# A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh. · Page 1 of 9 [Previous page: JACQUES MESDAGH, WILLEM AERTS, JOOS KASTEEL, AND KAREL, A. D. 1567.](/en/stories/mm-jacques-mesdagh-willem-aerts-joos-kasteel-and-karel-a-d-1567/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: A LETTER FROM JACQUES MESDAGH.](/en/stories/mm-a-letter-from-jacques-mesdagh/part-2/) I, Jacques Mesdagh, imprisoned at Kortrijck for the word of God and the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, apprehended the 1st of March, 1566, wish you my dearest and much beloved chosen sister, from the bottom of my heart and from my inmost soul, that you may always prosper, and be well in soul and body; and grace, mercy, peace, joy, love, a living spiritual hope, a true evangelical mind and trust, a true unfeigned faith which works by love, and the illumination, comfort and communion of the Holy Ghost, be unto you as a grace from God the heavenly Father, and through our Lord Jesus, by whom this grace has come to us; for Paul says: The grace of God [that bringeth salvation] hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Tit. 2:11–14). For he came and preached, in the Gospel peace to us who were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Therefore we are no more 687 strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, whom the builders rejected (Eph. 2:17,19,20; Matt. 21:42); who his own self bare our sins, in his own body, on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes we were healed. For we were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be praise, glory and dominion, and thanks for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 2:24,25; 1 Tim. 6:15; Revelation 1:5,6. This I wish you, my dearest chosen sister in Jesus Christ our Savior, whom I love from the depth of my heart and from my inmost soul, as an affectionate and friendly greeting, and for a perpetual remembrance, my dear lamb, since it may easily happen that we shall soon have to separate here; for it seems that the abominable beast thirsts greatly for our blood. Rev. 13:1. But I hope that though we must now separate here for the Lord’s name, we shall nevertheless hereafter meet together in life eternal, where they will be nothing but joy and gladness, which will endure for ever and ever; there tyrants will not be able to separate or harm us; for when they have killed the body, they have no more that they can do, as Christ himself says. Luke 12:4. Hence, my affectionately and much beloved sister, be not afraid of their threats, neither be troubled. Even as the Lord also spake through the prophet Isaiah: Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. For “I am he that comforteth you: who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass?” Is. 51:7,8,12. “For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise.” Malachi 4:1,2. “And everlasting joy shall be upon their head, they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” Is. 51:11. “Yea, the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matt. 13:43. “And they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:16,17. “And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” 21:4. “For he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death; and he shall inherit all things, and receive the crown of life.” ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_687) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: JACQUES MESDAGH, WILLEM AERTS, JOOS KASTEEL, AND KAREL, A. D. 1567.](/en/stories/mm-jacques-mesdagh-willem-aerts-joos-kasteel-and-karel-a-d-1567/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: A LETTER FROM JACQUES MESDAGH.](/en/stories/mm-a-letter-from-jacques-mesdagh/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-a-letter-from-jacques-mesdagh/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+A+Letter+From+Jacques+Mesdagh.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+9&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AA+Letter+From+Jacques+Mesdagh.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+9%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-a-letter-from-jacques-mesdagh%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-a-letter-from-jacques-mesdagh%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+16th+century+%28source+section%29%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)