# A Testament Of Soetgen Van Den Houte, Which She Left Her Children, David, Betgen And Tanneken, For A Memorial, And For The Best, And Which She Confirmed With Her Death, At Ghent, Flanders. · Page 1 of 5 [Previous page: SOETGEN VAN DEN HOUTE, AND MARTHA, A. D. 1560.](/en/stories/mm-soetgen-van-den-houte-and-martha-a-d-1560/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: A TESTAMENT OF SOETGEN VAN DEN HOUTE, WHICH SHE LEFT HER CHILDREN, DAVID, BETGEN AND TANNEKEN, FOR A MEMORIAL, AND FOR THE BEST, AND WHICH SHE CONFIRMED WITH HER DEATH, AT GHENT, FLANDERS.](/en/stories/mm-a-testament-of-soetgen-van-den-houte-which-she-left-her-children-david-betgen-and-tanneken-for-a-memorial-and-for-the-be/part-2/) In the name of the Lord: Grace, peace and mercy from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, this I wish you, my dear little children, David, Betgen, and Tanneken, for an affectionate greeting, written by your mother in bonds, for a memorial to you of the truth, as I hope to testify by word and with my death, by the help of the Most High, for an example unto you. May the wisdom of the Holy Ghost instruct and strengthen you therein, that you may be brought up in the ways of the Lord. Amen. Further my dear children, since it pleases the Lord to take me out of this world, I will leave you a memorial, not of silver or gold; for such jewels are perishable: but I should like to write a jewel into your heart, if it were possible, which is the word of truth, in which I want to instruct you a little for the best with the word of the Lord, according to the little gift I have received from him and according to my simplicity. In the first place, I admonish you, my most beloved, always to suffer yourself to be instructed by those who fear the Lord; then you will please God, and as long as you obey good admonition and instruction, and fear the Lord, he will be your Father and not leave you orphans. For David says: What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Ps. 25:12. He also says: The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him; for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Ps. 33:18,19; 34:7,9; 111:10. Therefore, dear children, learn to fear the Lord, and you will receive wisdom. The wise man says: A wise son heareth instruction. Whoso loveth correction and instruction loveth knowledge. A wise son feareth and escheweth evil. A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son putteth his mother to shame. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but the companion of fools shall be like them. He that refuseth correction and instruction destroyeth his own soul; but he that heareth reproof will become wise. O my most beloved, depart not from correction. The wise man says: Chasten thy son while there is hope. Prov. 19:18. Hence, my most beloved, grieve not when you are corrected, and speak not crossly to those who correct you. A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger. Prov. 15:1. If you are crossly spoken to, learn to answer kindly, and you will be loved by all men: for humility and meekness are acceptable to both God and men. Furthermore, my dear children, I admonish you, to beware of lying; for liars have no part in the kingdom of God. Rev. 21:8. It is also written: Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, and he whose mouth lieth, his soul shall die. Prov. 12:22; Wisdom 1:11. Therefore, my dear children, beware of it; for he that deals in lies is loved by no one. My dear children, keep this in your hearts; my dear lambs, guard your tongue, that it speak no evil; neither practice deceit with your lips; nor be guilty of backbiting, for thereby come contention and strife; but Paul teaches us, to live peaceably with all men if it be possible. 1 Pet. 3:10; Romans 12:18. My most beloved, keep this sent you from your mother; and obey your parents; and those whose bread you eat, and all who admonish you to virtue. Eph. 6:1. Always be diligent to do your work, wherever you be; for Paul says that if any will not work, neither shall he eat. 2 Thess. 3:10. 622 It is also written: “Be diligent to labor, that you may have to give to him that needeth.” Eph. 4:28. Hence, turn not your face away from the poor. “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.” Prov. 21:13. Tobit taught his son, saying: “Son, if thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly: if thou have but little; be not afraid to give according to that little.” Tob. 4:8. Alms given of one’s labor is acceptable to God. The wise man says: Alms purge out sin. We also read of Cornelius and Tobit that the angel said: Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God, whom thou didst beseech with tears, and didst leave thy dinner to go and bury the dead. Acts 10:4; Tob. 12:13. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_622) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: SOETGEN VAN DEN HOUTE, AND MARTHA, A. D. 1560.](/en/stories/mm-soetgen-van-den-houte-and-martha-a-d-1560/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: A TESTAMENT OF SOETGEN VAN DEN HOUTE, WHICH SHE LEFT HER CHILDREN, DAVID, BETGEN AND TANNEKEN, FOR A MEMORIAL, AND FOR THE BEST, AND WHICH SHE CONFIRMED WITH HER DEATH, AT GHENT, FLANDERS.](/en/stories/mm-a-testament-of-soetgen-van-den-houte-which-she-left-her-children-david-betgen-and-tanneken-for-a-memorial-and-for-the-be/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-a-testament-of-soetgen-van-den-houte-which-she-left-her-children-david-betgen-and-tanneken-for-a-memorial-and-for-the-be/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+A+Testament+Of+Soetgen+Van+Den+Houte%2C+Which+She+Left+Her+Children%2C+David%2C+Betgen+And+Tanneken%2C+For+A+Memorial%2C+And+For+The+Best%2C+And+Which+She+Confirmed+With+Her+Death%2C+At+Ghent%2C+Flanders.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+5&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AA+Testament+Of+Soetgen+Van+Den+Houte%2C+Which+She+Left+Her+Children%2C+David%2C+Betgen+And+Tanneken%2C+For+A+Memorial%2C+And+For+The+Best%2C+And+Which+She+Confirmed+With+Her+Death%2C+At+Ghent%2C+Flanders.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+5%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-a-testament-of-soetgen-van-den-houte-which-she-left-her-children-david-betgen-and-tanneken-for-a-memorial-and-for-the-be%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-a-testament-of-soetgen-van-den-houte-which-she-left-her-children-david-betgen-and-tanneken-for-a-memorial-and-for-the-be%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+16th+century+%28source+section%29%0A%0A%23%23+Correction+or+addition%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Sources+and+evidence%0APlease+include+book%2Fpage+references%2C+archive+links%2C+or+first-hand+documentation.%0A%0A%0A%0A%23%23+Image+credit+%28if+applicable%29%0ACreator%2C+source%2C+and+permission+or+public-domain+basis.%0A%0A%0A%0ASubmitted+for+review%3B+this+issue+does+not+publish+changes+automatically.)