A Letter From Jerome Segers, Written To His Wife Lijsken Dircks.

Thus, my most beloved, I have written a few things, with which you may somewhat strengthen yourself through the word of the Lord; for Christ says: The world shall rejoice, and ye shall be sorrowful; but be of kind cheer; I have overcome the world; and your sorrow shall be turned into joy, and your joy no man taketh from you; for he that worketh in us is stronger than he that is in the world. John 16:20. And John says that our faith is the victory that overcometh the world. 1 John 5:4. Always remember Lot’s wife (Gen. 19:26), and the man of God who was slain by the lion, because he had eaten bread contrary to God’s command, being deceived by the false prophet. 1 Kings 13:1. Thus you also, suffer yourself in no wise to be deceived by false prophets; but fight with the prophet David against Goliath, and you shall devour him like bread; for the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent who remain steadfast take it by force; for Joshua and Caleb took the promised land by force, and those that were not steadfast, could not enter into it. Hence, be not dismayed, though you are tried here for a little season; for it is his will. Therefore, receive willingly from his hand whatever he sends you; for Paul says: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom. 8:28. For Christ means to show his wonderful power and strength in you, against the dragons and the generation of vipers, yea, against the ravening wolves, who daily resist Christ, and fight against you to destroy you. But be bold and trust in Christ; he will not forsake you; for he is your strength. He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7); he is your Protector, by whom you shall overcome all your adversaries; for he shall feed you with the bread of life, yea, with the bread of understanding, and give you the water of wisdom to drink, and shall comfort you in all your tribulation, and impress into your heart a firm and steadfast faith, which they shall not be able to resist. Sir. 15:3. For he who has begun this good work in you, will, through his grace and power, also carry out and finish it, to his praise, to the salvation of your soul, and to the edification of all them that fear the Lord. Philippians 1:6. To this God, who can deliver you from all tribulation, and preserve you from all the snares of the devil, and from all false doctrine, be praise, honor, power and strength, for ever and ever. Amen.

See, my dear wife, as I can not help you with my weeping, or with my blood, I have written a few things; to comfort you, and for a memorial or a testament, that you may remember me by it, how I walked before you; for I hope to seal this letter with my blood, namely, that it is nothing but the pure truth, for which I desire to lay down my life, to the 495 praise of the Lord and the edification of all that fear him. I pray the Lord that he will let you follow me as I through his grace hope to go before you; and I trust in the Lord that he will let you follow me thus, and have confidence in you, that you will follow me thus steadfastly, through the grace of the Lord; and I pray the Lord, that he will let the fruit grow up to his praise, that it may also be found worthy to suffer for his name. Thus I have commended the fruit to the Lord, who is more able to preserve you and it, than I am. And that the Lord will preserve you, I do not doubt. I hope that my blood will be the seal of this letter.

Thus I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace, that he will keep you in all righteousness, holiness and truth; and though we must separate here, I know, and firmly trust in the Lord, that we shall be together in life eternal; hence, I will freely bring my offering.

O that I might suffer for you; I should gladly offer my flesh for you. I am sorry that I can write to you no more. I herewith commend you to the Lord. Be not solicitous about the child; for my friends will take good care of it, yea, the Lord will care for it. Hendrick of Deventer salutes you much in the Lord, whom he entreats day and night for you, that you may continue steadfast unto the end.