# A Letter From Jan Gerrits To The Lutheran Preacher. · Page 1 of 5 [Previous page: JAN GERRITS, BURNT AT THE HAGUE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, A. D. 1564.](/en/stories/mm-jan-gerrits-burnt-at-the-hague-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-the-15th-day-of-december-a-d-1564/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: A LETTER FROM JAN GERRITS TO THE LUTHERAN PREACHER.](/en/stories/mm-a-letter-from-jan-gerrits-to-the-lutheran-preacher/part-2/) My much beloved good friend, herewith I will bid you adieu, for after this I hope to dispute with, or write against, neither you nor any other man; for Paul says: Avoid contentions, or profane babblings, and unprofitable disputations; for they will increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a canker. Tit. 3:9; 2 Tim. 2:16,17. Hence I want to be delivered also of you, and that my soul may rest in peace with God. Farewell always. 655 See, my good friend, here are the arms and weapons of my faith, and this, in part, briefly shown. Behold, with these, and no other, whether of iron or steel, spear or sword, will I attack the kingdom of antichrist; for spirit must be overcome with spirit, and flesh with carnal weapons. Hence I say with the apostle: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty before God to the pulling down of everything that exalteth itself against the truth; for we wrestle not only against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this world, against spirits of wickedness under heaven. 2 Cor. 10:4,5; Eph. 6:12. Hence all Christians must put on the armor of God, that they may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; and also be ready in every respect. Hence Peter says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Pet. 5:8,9. This is our weapon, with which we are satisfied. In the first place, a Christian does not know war, but must patiently bear all that comes upon him, for the Lord’s sake; for Christ taught his disciples only love for their enemies. Moreover, he forbade them, when they asked him: “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume this people?” “No,” he said, “ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” Matt. 9:54,55. Be merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful. When he suffered he threatened not. 1 Pet. 2:23. These examples we follow with all diligence, according to our feeble ability, commending our souls to the mercy of God, as the faithful Creator. From this you may see or understand, what kind of people we are, and what spirit we have. See, my good friend, with these weapons and arms I will meet you, as a little and unrenowned David, meeting the great Goliath and presumptuous champion who mocked and reviled the army of God, and relied upon his own strength, even as you now trust in your learning, and are proud of the name “Rabbi,” and because of the great reputation and renown of your understanding, might and power, you begin to say with Goliath: “Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? I can and will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air to eat.” 1 Samuel 17:43. Thus spoke Goliath, and you no less; for you say that without strength I am deceived and dead. Yes, my friend, I am well aware, that I and those like me are always looked upon by you as little and unlearned. Behold, by your presumptuousness you have brought it so far, that I dare boldly step forth with my sling and stone, and say to you, as to Goliath, the champion and defender of the Philistines: Behold, thou hast come out to me, relying on thy spear and shield; but I come to thee from confidence in God, in the name of the God of Israel, and will give thy flesh this day unto the fowls of the air to eat, and slay thee with thine own sword, namely with your own writing or disputation, which serves me to overcome you, not by the spirit of the universities, but by the word and power of God, and this in Dutch, my mother tongue, to the greater glory of God, and to your shame. And the dumb ass shall cause your madness to be manifest; you Balaam have beaten me, poor ass, so long until I spake by the power of God. Num. 22:28. You Goliath have so long reviled and defied me and the army of Israel, that I slay you with your own sword, which I should not have done, had you not snapped with such sharp teeth, and flourished your pen so boldly; how could I let this pass. Now, if I receive no thanks for it, as I presume will be the case, you may blame yourself for it, for one cannot be silent and speak the words of God. O men, men, it were well for you, that like Gamaliel you would leave the people of God in peace; for if this work is of men, it will come to naught, but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it; hence, take good heed, lest you run against the sword of the Lord, and be found even to fight against God. Persecute Jesus of Nazareth no longer, and leave Israel unmolested. Acts 5:34, etc.; 9. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_655) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: JAN GERRITS, BURNT AT THE HAGUE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER, A. D. 1564.](/en/stories/mm-jan-gerrits-burnt-at-the-hague-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-the-15th-day-of-december-a-d-1564/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: A LETTER FROM JAN GERRITS TO THE LUTHERAN PREACHER.](/en/stories/mm-a-letter-from-jan-gerrits-to-the-lutheran-preacher/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-a-letter-from-jan-gerrits-to-the-lutheran-preacher/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+A+Letter+From+Jan+Gerrits+To+The+Lutheran+Preacher.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+5&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AA+Letter+From+Jan+Gerrits+To+The+Lutheran+Preacher.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+5%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-a-letter-from-jan-gerrits-to-the-lutheran-preacher%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-a-letter-from-jan-gerrits-to-the-lutheran-preacher%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.)