A Testament From Joost De Tollenaer, To His Daughter.

Furthermore, my child, yield your heart under the obedience of the truth. And always be desirous to hear the word of God, and seek, when you attain to your understanding, to betake yourself among the church of the living God, and that in this way you may enter into the ark of the covenant; so that you may be a partaker of all the heavenly promises with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all the prophets and holy apostles of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Then you shall at the last day (that shall burn as a fiery oven) be delivered. For the ungodly shall be dreadfully tormented; they shall weep and lament forever, for they shall with the dragon, the devil, and all false prophets, be cast into the fiery lake that shall burn with fire and brimstone. Watch therefore in the fear of God, that you be not a partaker of their plagues. For if you to-day or to-morrow attain to your full age, and your hand is able, remember the poor members of Christ, in communicating to the poor with such as the Lord grants you. And whatever you give, give with a willing heart, and not by constraint, but of a ready mind, for God loveth a cheerful giver, says the apostle Paul. 2 Cor. 9:7. In Hebrews we read: “To do good and to communicate forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13:16. And alms cover a multitude of sins. Through fasting, prayer and alms the Gentile, Cornelius, was acceptable to God, and he received the promise of salvation; for as water quenches fire, so alms extinguish sin; and the Lord who holds it will requite it in the time to come, and when he falls he shall find help. “My child,” says Sirach, “let not the poor suffer want, and be not hard toward the needy. Despise not the hungry, and do not grieve the needy in his poverty. Add not more trouble to a sorrowful heart; and defer not to give to him that is in need. Reject not the supplication of the afflicted; neither turn away thy face from a poor man.” Eccl. 3:30,31; 4:1–4.

Therefore assist the poor, so that the Lord may richly bless you. If you lay this to heart, and do according to it, your light shall arise as the bright morning star at the beautiful dawn; hence always do well, and if you love God, keep his commandments. Herewith I will conclude my letter. I have presented to you that which is best from the word of the Lord. Water and fire are set before man, namely, life or death. Eccl. 15:16,17; Deut. 30:19. Hence choose life, that you may forever possess the kingdom of God, with all his chosen saints.

Herewith, my dear child Betgen, I, for this time take a perpetual adieu of you; commending you to God the heavenly Father, who is the Father of all orphans, and of all those that fear and love him. And never neglect or forget diligently to ask God Almighty, and you shall receive of him, more than you ask, if it is according to his will.

Adieu, my child, if we should see each other no more. I pray the almighty God and King of kings, that he will govern you by his holy Spirit, so that I may meet you in the clouds of heaven, where parting shall be no more, this I pray God by his unfathomable grace and love, with bended knees and a weeping heart and uplifted hands.

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let it be done, that through the fruit of my loins thy holy, most worthy and adorable name may be praised now and forever. Amen.

My child Betgen, if I die, I would like to have your mother give you, for a perpetual memorial, a Testament, a Dirrick Philips Book of Fundamentals, a hymn book, and a copy of the book by Jacob de 1024 Keersgieter, which read diligently, for there are many excellent admonitions contained in them.

By me, your father, who wishes you every thing good. A. D. 1589.

Joost de Tollenaer.