A Statement How He Was Examined By The Magistrates, And How The Pastor Wanted To Prove Infant Baptism To Him, And How Severely They Assailed Him.

Thus, my dear wife, since the Scriptures comfort me, that we have such a good Provider, I hope that he will provide you and me and our children with all that we need. Hence, my dear wife, faint not. Write me how it is with you and with the children, according to the flesh and according to the spirit. But, my dear wife, I must also inform you, that the pastors have often talked with me here in prison; but we cannot agree. Sometimes they use harsh words, and sometimes fair words, and they always want to prove their infant baptism from John 3, adducing yet many other Scriptures, as Romans 6; Col. 2; Eph. 5; Tit. 3, and others, which do not serve their purpose, but treat of regeneration, of the burial of sin by baptism, or that God has cleansed his church by the washing of water in the word. These Scriptures, which do not serve their purpose, they quote to prove their infant baptism. Hence, I have a great conflict here; it seems to me that I am in the wilderness at Marah, where the children of Israel were, at the water of Meribah,346 where the 1009waters were bitter; but the Lord showed them a tree, which they were to cast into the waters, to make them sweet. Ex. 15:23–25. So the Lord has also shown me a green tree which sweetens all this water; which is Christ Jesus, the true green tree. When I think of him, how he was delivered over by the chief priests and the scribes, to be crucified and put to death, it makes it very sweet for me; for I think that the servant is not better than his master, but that it ought to be enough for the servant, that he be as his master.

Herewith I will commend you, my dear wife, for this time, to the Lord, and to the rich word of his grace; who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you his eternal kingdom.

Written on the 2d of January, A. D. 1588, by me, your husband.

Christiaen Rijcen.