A Letter Of Hans Symons, Which He Wrote In Prison At Antwerp, Where He, With Three Others Was Burnt, On The 13th Of September, 1567.

O dear brethren and sisters, continue herein unto the end, and you will prosper; and do not suffer yourselves to be deceived through philosophy, or vain deceit, through vain pomp and subtle inventions; for men are soon corrupted from their simplicity which they have in Christ, for it is a great grace which we have received from God, that the truth is revealed to us, which is hid from so many thousands. Col. 2:8; 2 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 1:9. Hence, my dear brethren and sisters, think now of us, how many tortures we have endured, how many sighs we have spent, how much weeping and supplicating to God we have done, with strong crying 684 and tears unto him for help, that you might be able to keep unto the end the faith wherein you stand.

O dear brethren, it is so hard for us, and the cup which we must drink is so bitter. O how am I straightened till the child is born! These woes are so bitter, dear brethren; I speak the truth; it is impossible to make any one believe what pain it is to bring forth a child, except him who has experienced it; however, when it is born, then the pain is remembered no more. Thus it is also with me and my fellow-prisoners; we are now in the throes of travail, many a heart-grief fills us with anguish, and we must cry to God for help. And he comforts us, for he is a God of comfort, who can comfort all troubled hearts, as he also does. But I hope that we shall soon have brought forth; then we shall remember the anguish and distress no more, and all the tears, that now ofttimes course down our cheeks, so that at times we almost, with David, water our bed with our tears, will be wiped away; for he is faithful that promised it us, and will also keep it. We comfort one another much with the Lord’s promises. John 16:21; Isa. 26:17; 2 Corinthians 1:3,4; Ps. 6:6; Is. 25:8; 1 Thess. 5:24.

Therefore, dear brethren and sisters, exhort one another daily, and be subject to one another in love. And I pray you, dear brethren and brothers-in-law in the Lord, I pray you, exercise good care over my sisters, for you are placed over them; the watch over them is committed to you. Dear brothers, live with them according to knowledge, as I also trust you will do. I commend them to you from the heart. And you sisters in the Lord, and according to the flesh, I pray you from my inmost soul, in my bonds, which I suffer for Christ’s sake, that you bear with all modesty your husbands, whom the Lord and his church have given you, that you should live with them in all subjection and obedience. It well becomes women to honor their husbands, for a woman of understanding is the crown of her husband, and the wife is honored through the husband, and the husband through the wife. Therefore I entreat you, dear sisters, assist your husbands with all willingness, lest you discourage them. O if the wife knew what trouble and grief she can cause her husband in his work, she would shun to do it as she would shun poison; for the wife can cause her husband to consume soul and body in his labor. Encourage each other in spiritual and temporal matters, and always shun whatever might give rise to trouble, for Satan is wily; he is satisfied with any means by which he can cause contention; he walks about man, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Hence I beseech you for the Lord’s sake, lay to heart what I write you with sighing; I do it because I love you all in my heart, and also all them that fear the Lord. I say with Moses: I would rather suffer affliction with the children of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin. Always associate with those who fear the Lord, and pray, lest Satan take you unawares; for when it is least expected, the Lord comes, as I and my fellow-prisoners can testify. I trust the Lord has thus ordered it with us. We are now in it; may the Almighty God help us through, as I trust he will do. Help pray the Lord for us; for the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. Acts 12:5; Jas. 5:16. I beseech you, my dear brethren and sisters, take heed unto yourselves; the time is short, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord. 1 Cor. 7:29; Heb. 10:31. Call to remembrance the day when you were illuminated, how ardent we were in the law of God, to walk in it. v. 32. I hope you are better instructed in everything, than I can write. And above all, I pray you, keep the Lord before your eyes above all else, and love one another fervently; thereby men shall know that you are children of the Most High, for love abides forever, it never perishes. John 13:35; 1 Cor. 13:13,8. Be hospitable, remember them that are in bonds, comfort the sorrowing, remember the poor, each according to his circumstances—O, it gives such peace to the conscience. I wish indeed I had done much more. Heb. 13:2,3; 2 Cor. 1:4.