A Letter From Jerome Segers To The Brethren And Sisters.

Furthermore, I beseech all of you young married people, that you live together in all humility, simplicity and harmony. Young wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands, in the fear of God: and you, young men, love your wives as your own selves; support and bear them with all humility and kindness, and affectionately admonish and instruct them with the word of the Lord; for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord shall separate you. 1 Pet. 3:1; Eph. 5:22; Matt. 25:13. Take me and my wife for an example,—how soon the Lord separated us, to his glory. Hence, live together in all humility, so long as the Lord permits you to be together: for your time is short here, seeing the Lord delights to have his chosen with him. Job 14:1. And furthermore, I beseech you, 492my dear brethren, that you also give diligence to get usury (Matt. 25:27); for I trust in the Lord, that through seeing and hearing this, many shall yet turn to the truth, and I will also do my best with those who come here to see me. And gather the poor, scattered flock, for which I am greatly concerned; for they scarcely know where to go or dwell, and are in greater distress than we here. Acts 8:1–4. But be of good cheer, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord; though we enjoy more freedom than you, be patient in your persecution; you shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Lord shall deliver you. Matt. 10:23. Be diligent, therefore, in assembling together, and in comforting and admonishing one another with the word of the Lord, that love may not wax cold among you. Matt. 24:12.

Thus, admonish and instruct one another in the love of God: and I beseech you, not to forget us in your prayers, and now and then to write a letter to my wife, to comfort her, since she will be confined a long time yet. I would further tell you, that I am in great joy, and cannot sufficiently praise and thank my Lord day and night, for his great love shown us, in that he has made both of us worthy to suffer for his name; and for the power and strength he shows in us, and for his promises given us; for this is the hour for which I so long prayed the Lord, not considering myself good enough, that I should be worthy to suffer for his name. Therefore I am so rejoiced, because my hour is come, that I shall be delivered from this flesh.

Thus strengthen yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Greet one another with a holy kiss of peace. Jude 21,24,25; 1 Cor. 16:20.

Let all the friends hear this letter; for I have written to you out of brotherly love, and am sorry that I can write to you no more. I commend you all to the Lord. Salute G. S. H. D. in the Lord—whom I sincerely love,—and also all brethren and sisters in the Lord. Receive this brief admonition in good part (Heb. 13:22); for my spirit impelled me to admonish you a little.

Written in prison, by me,

Jerome Segers.