A Letter From Jacques Mesdagh.

But, my very dear and chosen sister in the Lord, whom I love from true, unfeigned, godly and brotherly love, it will hereafter not be to our detriment, all that we have suffered here for the name of Christ; for he will reward us for it with joy most abundantly; for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2 Cor. 1:5. For it is a faithful saying, Paul also says, if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Tim. 2:11,12. And Christ himself says, if we confess him before men, he will also confess us before his Father, which is in heaven.

Hence, my dear lamb, let us always give diligent heed, that we here, in no wise forsake Christ our bridegroom, on account of the sufferings which men may inflict upon us; for the time that we have to spend here is very short, compared with eternity. Though we should be compelled all the days of our life to lie in a dark dungeon for the name of the Lord, it could not yet be compared to eternity, and to the glory which shall be revealed in us; for Paul says: “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; 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: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17,18.

Therefore, O my most beloved sister, let us not look at that which is temporal and perishable; but let us always wholly renounce ourselves, and daily take our cross upon us, to follow Christ faithfully and willingly in all that may come upon us for his holy and glorious name’s sake; and think and look on the reward and the beautiful promises, which will endure forever. Let us herewith always comfort ourselves with the beautiful promises of the Lord, which he has given his own who fear and love him, and obey him in everything unto the end.

Thus, my dear and much beloved sister Susannah, let us constantly obey him in all things, to do his divine will unto the end, according to our weak ability, and always wait with great patience for his beautiful promises, as did all the pious, holy men who died according to faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth, and were obedient to their God. For by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And by faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Heb. 11.

Thus, my affectionately and much beloved chosen sister, let us too always be obedient to God our heavenly Father, even unto death, and also rather choose, as did Moses, to suffer affliction with the people of God for a little season, here in this vale of tears, and to look at the beautiful promise which is to be realized hereafter; for eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2:9.

O see, my dear sister, how richly those are rewarded who love and fear God. O why should we not fear and love the Lord with all our hearts, who will so richly reward us for it, since not a single word of his promises shall fail, for he is so faithful 689 that promised it; though we must suffer tribulation and persecution here for a little while, for the name of Christ our Lord. For if the holy men and prophets, and the apostles, had to suffer, yea, Christ himself, who is one Head and Master, how much more ought we, who are poor, sinful and frail men to suffer, if we want to be found little members of his body; for the members are surely not better than the head, nor the servant greater than his lord, says Christ himself. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:20,18,19. And John, also, says in his epistle: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life.” 1 John 3:13,14.