beloved imprisoned brother, imprisoned for well-doing, and for the
obedience of the gospel, which is no shame to me before the Almighty,
who has created us, but is a great honor to him, for his power is
made manifest through us poor men, who suffer and endure stripes and
contempt for his name’s sake, and adhere nevertheless to the truth.
Hence we do not regard these wicked men, who are nothing but dust and
ashes, and shall vanish away as a vapor; but they that do the will of
God shall abide forever. Though our earthly tabernacle perish, which
must perish once, we look with patience for a better one in heaven,
which is imperishable. And since we are assured of this in our hearts,
we faint not, willing to be freed from this vile flesh, which is prone
to sin from infancy and to be at home, resting with Christ our Lord.
But before we attain to this rest, we must first labor a little and
fight against our enemies, who have been, and are still, very many.
Understand this well, we get through this, and this through him who
strengthens us, which is Christ our Lord, who fights for us, so that we
keep the faith, and see our desire upon our enemies; and we can rejoice
in our sufferings, because of the victory which we obtain through
Christ. And striving thus, we enter into rest. Yes, our dear Lord so
strengthened me, that I was not disturbed by all the torturing. It
seemed to me that I could embrace the Bailiff, so friendly was my heart
towards him, when I was not yet dressed after the torture.
See, my dear, beloved sisters, I have discovered it for you in advance;
that the Lord of lords is a faithful helper in time of need. Hence I
beseech you together, fear not men, but this almighty Lord; for they
cannot harm one hair of the people of God, except they first receive
the power from our Lord on high, and he will not permit them more than
we are able to bear, and will always with the temptation make a way to
escape so that we shall be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13. The souls of
the righteous are ever in the hand of God, and the torment of death
shall not touch them. Wis. 3:1. He is able to alleviate the pain, as he
did to me. Praise to him forever for his great faithfulness. Amen.
Mark thereby the wonderful deeds of God, that he so faithfully helps
them that believe and firmly trust in him, whom they yet do not see.
Hence I know of no greater friendship to show you for this time, than
to reveal to you the wonderful deeds of God, that you may rejoice
therein with me, and that you may also be awakened to your salvation,
to seek it alone in Christ Jesus, through his holy word, which teaches
us, in the first place, repentance, and to believe in the gospel, in
which Christ has said: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and
drink for nought. He that believeth on me, as the Scriptures hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This spake he of
the Holy Spirit which they that believed on Christ should receive. John
7:37. Hence I entreat you most affectionately, to betake yourselves
to the clear wine Christ Jesus; you shall receive it without price.
Hence, constantly lead a penitent life, and pray with a longing heart
for saving faith; so hunger and long to receive it from Christ, as you
would long to receive bread, when you are hungry; and you shall receive
it, and shall bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit, namely, love,
peace, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance and thus in all the virtues you are to approve yourselves
in obedience and in a meek and quiet spirit, as dear children of God,
and always prepare and adorn yourselves thereto, and not with gold,
silver, or costly apparel, for thereby one conforms to the world, to
please her. But I counsel you for the best, that you do not do these
things, lest you be punished with the world by the future judge, Jesus
Christ, whom they despised and cast out, together with the prophets,
apostles, and many saints, and also your brethren. Hence do not seek to
please the wicked world, but him who created you, that you may be saved
through Jesus Christ.
Hence exercise yourselves and read the word of the Lord, which will
profit you in all things, how you may walk circumspectly in order to
please the living God, and to be saved. And then the Spirit of Christ
will guide you into all things, and you shall yourselves be taught of
God. And he shall with the finger of his Holy Spirit write inwardly
upon the tables of your heart.
Therefore always hearken to him, and you shall be his friends, yea,
he shall be your brother; and if you follow him to the end, you
shall possess what Christ possesses. Thither I will now go before,
and wait for you there a short time, hoping that you will follow for
your salvation’s sake. When then our beloved father, and our beloved
mother, my dearest and beloved wife, and my dear, only child, my only
brother, my dear, beloved sisters, and other familiar friends, when
we shall meet together (as I hope) in God’s kingdom, what greater joy
could we have? Hence take heed that this do not fail us, and that none
of us be found to remain without. Love one another; set one another a
good example; let each seek to be the first in good works and in the
fruits of faith. Be diligent in reading, and warn one another against
sin, for the other, crooked serpent[331] is very subtle in drawing
off, and in exhibiting the lusts of the world, thereby to allure you,
in order to keep you from God. He will lay his ambushes and manifold
nets and snares; but continue always steadfastly in the fear of God,
and do not listen to him, and he will flee from you; and think how he
deceived Eve and Adam, and the whole first world, with the exception
of eight persons. And it is still the same spirit; hence keep diligent
watch, often resort to fasting and prayer, and always live soberly,
that your flesh do not overcome you; for this is the worst enemy, for
wherever we be, he is always with us, and is constantly advising us to
evil. He ever strives against the Spirit; for it is very painful to
the flesh, that it cannot fulfill its lust, and that it is subjugated
by the Spirit. But, dearest sisters, if it should happen that Satan
should take you unawares (since he never rests, but is always seeking
whom he may devour) always rise again, and do not yield yourselves
to become servants or handmaids of sin, but take better heed; it is
for your warning. Hence humble yourself under the mighty hand of God,
and seek henceforth to purify your souls in obeying the truth through
the Spirit, and run henceforth in the conflict that is set before you
and all the godfearing; that you may not be found as those who become
weary and dissatisfied in the way of the Lord, as I have known many to
do. For by conflict all the godfearing are tried; for how should they
overcome, if there were no conflict? but to them that overcome the
kingdom and an eternal crown are promised as a reward. And the holy
Scriptures also teach you to honor father and mother; hence do not
forget this, but help them in everything wherein they may need you, and
always proffer your willing service; for this will be pleasing to the
Lord, and our dear, beloved, venerable father, and our dear, beloved,
venerable mother, can then rejoice, because their children have found
delight in keeping God’s commandments, whereby one can escape the
future wrath of God. And when their days are fulfilled, they can depart
in peace and tranquillity, and commit the keeping of their souls in
well doing unto a faithful Creator, and this because this good Lord
has also called their dear children to the faith, and they have lived
to see that they have found delight in the truth, to take it up, which
has so long been trampled under foot, even as the whole world still
does in its ignorance. Again, because they leave behind them believing
children, for a child that fears God is better than a thousand that are
ungodly; for children that do not fear God are to believing parents an
affliction from the Lord, which cannot well be healed.
[331] Evidently an allusion to Isaiah 27:1, where (see German
version) two serpents seem to be indicated.
Thus, my dearest, beloved three sisters, I will commend and trust to
you and my only brother, that you will fear and love God all your life,
which will last but a short time when compared to the ages of eternity.
The fear of God teaches to beware of evil; and to love God is to keep
his commandments, as Christ says: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
The Scripture also says: The fear of the Lord driveth out sin; it is
also the beginning of wisdom. Sir. 1:21,27. Hence I entreat you all,
love the wisdom of God above gold, and it shall come and meet you; and
when you have received much understanding and wisdom, do not exalt
yourselves therein, as though you were somebody; but thank the Lord
for it, that he gives it into your keeping, and always apply it for
the purpose for which he has given it you, for he appoints you only
stewards over it. And when the Lord then sees that you are faithful
over his property, that you do not suffer it to lie idle, nor squander
it, but that you are lights in the world, as pleasant olive twigs
of Christ, pleasant branches, beautiful stones in the temple of the
Lord, he can entrust to you much more still, so that you may bring
forth fruit more abundantly, and come to Christ our bridegroom, as an
adorned bride of Christ, as a people of God, as members, as sisters and
brethren of Christ, yea, as a royal priesthood. But when the other,
crooked serpent sees this, he will envy you most, and work against you
through the children of unbelief, in whom he now works, and in whom he
has always worked. But, my dear sisters, always be of good courage, and
take faith for a shield, with which always to protect yourselves and
you shall quench and resist his fiery darts; and be armed also with the
other spiritual weapons of God, as the apostle teaches, Eph. 6, and you
shall remain steadfast, and be saved. May the good, eternal, almighty
God, who lives in eternity, who rejoices with his holy angels over
one sinner that repents with all his heart, make you all, my beloved
sisters and brother, meet and perfect for his heavenly kingdom, through
Jesus Christ his only Son, and by the co-operation of his Holy Spirit,
that you may always have your delight in the right way of the Lord
as David says; for they [his judgments] are true and righteous, and
more precious than fine gold, and sweeter than the honeycomb (Psalm
19:9,10); use all diligence to perform this, and this to the salvation
of your souls. Amen.
Herewith I will bid you my much beloved three sisters, adieu in
this sorrowful, transient world, and I thank your love for all your
friendship.
Written in my bonds, and finished on the sixth day of March, by your
beloved brother, for a remembrance to you all. A. D. 1572.
J. V. K.
THE TENTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS OLDEST BROTHER-IN-LAW AND
SISTER.
Grace and peace from God the heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ his
only Son our Lord and Savior, and the co-operation of his Holy Spirit,
always be multiplied to you both, for the conformation of your faith,
and for consolation on your pilgrimage, that you may not weary in the
only way of life, but may unwaveringly go on to your rest, so that you
may together receive the end of your sure faith, namely, the salvation
of your souls. Amen.
After this my cordial brotherly salutation and good wish, be pleased
to know, my most cordially beloved oldest brother-in-law, and my most
heartily beloved sister, that in this conflict I have constantly
remained unchanged in the faith of the truth, once delivered to the
saints; for which I now suffer vexation from mortal men, enduring it
with a patient heart.
I cannot fully thank the Lord for this great grace that he has thus
preserved us as the apple of his eye. Hence I beseech you both, be not
dismayed on account of my transient tribulation, but be the bolder in
the living faith, which worketh by love, knowing that your labor will
not be in vain, but that it will follow you, clothing and adorning you
in the day of Christ. Hereunto look constantly, and always follow his
footsteps, in humility and meekness of heart; and be ever resolved the
longer the more to live still more holy, remembering that we always
fall short in many things, as I also experience in my own case; but my
hope and refuge is Christ Jesus, who is our salvation, righteousness,
perfection, eternal priest, propitiation, and intercessor. I would
further inform you my specially beloved brother and sister in the Lord,
that I your beloved brother-in-law and weak, unworthy brother, could
not well refrain from writing your love a little, though I am conscious
that my gift is simple and small, and you have such an abundance of
Scripture, and also the anointing, which always teaches you what is
right, so that I deem it unnecessary to write you much; but I feel
nevertheless constrained thereto, in order that I may, in some measure,
show you my unchanging love before I put off this tabernacle; it serves
for your consolation and for the strengthening of your faith, and I am
confident in my heart, that it will be acceptable to you, though it be
little. Thus, my dearest, I present to you nothing new, but beseech and
exhort you both, that you take diligent heed to keep the pearl of great
price, and to preserve the precious treasure in your earthen vessels.
For you know how much it cost you, before you found and obtained it;
and in confirmation of it that it still is and remains in you, let
your light shine before your enemies, who are terrified thereby, and
vanquished before your eyes by the Lord, without your help, as we have
an example in Gideon, and others, wherein it is fully shown to us, that
the Lord fights his people’s battles. And since it is certain that the
almighty Lord is with us, who can be against us? He that spared not
his only Son, how should he not with him give us all things? Thus he
is a shield to them that seek and trust him with all their hearts, and
believe his word to be sure, that he will not forsake us, but [that]
the Lord Almighty will be with us unto the end of the world.
But if we do not trust him, and forsake him, and are afraid of the
manifold enemies of the truth, and flee on this account, as did the
ten spies, he will also forsake us. But if we have a manful spirit,
with Joshua, Caleb and David, and remember in our hearts, that God is
true, that his hand is not shortened, that he is a faithful succorer
of the miserable, who has delivered us from the hand of Pharaoh, from
the specious deceptive and insinuating sedition of Korah, Dathan and
Abiram, from the strange fire, and from other enemies and perils,
and who, according to his promise, for his name’s sake, and for our
salvation, will help us further; not only in the beginning, or in the
middle, but unto the end will he bruise the head of our enemies, so
that through the help of the Lord we shall overcome our enemies. Hence
have good courage, and be of good cheer; he who through his great grace
began the good work in you, the same is also able (this is certain)
to perform it in you, and in all that believe in him and are of good
purpose. And consider, do we not see our desire upon our enemies, that,
however they stir, labor, strive, despise, beat, threaten, and slander,
we through the grace of the Lord nevertheless remain unchanged and
undisturbed? I certainly believe that steadfastness is the desire of
Christians, for it has the promise of salvation. Thus I unworthy one,
in a small degree hereby minister to you, that I may spread and magnify
the name of the Lord, and his faithful daily help and power. I also
counsel all Christians, when they go walking in their pleasure garden,
namely, in the holy Scriptures, that they forget not the Psalms of
David, which are left us by the Spirit of God; they serve us especially
to righteousness, boldness, a firm confidence, a living hope, and for
consolation in our pilgrimage. In short, all Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16,17.
Again: Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might
have hope. Rom. 15:4. Hence adhere thereto; you will therein find all
that will be necessary to your salvation, as I trust from the heart
that there will abide in you that which you have heard and accepted
from the beginning, nothing strange, but as declared in the holy
Scriptures. For you know what it has wrought in you, how through this
heavenly trial you are delivered from your vain conversation, in which
the whole world is still sunk; how you have turned from dumb idols
to the living God, yea, are passed from death unto life, so that you
are enlightened, and your hope made alive, and all this through Jesus
Christ. And loving his appearing, we patiently wait for him in good
works, which live in us, so that we love our neighbor as ourselves,
seek his advantage more than our own, yea, when necessary lay down
our lives for the brethren. This is a seal and sign that we love him
whom we do not see, and that we yet believe in him, as though we saw
him. Again, if we did not love the brethren, whom we see, how could
we in truth love God, whom we do not see? But that we from the heart
and fearlessly love the brethren and sisters, by this it is known that
we are Christ’s disciples; and they that are Christ’s disciples are
sometimes tried, as gold in the fire; yet not to destruction, but to
purification and greater perfection, for he chastens every son whom he
wants to receive and loves. Heb. 12:6. And it is nothing strange to us,
that this now in these latter days happens to us unworthy ones; for it
has always been so from the time of Abel--darkness has always hated
the light, for they will not be reproved in their darkness, but resent
it, and in order to defend themselves, and to continue in their own
way, they say, “Judge not, that ye be not judged;” but what the apostle
says: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11); this they passed by.
Thus drunkards, idolaters, and the like, know how to help themselves
with the Scriptures; but alas! with such fig-leaves they wrong
themselves, and suffer themselves to be led by the learned like the ox
to the slaughter. O dear Lord, I heartily pray thee, enlighten the eyes
of our enemies, as thou didst to Paul, who also persecuted the church
of God. Take this brief letter in good part, for I trust that you are
yourselves taught and strengthened. Be manful therein, watch, stand
fast in the faith, be strong in the faith, and let all your things be
done in love, and as I sincerely trust concerning you both. Herewith
I will commend you, my much beloved brother-in-law and brother in the
Lord, and my greatly beloved sister in the Lord (and by marriage), to
the Lord of lords, and to the rich word of his grace, which is able to
keep you from all evil, and to make you zealous in that which is good,
and meet for his eternal kingdom, to give it to you, the incorruptible
inheritance among them that are sanctified. I also thank you both as
much as I can, for your great friendship and affection to me unworthy
one.
Herewith I bid you adieu; there in the presence of Christ Jesus I will
await you, and my very dear wife, and all the godfearing left behind.
Amen.
Written shortly before Easter, when I hourly expected to be notified
that I was to offer up my sacrifice, to the praise of God, and to my
salvation. Amen.
Herewith I bid my nephews and nieces adieu on this earth. O that they
would also follow Christ, when they have attained to understanding;
then they would also come where he, namely, Christ, is; and they that
repent and keep his commandments, these are his friends and disciples
who follow him.
Hence I beseech you, my dear, beloved niece, to shun evil, diligently
to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and to work to
satisfy her hunger with bread, and quench her thirst with drink. If you
do this, my dear niece, you will be one who with Mary has chosen the
good part; and I will then await you there with Christ Jesus, whither I
will go a little beforehand; and all that love the truth will follow.
To this end may the good Lord grant his grace, that this my heartfelt
wish may be realized, to the salvation of my nieces and nephews. Amen.
Written in my bonds, by me,
JAN WOUTERSS VAN KUYCK.
THE ELEVENTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO P. J., HIS YOUNGEST
BROTHER-IN-LAW.
Grace and peace from God the Father through Jesus Christ, and the
co-operation of the Holy Spirit, be multiplied to you, my much beloved
brother, and to all that seek their salvation with all their heart, in
the name of Jesus Christ; that we may be able to stand, by the help
of the Lord, in this last conflict that is set before us, and may
patiently finish it, for an example to our neighbor, for a light to the
world, to the salvation of the soul, and to the praise of God. Amen.
After this my heartfelt wish, I cannot forbear to write you a little,
if peradventure I and you may be refreshed somewhat thereby. In the
first place, know that I cannot fully thank our God for his grace, that
he has called me, unworthy, poor, vile man to this state, whereby I
perceive the great love which he has to me, unworthy one; he chastens
me according to his mercy, thereby confirming that I am not a bastard.
O what great grace is this, that the good God seeks my salvation,
which salvation has been, and still is, the sole object of my seeking
and praying, as I wrote to you before my imprisonment, to help me to
pray, that the Lord would give and let come upon me what is for my
salvation, which I trust his grace that he, out of great mercy, does,
and will do according to his promise and goodness, and not according
to my righteousness, for his grace knows better than I what I need.
Hence his will be done for my salvation, to take me away from the evil,
which frequently arises through the work of Satan, which he works in
the children of unbelief; for I have found from my youth, that one
trouble and difficulty follows upon the heels of another. And he that
from the heart seeks his salvation and the welfare of the church, often
has to suffer the pains of travail. Moreover, one has much to die unto
and mortify in himself, and constantly to fight, so that one is seldom
without conflict, even as Paul and also many pious witnesses of God;
but all who do not become weary, and who overcome, shall inherit all
things, and to them that overcome the crown is promised. Let therefore
no one become faint or weary, knowing and believing that we have such
a strong champion, who cannot be conquered, but from whom the wicked
must flee. Paul says: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Rom.
8:31. The Lord said to Abraham: “Fear not; I am thy shield, and thy
exceeding great reward.” Gen. 15:1. The Lord said, yea, commanded him,
that he should be of good courage, and not be afraid or dismayed; he
promised always to be with him, wherever he should go (thus he was
also with his faithful servant Moses), and [told him] that he should
meditate day and night on the law of God. (Oh! herein I fall far too
short, which I heartily regret), that he should not depart therefrom
either to the right or to the left, and his way should be prosperous
and full of blessings, and he should trample his enemies under foot and
devour them as bread. Yea, God sent his angel, as he had promised, as
a champion, so that the Lord himself fought the battle. O is this not
a faithful God! who should not trust in his powerful word? And though
we do not see him externally, yet we daily behold his creation, which
through the power of his word still stands in its strength, though it
be but a little flower out of the earth.