must still walk in this pilgrimage; always trim and fill your lamp
in simplicity with oil, and keep it constantly burning, and thus
with patience wait for your Comforter the Bridegroom. Then he shall
for a little season of faithfulness bid you a glorious and joyful
welcome; for he has opened the way, for you and all believers, who use
diligence, and add to their faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to
knowledge, temperance; to temperance, patience; to patience, godliness;
to godliness, brotherly kindness; to brotherly kindness, charity. If
these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither
be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar
off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Hence
Peter further admonishes: Wherefore the rather give diligence to make
your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things (mark),
ye shall never fall (mark still more): for so an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 1:5–11.
O it is very evident from this, how one falls, and how one gets into
the way of life; hence, diligence is a good thing. For David says:
“Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently!” Psalm 119:4.
And Paul says: “Be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit.”
Rom. 12:11. He further writes: These things I will that thou affirm
constantly, that they which have believed in God may excel in good
works. Tit. 3:8.
O how well it goes when one heeds this! He further also says: O that it
were the will of God, that those whom I have instructed might minister
to the furtherance of the truth of the Gospel, and become diligent
in the works of eternal life. O they who lay to heart these divine
Scriptures of admonition and warning, will not easily grow weary; when
others will halt, they will go on with a faithful heart, as long as
they can draw breath, and constantly make no account of what they do,
because of the divine nature that is in them, which love is without
measure. Namely, when one considers in his heart, that Christ, by his
great agony of death made us dead men alive, and delivered us from the
power of the devil, and translated us into the kingdom of Christ; that
he has taken and chosen us poor sinners from so many thousands, and
enlightened us. When they shall go into eternal fire, we shall go into
everlasting joy, and our vile body shall be like unto Christ’s glory.
O who can tell that great joy which shall endure forever? Every one
who truly tastes said love and goodness of God does not easily weary
in well doing; the same, Paul also says, shall reap without ceasing.
Gal. 6:9. And Christ says: “A good tree bringeth forth good fruit.”
Matt. 7:17. He also says: “They that have done good shall arise unto
the resurrection of eternal life.” John 5:29; Dan. 12:2. O my very dear
and beloved wife, though I must now leave you, and see you no more, yet
by the grace of the Lord I hope to see you in the resurrection, but
with a glorious and incorruptible body. Therefore, my dearest lamb,
always go on in virtue, according to your ability, as I trust with
all my heart, my dearest, you will do. Hold fast the truth wherein
you stand through the grace of God; for it is the right truth, and
there shall no other be found: of this I am sure in my heart. Hence
be firmly rooted therein, that you may be able to stand against all
tempests, and not fall through persecution, or through being robbed of
your goods, or your beloved, nor through false Christs, of whom, alas!
there are many abroad, who disturb and deceive many hearts and minds,
under the semblance of truth, which is adulterated by them; so that
much bitterness has sprung up, and love has waxed cold in a very great
measure.
Yea, I fear, that it will go yet as Christ says: “When the Son of man
shall come, will he find believers on the earth?” Luke 18; 8. O my
most beloved wife, I can no longer watch over you by the help of the
Lord, nor strive for you; strive now for yourself, with earnest prayer
to God. He will not forsake you, though I must leave you. Trust firmly
in him, and always adhere unwaveringly to the doctrine of Christ.
Fulfill that which you have heard and accepted, in the fear of God,
and you shall have eternal life; for God is able to perform and to
accomplish the same good work which he has begun in you, without delay.
Finally, be strong in the Lord, through the power of his might, and be
well armed against all adversity, and you shall triumph by the help of
the Lord. Set your affection on divine things, and overcome that which
is human. Col. 3:2. And I beseech you as affectionately as I can, be
resigned in the Lord, and constantly be mindful of your redemption, and
of the treasure that surpasses all treasures, which has been given you
out of grace; and have in constant remembrance the glorious promises;
and I hope by the grace of the Lord, that the bitter cup and the bitter
water Mara, which you must now also drink for the Gospel’s sake, will
be, in a measure, sweetened. For, my dearest, you are certainly well
aware that these are our meat and promises, and that ever since we
accepted the truth we expected to become a spoil to every one; for
the servant is not better than his lord, and we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And consider, from Abel to
the present time, how the righteous had to suffer. The Scriptures must
certainly be fulfilled; for if I were not apprehended, nor another,
how should the number of the martyrs under the altar be fulfilled? for
they wait for the fulfillment. Hence console yourself, my dearest, and
comfort one another; for I suppose when one weeps the other weeps too.
For I can comfort you with the holy word of the Lord; and I am still
more assured that I am not a bastard, because the merciful Father has
been pleased to chasten me poor, sinful man, and to receive me unworthy
one as his dear son; his will be done. Therefore pray, and cause prayer
to be made for me, that I may with my death praise the name of the
Lord, to the edification, emboldening and joy of my neighbor, for a
light to the world, for the awakening of those who are still in the
sleep of sin, and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.
I must also inform you, my dearest on earth, that it is a great
alleviation to me in my bonds, that you are not in custody. O I also
cannot fully thank my God on account of our poor little daughter, who
saw her father bound, as though he were a murderer; however, the strong
and faithful God gave me such grace, that I was hardly frightened at
all, only I said: “O my lords, why do you bind me thus, as though
I were a wicked man?” “O,” said they, “you inflict this upon you
yourself;” hence there was much lamenting among them. When he asked me
concerning you, I spoke in a very loud tone to the Bailiff, in order
that you should flee, so greatly was I concerned for you. The Lord be
praised, that he so graciously chastens me.
O dearest lamb, you were certainly very near, as may be imagined, if
one leaves the cloak behind and flees without it. Now, dearest, be of
good cheer; true, you leave more yet; but if you leave much you shall
receive much. And always possess yourself in patience, and you shall
by the grace of the Lord overcome everything that comes upon you;
for patience is a special gift of God. Patience is the Christian’s
strength; this I, unworthy one, have discovered indeed, and I also
experience it best in my bonds which I suffer for Christ’s sake. I
cannot fully thank his grace for his consolation. I experience how a
man feels that is not imprisoned for any evil doing. I experience the
Lord’s faithfulness, which he has promised his own. I trusted in his
word, that he would keep it, before I was apprehended; for the Lord
says: “Though a mother forget the son of her womb, yet will I not
forget thee.” Isa. 49:15. He is certainly the strength of the poor, and
a true helper in time of need.
O I was in hopes that I should alone seal it with my blood; but another
weak lamb has fallen into the hands of the wolves, and this very
strangely. One would have thought that she was certainly not in much
danger. She came into my masters’ house, and was held. When my time
was fulfilled, I also fell into their hands; I believe that the good
God has ordered it so for my salvation; for he knows better than I,
what is necessary for me; hence his will be done. O my dearest, be also
resigned thus, and offer me up, your most beloved, into the will of
the Lord, as is our daily prayer; for I had many times before prayed
the Lord, that he should give me, and let come upon us, what is for my
salvation. I therefore see that the Lord wants to take me away from the
evil to come, and to bring me into rest; for he that loves the Lord
and the church from the heart is seldom without sorrow of heart, but
frequently in travail. But now, I am also ofttimes, it seems to me,
like a woman in travail, when I think of your and my daughter’s grief,
and of the sorrow of my old father and my old mother; then I indeed
could cry, but the Lord gives me consolation again by his Holy Spirit;
praise to him forever. Amen.
I further cannot forbear, but must greatly thank you, my dearest, only
wife, for having been such a dear, faithful wife to me, for more than
nine years; the time has passed away so rapidly, that I am surprised. I
have had such joy in my heart because of your love, that I could never
fully thank the Lord for his grace; yea, I thought, that though the
hairs of my head and the grass of the earth were tongues, I could not
fully thank his goodness: I should remain his debtor. But however much
I loved you, I had to limit it, in order that if it should come to what
it has now come, I might overcome the parting.
Again, I loved my daughter rather more than I showed; I dared not set
my affection too much upon her, in order that when I should have to
part from her, as the Lord has ordered in regard to me, unworthy one,
the bitter parting should not overcome me. But now that the Lord has
called me to this state, I will commit you both, my dearest lambs,
to the Lord of lords, and beseech his grace to keep you both from the
evil, and to bring you into his everlasting kingdom. Amen.
But, alas! I have often regretted, and do still regret, that I,
miserable, man have not walked more holy and perfectly with you.
Do as I would, I always fell far short; so that I did not struggle
through all the years of my faith without stumbling or falling. But
the rich God, seeing my good intention, according to his mercy lifted
me up again, for he is willing to forgive, as I also gladly forgive,
and his promise is sure: If we forgive men their trespasses, he will
also forgive us our trespasses. Matt. 6:14. When I thus felt my own
deficiency, it caused me to keep myself in humility, and to bow myself
under the mighty hand of God, and it was an admonition to me to be
zealous in my calling. While I was in a good determination, the Lord of
lords came, for which eternal praise be to him; and I often pray him to
forgive those who named, delivered, and apprehended me; I forgive them
all. O my beloved wife, this I must also heartily pray you yet, that
you will likewise thus forgive them that have sinned against me, and
caused your grief; for if you forgave not, I think you should prevent
the Lord your and my God from forgiving your debt; hence I beseech you
to forgive it from the heart. And pray for them that afflict you, and
you will be a good sister in Christ. Make God your debtor, and he will
also forgive your debt; for we need daily forgiveness, because we are
frail.
But I am also daily afflicted in this, that our dear church--many poor
souls--are scattered so, and must wander about in foreign countries,
yea, some of them having nothing to lay hold of, and yet the poor
children must be fed. O there is a lack of cheerful givers in this
distressing time.
Nothing special further for this time; but I commend you now and
forever to the Lord, and to the rich word of his grace, who is so
able to keep you from the evil, and to bring you into his everlasting
kingdom. Amen. I greet you most affectionately in the Lord with the
kiss of love and peace, and this in the heart, as present with you in
spirit. Bid our beloved daughter much good night in my name, and tell
her to comfort her mother, and if she is an obedient daughter, learns
diligently to read, and then also to write, and then helps her dear
mother to gain a livelihood, I shall love her. Greet much in my name,
in the Lord, all the godfearing that ask you concerning me; tell them
to be of good cheer all of them, and to hope and trust in the Lord, for
his hand is not shortened, this I now realize. Let therefore no one
fear mortal man, but much rather the immortal God. I have confessed the
faith, not sought my life, freely and openly confessed Christ before
this sinful people, for a testimony unto them, that they may have no
excuse to make in the day of Christ.
The Bailiff asked me, whether I would not renounce my faith; that they
would then give me back my liberty, so that I could gain a livelihood
for my wife and child as before: “you are yet a young man,” said he,
“you can raise children yet, and increase the world.” I answered,
that I did not wish to renounce. The Bailiff said: “Do you not want
to live, then?” “Yes, my lord, but I will not renounce my faith for
anything in the world.” In going he said that I erred; he would prove
to me from history, that the doctrine which I said in the time of the
apostles was called the sect of the Nazarenes, is openly contradicted;
you must see that our faith has existed for so many centuries, and been
handed down from generation to generation. I said, “I do not look at
the years, but at the truth.” Thus we parted.
Go not around much with my letter, lest I lose my liberty [of writing];
the Lord be praised for it. If any one feel constrained by love to
write a little, send it; put into it, a little color, and soil it
a little, and it will be noticed the less. Write me how you and
my daughter are; send it with color, or some spice, if it be only
fennel seed, or a piece of cake; it shall be acceptable to me. Salute
cordially your brother and his wife.
THE SIXTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS ONLY DAUGHTER IN PARTICULAR.
The eternal, almighty, good God, who by his word created heaven and
earth, and the sea, and all that therein is, be with you. Because
I sought him in my simplicity, for the salvation of my soul, I am
imprisoned by his enemies, which I will forgive them. But though I am
imprisoned, and have also suffered for it, I have never yet regretted
that I sought, in my simplicity, my salvation; for unto salvation I am
created through Jesus Christ, unto good works, that I should walk in
them, and hereafter arise to everlasting life. Eph. 2:10; John 5:29.
Therefore, my only daughter, attend to the instruction of your beloved
father. Thus, what I tell you according to the Scriptures is this:
Consider the wickedness of the world, the learned with the magistrates,
and their adherents, how they shed the innocent blood; they are called
spirituals and Christians. Hence I beseech you, my dearest daughter,
do not follow them, for they walk not in the right way, to this I bear
witness. And read the holy Scriptures, and when you have attained your
years, consider and ponder it well; and pray the Lord for understanding
then, and you shall be able to discern good from evil, lies from truth,
the way of perdition, and the narrow way that leads unto eternal
life. And when you then see pomp, boasting, dancing, lying, cheating,
cursing, swearing, quarreling, fighting, and other wickedness, such
as drinking to intoxication, kneeling down before wood, stone, gold,
silver, or bread, think then: This is not the right way, these are
not the works of Christians, as the holy Scriptures teach. Such works
proceed not from the Spirit of God, but from the spirit of Satan. The
Scriptures testify that they are Christ’s who have the Spirit of Christ
or are led by the same. Rom. 8:9,14. And in order that you may be found
a true Christian, do not follow those people; follow them not, though
they allure you in an inviting manner, and promise you fine things;
do not regard that, but depart from the broad way on which they are,
that you do not become a partaker of their eternal plagues. Consider
the examples of the Scriptures in regard to this, which happened in the
first world; for all who had departed from God, and did not believe
Noah’s preaching, and did not regard his words, were drowned. Likewise,
Sodom and Gomorrah, who daily vexed righteous Lot; they who would not
go out with him, were burned. Thus it shall also go with those who do
not believe the true Noah, that is, Christ Jesus; for he preached it
in this world, saying first: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand. Mark 1:15. Even as Noah had warned and preached, before the
flood came, so Christ preached, and caused his apostles to preach,
repentance, and still causes it to be done daily, by me, unworthy one,
your beloved father, and by other servants of Christ. But what does it
avail them? not many repent; they remain with the great multitude; we
are lightly esteemed, for we are a plain, small and unlearned people.
But Christ could well foresee the hardness of the people; hence he says
in the Gospel: As it was in the days, or times, of Noah; they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until Noe entered
into the ark; so shall it also be in the coming of the Son of man, that
is, Jesus Christ. Matt. 24:37. Then shall the day of the Lord be as a
burning oven. Mal. 4:1. Crying and lamenting will then avail wicked,
unbelieving men nothing, for then there shall be no time to obtain
grace. But now is the acceptable time, the day of salvation, now is the
time of grace, the jubilee of the Lord, until the terrible day of the
Lord comes. Is. 49:8; Deuteronomy 15:1. Then he shall say to those who
would not believe the gospel, but followed the multitude: Depart, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
But to those who followed him in this life unto the end, he shall say:
“Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:41,34.
Thus, my dearest daughter, lay it to heart, despise it not, for it
is of great importance to you; and diligently search (when you have
received understanding from the Lord) the holy Scriptures, and you will
find, that we must follow Christ Jesus, and obey him unto the end;
and you will also truly find the little flock who follow Christ. And
this is the sign: they lead a penitent life; they avoid that which is
evil, and delight in doing what is good; they hunger and thirst after
righteousness: they are not conformed to the world; they crucify their
sinful flesh more and more every day, to die unto sin, which wars in
their members; they strive and seek after that which is honest and of
good report; they do evil to no one; they pray for their enemies; they
do not resist their enemies; their words are yea that is yea, and nay
that is nay; their word is their seal; they are sorry that they do
not constantly live more holily, for which reason they often sigh and
weep. Let not this, however, be the only sign by which you may know
who follows Christ; but [they are] also these, namely: who bear the
cross of Christ, for he says: “If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23.
For he has said: If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you. John 15:20. But now some one might say, and persuade people,
that he said this to his apostles. But the apostle Paul declares to
them and says that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12. The prophet, also, says that he that
takes up the truth becomes every one’s prey; for that which is pure
and clear cannot come forth. Is. 59:15. Hereby you may understand, my
dear daughter, who follow Christ, to be saved through him. Beware of
sin, that you do not commit it; and join these cross-bearers, that you
may come to Christ, who bore the cross for us; for we must follow his
footsteps, and be like our Lord, the disciple like his master; and as
we suffer with him, so shall we forever rejoice with him. But, my only
daughter, whom I love from the heart, I beseech you, fear not this
present suffering, so that you do not, on this account, forbear to seek
your salvation; this would be too great a folly; for now that I have
suffered the same, I say with the apostle, that the suffering which
comes upon us for Christ’s sake is light and temporal, and works for us
an exceeding weight of glory. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in
us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ, and he always helps
us to triumph, so that we keep the faith in a pure conscience; for it
is blessed, says the apostle, if we endure stripes for well doing.
Hence rejoice, that your dear father has suffered and endured threats,
contempt and stripes for well doing; I say for well doing, because I
would not with the world walk the broad way to everlasting torment,
which all shall receive who do not turn and follow Christ in the narrow
way. The word of Christ is always the judge; hence let no one think
hard of me. John 12:48.
In the second place I also suffered because I loved my neighbor as
myself, and would not name him. Be therefore resigned, and always think
that your beloved father did not suffer as a thief or murderer, but
as a Christian, of which I need not be ashamed, nor need you; but let
them be ashamed themselves who do evil; one need not be ashamed of that
which is good. Though we are despised of men, who perish like grass,
and vanish as a vapor, what care we for mortal man: if we only please
the immortal God, all is well, for he will praise us. The praise of men
is perishable. Hence we do not regard it, and look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; after these we
follow and strive, and choose with Moses rather to suffer affliction
with the children of God, than to live in the lusts of the world, for
we have respect to the reward of Christ. Thither I will now go before,
and wait for you and your dear mother a little while. Hence I pray you
very affectionately, my dearest, only daughter, take the words of my
letter to heart, so that you seek your salvation with all your heart,
in following Christ. He will help you as well as he helps me, and has
helped others who lived in my time and before. Christ is the way to
eternal life; hence keep his commandment, which is life everlasting.
John 12:50.
I further pray you, my dearest daughter, that you first of all love
and obey your dear, beloved mother. If your beloved mother gets to be
an aged woman, always show her great honor; and always do your best
with her; it is a commandment of the Lord which has a promise. For if
you do not love your dearest, beloved mother, how can you love our
dear Lord, whom you do not see. But I hope and trust, my only, dear
daughter, that you will do the best; and I was very glad to hear in my
bonds, that you conduct yourself so well, and are so resigned. Thank
the Lord, that he has spared your beloved mother, so that you should
get along better. But, as the time of the saints, of the prophets, of
Christ, the apostles, and other saints, is fulfilled, so my time is
also now being fulfilled, according to the providence of God, that I
should henceforth rest in Christ. Thus I go the way of the prophets and
apostles, believing what the holy Scriptures say, that Christ Jesus
alone is our Savior, and seeking to be saved by his blood, his merits,
and his sufferings alone. Many evil things are said of us, of not one
of which are we guilty; but we must suffer all for Christ’s sake, and
take his kingdom by force, for the violent take it by force. Matt.
11:12. Our enduring all things is our power and force, and by patience,
meekness and longsuffering we can get through everything by the help
of the Lord. May he grant you, my beloved daughter, and your dearest
mother, the same patient, good spirit, to overcome in all tribulation
which you have together, or may yet have, for the name of the Lord, to
his praise and your soul’s salvation. Amen.
Herewith, adieu in this wicked world, and be of good cheer together.
Written and completed this 4th of March, A. D. 1572. By me your beloved
father, imprisoned at Dortrecht for the obedience of Christ, and this
to the praise of God. Amen.
O merciful heavenly Father, who hast so specially chosen and loved me
unworthy one, I, who am but dust and ashes, commend to you my dearest
wife and my dearest, only daughter.
Written by me in bonds, at Dortrecht.
JAN WOUTERSS KUYCK.