patient in your tribulation and sufferings; for Paul says that all
things work together for good to them that love God; hence I trust
to the Lord, that it will conduce to your good. Therefore receive
willingly from the hand of the Lord the sufferings and afflictions he
sends you, for he will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are
able to bear. Thus, bear patiently Christ’s sufferings; for all that
are without chastisements are bastards, and not children. Heb. 12:8.
James says: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he
is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which God hath promised
to them that love him.” James 1:12.
Thus, my dear wife, follow Christ, and take up your cross with patience
and joy, and follow him all the days of your life, for he had to suffer
so much for our sakes, to save us. Therefore let us suffer for his
sake; since it is our hour, let us joyfully contend for the crown of
life, which is prepared us and them that fear and love the Lord. Hence
let us be satisfied in him, and take our cross upon us with joyfulness
and patience, and wait with firm confidence for the promises which he
has made us, and that we may be crowned upon Mount Sion, and adorned
with palms, and may follow the Lamb. 2 Esdras 2:42; Rev. 14:4.
Thus, strengthen yourself, and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ in the eternal life. Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and
majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24,25.
See, my dear wife and sister in the Lord, since I can no longer serve
you with my presence, I have written you a little to comfort you; and
this for a memorial or testament, that thereby you may remember me,
how I walked before you. I hope to seal this letter with my blood,
that it is the truth; and for this I want to lay down my life, to the
praise of the Lord, and to the edification of all who fear the Lord
from the heart. I commit you to the Lord and to the word of his grace,
that he would keep you in all righteousness and truth. And though we
must separate, yet I know and firmly trust the Lord, that we shall be
together in the life eternal. I hope that you will always so order
and regulate your way all the days of your life, that you may obtain
salvation.
Herewith I bid you adieu, my dear lamb; adieu till in eternity. Adieu
and farewell to all that fear the Lord. Pray the Lord for all four of
us, that we may offer up unto him an acceptable sacrifice, so that
our souls may be saved forever; to this end may God the Lord give his
grace. Amen.
Written by me, Cornelis the shoemaker, imprisoned for the testimony of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
JACQUES MESDAGH, WILLEM AERTS, JOOS KASTEEL, AND KAREL, A. D. 1567.
This Jacques Mesdagh was apprehended (with three others, as he writes,)
on the 1st of March, 1566, and was afterwards, on the 8th of November,
1567, burnt with three others, for the word of God, at Kortrijck,
in Flanders, in the market place before the city hall, having been
confined, with iron fetters on his feet, for more than twenty months.
He was from Capelle te Poele, a league and a half from Ypres. With him
died a young single man, named Willem Aerts, and two other men, one of
whom was Joos Kasteel, from the vicinity of Kortrijck, and the name of
the other was Karel. All four were of very good cheer and valiantly
testified to the truth, and confirmed it with their death.
A LETTER FROM JACQUES MESDAGH.
I, Jacques Mesdagh, imprisoned at Kortrijck for the word of God and the
testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, apprehended the 1st of March, 1566,
wish you my dearest and much beloved chosen sister, from the bottom of
my heart and from my inmost soul, that you may always prosper, and be
well in soul and body; and grace, mercy, peace, joy, love, a living
spiritual hope, a true evangelical mind and trust, a true unfeigned
faith which works by love, and the illumination, comfort and communion
of the Holy Ghost, be unto you as a grace from God the heavenly Father,
and through our Lord Jesus, by whom this grace has come to us; 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). For he came and preached, in
the Gospel peace to us who were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Therefore we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens
with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone, whom the builders rejected (Eph. 2:17,19,20; Matt.
21:42); who his own self bare our sins, in his own body, on the tree,
that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness; by whose
stripes we were healed. For we were as sheep going astray; but are now
returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords; who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to
him be praise, glory and dominion, and thanks for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 2:24,25; 1 Tim. 6:15; Revelation 1:5,6.
This I wish you, my dearest chosen sister in Jesus Christ our Savior,
whom I love from the depth of my heart and from my inmost soul, as an
affectionate and friendly greeting, and for a perpetual remembrance,
my dear lamb, since it may easily happen that we shall soon have to
separate here; for it seems that the abominable beast thirsts greatly
for our blood. Rev. 13:1. But I hope that though we must now separate
here for the Lord’s name, we shall nevertheless hereafter meet together
in life eternal, where they will be nothing but joy and gladness,
which will endure for ever and ever; there tyrants will not be able to
separate or harm us; for when they have killed the body, they have no
more that they can do, as Christ himself says. Luke 12:4.
Hence, my affectionately and much beloved sister, be not afraid of
their threats, neither be troubled. Even as the Lord also spake through
the prophet Isaiah: Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the
people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them
up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my
righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to
generation. For “I am he that comforteth you: who art thou that thou
shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man
which shall be made as grass?” Is. 51:7,8,12. “For behold, the day
cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that
do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them
up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor
branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness
arise.” Malachi 4:1,2. “And everlasting joy shall be upon their head,
they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee
away.” Is. 51:11. “Yea, the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in
the kingdom of their Father.” Matt. 13:43. “And they shall hunger no
more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them,
nor any heat. For the Lamb which is the midst of the throne shall feed
them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:16,17. “And there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain.” 21:4. “For he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the
second death; and he shall inherit all things, and receive the crown of
life.”
Therefore, O my dear and chosen sister Susannah, let us always
faithfully adhere to Christ our bridegroom, even unto death, so that
hereafter we may altogether receive the crown of life, and may hear, in
the great day of the Lord, the welcome voice: “Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world;” when he shall say to the others: “Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew
25:34,41.
O what a great difference will then be between them that obeyed and
feared the Lord, and those who did not obey or fear him; the latter
will have their part in the lake which will burn with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death; but the former in eternal life.
Rev. 21:18; John 3:16.
For he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life
eternal. Christ also said: Whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find, or keep, it. Hence, my dearest and much beloved sister,
whom I love from all my heart, let us herein always be of good courage
and cheer in the Lord, though the tyrants deprive us of our temporal
life for the Lord’s name, and separate us; for we know, says Paul,
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,
whose builder and maker is God. 2 Cor. 5:1; Hebrews 11:10.
O my dear and much beloved sister, that we had put off this body of
our earthly house in Christ Jesus, and were thus at home with him, who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his
glorious body; for here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to
come, as the apostle says. Philip. 3:21; Heb. 13:14.
O that we were there in the beautiful and delightful city, which is
full of all good things, where they will need neither sun nor moon,
nor the light of a candle, to give them light, for the glory of God
shall lighten them, and they shall reign for ever and ever. Rev. 21:23;
22:5. But we must here first go the narrow way, as Christ himself said
(Matthew 7:13,14), before we can enter there; for wide is the gate, and
broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which
go in thereat; but strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it; and still fewer,
alas! who desire to walk it, since sometimes it is so hard for the
flesh. For here in this wicked world not much besides tribulation and
suffering is promised to those who desire to walk the narrow way, to
follow Christ, and to live godly, in this vale of tears, according to
their weak ability, for, in the first place Paul expressly says: “All
that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim.
3:12. “For truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter; yea,
truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.”
Is. 59:14,15.
O my chosen sister, whom I love in God since the Lord has given us so
much grace that we have found the way of peace, this is the true grace
of God wherein you stand, says Peter. O let us always walk faithfully
therein unto the end, according to our feeble ability, though we must
here for a short time have tribulation and suffering for the name of
Christ; for we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God. Acts 14:22. And also Christ himself says: “In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33. He also says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye
shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be
sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she
is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she
is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy
that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow:
but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no
man taketh from you.” Verses 20–22. Thus are also we with child, and in
travail, so that we can scarcely draw our breath, as is also written in
the prophet Isaiah (Is. 26:18);[292] but when we too have here brought
forth all tribulation and sorrow, and have put off our body in the
Lord, we also shall hereafter rejoice with tongues unspeakable, though
we are now here in the pangs of delivery, my dear and much beloved
sister, for the name of Christ, namely, in tribulation and suffering
for a short time, and hated of all men; for Christ himself says; “Ye
shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to
the end shall be saved.” Matt. 10:22. And Paul, also, says: For unto
you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him,
but also to suffer for his sake. Philip. 1:29.
[292] German version of the Bible.
But, my very dear and chosen sister in the Lord, whom I love from
true, unfeigned, godly and brotherly love, it will hereafter not be to
our detriment, all that we have suffered here for the name of Christ;
for he will reward us for it with joy most abundantly; for as the
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth
by Christ. 2 Cor. 1:5. For it is a faithful saying, Paul also says,
if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we
shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Tim.
2:11,12. And Christ himself says, if we confess him before men, he will
also confess us before his Father, which is in heaven.
Hence, my dear lamb, let us always give diligent heed, that we here,
in no wise forsake Christ our bridegroom, on account of the sufferings
which men may inflict upon us; for the time that we have to spend here
is very short, compared with eternity. Though we should be compelled
all the days of our life to lie in a dark dungeon for the name of the
Lord, it could not yet be compared to eternity, and to the glory which
shall be revealed in us; for Paul says: “I reckon that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us; 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: for the things which are seen are temporal;
but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor.
4:17,18.
Therefore, O my most beloved sister, let us not look at that which is
temporal and perishable; but let us always wholly renounce ourselves,
and daily take our cross upon us, to follow Christ faithfully and
willingly in all that may come upon us for his holy and glorious name’s
sake; and think and look on the reward and the beautiful promises,
which will endure forever. Let us herewith always comfort ourselves
with the beautiful promises of the Lord, which he has given his own who
fear and love him, and obey him in everything unto the end.
Thus, my dear and much beloved sister Susannah, let us constantly obey
him in all things, to do his divine will unto the end, according to our
weak ability, and always wait with great patience for his beautiful
promises, as did all the pious, holy men who died according to faith,
not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and
were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They had trials of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment:
they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy:
they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth, and were obedient to their God. For by faith Abraham, when
he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for
an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God. And by faith, Moses, when he was come
to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy
the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ
greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the
recompense of the reward. Heb. 11.
Thus, my affectionately and much beloved chosen sister, let us too
always be obedient to God our heavenly Father, even unto death, and
also rather choose, as did Moses, to suffer affliction with the people
of God for a little season, here in this vale of tears, and to look at
the beautiful promise which is to be realized hereafter; for eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2:9.
O see, my dear sister, how richly those are rewarded who love and fear
God. O why should we not fear and love the Lord with all our hearts,
who will so richly reward us for it, since not a single word of his
promises shall fail, for he is so faithful that promised it; though
we must suffer tribulation and persecution here for a little while,
for the name of Christ our Lord. For if the holy men and prophets, and
the apostles, had to suffer, yea, Christ himself, who is one Head and
Master, how much more ought we, who are poor, sinful and frail men to
suffer, if we want to be found little members of his body; for the
members are surely not better than the head, nor the servant greater
than his lord, says Christ himself. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep
yours also. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before
it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own;
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:20,18,19. And John,
also, says in his epistle: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate
you. We know that we have passed from death unto life.” 1 John 3:13,14.
See, my dear lamb, how it has been told us before that we must be hated
and reviled of the world. Hence, let us not be surprised, though this
comes upon us in this evil, wicked, perverse, and blind world for the
name of Christ; but let us rejoice therein, that we are partakers of
Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, we may
be glad also with exceeding joy, as the apostle Peter says: “If ye be
reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.” 1 Pet. 4:13,14. And
Christ says: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.”
Matt. 5:11,12. He also says: Blessed are they that weep now: for they
shall laugh. Luke 9:21. O see, my dearly beloved chosen sister, what
consoling words, again, these are, for those who are here reviled and
persecuted for the name of Christ, and have tribulation and suffering.
O how can we grieve on this account, or become weary or faint, when
this comes upon us for the name of Christ; seeing so great comfort and
reward are promised hereafter to those who are faithful to him unto
death, as is written. Rev. 2:10: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I
will give thee a crown of life.” O my dear lamb, console and rejoice
yourself with the comforting Scriptures left us for the refreshing and
strengthening of our mind and faith, when you are persecuted and driven
from city to city, and they inflict tribulation and suffering upon you
for the name of Christ, as may easily happen yet, since I hear that the
cruel and abominable beast begins to exalt itself greatly again over
the little flock of the Lord. But they have no more power than the Lord
permits them to have, though they greatly exalt themselves, and rage,
as though they were determined utterly to annihilate the little flock,
as is evidently their purpose. But the Lord holds everything in his
hand; he that can bring to naught the counsel of the ungodly, will, I
trust, order it all well, according to his divine will. Let us always
firmly trust and hope in him, and cast all our care upon him; for it is
he that careth for us, says the apostle Peter. 1 Pet. 5:7. For, whom
did the Lord ever forsake, of those who firmly trusted in him? and did
ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his
fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called on
him? Sir. 2:10. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should
not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet
will I not forget thee, says the Lord through the prophet. Is. 49:15.
And Christ says: I will not leave you comfortless. John 14:18.
Therefore, my most beloved, let us always be content with such things
as we have: for he hath said: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5,6. For whosoever believeth on
him shall not be ashamed. And if God be for us, who can be against
us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? says Paul.
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that
justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us. Who then shall separate us from the
love of Christ? 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 no creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Rom. 8:31.
Hence, O my affectionately beloved sister, who is he that will harm
you, if you be a follower of that which is good? And be not afraid of
their threats, neither be terrified, if they persecute you, and inflict
suffering and tribulation upon you; for it is better that you suffer
for well-doing, if it be God’s will, than for evil doing. For this is
thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering
wrongfully. For what glory is it, continues Peter, if, when ye be
buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if when ye do
well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with
God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for
us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no
sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled,
reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously. 1 Pet. 3:13,14; 2:19–23.
Hence, my dear sister, let us always take diligent heed unto ourselves,
to walk in Christ’s footsteps unto the end, according to our poor, weak
ability; and when they persecute and afflict us for the truth, let us
also commit vengeance[293] unto him who will judge righteously, and
before whom all things are naked and opened (Heb. 4:13): and, as Christ
himself teaches us, pray for those who persecute and afflict us, that
they would repent, and turn from all this wickedness to the truth,
so that they might also all be saved, and lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in
the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth, says Paul, 1 Tim. 2:3,4; for he
is longsuffering, and not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance. 2 Pet. 3:9.
[293] In regard to the passage here alluded to (1 Pet. 2:23) see
German version of the Bible.--_Trans._