Another Letter Of Tijs Jeuriaenss, Written In Prison To The Friends In Edam, A. D. 1569.

Hence, my very dear and in God beloved holy brethren and sisters, let us put on the armor of light, to fight against the works of darkness, that is, to walk in the Spirit, and we shall not fulfill the works of the flesh. Rom. 13:12; Gal. 5:16. With the same meaning also Peter says: “Dearly beloved, we beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” 1 Pet. 2:11. Hence we must arm ourselves in weakness with the mind of Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghost, with the word of truth, with the armor of light, and with the power of God, on the right hand and on the left (2 Cor. 6:6,7), that is, we must yield ourselves unto God, and live in God, as those that are become alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness unto God; then the wicked will not have dominion over us, as Paul teaches. Rom. 6:13,14. And where this thus triumphs, works and prevails in the power of the Spirit, there are not only conflicts, dying unto the sins of the flesh, and unto the old Adam with his lusts and desires, but there is also, through the divine knowledge and the mind of Jesus Christ, together with an invincible, firm faith, a sure and certain mind in the word and truth of the Lord: a conflict against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits; and we also bring all reason, and every high thing and what exalts itself against the truth into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:5. And this, as has been said, through a pure, wholesome, sure, and steadfast knowledge of God, and a constant and certain mind, with the invincible shield of faith, with which all the fiery darts of the wicked are quenched. Eph. 6:16. And where this thus takes place and exists, as said above, there is the armor of light, but not of the flesh; there the power and armor of God have been put on; there is the mind of Christ, of the Spirit, but not of the flesh: there they war in, by and with faith, by which everything is conquered and put down in mighty power and in the strength of the Spirit, as has been said, etc.

O my dear friends, regenerated, children of the resurrection and of life, of light and of the day (Luke 20:36; 1 Thess. 5:5), children of God, and brethren and sisters of Jesus Christ, his companions and anointed members of his body, lively stones (1 Pet. 2:5), temples of the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 6:19), kings and priests of God, I say, inhabitants of Jerusalem, and fellow heirs of his promise, yea, my sanctified brethren and sisters of our common, most holy Christian faith, also guests, strangers and pilgrims with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in this world (1 Pet. 2:11; Heb. 11:9), O what power, operation, nature and evidence have and pertain to these and like names, yea, what comfort, joy and gladness lie in them, belong in them, and would follow from them, that is, an evidence of obedience (Heb. 11:8), yea, an evidence, that one seeks the future promised land, firmly believes God’s promises, despises the earthly, and loves the heavenly; yea, these names attest and confirm God’s promises, that is, that no one has a right to, can have, bear, keep, and, in the power of the Spirit, maintain and live up these names, except he have with the patriarchs a firm assurance of faith, and judge him faithful who has promised it, and who is also able to keep it. Heb. 11:11. And therefore they all willingly journeyed as pilgrims, and through steadfast faith saw the future things, and 794 held fast to them, and thus evinced their names in power and indeed, for our instruction, comfort, example and imitation.

Herein rejoice now with us, O you holy brethren and sisters in the Holy Spirit of truth, in the invincible, strong knowledge of God, and of the faith which leads to the hope of everlasting life; my most beloved, in the mind of Jesus Christ and nature of God. Yea, my immovable holy brethren and sisters, as I hope forever, brethren according to the Spirit, and not the flesh, according to the Gospel, and not the letter. Yea, I repeat it, my holy brethren and sisters, regenerated from the dead by the resurrection of Jesus Christ into heavenly places, here in the Holy Ghost, and hereafter in perfection. Then you shall rejoice with joy unspeakable; then you shall live eternally and be forever happy; then the fiery lake and the second death shall not be able to terrify you; then shall your body, soul and spirit together be saved and forever blessed; then you shall eternally be filled and anointed with the Holy Ghost; then you shall be clothed in white raiment, and crowned and rewarded with the crown of life, of joy, and of everlasting gladness and pleasure; then you shall enter into eternal joy and rest, and be taken and caught up in the air, to meet the Lord, and ever be with him (1 Thess. 4:17); then you shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51,52) and your body and face be glorified with heavenly glory; there you shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of your Father (Matt. 13:43), then you shall laugh and rejoice (Luke 6:21); then you shall forever behold yourselves as in a mirror, in his face, brightness and glory, and behold him who thus loved you that he gave his only begotten Son, who loves you even as his dear heavenly Father loved and blessed him in eternity. 1 John 3:1; John 3:16.