A Letter Written By Said Walter Of Stoelwijk, Treating Of The Suffering And The Glory Of Christians.

Moreover, we must, from ardent love, follow Jesus Christ even unto the end, and not do as did some of his disciples, who forsook him, and became offended at his words, saying: “This is a hard saying; who can hear it?” John 6:60. O how many are unwilling to hear the divine words of our Lord Jesus Christ, yea, rave, when told that Christ Jesus promises tribulation and suffering to all his servants and disciples. From a stony heart and an embittered mind they say: Must one always suffer? Must one always be persecuted? This is a hard saying; who can hear it? O God, how is the sweet honey changed into gall, and the clear wine into bitter water! Alas! how have they come to loathe that precious, heavenly bread, and how has the eternal medicine, by which every soul must be healed, become a deadly poison to them! And how do men who will not believe the word of God, nor receive the holy doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, contemn the comforting Gospel, which has been sent us from heaven through the Holy Ghost, and sealed by Christ with his own precious blood; but if a lying prophet comes, a messenger prophesying of temporal peace and happiness, though it never comes to pass, he is heard, while the good Lord Jesus Christ, who has promised us the eternal peace of his heavenly kingdom, can not obtain a hearing; so that it is as Christ said to the Pharisees: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:43. Yea, many now do as did the rebellious and unbelieving Israelites, who forsook God the Lord, who had delivered them out of Egypt, and desired other gods for leaders and protectors. Num. 14:2; Ex. 32:1; Acts 7:39. Thus also now many Christians forsake Jesus, who has freed them from the power and tyranny of Satan, and delivered them from the jaws of the lions, who devoured them, yea, had hastened with them in the way to eternal damnation, utterly to destroy them.—Then Christ delivered them, and placed them again in the way of eternal salvation. John 1:29. Many now 442 forsake the good Shepherd, who spared not his life for our sakes, but delivered it unto death, because of the great love which he had to us; and trust in men, of whom the prophet says that their assistance availeth not, and they cannot help; for their breath must go forth and return to the earth, and the thoughts of all them that put their trust in men and follow false prophets, who delight in unrighteousness shall perish. Hence all pious Christians must follow no other than Christ Jesus, who, as Peter says, suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps, 1 Peter 2:21. The same is declared also by Paul, with these words: “Let us lay aside all guile and hypocrisy, and the besetting sin, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:1,2; Mark 16:19. In these words of the apostles we may perceive, that we are to follow Jesus Christ, and look to him as the Captain of the faith, the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, yea, the good Lord and Master, who has given an example to all his servants and disciples, that they must suffer even as he suffered. Heb. 2:10; John 10:11; 1 Peter 2:25. But, O God, how much Christ had to suffer! he who was Lord of heaven and earth became so poor for our sakes, that he had not where to rest or lay his head: when he was in the form of God, he humbled himself, and took upon him the form of a servant (Phil. 2:6,7; John 13:5), that he might serve us, and gave his life for our redemption; yea, though he was the eternal wisdom of the Father, who upholds all things by the word of his power, he had nevertheless to hear the Pharisees call him a flatterer and deceiver of the people, a sinner, yea, a demoniac and madman, and many other abominable blasphemies, reproaches and mockeries; in short, though he was the only begotten Son of God, the Almighty Father, yet he was counted a malefactor, and had to die the most bitter death, so that Isaiah could well say of him: “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.