A Letter Written By Cornelis The Shoemaker, To His Wife While In Bonds. He Was Afterwards Burned With Three Others, Sealing This Letter With His Blood, In The Great Market Place At Antwerp, The 13th Of September, 1567.

Thus, my dear sheep, be firmly founded and built up in him, as you are taught, and let love grow and increase in all righteousness and holiness, which avail and are acceptable before God; and always give diligence to excel in virtue, and look not to the walk of the idle and heedless, but consider them that live conformably to the doctrine of Christ; have your intercourse always with them, so that you run neither too high nor too low, nor too wide nor too long; for many go astray because one looks to the other, whereby they sometimes wax cold.

Therefore, my dear and much beloved wife, always seek those things which are above, and let your mind constantly be fixed on the things which are not seen; put off the old man, and put on the new man, and deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and you will have part in the resurrection. Col. 3:1; 2 Cor. 4:18; Col. 3:9,10; Tit. 2:12; Rom. 12:2; Luke 20:35. Hence know that you must first have crucified the old man, so that the body of sin may cease. And be not weary in well doing, since your labor will not be in vain. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. Heb. 3:14.

Hence, my dear wife, suffer not yourself to be moved from your purpose or faith, for it is the true grace of God wherein we stand. For though an angel should come, says Paul, and teach you anything else than what has been preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:8. Neither fear such men as would draw you away from this doctrine; for they will perish like grass; nor can they do anything without God’s permission. Therefore fear God and humble yourself under him, for he is honored of the lowly; always condescend to men of low estate, and you will be great in the eyes of God; think not yourself to be something, lest you deceive; always forsake your own self, and regard not what men may do unto you, though you be wronged; for it is acceptable with God, if a man 686 for conscience’ sake gets into grief, suffering wrongfully. Hence be patient in all that comes upon you for the Lord’s sake, so that you may be a partaker of Christ’s sufferings, and thus inherit his promise; for the time that reproach must be suffered here is short, compared with the joy which shall be revealed in us in the last time; for though we have a miserable life here, we shall enjoy much good hereafter; we are accounted here as dying, but we enter into certain rest and peace. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body, 1 Corinthians 15:43,44. Therefore our house of this tabernacle must be dissolved, if we want to obtain the house prepared us of God. Hence fear not them that kill the body; for they cannot harm the soul. Let us therefore not grieve because of the work of the Lord, but as Christ says, rejoice and be glad therein, for it shall be rewarded you in heaven: and, as Peter says, Praise and glorify the Lord in this matter. Matt. 5:12; 1 Pet. 3:15; 4:16.

O my dear lamb, this is not said, that we should grieve. Thus, be patient in your tribulation and sufferings; for Paul says that all things work together for good to them that love God; hence I trust to the Lord, that it will conduce to your good. Therefore receive willingly from the hand of the Lord the sufferings and afflictions he sends you, for he will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear. Thus, bear patiently Christ’s sufferings; for all that are without chastisements are bastards, and not children. Heb. 12:8. James says: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12.

Thus, my dear wife, follow Christ, and take up your cross with patience and joy, and follow him all the days of your life, for he had to suffer so much for our sakes, to save us. Therefore let us suffer for his sake; since it is our hour, let us joyfully contend for the crown of life, which is prepared us and them that fear and love the Lord. Hence let us be satisfied in him, and take our cross upon us with joyfulness and patience, and wait with firm confidence for the promises which he has made us, and that we may be crowned upon Mount Sion, and adorned with palms, and may follow the Lamb. 2 Esdras 2:42; Rev. 14:4.