christ says: “He that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:13.
O my dearly beloved wife, continue faithful to the Lord unto death; for
the crown is not at the beginning, nor in the middle, but at the end.
If you continue faithful to the Lord, he will not forsake you; he will
give you the crown of eternal life, and lead you into his kingdom. Jas.
1:12. He will crown you with glory and honor; and will wipe away all
tears from your eyes.
Dear Lijsken, if he will wipe away all tears, tears must here first be
shed. Matt. 5:4. He will heal us from our sufferings; hence we must
first suffer in this world. Yea, we must fight and contend against
ferocious lions, dragons, and bears (Ps. 91:13), yea, against the
wicked and perverse generations of vipers (Matt. 3:7) and serpent
rulers, and against the subtle serpents of this world, and the wicked
seed of Cain; for Paul says that we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers of darkness, and the principalities and
powers of this world, yea, against the spirits that work in the air,
which is the old serpent and Satan (Rev. 20:2), who, as Peter says,
walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Pet. 5:8.
Therefore defend yourself diligently, with prayer and supplication to
the Lord, and hold fast to the doctrine of Jesus Christ our Savior,
that you may receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your
soul. Fight with Paul the good fight. Herewith I commend you, my dearly
beloved wife and sister, to the Almighty, eternal and strong God, and
to the word of his rich grace, that you may be able to stand against
all the gates of hell. Amen.
A LETTER FROM JEROME SEGERS TO THE BRETHREN AND SISTERS.
The eternal joy, peace and grace of God the Father; and the
unfathomable mercy, favor, and love of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has been sent through grace, by God the Father, to the salvation of
all those that are born again with him, through his imperishable word
or gospel, and do his will; and the deep and unspeakable consolation,
power, strength, and communion of the Holy Ghost, who is sent by both
from heaven, to the everlasting consolation, joy, and gladness of all
true, penitent and obedient children of God, who have amended their
life, and thus have risen with Christ, through his gospel, into newness
of life. May this only God strengthen you all in his eternal truth,
and uphold you with the mighty word of his grace in all righteousness,
holiness and truth unto the end, and keep your understanding, and your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. To him be praise, honor, glory,
might, power, and strength forever and ever. Amen.
My dearly beloved and chosen brethren and sisters, and all lovers of
the unfeigned and eternal truth, I wish you the true, penitent faith,
which works by love, and avails before God, and a pure, chaste and
holy conversation and walk in the fear of God, and an ardent love to
God our heavenly Father, and your neighbor, and to his eternal, clear
and unchangeable truth. And I pray the Lord for you day and night
without ceasing, that he will open the eyes of your understanding,
and enlighten your hearts with knowledge, that you may know that it
is the truth, and that he will strengthen you with his divine word,
and confirm you in the faith, that you may walk in this truth, in all
humility and meekness, being a light to all men, and may continue
steadfast unto the end. I also pray the Lord, that he will keep you
from all ravening wolves, that have gone out from us, and will yet
rise up among you, who will not spare the flock, and from all false,
heretical and satanic teachers, who rise up under the name of Christ,
and come forth in a semblance of holiness, as though they were sent by
Christ, while they have proceeded from and are sent by the devil. Acts
20:29; 2 Cor. 11:15.
Therefore, my dear brethren, be vigilant, watch and pray; for it is
very necessary; and remember after my departure, that I warned you
from prison against false prophets. Thus, with the help of God, I have
briefly written to you, and with Peter exhorted you, well knowing
that shortly I must put off my mortal clothing and sleep with my
brethren and sisters in Christ. Though you are yourselves taught and
strengthened in this present truth, I nevertheless deem it profitable
to admonish you yet a little more, if haply thereby some one may be
bettered, edified and strengthened, the name of the Lord be praised and
thanked, and I be remembered, how I have been an example unto you in
that which the Lord gave me, and have walked among you in all humility.
Tit. 2:7.
Hence I admonish you now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters in
the Lord, and beseech you with Paul, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this evil,
wicked and perverse world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect will of God. Rom. 12:1,2; Eph. 5:17.
O my dear brethren, I earnestly beseech you, that you will all amend
your lives, and forsake the world and its lusts, and will look to the
life of Christ, how he walked before us; for John says: “He that would
boast of Christ ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1
John 2:6.
Behold, my dear friends, it is not enough that we are baptized in the
name of Christ, that we are called brethren or sisters of Christ, and
bear the name of Christians. O no, all this cannot save; for John says:
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness
is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil. In this the
children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.” John
3:7,8,10. And Christ says: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I
command you.” John 15:14. Again: “If a man love me, he will keep my
words and commandments; and he that hath my commandments and keepeth
them, he it is that loveth me.” John 14:23,21. For John says: “He that
saith he loveth God, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4. And you know that a liar has no
part in the kingdom of God. Rev. 21:8. Therefore, be not Christians
with the mouth, nor with the tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John
3:18. For it is utterly in vain to bear the name of Christ, so long
as we are not conformed to him in word, work and thought; for Paul
says: “Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many
brethren.” Rom. 8:29. If he then has called and predestinated you, use
diligence that you become conformed to him, so that you may be found
true Christians in deed when you come into the tribulation in which we
now are; for though we are in it now, to-morrow you may also be in it.
Therefore watch and pray; for you know neither the day nor the hour;
and be diligent to please the Lord; for we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in
his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 1
Thess. 4:1; 2 Cor. 5:10.
Now, as the Lord is to be feared, I counsel and humbly beseech you, to
conform your life to the gospel. For, to bear the name of a Christian,
and to be called a brother, avails nothing; but the fulfilling of the
commandments of God alone; for I have seen many among us who boast of
being Christians, who love Christ with the tongue, but with the deed
forsake him (Tit. 1:16), which is greatly to be deplored; for they are
like counterfeit money, which from the outside seems to be good gold;
but, when brought to the touch-stone, or to the fire, it is nothing
but copper within. Thus they walk among the pious, as though they were
true Christians; but when the Lord begins to try them in tribulation,
it is seen that all is built upon the sand, and that they love their
belly more than Christ, as appears now in the case of those that are in
bonds with us; for so long they allowed themselves to be called pious
brethren, but now they talk differently. Matt. 13:21; 7:26; Rom. 16:18.
Therefore, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, all who
desire to offer up an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord, take us for
an example (Jas. 5:10) and be followers of us, and be no longer so
slothful or lukewarm in love; so that, when you are also imprisoned,
you will not sorrow because you did not lead a better life; for with
this the devil tempts us night and day. Hence I warn you, out of
brotherly love, to take heed to yourselves while you have time; for
Paul says: “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,
looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works.” Tit. 2:11–14; Eph. 5:2.