JACOB THE CHANDLER, On the 29th and 30th of May, A. D. 1569.
_Alle die lijden na den Wille Godts, wilt hieropmercken,
Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Schepper met goede Wercken._
(1 Peter 4:19.)
ANOTHER LETTER OF JACOB THE CHANDLER, WRITTEN IN PRISON; IN WHICH HE
ADMONISHES HIS FELLOW-MINISTERS, NOT TO FLEE AS HIRELINGS, AND TO LET
CHRIST’S SHEEP GO ASTRAY THROUGH LACK OF INSTRUCTION; BUT FAITHFULLY TO
DISCHARGE THE OFFICE IMPOSED UPON THEM.
_As he had himself been in Friesland, and had heard from the lips of
both parties the difficulty that had arisen among the people of God,
and understood that they had on both sides sinned against God and their
neighbor, and made themselves blamable, he therefore made much mention
concerning this matter in this letter, as you, kind reader, may see._
I, Jacob the Chandler, imprisoned for the Lord’s sake (Eph. 3:1; 2 Tim.
1:8); wish all the elders and ministers of the churches in Flanders,
who oversee the flock of Christ, and L. V. or A. D., wisdom, knowledge
and true love from God the heavenly Father, grace, mercy and peace,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, and true comfort, strength and power,
through the Holy Ghost, to serve and oversee the church aright, to be
with her as a father, and faithfully to assist her in every need, to
the upbuilding of the church, to the praise of the Lord, and to the
salvation of your souls. This I wish you, my dear and beloved brethren,
as a friendly greeting, and a cordial adieu.
After all proper and Christian greetings, I pray all my dear brethren,
to consider my letter in love, even as I testified before the Lord
and all the godfearing, that it has been done by me out of love. For
having heard that many who oversee and care for the church seek to be
released, in order to journey out of the country, love for the people
has prompted me to write you, in order to admonish you that you should
rightly think of the poor children whom you would leave behind in
great misery; whom you have begotten again through the incorruptible
seed, and brought into the true way, yea, some of whom have not yet
been fully regenerated, and can not rightly discern between good and
evil; and if you thus go away and leave the poor children, they are in
great peril of perishing, and straying back into the world. Hence, dear
brethren, consider how little joy it will be for you when you will hear
this of them; for we would not like to leave our natural children in
any need if we could with a good conscience help the matter. Now, you
may think within yourselves: “I have served the church a long time;
another may now serve.” But I say, dear brethren, with David: “Be
not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose
mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, if they will not come unto
thee.” Ps. 32:9. For we must not render the service of servants, which
is often reluctantly rendered, and who look to one another, for they
serve for wages, and do not seek the advantage of the house. But we
must render the service of children, which is given from love, for they
live unto their father, and not to themselves, as Christ did not live
to himself, but to him that sent him to be a minister of the kingdom,
and conducted himself among them as one that serves (Matt. 20:28; Luke
22:27); which service was given from love, not a year or two, but all
the days of his life, for he was obedient unto death. Philip. 2:8.
And he appointed unto his apostles the kingdom, as his father had
appointed it unto him, so that they who according to the gift were the
greatest in the kingdom, had to be their ministers and servants. And
the apostles took help, and ordained in the church pastors, teachers,
ministers, helps, governments, and the like (2 Tim. 2:2; Tit. 1:5;
1 Cor. 12:28), and appointed unto them the kingdom, as Christ had
appointed it unto the disciples, namely, to serve the kingdom from
love, and to live therein to the Lord and their neighbor, and not to
themselves. Hence the apostle complains of some, saying: “All seek
their own, and not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Philippians
2:21. Thus met all that serve in the kingdom, who are chosen according
to the rule and ordinance of the Scriptures to serve the church, give
themselves to the church from love, yet, my dear brethren, with this
understanding: if for the church’s sake you suffer loss in temporal
matters, it is her duty to assist you. Deut. 12:19; Sirach 7:31; Luke
10:7.
Hence, my dear brethren, let every one of you take heed to himself; for
we certainly believe that the choosing of the church is from God. Let
us therefore consider; if the Lord has chosen us to serve him in this
way, we must give ourselves to the Lord, whenever we have good reasons
for it, in this that we can satisfy the church, though we may say:
There are others to whom this belongs more properly than to me. This
is no reason that avails before the Lord. If one might thereby excuse
himself, Jonah could easily have found such a reason; but because he
refused to go and proclaim to the Ninevites the will of the Lord, he
had to go into the belly of the whale; even as I unworthy one have
seen some in my time, who refused too much, but it did not turn out to
their good. Likewise, Moses and others sought excuses (Ex. 4:10; Jer.
1:6); but it did not avail them, the Lord said: Do not I know whom I
will send? For he needs no counselors; he well knows for what he wants
to use us. Nevertheless the example of Moses is much followed in the
churches, and it is regarded as an honorable thing for a man to refuse;
yet it does not please the Lord, for he was angry at Moses. But the
prophet Isaiah did not do thus, but said: “Send me, Lord; and with this
the Lord was not displeased.” Is. 6:8. Elisha, also, asked for a double
portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elijah said: Thou hast asked a hard thing;
nevertheless, it shall be so unto thee. 2 Kings 2:9,10. And on this
wise Paul says: “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a
good work. 1 Tim. 3:1.
See, dear brethren, thus we must follow what is honorable and
praiseworthy before the Lord, and think, they that minister well
purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith,
v. 14; Matt. 25:21. As the children of this world, when they can get
into the service of any lord, they endeavor to serve faithfully, that
they may obtain a higher office; so must we also endeavor to serve
the Lord in that wherein we are called, that we may obtain power to
rule the heathen with a rod of iron. Ps. 2:9; Rev. 2:27. Therefore,
my dear brethren, remain together, as long as it is possible for you,
and you can encourage one another; but when you begin to separate, you
make one another weak; hence remain faithfully together, and take heed
to your ministry. You that care for the poor, exercise diligent care
over them, visit them frequently, and see how they do; admonish them
with a fatherly heart to labor (Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:12), and comfort
them in their tribulation, for a consoling word helps the afflicted
more than the gift. And cleave firmly with your heart in love to your
ministers of the word; for you must be one heart with them, and you
will be the better able to keep the people in peace; for if the rulers
of a country are not at peace among themselves, there cannot well be
peace in the land. So also in the churches, if the ministers are at
variance with one another, there cannot well be peace among the common
brethren. Hence, dear brethren, remain at peace with one another; and
you deacons, be a support to the ministers of the word, and take their
part; for they must blow the trumpet, that the drowsy may awake (Isa.
62:6; Joel 2:1); and some drowsy people are of such a nature, that they
do not like to be waked up: so also some that have become drowsy in sin
do not like to be waked up. Hence there is sometimes much talk behind
the back of such; therefore you and all pious brethren must defend
your man, and talk to the backbiters, and admonish them, and you will
encourage your man. And you, dear brethren, who oversee the church with
the word of the Lord, remain with the church as long as is possible for
you; for if you want to go away, you discourage the other ministers,
and weigh them down completely, and scatter the flock. Hence I pray
you, for the people’s sake, as one that loves them with a pure heart,
do not forsake them, but remain with them, and look at those unto whom
Christ appointed the kingdom, as it had been appointed unto him by his
Father, how diligently they exhorted the kingdom, and fed the flock.
For they deemed it profitable to admonish and to strengthen them, and
to stir up their pure minds, as long as they were in the body, that
after their decease they might remember the same. 2 Peter 1:13. For the
apostle had exhorted them for three years day and night with tears.
Acts 20:31. And he taught the bishops of Ephesus, that they should take
heed unto themselves, and to the flock, v. 28. Now you will perhaps
say: “We are no bishops.” Then I say: They must not all be bishops who
exhort the church, or proclaim the word of the Lord; but every one must
be faithful in his ministry. For there are manifold ministries (1 Cor.
12:5); if any have a ministry, let him wait on his ministering; if any
teach, let him wait on his teaching; if any exhort, let him wait on his
exhortation (Romans 12:7,8), and thus feed the flock of Christ, not
by constraint, but willingly, for the Lord would be served from love,
even as he served from love. 1 Pet. 5:2. Hence the apostle writes: If
I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a
dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me. 1 Cor. 9:17.
Therefore, dear brethren, accept them gladly, and bring them up with
the rational, sincere milk (1 Pet. 2:2), like a good nurse, who so
loves her child which she nurses, though she has not given birth to
it, that she cannot give it up without tears, when the father comes
and takes it home, notwithstanding it is a stranger to her according
to the flesh. How much more then shall you love your children, and not
forsake them as long as you can remain with them, since you not only
nursed them, but may have given birth to a great part of them; and they
are your brethren and sisters in the Lord, whereby you are the more
bound to them in love, to serve and protect them. As a hen protects her
chickens under her wings from the birds of prey; so do you also protect
them from evil, wild beasts that cause discord and offenses contrary
to the doctrine of Christ; for their word will eat as doth a canker,
and will destroy like the pestilence. Romans 16:17; 2 Tim. 2:17. Hence,
protect them herein, and separate from such persons; keep the flock in
peace as far as is possible for you, and avoid all strife, and do not
meddle with it as far as you can keep out of it; for he that meddleth
with strife not belonging to him is like one that taketh a dog by the
ears, and by strife many a heart is polluted. Always speak, as much as
you can, what tends to peace, and not to division, for that is not the
time then; for a division is very soon made, which can only with great
difficulty be healed, and so many a simple soul perishes thereby. And
in my judgment it is no usage of the Scriptures, in times of decay to
settle differences by excommunication, though this is sometimes done
through zeal; but it is good to be always zealously affected in a
good thing. Gal. 4:18. For he that transgressed the law of Moses died
without mercy under two or three witnesses (Deut. 17:6; Heb. 10:28);
for this example we have first in the Old Testament, where they also
had an excommunication, to punish the wicked with death. Nevertheless,
the Lord was not willing to use the excommunication, nor did he give
the prophets any charge, that the excommunication should be used, but
he called to them, that they should repent and be converted, and he
would be merciful to them, and purge them most purely from their dross;
for he can do this, dear brethren, without injuring the gold or silver.
Isa. 1:16; Jer. 4:14; Joel 2:12; Isa. 1:25.
In the second place we have this example in the Testament, first in the
case of John and the churches in Asia, how lamentably they had decayed;
yet John did not make use of excommunication with respect to them, nor
do we find that the Lord once asked him why he had not done this; but
he called them to repentance through John, which if they would not do,
he would remove their candlestick out of his place. Rev. 2 and 3. And
whether the apostle insisted as strongly on excommunication, in regard
to that one fornicator, in the second epistle to the Corinthians, as he
did in the first, this every one may consider; for the apostles always
had a godly care for the simple, and sought to prevent divisions, as
far as was possible for them; hence they tried every means to allay
strife, as can clearly be seen in the Acts of the Apostles. For when
the Jewish brethren came to trouble the believers among the Gentiles,
saying: Except ye be circumcised according to the law of Moses, ye
cannot be saved: so that there was a great uproar among the people,
there rose up also at Jerusalem certain of the sect of the Pharisees
which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and
to command them to keep the law of Moses; which was certainly great
injudiciousness. Yet the elders and the apostles did not persist in
charging them with their unwise course, for fear of division, but met
the Jewish brethren, to avoid division, and adopted certain articles
from the law, which were not contrary to the evangelical truth, and
determined that those who had been converted from among the Gentiles
should not be troubled, and that no burden should be laid upon them,
than that they should abstain from meats offered to idols, and from
blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Acts 15;
1 Cor. 10:28; 1 Thess. 4:3; Gen. 9:4; Lev. 7:26. By this the Jews
were pacified, for they might easily think that they were right in a
measure at least, because some articles from the law were imposed upon
the Gentiles. As also in the twenty-first chapter, how they allayed
the strife or offense that was between the Jews and Paul. They had
heard that Paul taught to forsake Moses; hence the elders advised
that Paul should take four men unto him, and go into the temple, and
purify themselves and shave their heads. This they were not bound by
conscience to do, but they did it for the sake of the Jewish brethren,
for they [the elders] said: They will know that those things whereof
they were informed concerning thee are nothing. Then he went to
signify to them the accomplishment of the days of purification. Acts
21. For when they were pacified it was easier to persuade them that
the law had an end in Christ. Rom. 10:4. But they did not determine,
that Paul should stand still in his ministry till he had pacified them;
for this would frequently have had to be done, since there was often
talk about him, as can well be seen in the epistle to the Corinthians
but with him it was a very small matter that he should be judged of
them, or of man’s judgment, for he says: I judge not mine own self.
1 Cor. 4:3. Nor does this tend to peace, but to more strife; for a
church cannot be kept in quietude when she has to lose her pastor,
because there are persons that talk about him, and do not know what the
matter is, nor whether they say it justly or unjustly of him. Hence the
accuser must come before his church, and accuse him there; if they are
matters of which they cannot agree together, the church may hear the
matter, and if the accused is guilty, she may help punish him; thus
she will be delivered from his hand, so that he can make no trouble.
And thus the matter must first be proven, before the church can be
helped, and also before punishment can take place. Hence Paul writes
to Timothy: Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two
or three witnesses. 1 Tim 5:19. For he well knew that there is often
much said about them. Therefore, dear brethren, continue steadfast,
this I pray you for the sake of God’s truth, and do not forsake them,
namely, your men, before they are forsaken by the Lord; but always
seek to build up one another, that the churches may be supplied, and
the flock fed; that Jerusalem may have watchmen upon her walls who do
not sleep or hold their peace day and night, but remember the Lord and
their flock, and say: For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for
Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go
forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Is. 62:6,2.
Thus, my dear brethren, do the best with the poor sheep, stand by them
faithfully, and do not forsake them in this great need, but exhort and
comfort them with these words: how our fathers were tried in many ways,
and became the friends of God, since they had to overcome through much
affliction. Judith 8:25; Deut. 8. Likewise, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets,
and all that loved God, remained steadfast, as the angel said to Tobit:
“Because thou didst please God, it was not possible that thou shouldest
remain without temptation.” Tobit 12[314]; Prov. 3:12. And if you fall
into affliction for their sakes, think of what the apostle writes:
Therefore, I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also
obtain salvation--even as has now fallen to me unworthy as I am. For if
it had not been for the church, I think I would have remained in the
country of Cleves; but I can with David say to the Lord: My times are
in thy hand. Ps. 31:15. And it was his will to bring my time to an end,
as the facts show. But the apostle says: Now I rejoice in my sufferings
for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ
in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church. Col. 1:24; Rom.
12:5; Eph. 1:23. And if you suffer for the church, you have acted
according to the love of Christ, given your life for the brethren and
for the sheep. John 10:11; 1 John 3:16. Thus, my dear brethren, watch,
stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, and let all your things be
done with charity.
[314] See German version, v. 12
Finally, I will address myself briefly to my dear sisters, namely,
to your wives, to exhort and entreat them to be patient with their
husbands, and not to importune them, in order to get them out of the
country. But consider the great distress, and have pity and compassion
with the people, and think, that we must help bear that with which the
Lord tries our husbands, and by faith possess our souls in patience.
Luke 21:19; Heb. 10:36. As when God tried Abraham, that he should offer
up his son, Sarah had to help bear it, for she would have had to miss
her only son, if the Lord had not given him back to Abraham. Yet we
can not see that Sarah resisted Abraham; she obeyed Abraham as her
lord, and suffered him to live by his faith in all in which the Lord
tried him, and admonished him herself, that he should cast out the
bondwoman and her son. Gen. 21:10. Thus also you, my dear sisters, obey
your husbands, and let them live by their faith in all in which they
are tried by the Lord. Genesis 3:16; Eph. 5:22; Col. 3:18. And do not
discourage them, but rather refresh their mind when you see that they
are burdened through the trouble which they have with the people, and
remember that you are Sarah’s daughters, as long as ye do well, and are
not “afraid with any amazement.” 1 Pet. 3:6. Hence, dear sisters, be of
good cheer, and trust your God; he will not suffer you to be tempted
above that you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Pet. 2:9.
For God knows our strength, that it is nothing, hence he cares for us,
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. Ps. 37:25; Josh. 1:5; Hebrews 13:5,6: Ps. 118:6. But
we must slay and overcome them in the name of the Lord, for they are
but dust and ashes, and shall perish as grass, yea, the moth shall
eat them like wool, as Isaiah says; and he further says: 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. 40:6; 1 Pet. 1:24; Is. 51:8,12. For with them there is only an arm
of flesh, but with us is the Lord himself, who will help us, and fight
our battles. 2 Chron. 32:8; Jer. 17:5; Wisdom 4:28. Although they are
now like mad men, who spare none, but spoil and destroy those that fear
the Lord, and exalt themselves very greatly, so that almost every one
is afraid of and trembles before them, yet the Lord shall humble and
destroy them when their spoiling and destroying shall have an end. 2
Esd. 16:71; Is. 14:14. But now, dear sisters, we must be tried as gold
in the fire, that our trial may work patience, and that patience may
have her perfect work. Zech. 13:9; Wis. 3:6. For when we are patient
in our tribulation, we overcome and do not get weary or faint; yea,
though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by
day. 2 Cor. 4:16. And we choose rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; and
esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
Egypt, having respect unto the recompense of the reward. Heb. 11:25,26.
See, dear sisters, take courage, and go forth with the widow Judith
against the proud Holofernes, who had been sent forth by King
Nabuchodonosor, to bring every country under his power. And he
pretended that he was God; yet his servant, Holofernes, was slain by
Judith. Judith 2:5; 13:8. Thus also has now the son of perdition, who
is called God upon earth, sent forth a proud messenger, and thinks
thereby to bring everything under his power. But, as I hear, he has
been vanquished at Kortrijck, by a poor, simple widow, even as Christ
vanquished the scribes and Pilate. Thus you must also go forth dear
sisters, to overcome him by faith. And take an example also from the
woman Jael, who slew Sisera, the adversary and enemy of the house of
Israel. She took a hammer, and drove a nail through his head, so that
he lay there dead. Judges 4:21. Thus must you also, my dear sisters, go
forth by faith against the enemy and adversary of the house of Israel,
who through his children and servants makes so much clamor and ado,
namely, the devil or Satan, and must with the hammer of the divine
word drive the nail, Christ Jesus, through his head, and say with the
apostle: “Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our
Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57. And he also says: “Thanks be unto
God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” 2 Cor. 2:14.
Thus, my dear sisters, be always valiant, and patient withal, and
exhort your husbands to stay with the flock; and know that whatsoever
good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, Eph.
6:8.
Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Cor. 15:58.
Herewith I will commend you, my dear and much beloved brethren and
sisters, to the great Almighty God, who alone is wise, and pray him
to put into your heart to do that which is acceptable before him. And
I pray you to receive my letter which has been written out of love,
in good part; and if there are any views in it that are not like your
own suffer them in love, for we stand, I hope, in one faith. For I am
not conscious of any change in me; what I unworthy one, have taught
the church and the people, in that I still stand unchanged, the Lord
be praised for his grace, who has for about eighteen years kept me
therein. Greet all brethren and sisters that live among you beloved
very much in my name. Herewith I will bid you adieu; adieu, my dear
brethren with your wives, till we see one another in eternal joy; the
Lord grant you his grace, that we may find one another there. Written
the 31st of May and the 1st of June, by me, JACOB DE ROORE, in my
imprisonment.
_Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit
the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as to a faithful
Creator._ 1 Pet. 4:19.
ADRIAEN OL, A. D. 1569.