flesh, the Lord suddenly interposed and turned my tribulation into
great joy. In the first place by this, that the Lord had also kept the
lips of that weak lamb; and in the second place, that it seems that
they are satisfied with the sufferings which I have undergone before my
sacrifice.
I have written this, not to cast you down, but for the reason that you
saints of God should rejoice with me in the Holy Ghost, and help me
thank the Lord, that he has so faithfully helped me; and that you may
know how wonderfully God works in his elect; as also a pious witness of
Christ, Karstiaen L., has testified in his letter, and Joris the dyer,
who was a witness of the truth with me here; and would not name those
that were dead, for he said in himself: “If the devil comes upon the
first step, he also comes higher.” O I think one loses his strength, in
a measure, thereby; for I thought, though they do not know my master,
and though I also know that he is gone, together with my dear, beloved
wife, and others, yet they would not be satisfied, they are determined
to torture me, and I want to be silent in regard to the one as well as
to the other; it will now be made manifest, how the Lord helps those
that trust in him. O what a joy is the victory through Christ; now my
faith in Christ is tried, my fear of God, and my confidence which I
had already before I came into bonds, my love to God and to his holy
church, as the gold in the furnace and upon the touch-stone; for other
trials can be borne tolerably well, when one has enough and can go
where he pleases; but when one, with Job, is touched in his skin (Job
2:4,5), when the skin is lacerated, so that the blood flows, and this
is repeated after four days, that touches the quick. O thou daughter
of Zion, thou bride of the Lamb, be not dismayed, the Lamb shall gain
the victory; be of good courage in the short conflict that is set
before you, for all things are promised to him that overcometh; he that
continueth faithful unto death shall receive the crown of life, and
shall not taste eternal death, or the everlasting torment. I do not
know that my torture lasted over two hours in all; but the threatening,
the contempt, and the tormenting lasted somewhat longer. My most
beloved, is this not a small torment? should one therefore forsake the
truth? should one therefore deny the Lord, and burden his conscience by
mentioning names? nay, when one is nevertheless frequently subjected
to suffering. O no; the Lord himself fights the battle for us; to him
alone be praise forever. Amen.
Thus, you beloved and saints of God, who have become partakers of the
heavenly calling through Jesus Christ, despond not, nor be afraid of
them that kill the body, for they have no power over the soul. I,
unworthy one, have espied for you the help of the Lord; hence I bear
witness of him, that he is a faithful helper in distress, as is written
of him; yea (he says by the prophet), though a mother forget the son
of her womb, whom she brought forth, yet will I not forsake nor forget
thee. Is. 49:15; Heb. 13:5.
Hence, all you that believe the Lord’s promise, continue steadfastly. O
that no one from despondency may keep back from any calling or ministry
of the saints, according to ability; for no one may live to himself, or
withhold himself; so that the work of the Lord may always be carried on
with readiness; and help bear one another’s burdens; if it goes thus,
it is a joy, and the work can be carried on without murmuring; and
know, whatsoever good thing any one does, the same shall follow him.
Eph. 6:8.
Excuse me for writing in general; I hope that the faint-hearted will
hereby gain a little courage and confidence through my bonds; yea, I
hope, that the afflicted will become more cheerful because such great
help is found with the Lord, who is nevertheless not seen, for I
testify to you with the apostle: “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. Now I can write and
testify to the same with regard to this, that the suffering is light,
because it is short; for when all my tortures were over, I do not know
that I felt as much pain afterwards as I once suffered for a time from
a little ulcer, of which my dear wife well knows, and that I had to
bear and found no promise for bearing it. But if we bear this suffering
for the Lord’s sake, all the principal promises are ours; yea, there
are no more glorious or greater promises than these, namely: that they
who submit to the sufferings of Christ, and through Christ overcome, to
them the crown of life is promised; and there is also this testimony
in our hearts, that we are not bastards; yea, we shall be honored and
crowned by Christ himself. For this holy estate I know that I am not
worthy; but the merciful, good God does nevertheless count me worthy to
bear this reproach for his name’s sake; praise to him forever. Amen.
Herewith I will conclude this, asking you to excuse my simple
letter; and I will commend you all, and particularly my most beloved
brother-in-law, and my dearest sister, to the Lord, who is able to
finish the good work which he has begun in you, that you may receive a
full reward with Jesus Christ our Lord, whether I will go before, and
await you there, that we may then live together in eternal joy.
To this end may the good God grant his grace, so that no one, because
of this little torment, may forsake the way of eternal life, and thus
become like the fearful and faint-hearted servants (Judg. 7:3), who
cannot go into battle with Gideon, who do not believe in God, nor
can set their seal to it, that God is faithful, almighty, and true.
What there is promised to such in the Scriptures is manifest, namely,
eternal torment, as to sorcerers and idolaters. Rev. 21:8. What will
it avail them to have borne the name of a Christian, if one does
not continue steadfast? then we must ignominiously perish, like the
ten unbelieving spies. Num. 14:37. What does it avail to have been
delivered out of Egypt, if one does not believe; for the unbelieving
will all be destroyed? What did it avail Lot’s wife to have gone out
of Sodom: for she looked back? Hence, all you beloved saints of God,
strive valiantly for the truth unto death. And always have such a mind
in you; and the Lord shall fight your battle, and you shall then,
if you wait with patience for it, rejoice in the end, even as I do
now. For a confirmation of the truth, read the holy Scriptures; there
you will find how the Lord fought for Israel, for Daniel, Gideon and
Jehoshaphat, and for others; though they had but little people, yet
such great numbers were slain, that they could not take away the spoil
in three days. 2 Chron. 20:25.
Furthermore, it is necessary and very profitable, to write comforting
letters and send them to the miserable, forsaken ones, for they are
greatly comforted thereby. Let every one do his diligence in this
respect, as much as possible, and put forth your best endeavors herein,
and pray the Lord for suitable means, without detriment to any one;
likewise also, to visit them; but above all, constantly to pray for
them, and to lift up holy hands with Moses, till they have finished the
fight, and overcome against their flesh, against the sting of sin, and
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, wherein Satan works.
Hence let every one lay to heart what the apostle says: “Remember them
that are in bonds, as though ye were in bonds. Heb. 13:3. When one
member suffers, the other members suffer with it.” 1 Cor. 12:26.
Herewith adieu on this earth to all the godfearing; be of good courage;
for courage lost, battle lost. I cordially greet you all in the Lord,
but particularly my dearest brother-in-law and his beloved wife I thank
you heartily for all your great friendship.
Commenced the last Thursday in February, and finished the first of
March. I unworthy servant bear the marks of the Lord above both my
hands and on my body; the name of the Lord be praised forever.
By me confined as a prisoner in the Vuylpoort, for the obedience of the
gospel, I said to the jailer: Though I could knock the jail into pieces
with my fist, I should not want to do it, lest he should get into
trouble on my account.
JAN VAN KUYCK.
THE SECOND LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, WRITTEN TO HIS BROTHER AND HIS
SISTERS.
The eternal and merciful God grant you, my only brother and my beloved
sisters, his grace through Jesus Christ, that you may together get a
desire, taste and longing for your salvation, unto the end of your
life. O that this would happen, dear Lord, what a joy would it be to
us hereafter; which I hope will be so, that our old, venerable beloved
father, and our venerable mother and their children, will find one
another in life eternal. Amen.
In the first place, I hope in the Lord, that you with me have received
a desire, taste and longing for salvation. Hence, I now exhort you a
little, that you will increase therein, since the Lord has granted you
his grace, and opened your eyes, so that you can discern good from evil.
Thus, my dearest, beloved brother, since you have received this grace,
that you know and believe (as I trust you do) that God hates evil and
loves righteousness, thank the good and omnipotent God for it, and
particularly, that he has delivered us from the hands of Satan through
Christ Jesus, and has according to his mercy begotten us again by the
word of life, and has helped us in this acceptable time; in which
time he has caused his saving grace to shine upon all men; and you, my
dear brother, have taken heed to this saving grace, you have received,
as I trust, this light, which is Christ Jesus. The Scriptures testify
that to them that have received Christ (that is, who believe in him),
power is given to become the children of God. John 1:12. Hence suffer
yourself constantly to be governed, directed and guided by him, through
his Spirit; for these are the true children of God, that are led by his
Spirit; they are Christ’s.
Now, my dearest brother, be careful all your life, to guard well this
good and most precious treasure: that you may live of it, and ever
follow what the saving grace of God (namely, Christ Jesus who is our
light), teaches us.
In the first place, the saving grace of God teaches us to deny the
ungodliness of this world, and its lusts and desires; as Paul says: And
be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that is, after the mind of Christ. Tit. 2:11,12; Rom.
12:2. If you do this, you will walk in the light, and not in darkness,
wherein the world walks. Beware, my beloved brothers, of the works of
darkness, and have no fellowship therewith, but always separate from
them, and touch not the unclean thing, namely, all evil; and you shall
be a child of God, and remain one, if you abide in Christ unto the end.
Eph. 5:11; 2 Corinthians 6:17.
I unworthy one, imprisoned for his name’s sake, affectionately beseech
you, always adhere to the word of the Lord, and you shall never fall,
and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in his name, that will he give
you; though one thereby incurs suffering, we must not faint on that
account, for it is made manifest thereby, that the way is narrow, and
the gate strait, which leads unto life eternal. But this suffering is
transient, and if we suffer with Christ, we shall also be glorified
together; for the sufferings which men can inflict upon us, are short
and light, and work 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 though our outward man perish, which
at all events must perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2 Cor. 4:17,18,16, and when the faith has been kept, and we have
overcome, all is sweetened by him who strengthens us, which is Christ;
he helps us to triumph; this I experience best now that I am in the
trial; to him be praise forever and ever. Amen.
But, my dear brother, think not that something new has happened to me,
just as though it had not always been thus.
Read of righteous Abel, and you will understand the word of Christ,
that the servant is not better than his lord. Matt. 10:24; John 13:16.
Dear brother, the head, which is Christ, suffered himself; the members
must follow; and it is a special sign of love, that he sends me this
chastening, to prove me, whether I indeed fear, love, and trust him
from the heart. In short, I deem it to be for my salvation; his holy
will be done to my salvation. Amen.
Hence I now declare to you, my dearest brother, that this is and shall
ever remain the only right truth, for which I now suffer for a little
while. Thus, my dearest brother, diligently read the word of the Lord
with devotion, and meditate well upon it, and always pray the Lord
in every concern, with prayer and supplication in the Spirit, with
perseverance; for if you live according to the word of the Lord, you
shall prosper, and never fall (2 Pet. 1:10), for in the word of the
Lord is our light, which is Christ Jesus. Let us follow him, and we
shall get to him where he is; by our High Priest Christ Jesus, there
I will await you, my dear wife, my daughter, our father, and mother,
and sisters, if you all die in the Lord, namely, if you adhere to the
truth unto the end, and follow the Lord, as I hope that you with all
the saints of God will do, I will go before, and herewith write to all
of you in this short time. Adieu; the almighty God grant you all his
grace, that you may always have good courage to obtain your salvation
through Christ Jesus; and be diligent in love, and be a pattern to one
another in every good work unto life eternal.
Thus, my only, dear brother, I have now written you a little, for your
remembrance, and to stir up your minds (2 Pet. 3:1), and for your
consolation, that you fear not men, but only the almighty God, who is
eternal. As for man, his days are as grass: As a flower of the field,
so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone. Ps.
103:15,16; Is. 40:6. Men are perishable; they cannot harm a hair of our
head, unless the Lord permit them. And he will not permit them more
than we are able to bear and keep the faith.
O it affords such peace, when one by the help of the Lord has kept
his lips. Praise ye, all my friends, our strong and faithful God, who
kept my lips in the first torturing. I hope and trust that he who
helped me first is able to help me again, for he has promised it to us
unworthy creatures (his words are yea in him; he is a faithful helper
in distress, as David says): With the Lord help is found, he is our
shield, our fortress, and the strength of the poor. But we must also
trust him; who was ever confounded, that trusted in the Lord? Hence
cease not to seek your salvation, and be not slothful in your business,
but be fervent in spirit, patient in tribulation, and continuing
instant in prayer. Rom. 12:11,12. But if you feel no fervor in you,
pray the Lord for it, and he will give it you, if you only sincerely
seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, as I trust you do.
But beware of trusting in the world; possess your souls in patience;
the Lord can easily in due time give you a godfearing person for a
companion; but first diligently pray the Lord, to so order it that you
will first unite with the godfearing. Write my brother-in-law a letter
some time, and he may be prompted to write you also, and to advise you
wherein you may need advice. I thank you for the friendship which you
have hitherto shown me.
Written the second day after Matthew, in Lent, on which day I was
again suspended twice and once scourged; but, my only brother, the
strong God again kept my lips. Hence I pray you, rejoice with me, and
praise the Lord, since I have great joy now; and be not dismayed in
your mind because my flesh has suffered a little while; for now the
good heavenly Father has tried my faith, as gold in the fire, whether
I would also trust and fear and love him in the severest conflict.
And now that he has found me faithful, from one tribulation to the
other, so that through the grace of God I have overcome the rulers
of this world (wherein I have greatly rejoiced from the heart), and
this by the prayer of the faithful, and the co-operation of the Holy
Spirit, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of eternal life,
to receive the same from Christ through grace. Thither I will now go
before (and first put off this mortal clothing of the flesh), with the
prepared burning lamp; for I have kept, and not denied, the faith, nor
love, nor Christ. The faith is the oil, a pure heart and conscience the
wick, and fervent love the light.
Do you also daily adorn yourself therewith, to meet Christ our
Bridegroom; and take possession of the promised land, that is, the
everlasting kingdom of God. But be not afraid on the way because there
are many enemies, robbers and wolves in the wilderness, namely, in the
world; and be not dismayed on this account, for I have passed through
it all by the help of the Lord, and have spied out the country in
advance for you and many of the godfearing, so that I can now write you
that you need not stay back on account of the peril, and this because
the Lord himself conducts our conflict; he fights for us, and he is
certainly the strongest: for he said to Abraham; “Fear not; for I am
thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Gen. 15:1. Was this said
to Abraham alone? Paul says, It is written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Rom.
15:4.
Consider former examples, how God fought for Gideon, David,
Jehoshaphat, and others; the people [the hostile army] were slain
without their having to lift up a hand. O my only dear brother, put
your whole trust in the Almighty, for with him help is found, he is
a true helper in distress, he does not forsake his own in all their
tribulations; so that we may say with the apostle: “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?” Romans 8:31,32. If he has manifested such great love towards
us, how should he not preserve us in every extremity.
Believe this, that the good God is our debtor; if we unwaveringly
continue to walk in his way, and cleave to him, and not forsake him,
he will also not forsake us. This is certainly a sure promise; but
if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Tim. 2:12; Luke 12:9. O how
thoughtless, how unwise, yea, how unmerciful toward their poor souls,
are they, who, because of this little, short suffering, through fear,
forsake the way of life and choose another way according to their
own mind, to escape the cross of Christ, and comfort themselves
with a vain consolation in the way which they have found according
to their own views: whose end is destruction. But, my only dear
brother, do not follow these, for they that are such do not believe
that God is almighty and true. Hence the Scripture says: Woe unto
the faint-hearted! for they believe not; therefore shall they not be
defended. Woe unto them that persevere not! how will it go with them
when the Lord shall visit them? (Sir. 2:13,14,) yea, their part will be
with sorcerers in the lake that shall burn forever. Thus, take courage
with Joshua and Caleb; but you must firmly believe in God’s promises,
even as you believe that God has created heaven and earth by his word;
and you shall then devour all your enemies like bread, and through
patience finish your conflict with the help of God, and take the
promised land by force, for the violent take it by force. Num. 14:9;
Matt. 11:12.
But, dear brother, the apostle testifies, and I unworthy one also,
that we wrestle not only against the rulers of the world, but also
against the spirits that are under heaven (Eph. 6:12), and as Christ
says, that in the latter days many false Christs shall arise. Matt.
24:5,11. This I have also espied for you; for in the time of my faith
many false prophets or false Christians have assailed me; now they came
with this fair appearance, now with another. But the Lord, who would
have all men saved, delivered me from all this and I cleaved to the
word of God, as I heard and accepted it in the beginning; and my faith
weakened not, though many apostatized who had seemed to be the most
valiant. See, thus our faith is tried in many ways, and besides by the
daily conflict that never ceases, for it is a lasting conflict; the
Spirit wars against the flesh, and the flesh against the Spirit. Gal.
5:17. Herein I find myself troubled the most; my own sinful flesh was
my most inveterate enemy, which has cost me many a bitter tear. Satan
thereby sought to sift me as wheat; but now falling, now stumbling, I
have come thus far through the grace of God; for I always struggled up
hard by the grace of the Lord. But what was it, I would so fain have
been perfect, but this weak flesh was always in the way; which must now
suffer, and I hope to offer it up as a burnt sacrifice.
Thus, my dearest brother, I have explained to you a little what
conflict a Christian must wage, namely, against flesh and blood,
against false spirits, who have laid their subtle arrows upon the bow,
to shoot in secret at the pious. Hence take unto you the armor of God;
that you may be able to stand against the subtle assaults of the devil;
and be girded with the girdle of truth: above all, take the shield of
faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked; and have your feet shod, so that you may always be well
prepared for the gospel of peace; and take the helmet of salvation,
the living hope, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God; and pray always with all prayer and supplication. Ephesians
6:13–18. Behold, with these weapons of the Spirit we can overcome,
and then the crown is promised us. But forget not that Jesus Sirach
says: “My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more, but ask God for pardon
for thy former sins. Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent; for
if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof
are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men. All iniquity
is as a two-edged sword, the wounds whereof cannot be healed.” Sir.
21:1–3. Paul, too says: Mortify your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
and covetousness, which is idolatry. In short, live according to the
Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the works of the flesh. Col. 3:5;
Galatians 5:16. To this end the good God grant his grace, that you
may grow up in faith, in love, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ, so that you may become a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ, and thus wait for the coming of
Christ. Eph. 4:13.
O my dear brother, take care for your salvation; the time here is so
short, and eternity is at hand. O heavenly Father, I humbly beseech
thee, that thou wilt keep my only brother from all evil, and sanctify
him in thy name through Christ Jesus, and ever guide him by the Holy
Spirit, that we may rejoice together hereafter. Amen.
Adieu, my only brother on this earth; with Christ I will await you.
I wrote the first page just after I had been tortured; hence it is
somewhat badly written. Now my hand is a little better, but I still
have the marks of the sufferings of Christ; his name be praised forever.
This I have written you in my bonds, the second day of March, A. D.
1572. By me your only brother, unchanged in mind, imprisoned for the
testimony of Christ: hence be of good cheer; the faith is kept, I have
striven unto blood, in the Vuylpoort at Dortrecht.
THE THIRD LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO THE CHURCH OF GOD AT DORTRECHT,
WHO WERE SCATTERED EVERYWHERE FOR THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST.