A Testament From Bartholomeus Panten To His Little Daughter, Who After Her Father’S Death Was Put Into A Convent By The Priests; The Lord Grant That She May Yet Be Brought Into The Right Way.

And as regards the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we believe what the holy Scriptures declare concerning it, and are satisfied with the confession of Peter, when Christ asked his disciples, who men said that he was: Some said Jeremiah, Elias, or one of the prophets. Hence Christ asked his disciples: But whom say ye that I am? Peter answered: Lord, thou art the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:13. And as also Nathaniel testifies: Thou art the King of Israel. John 1:49. Paul says: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Rom. 5:10. And John says: The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is written: God raised up his child Jesus. Acts 3:26. Now if he raised up his child, it must certainly have been dead. And in Isaiah it is written: A virgin shall receive [conceive], and bear a son. Is. 7:14. If she received [conceived] him, it is my belief that she did not receive more than she brought forth; and I am satisfied with the work of God, however it may have been effected. That I should believe, that he is of her flesh and blood, of this I have no testimony in the holy Scriptures, and am content with the aforesaid confession.

We further practice, according to the doctrine of Christ and of the apostles, an excommunication, whereby the disorderly, who pervert their faith in improper works must be punished, as Christ and Paul declare. It must be used with those that have entered into the communion of the saints and been baptized into one body with them, but relapse into any carnal works, as in adultery, whoredom, murder, drunkenness, idolatry, and the like. Matthew 16:19; 1 Cor. 5:11; 1 Tim. 5:20.

Hence, my child, when you attain to your understanding, defer not to take up the cross, as much as you value your soul, for it is written: “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26,27. Hence everything must be forsaken for the Lord’s sake, for Christ also says in the same chapter: “Whosoever forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my disciple.” Verse 33.

Therefore, my dear child, look not at the great multitude, but remember the time of Noah, how few there were saved when the world perished by the flood. And that from the five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah there were left but three persons.

Hence, my dear child, separate also from the spiritual Sodom, that you be not a partaker of her sins, and receive not of her plagues. Rev. 18:4. It is also written, 2 Cor. 6:17,18; 7:1: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. For the time will come when they shall lament it, who have spent their life here in that which was not proper; for when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1 Thess. 5:3.

Hence, my dear child, Paul says: “But ye are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, 1031 sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, watch and be sober.” Verse 4. As also Peter says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Pet. 5:8,9.

We also believe in a resurrection of the flesh, at the last day, of the good and of the evil, of the just and the unjust, so that all that are in the grave, shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that have done good shall come forth unto the resurrection of eternal life; and they that have done evil shall come forth unto eternal damnation. John 5:28,29.