The eternal merciful God, full of all comfort, grant you, my dearest,
beloved father, and my dearest, venerable mother, his grace through
Christ, and confirm the love of you both through his Holy Spirit; so
that you may pass this short time to the praise of God, as a light to
the world, a pattern, to your children, and to the salvation of your
souls. Amen.
After this my cordial wish, I beseech and exhort your love, that you
henceforth yield your members as weapons of righteousness, and not
as formerly in the old man; but mortify the old Adam; that is, put
off the old man with his evil deeds, and put on the new man, in true
righteousness and holiness, as the holy Scriptures teach, which serve
us to eternal life. Rom. 6:13; Col. 3:9,10.
For his commandment is life everlasting. And remember, how diligently
you walked in the commandments of men, by which they have made the
commandment of God of none effect for themselves; they also worship God
in vain, teaching and observing the commandments of men, which have no
promise in the Scriptures, but shall be rooted up, because our heavenly
Father has not planted them. Yea, the same is accursed by Paul. Gal.
1:8. O that you may now also be found very diligent, yea, much more
diligent yet, in the unadulterated truth of God, which is revealed to
you both through the grace of God, through Christ, in your old age.
O this is such a great joy to me, that the Lord has spared you both
so long, and that I have seen the day that my beloved father, and my
beloved mother, and my only brother (I hope the best in regard to my
dear sisters) have had their blind eyes enlightened, so that they are
now able to distinguish light from darkness, that is, evil from good,
and are determined to forsake that which is evil, and do what is good.
If you go on together in this, and persevere unto the end, I hope that
we shall rejoice with one another in the resurrection of life.
When the righteous shall be raised up, O consider what great gladness
and joy we shall then have, when the dear father, mother, and their
children, shall hear the voice of our Bridegroom, saying: “Come, ye
beloved, and possess the kingdom of my Father. But, dearest father and
mother, brother and sisters, you must first think that Christ before
that said: Narrow is the way and strait is the gate which leadeth unto
eternal life. As the prophet Esdras testifies, who speaks of a city
full of all good things, to which leads a way which is but the width
of a man’s footstep: on one side is water, and on the other fire; how
is one to receive this city for an inheritance, except he first pass
through the strait? 2 Esd. 7:6.
Hence Christ, the supreme Prophet (who could well foresee the
wickedness of the world) said: Ye shall be hated of all men for my
name’s sake, and this because they have known neither me nor the
Father. Matt. 10:22; John 16:3. He further says: Because I have chosen
you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you, for the world
loveth his own. 15:19. Further: If they have kept my saying, they will
keep yours also; if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you; if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much
more shall they call you? 15:20; Matt. 10:25. For the servant is not
better than his lord; hence, he that would follow Christ in order to
get where he is must deny himself, daily take up his cross, and follow
him in affliction, for he further says: “In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John
16:33. Ye shall (he also says in the same chapter) weep and lament, but
the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow
shall be turned into joy, which no man shall be able to take away.
From this it is sufficiently obvious, that the way is very narrow for
the flesh, which must remain here; this must be ventured, or one cannot
be worthy of being a disciple of Christ.
But I trust that with Jacob we shall all desire the beautiful Rachel,
namely, the kingdom of heaven, but this cannot be, we must first have
Leah with her running eyes. For our trying, also the head was tried,
who had done no sin; how then should not the members be tried? for
then only he thoroughly sees whether a man fears, loves and trusts
him from the heart; whether he does not love his life more than his
salvation. Concerning this necessary trial to which many saints of
God were subjected, we have many examples in the holy Scriptures; as
Abel, Jacob, Moses, David, Job, the three young men in the furnace,
Daniel, Susannah, the seven brothers with their mother, many prophets,
apostles, and many saints after them, and also in my time.
Now it is my time, the Lord be praised, for I know that I am unworthy
that I should place myself among this number; but the good, merciful
God counts me worthy, to fulfill the number of the martyrs who rest
in Christ, and are waiting for their number to be fulfilled by those
who should also be slain as they, for the testimony of Christ which
was in them, and is in me, through Christ; which Christ has always,
from the beginning of the world, been despised, evil spoken of, and
cast out. Therefore I suffer for a little while; otherwise there is
nothing for them to take exception to in me; they know nothing evil
to allege against me, the Lord be praised. Hence I suffer now with
Christ, as a Christian, for well doing, that my faith may be found much
more precious than gold which perisheth. Thus does God try his chosen;
but in time of need he faithfully helps us; this (how wonderfully God
works in his chosen) I have experienced in my distress. Yea, I have
very great joy, that he has kept my lips from beginning to end, this
alleviated my sufferings, when my filthy, stinking carcass (evil in
its nature) was suffering, being suspended and scourged two different
times; but now that it is over, I have joy in my heart. The first time
that I was tortured, was the last Saturday in February; and the other
the Wednesday after. But, dearest father and mother, be not dismayed
on this account, but rejoice with me, that we have such a strong God,
who so faithfully helps us; for he fights our battle, he will not let
us be confounded. For, consider the ancient times, whether any one was
ever confounded that trusted in him; for he hears, says David, the cry
of the poor, and their heart is sure that his ears attend unto their
prayer. Thus, firmly believe God’s word, and trust in him, and he will
keep his promise; for this you must know, that though the outward
man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Moreover, our
temporal affliction is brief and light; of this I can now write; and it
works for us a far more exceeding weight of glory, while we look not at
the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
We endure the visible, and wait with joy for the invisible, eternal
joy, in firm confidence and a living hope, which shall not make us
ashamed.
Then shall they who were faithful unto death in the truth, confessed
the name of Christ before the world, and put off the mortal clothing
be crowned; these shall be honored by the young man, Christ Jesus, as
Esdras testifies. 2 Esd. 2:43. Hence, I am of good cheer in the Lord,
be also of good cheer. For when the suffering was over, I was as though
I had had a fall: so that I can say, What is suffering when it is over?
it is not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us. Romans 8:18. O how joyful we shall be when we shall see that the
children of God are such glorious kings, shining forth as the sun. Then
shall the rulers of this world see whom they have pierced, whom they
have mocked, despised and tortured; then they shall bewail it, but it
shall then be too late. Hence I beseech you, be resigned, and thank
the Lord, that you have raised such a son who is called to such a holy
state.
It is no wonder, that this happens to me; consider John, than whom a
holier has not been born of women, and who lived so austere a life,
but yet was imprisoned and put to death; yea, Christ himself, Stephen,
Peter, James, who did so many miracles, and so many good works, and
were nevertheless put to death. Hence Christ says: The servant is not
better than his lord. Thus there must be striving, and the kingdom of
God must be taken by force, for the violent take it by force; for we
are called, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him,
and to help bear the sufferings and reproach of Christ. Though our
earthly tabernacle perish, we doubtless expect a better in heaven. We
are as sheep for the slaughter; who are not worthy of the world, we
are to them filth, offscouring, and fools, for Christ’s sake; but we
are God’s elect out of grace, through the blood of Jesus Christ, which
alone cleanses us from all our sins, who alone by his sufferings and
merits makes us worthy of his eternal kingdom; to him be praise, glory,
honor and power for ever and ever. Amen. By me your beloved son, after
I had striven unto blood against my enemies, this first day of March,
A. D. 1572.
My suffering sounds fearful, but I do not think that it lasted more
than two hours in all. I do not know that I was in torture two hours;
should one therefore deny the Lord? God forbid!
Finally, I pray your love, that you mourn not for me, but rejoice from
the heart, and praise God, that he separated your firstborn son from
the womb, to bear his great and glorious name before the rulers of the
world, and that the faithful God has so faithfully helped me. for I
was scourged thrice, and suspended four times. But Christ had suffered
still more. And after the suffering I received great joy of the Holy
Ghost, yea, that I wept for joy, because he has kept our lips, and does
not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able to bear. I have
deemed it necessary to write of those wonderful deeds of God, and to
spread them, in order that you should also become bold in the truth;
and I leave you this as a testament in remembrance of me, that the
Spirit of God, which makes me strong and bold, may also thus confirm
and lead you according to his will, who created you, and that you may
love each other: for if you loved each other, and lived peaceably,
when you were in blindness, how much more ought you to love each other,
and to live peaceably, now that your eyes are enlightened through the
grace of God. And always pray the Lord, to give you still more grace,
which he will also do; if you are found faithful in the little which
you have already received, he will trust you with still more. Yea, he
will give the Holy Ghost to all who ask him for it; but one must first
depart from evil, deny himself, and say with Paul: “Lord, what wilt
thou have me do?” When the heart is thus entirely surrendered, the Lord
will further work and fulfill in you, because there is a good will in
you. And always humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and he
shall exalt you in due time, as he has promised in many places; so
that we may together be exalted by Christ our eternal Savior, whither
I will now go before, and will much rather first give the mortal
mantle of flesh, than that I should consent to the whore of Babylon.
I will rather be slain by Cain, than on his account leave undone that
which is pleasing to God. I will rather be stoned with Naboth, than
sell my heavenly Father’s inheritance, as Esau sold his birthright.
Rather be stoned with Susannah, than do the will of the false rulers.
Rather go with Daniel in the lion’s den, than that I should kneel
down before wood, stone, gold, silver, bread, wine, or oil. Rather
go with the young men in the fiery furnace, than worship the image,
which was set up, since it is written, that the Lord God alone is to
be worshiped. Deut. 6. May the same purify you, my much beloved father
and my much beloved mother, and through Christ his beloved Son, and
the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, make you meet for his eternal
kingdom, so that we may hereafter in the future world see one another
with eternal joy. O heavenly Father, I who am but dust and ashes,
beseech thee here in my bonds, through Jesus Christ, grant hereunto thy
unfathomable grace. Amen.
Adieu in this transient world. O that you knew what joy I have; you
would, I hope, be still more resigned. Finished this second day of
March, My hand is somewhat better again; I bear in my body the marks
of our Lord. The faith is kept. I have striven unto blood; in this the
holy name of the Lord be glorified forever. Amen.
JAN WOUTERSS VAN KUYCK.
Imprisoned in the Vuylpoort, at Dortrecht.
THE EIGHTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, WHO WAS
STILL AMONG THE PAPISTS, AND IN THE ROMISH FAITH.
Affectionately written to you, my much beloved sister Neelken, Jacob’s
daughter, mother in the convent: I Jan Wouterss van Kuyck, your beloved
brother-in-law, imprisoned at Dortrecht, not for any evil, but for the
obedience of the gospel of Christ; which is no shame before my supreme
Lord, who created us, but a great honor to him, that one for his name’s
sake, yea, for well doing, endures contempt and bloody stripes;
such are accounted blessed by the holy Scriptures, which blessedness
[salvation] Christ has merited by his great sufferings.
And since I sought my salvation in Christ, I have fallen into
affliction, but I do therefore not regret it, for salvation is dearer
to me than this transitory life, and I will give my life for it,
knowing and believing that I shall, according to God’s promises, which
will not fail, receive an eternal one, which is better.
Hence, I beseech you most affectionately, grieve not on my account; I
thank you very kindly for all the great friendship you have shown me
and my dearest wife, and also my only daughter, and which you may have
further shown while I have been in bonds.
Henceforth I know of no greater friendship to show you, my beloved
sister; than that I must at my end invite you yet to the marriage
of the Lamb, which is Christ; yea, heartily entreat you, to prepare
yourself for it during this short time. Hence put off the old man
with his evil deeds, and put on the new man, which is renewed in the
knowledge of God, of him that created him. Put off the old Adam, and
put on the new, and walk therein, and you shall henceforth not be
conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Col. 3:9,10; Rom. 12:2.
See, beloved sister, I declare to you with the holy Scriptures, that
you cannot come to Christ, the bridegroom, unless you sincerely follow
him in his footsteps, in the narrow way which he walked; and I pray
you, lay it to heart, for it is of great importance to you. I say and
declare unto you, that neither you nor any one (I do not mean infants)
can follow Christ, except you first deny yourself and deliver up to him
your own understanding, reasons, opinions, and your own life, even as
he delivered up his life for us, that all who believe in him, and do
not live to themselves, should not perish, but have everlasting life
through him. Suffer to be told and have mercy on yourself, and trust
not in the learned or that you bear the name of a Christian; to the
learned, God’s wisdom is hid, and the name does not make a Christian.
But if you would nevertheless trust in the learned, perceive by their
fruits what kind of trees they are, as Christ taught, that every tree
shall be known by his fruit. Consider how Christ condemns them in the
gospel, and how they were enraged against Christ and his apostles,
and how they laid hands on them; and though the heathen judges found
no cause of death, yet they had to put to death the innocent, if they
wished to remain the friends of the scribes and of Cæsar. Thus it is
still; think not that it is better now; they fill up the measure of
their fathers, that the righteous blood may be found on them. I have
worked or labored for my necessities, for my widow, and for my orphan
child; they will not work themselves and rather live off that which
is other people’s, and cannot bear that another works; hence the
Bailiff forbids me to work, on their account. Again, when I was to be
tortured the second time, in order that I should betray my neighbor,
which I could not do, on account of my conscience, they brought to
me the superior, who was to prove to me with the Scriptures that I
might do it. The superior said that I might do it, for, said he, “If
you are the true people, your fellow brethren will with you receive
the martyr’s crown. How can one attain to greater honor: hence you may
name them. But since you are not the true people, you ought to name
them, for God hates the wicked.” This the superior said to me. O dear,
consider in your heart what spirit actuates these learned men, how
they expound--the ultimate object is nothing but murder. O dear Lord,
forgive them. Thou teachest us better, namely, to love our neighbor as
ourselves, yea, to lay down our lives for the brethren. Hence separate
from them, you have long been one with them; lest you partake of their
sins and abominable plagues.
It is now, out of great love, declared to you beforehand, by your very
familiar brother-in-law, before that day comes upon you as a thief in
the night; as the warning came in the first world, so it does still.
Hence, if you would with Noah and his house be saved and protected,
betake yourself under the protection of the true Noah, and observe his
commandment, which is life everlasting; he calls you and all men; he
knocks; he stretches out his hand to you; refuse him no longer, and
do not rely on this, that you are called a Christian, and that God
is merciful. Remember with it, that neither the name, nor the water,
nor the sponsors make a Christian, but he that doeth righteousness
is righteous; they that are led by the Spirit of Christ are his. And
remember also, that God is just, as David declares, saying: God is a
righteous God, or a righteous judge, and God is angry with the wicked
every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword, he hath bent his
bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments
of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. Psalm
7:11–13. Attend well unto every word, for he is a strong archer when he
lets fly his arrow, none can evade him. Hence consider his arrows which
he let fly at the first world, at Sodom, Gomorrah and others. These
accounts have been left us in writing that we should fear the word
of the Lord more than the aforesaid learned men; and if we, through
fear and love, observe his commandments, then the word, that God is
merciful, will avail for us. For his divine nature is such, that his
wrath and his mercy proceed together from him, and this on this wise,
that if the righteous forsake the way of the Lord, his righteousness
shall not be mentioned, but he shall die for the sake of the blasphemy.
Ezekiel 18:24.
Again, if the sinner turns away from his evil ways, does that which is
good and right, and walks in the way of the Lord, his sins shall be
remembered no more, for the Lord has no pleasure in the death of the
sinner, but that he turn from his way and live. Ezek. 18:21; 34:11.
Hence I beseech you, that you will free yourself from all the ways of
the world, of the carefulness, and of the old things, of which your
heart may be full; so that the word of God may be planted in you with
meekness and you may be found good earth bringing forth fruit abiding
unto life eternal. God’s judgment is now declared that every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the
fire. Matthew 7:19. Let therefore the hammer of the divine word break
your heart into pieces; remember the words of the prophet: “Rend your
hearts, and not your garments: for God is long-suffering and merciful,
and of great kindness, who forgiveth sin.” Joel 2:13; Ps. 103:3. Hence,
dear sister, remember that the long-suffering and daily kindness invite
you to salvation; refuse it no longer, for thereby you would wrong your
own self. Therefore amend your life and ways, and believe and obey the
gospel and you shall be saved through Christ, for this is the promise,
even eternal life. 1 John 2:25. But if you want to continue in the
ordinances of men, and to be led thereby as the ox to the slaughter,
you will find yourself deceived in the end; for in vain do you observe
the commandments of men, which have no promise from the Lord, as I
also said to the superior. He said that what God has not forbidden he
permits. O is this not a feeble reed in which to trust; but Christ
teaches differently, saying: “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath
not planted shall be rooted up.” Matt. 15:13. And the apostle says that
no other foundation can be laid, than Christ alone. 1 Cor. 3:11: In
the second place the apostle has declared all the counsel of God and
withheld nothing from us. Acts 20:27.
In the third place, he says: If any preach any other gospel than I have
preached, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:8. Yea, though it were an angel
from heaven (mark well) yet his doctrine must not be received, if it is
anything different. How should we receive for the purpose of honoring
God with it, that which has proceeded from men, who are prone to
wickedness from the cradle, and drink iniquity like water? Hence, what
man institutes is like the labor of the spider; it can be used neither
for covering, nor for clothing; but every one that hears and keeps the
word of God for his salvation need add nothing to it.
Finally, I declare unto you once more in the name of my Lord: Amend
your life and ways, believe the gospel, and flee idolatry. But if
you yet think that you do not worship them, it is at least evident,
that you serve them, kneel before them, and honor them, which God has
forbidden, who requires his true statutes to be kept, and says by the
prophet Jeremiah: “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall
be my people.” Jeremiah 7:23. And another prophet: “A son honoreth his
father, and a servant his master: if I then be a father, where is mine
honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear?” Mal. 1:6. Hence, if God
is our Father, we must obey him more than men; if he is our Lord, we
must honor him with that which he commands us. Then if we be reproached
we will think: The servant is not better than his lord; if they have
called the master of the house Beelzebub, why should they not call
them of his household so? In short, he that would follow Christ to his
marriage feast, must deny himself, take up the cross, and prepare his
heart to suffer with Christ, in order afterwards to rejoice with him.
And this suffering is short, hence it is light: do not on this account
remain behind. The Lord will help me and all the godfearing through,
and he will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to
bear, but will help you to triumph, though your enemies be never so
many; God is our shield, who can overcome him? Dear beloved sister,
it is nothing strange that I suffer; it is a sign that the Lord loves
me, and I count it for my salvation. He tries me as gold is tried in
the fire; thus he tried many chosen saints of God before my time, as
Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Caleb, Joshua, Daniel, John the Baptist who was
the holiest of those born of women; Christ himself and his apostles,
and others, were tried, as Job; but if we adhere to the Lord in
temptation, the crown of eternal life is ready for us.
Herewith I will conclude this letter, kindly asking you not to reject
my humble labor to you, which I have done out of great friendship.
Search the Scriptures in regard to these things, and see whether they
are not so. If you cannot understand or comprehend it, I kindly ask
you, love your dear sister nevertheless, for she has been to me a very
affectionate and faithful wife, so that I cannot thank her enough for
her friendship and good company. Likewise love our only daughter, for
I think that she has prolonged her beloved mother’s life, the Lord be
praised. But do not lead our child to dumb idols; by so doing you would
sin still more against God. Take my letter in good part; for it has
been done out of a faithful heart. O Lord, grant our beloved sister
thy holy knowledge, as thou didst to Saul, who also had a zeal without
knowledge.
Herewith I bid you, my beloved sister, adieu. Farewell.
Written in my bonds, on the fifth day of March, A. D. 1572. By me, your
beloved brother-in-law, (in the Vuylpoort at Dortrecht).
JAN WOUTERSS KUYCK.
THE NINTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS YOUNGEST THREE SISTERS.