Hendrick Verstralen and Maeyken Deynoots, your very weak brother and
sister in the Lord, wish our very dear and affectionately beloved
brethren and sisters, who in the Lord stand in like faith with us,
and are gone out from Babylon, no more to touch the unclean thing,
nor to be yoked together any more with unbelievers, but are come unto
Jerusalem, into the church of the living God, there to serve the Lord
your God, around the slaughter house, where some of you are still
spared, as the prophet Jeremiah says (Jer. 11:19), to be baptized; much
consolation, gladness and joy in all your hearts, from God our heavenly
Father, and this through Jesus Christ his only, eternally begotten Son,
full of grace and truth, through this our High Priest and mercy seat,
who offered himself to God his Father for us, on the tree of the cross,
that through his death he might prepare us the entrance to eternal
life. Through this innocent and spotless Lamb, that took away our sins,
we bow the knee of our heart day and night before God our heavenly
Father, that he would spread his peace among you as a river, and
confirm you, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, with his Holy
Spirit, that you may be strengthened in the inner man, and keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and love (Eph. 4:3), so that
we, my dear brethren and sisters, who are bought and redeemed with the
precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, may together serve the Lord in
holiness and righteousness acceptably before him, as long as we are in
this tabernacle. Amen.
O thou camp of the Lord, thou city of the living God, may the Lord set
watchmen everywhere on thy walls, that never hold their peace day nor
night (Is. 62:6); but that thy teachers may, as David says, be filled
with much blessing, and gain one victory after another, so that the
vineyard of the Lord may be planted, and thou Jerusalem be built, thou
temple of the Lord, though in a sorrowful time. Let every one gird his
sword to his side, and let him build with the one hand, and with the
other let him hold the spear, so that the enemies who would prevent
our working may be repelled, so that Zion alone may be shown prepared.
O my dear brethren and sisters, we wish you from God, that you may be
built together a spiritual house and habitation of God; that God’s law
may be written in all your hearts, and his commandment be in your mind,
and you thus remain sons and daughters of God in whom he may dwell and
walk: that he would keep you, that you will never touch the unclean
thing, but may approve yourselves in all things as ministers of God,
so that the name of the Lord may be praised from the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same. O brethren and sisters, that your light
may arise as the morning star, and you remain a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, and a peculiar people, so that you, dear brethren and
sisters, may everywhere lift up holy hands to God, and offer up to
him the fruit of your lips, spiritual sacrifices, so that the vial of
the Lord may be filled with incense from the prayers of the saints.
1 Tim. 2:8; Heb. 13:15; Rev. 5:8. O thou bride of the Lamb, who from
love of your bridegroom Christ must be zealous unto death, and bring
forth the fruits of righteousness with many sorrows and pains, and
be sick of love to him; may the Lord our God lay his left hand under
your head, and embrace you with his right hand (Cant. 2:6), thou Eve
regenerated by Christ your husband through the incorruptible seed of
the living word of God proceeding from the fatherly heart. O thou
beautiful daughter of the almighty Father, who art now presented to his
Son Jesus, the Lord from heaven, and through faith in him shalt have
eternal life; may the eternal, almighty Father richly pour out upon you
his blessing and the power of the Holy Ghost, and make you fruitful
and fit for every good work, so that you may win his Son Jesus many
sons and daughters, that his wine press may soon be filled through the
number of his saints (Rev. 6:11), and you may thus the sooner see the
destruction of our enemies, who are innumerably many, and have bent our
back, and walk over us as over a street, and reward us evil for good,
because they cannot build with us on the spiritual house of the Lord,
because they are uncircumcised of heart and carnally minded. Against
these our enemies, may God arm us and you, my dear brethren and sisters
in the Lord, with the armor of righteousness, [and grant] that we may
be shod with the Gospel of peace, and our loins be girt about with
truth, always having the two edged sword of the Spirit at our side,
thus preserving our helmet of salvation with the shield of faith,
guarding the knapsack of love, and thus following the Captain of our
faith, as Christian soldiers, boldly waging the war of the Lord, under
the bloody banner of Christ; so that we, our dear brethren and sisters,
may through the grace of God gain the victory of a good fight in godly
conflict, and obtain the crown of eternal life. Amen.
We prisoners in the Lord, and bound for the eternal truth’s sake and
the testimony of Jesus, Maeyken Deynoots, and Hendrick Verstralen,
herewith greet all our brethren and sisters in the Lord, and send you
this brief letter from the depth of our heart, as our last adieu;
hereby taking affectionate leave from all dear brethren and sisters,
especially those of you who are known to us, and have shown us much
good by your consoling exhortations, in our tribulation, where we are
imprisoned for the eternal truth’s sake. Hence we again entreat all
you beloved who shall see our letter, or hear it read, before we are
out of the flesh, that you will help us heartily to beseech the Lord,
that we may overcome even unto death, to the praise and glory of the
almighty God, and to our salvation, and to your boast in the day of
Christ. Phil. 2:16. Adieu, all my dear brethren and sisters. Adieu,
all that love the Lord and his appearing. Adieu, H. P. H. de R. and D.
P. and Adam and his wife, and B. P. and S. and J. van H., our faithful
helpers in distress. Adieu, K. and L. B. and M. S. and G. and her
sister Janneken. Dear friends, lay it to heart to pray to God for us,
for we ask it of you with tears. H. de R., I pray you greet much in
my name with the peace of the Lord, for an adieu, L. de C., and your
servant-maid, and your friend C., and all my dear brethren. O that God
would grant that the two Abrahams might each make a Sarah out of their
rib; this is my heart’s wish. Bid them adieu too, Grietjen and Judith.
Adieu, T. de S. and your wife, our L. S. G. as I may boldly call you;
my dear brother, my dear friend, adieu; however, I hope to remember you
yet, if it is possible. Acquit yourself valiantly.
Written on St. Georges day, A. D. 1571.
A LETTER WHICH MAEYKEN DEYNOOTS WROTE TO HER BRETHREN AND SISTERS,
WHILE IMPRISONED, IN THE YEAR 1571, AT RIJPERMONDE, WHERE SHE ALSO HAD
TO LAY DOWN HER LIFE FOR THE TRUTH’S SAKE.
The abundant grace and mercy of God our heavenly Father, through his
only, eternally begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered up
himself for us to God his heavenly Father, as a propitiation for
our sins, that he might deliver us from the future wrath that shall
come upon all them that have not obeyed the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thess.
1:8); but may wisdom, power, and the consolation of the Holy Ghost,
which proceeds from both the Father and the Son, this only eternal and
Almighty God, by whom every good and perfect gift is given, always
abide with us and you, my dear brethren and sisters, so that he may
through grace make us all together fit through himself, that we may be
found worthy in the day of his coming. Amen. Luke 21:36.
My affectionately beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, I wish
you from the depth of my heart, for an adieu, that you may always
prosper in soul and body. I Maeyken, your weak sister in the Lord,
thank you from the very depth of my heart for the great love that you
are showing us; I wish before God, that the same may also be done to
you in distress, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord. Excuse me,
that I do not write more with my own hand; for I am very unskilled
therein. However, I did not deem it to be necessary; for Hendrick, our
dear brother, my fellow-prisoner in the Lord, has done it so well for
us both; I wish you the same before God, my dear brethren and sisters
in the Lord. Let it seem to you as though I had written it; my heart’s
wish is, that we may seal it with our blood, to the praise and glory of
the holy name of the Lord, and to the salvation of our souls. With my
own hand I bid adieu to all my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord.
Adieu; always adhere valiantly to the eternal truth. Adieu. Pray the
Lord for us; I pray day and night for you in my weakness. Adieu, G.
C. N. T. and your wives. Adieu, B. J. B. P., my dear sisters. Adieu,
Andries M. Adieu, adieu; receive this in good part.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM MAEYKEN DEYNOOTS, TO HER BROTHER AND SISTER.
I prisoner of the Lord salute you from the inmost of my heart, my very
dear and affectionately beloved brother and sister J. and Andries who
are now in great tribulation and sorrow on account of the sad parting.
O be patient in all your tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, and
rejoicing in hope, which maketh not ashamed, my dear brother and sister
in the Lord. O it is a good thing to be patient, and wait for the help
of the Lord; for he that fears God is comforted after temptation, and
after chastisement he finds favor. The Lord does hide his face for a
moment, but with everlasting kindness will he have mercy on us. Is.
54:8. Hence, my dear sister Janneken, console yourself with the Lord’s
holy word; though you are now as it were a forsaken and heart-stricken
wife, it is but a little while, and your sorrow shall be turned into
everlasting joy; for thy maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is
his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole
earth shall he be called, verse 5. O you warrioress of God, contend
valiantly against your flesh and blood, and continue steadfast unto
death, and there shall be given you the crown of eternal life, with
full joy, which no man shall take from you. Andries, my dear brother,
that you parted from us with great sorrow, and that you desire to be
with us, this you must commit to the Lord, for everything must have its
due time. They did not lack the power, when they said to me: “Woman,
you must come with us.” I said: “In the name of the Lord.” They greatly
desired you. I said: “If it were the Lord’s will, you would get him.”
I went again very willingly; then I saluted our dear brethren with
the kiss of peace, since love impelled me to it. I believe my brother
and fellow prisoner has informed you how it further went, and of the
proceedings with us, as far as known to him; I cannot write anything
concerning it, for want of paper. My dear brother and sister, I thank
you heartily for your good exhortation, faithful warning and sweet
consolation, and wish before God, that the same may be done to you in
your distress. I read it with many tears, and time and again thanked
the Lord, who through his great grace remembers his poor, weak,
imprisoned and bound children, and does not forget them. Comfort and
admonish one another with the same words, my dear brother and sister in
the Lord, and kiss one another once for me; I hope to do as you said.
Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the comforting word of
his grace, and herewith bid adieu to all dear brethren and sisters in
the Lord; I know of no one that is known to me, whether he be far or
near, of whom I do not think. Adieu with an inward holy kiss of love
and peace. Adieu, and pray the Lord for us; I pray day and night for
you. Adieu, my dear brethren and sisters. Adieu, adieu, adieu, with
tears; adieu, keep firmly on, till you are taken hence. This adieu I
write to you all. Excuse this simple letter.
Written by me your weak sister in the Lord, in the castle of
Rijpermonde where I am imprisoned and bound with iron chains or
fetters, for the eternal truth’s sake. I long for the day when I shall
offer up my sacrifice; however, I hope to wait for it with patience. A.
D. 1571.
MAEYKEN DEYNOOTS.
ADRIAEN JANSS HOEDEMAECKER, AND JELIS DE BACKER, BOTH BURNT ALIVE
AT THE SAME STAKE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS, IN RIJSSEL, A. D.
1570.--THREE LETTERS OF ADRIAEN JANSS HOEDEMAECKER, WRITTEN IN PRISON
AT RIJSSEL.
_The first letter from Adriaen Janss Hoedemaecker, to his wife._
The love of God the Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you my dear wife and sister in
the Lord, now and forever; this I wish you from the depth of my heart
as an affectionate salutation. Amen. After this good wish of my heart
and Christian salutation, let me inform you, my dear and in God beloved
wife how it still stands with me, that I am still well content and of
good cheer, the Lord be praised for his grace which he shows me, and I
hope by his grace, that he will help and keep me unto the end, since
with Jeremiah, I have committed to him my cause against my adversaries,
who are set against me and against the Lord, since I am imprisoned for
the name of the Lord, because with the prodigal son, I have arisen
to confess my guilt before my God, against whom I have sinned and
transgressed, who graciously received me, when I sought and entreated
him with tears. And for this reason they persecute and gainsay us,
because we have received mercy from God, as the Lord has spoken and
declared, saying: “If ye were of the world, the world would love you,
but because I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world
hateth you.” John 15:19. Mark, my dear wife, the words of our Lord,
what is the reason that we are hated; so that in the time of hatred
and persecution we may comfort ourselves with the grace of the Lord,
as also the apostle Peter testifies, saying: “Because we no longer
run with them to that excess of riot, as are lasciviousness, lusts,
excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.”
1 Peter 4:4,3. Therefore does the world speak evil of you: therefore
say they as is written in the Book of Wisdom: “Let us lie in wait for
the righteous; for his life is not like other men’s, his ways are of
another fashion; he declares our ways to be sin, and avoids us like
filth; therefore he is grievous unto us; we will torment and examine
him with despitefulness, that we may know his meekness, and prove his
patience, and let us condemn him with the most shameful death.” Wis.
2:12. This has ever been the reason, why the righteous have been evil
spoken of, envied, persecuted, despoiled of their goods, cast into
prisons and bonds, drowned, beheaded, and burned, as we may first read
concerning Abel, as John testifies with these words: “Let us love one
another, not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.
And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his
brother’s righteous”. 1 John 3:12. Hence the apostle says: “Marvel
not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” V. 13. Christ declared to
the Jews: “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which
of these do ye stone me?” John 10:32. Hence, my dear, beloved wife,
it will not fail, as the apostle says, that all who will live godly
in Christ Jesus will have to suffer persecution; for evil men and
seducers always wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Tim. 3:12,13. Hence, the righteous may always prepare themselves
for suffering and tribulation; for they are led forth unto death as
sheep for the slaughter: we that live are constantly delivered unto
death for Jesus’ sake, and are always in peril to die every day for
our glorying which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. We may therefore
well prepare ourselves for suffering, even as the Lord told his
apostles: “In the world ye shall have tribulation; yea, the world
shall rejoice, but ye shall weep and be sorrowful; for a woman that is
in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come.” John 16:33. Thus
we must also bring forth Christ with sorrow in this world. Therefore
the apostles strengthened and encouraged the churches, that they must
with tribulation and suffering enter into the kingdom of God, even
as our head Christ went before, as is written concerning him in the
prophets. For the kingdom of God suffereth violence, and the violent
take it by force (Matt. 11:12), as I now experience myself; for we did
indeed formerly have some temptations such as are common to man, but
now we must strive unto blood. 1 Corinthians 10:13; Heb. 12:4. For I
may now well say with the apostle, that I bear in my body the marks of
the Lord. Gal. 6:17. For they have scourged me three times, until the
blood flowed, and this that I should betray my fellow brethren; but the
Lord by his grace kept my lips. I was suspended by my hands so that I
did not touch the ground. Yea, my dear beloved wife, I was seized with
great fear so that I could hardly stand it, when they scourged me the
third time; hence I thought of the words of the apostle who says: “The
Lord will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able.” 1 Cor.
10:13. Then they desisted though they threatened to torture me; and
they said that they would rend my limbs asunder, or I should tell them
who had associated with me, and who were my fellow brethren; but the
Lord did not let them have their will this time; what they will do yet,
the Lord knows, for to him every thing is known.
My dear and in God beloved wife, faint not at my tribulation, which
ought to be a comfort to you, that the Lord has called me hereunto,
that he wants to magnify his name by me, and that I am counted worthy
to suffer shame for his name, and to seal his word with my blood
before this wicked and adulterous generation. I hope to go before you
in truth, and before all my dear brethren and sisters who still walk
in like peril; that they may take an example from me, not in any wise
to forsake the Lord in tribulation, but firmly to cleave to him, who
(though he is great), will not forsake his own in distress who trust in
him, and serve him in truth; for his eyes are upon the righteous, and
his ears are open unto their cry, yea, the Lord is the strength of the
righteous in the time of trouble. Psalm 34:15; 37:49.
Herewith I will commend my dear and in God beloved wife to the Lord,
who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you an inheritance among
all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32. Adieu, my dear wife, whom I
love in truth, adieu. For I suspect that the parting is close at hand;
for I wait from day to day for the redemption of my body, and to enter
into godly rest to my fellow brethren that were also slain for the
truth. Rev. 6:11.
Greet the brethren and sisters in my name with the peace of the Lord.
Written in my bonds, by me,
ADRIAEN JANSS, Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.
_The second letter from Adriaen Janss Hoedemaecker to his wife._
I, Adriaen Janss, imprisoned at Rijssel for the name of our Lord,
and the testimony of my conscience, wish my dear and in God beloved
wife, much grace, mercy and peace, from God the heavenly Father, who
is the true Father in heaven and earth; that he would grant you to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit, and Christ to dwell in your
hearts, and to be rooted in through love. Ephesians 3:14. This I wish
you, together with the consolation of the Holy Spirit, as a Christian
salutation and affectionate adieu.
Furthermore, after all proper and Christian salutation, I hereby inform
you my dear wife in the Lord, that I am well content, and have a good
conscience, the Lord be praised forever for his grace, who has kept
me in his grace until this hour, and I hope that through his grace
he will keep me unto the end, according to his promise, for he says:
Though a mother forsake her child, yet will I not forsake thee. Is.
49:15. Yea, the Lord says: I will not leave you comfortless. Herewith,
my dear wife, I comfort myself when I am tempted. I further cannot
conceal from my dear wife the many tears which I shed when I think of
your sorrow, which I presume you have on my account, because we must
now give up our Christian fellowship which we have had together by
faith. Yes, my dear and beloved wife in the Lord, to every thing, says
Solomon, there is a time: “A time to meet, and a time to part.” Eccl.
3:1. Hence my dear wife in the Lord, what more godly parting can there
be than for the name of the Lord; and though we now must part, I hope
that I shall go before you, and that you will also follow to that place
where there will be no more parting, for there we shall ever be with
the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Herewith you may comfort yourself, even
as the apostle Paul comforted the church at Thessalonica. I further
beseech and exhort you by the mercies of God, that you take heed unto
the vocation in which the Lord has called you, and that you walk as you
have received the Lord, with all humility and meekness, and walk in the
love of God, and of your neighbor, Eph. 4:1; Col. 2:6. Always remember
the poor saints where you live; give according to what the Lord has
bestowed upon you; continue also in prayer day and night; adhere firmly
to the doctrine of Christ, and whatsoever you have heard and received
let it abide in you; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 2
Corinthians 12:11. And remember me as long as I am here; I hope not to
forget you as long as I am in this tabernacle, with my prayers to God.
Though with my body I am absent from you I am nevertheless present with
the spirit and remember you with tears.
Herewith adieu, my dear wife in the Lord, adieu, till we get in the
kingdom of God to our heavenly Father. Written with tears by me,
ADRIAEN JANSS.
Greet the friends much in my name, especially my S. J. I would write
more, but there is no good opportunity here for writing. Written to my
dear wife.
_The third letter from Adriaen Janss Hoedemaecker written to the
brethren and sisters._
I Adriaen Janss, imprisoned at Rijssel for the name of the Lord and the
testimony of my conscience, wish my cordially beloved brethren and
sisters, my companions of the faith in the kingdom of God, and in the
patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, much grace, mercy and peace from God
the heavenly Father, who is the true Father of all mercies, and the
God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation; and from
Jesus Christ our Lord, Redeemer and Savior, who delivered us from this
present, proud world, according to the will of God his Father; together
with the power and consolation of the Holy Ghost, and a steadfast mind
unto the end of your life. This I wish you as a Christian salutation in
the Lord, and as an affectionate adieu.
Furthermore, after all proper and Christian salutation, my dear and
in God beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, I cannot forbear,
because of the fellowship which we through the Gospel had together
in the Lord, to write you briefly, for the comfort and joy of your
heart, concerning the grace which I have received from God, so that I
am of good cheer and well content (the Lord be praised for the grace
he shows me), so that I hope by his grace, that he will make my cause
terminate to his praise, for which I daily pray him. For I desire
nothing else than that his name might be magnified by my weak members,
and ask my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, with me to beseech
God, so to strengthen me, that I may triumph in Christ Jesus our Lord;
I hope that he will hear your prayer and mine. For the prophet David
says: “The Lord will fulfill the desire of them that fear him; he will
also hear their cry and will save them.” Ps. 145:19. Since I desire
nothing but what tends to his praise, I hope that he will hear us. I
trust I shall not forget you in my prayers to God, but to remember
you, even as behooves the members of the body in Christ; and as I,
when I was still with you, served you with the little gift which I
received from God, so I must also exhort you yet in my imprisonment,
and say with the apostle: “I the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that
ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called of God, with
all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another
in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.” Ephesians 4:1–3. Yea, as ye have received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him (Col. 2:6,7); and
always remember the former days, in which ye were illuminated (Heb.
10:32), and what promises you made to the Lord, when you entered into
covenant with him, so that you should serve the Lord in holiness and
righteousness all the days of your life. Hence, my dear brethren and
sisters, walk faithfully before your God, who called you in his grace
out of darkness into his marvelous light, who has received you as sons
and daughters, enlightened you with his Holy Spirit, and promised you
his kingdom.