Five Letters Of Clement Hendrickss, Sent From His Prison In Amsterdam, Where He Laid Down His Life For The Knowledge Of The Truth; Together With Jan Krijnss And Cornelis Janss Mentioned Above.

Behold, my dear and much beloved in the Lord, what is our life? It is even a vapor, or as a smoke that is driven by the wind, not knowing whence it cometh, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Jas. 4:14. But our dying is nothing less than an introduction into eternal life, to reign with God and Christ. Christ says: He that believeth in me is passed from death unto life. John 5:24. If we die through him, we live in him, for God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; 801 and Abraham believed in him, and all believers live in God. Matt. 22:33; Jas. 2:23. Though they suffered death, they were the friends of God, so that he says: He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of my eye. Zech. 2:8. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth you not, because it knew him not. Therefore, my dear and much beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:1–3. We know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, that we may be clothed upon with it. 2 Cor. 5:1,2. Yea, saith Paul, as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ; whether it be comfort or tribulation, it is all for our salvation, if we suffer as the saints suffered, that is, for the testimony of the word of God. 2 Cor. 1:5,6; Revelation 6:9. Paul further says: If we suffer with him, if we die with Christ, we shall live with him. 2 Tim. 2:11,12. He further says; that our earnest expectation is nothing less than the manifestation of the sons of God, that is, we desire and long so greatly for the appearing of our Lord in the clouds, that we may be caught up to him in the clouds, and become like him. Rom. 8:19; Matt. 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:17. While we are in these tabernacles, we are burdened; for we would rather be clothed upon with the immortal and heavenly glory with which Christ shall glorify us. He that hath wrought us for this selfsame thing is God, who hath given unto us the earnest of the faith, through faith and trust in his Son. 2 Cor. 5:4,5.

Hence, my dear and much beloved, even as it is also written; Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are temporal, but at the things which are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16–18. Herewith I commend you to the Lord; may he bless and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and upon us all, and be gracious unto us. Num. 6:24,25. Greet the brethren much in my name, where it is convenient. I will commend you all to the Lord until the appearing of our Lord. The peace of the Lord be with you now and forever. Amen.

Written in bonds, on Christmas Monday, by me,

Clement Hendrickss,
Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.

Third Letter of Clement Hendrickss, to his father and mother.

I wish you, my dear and beloved father, and my dear and much beloved mother, the Spirit of truth, and the knowledge of the faith, according to the mind of Christ Jesus, a clear vision and an open heart in all divine matters and in the word of God, thereby rightly to discriminate which is light or darkness, lies or truth, yea, flesh or spirit; in order that you may not be deceived, but firmly adhere to the word of God, so that you may receive a full reward, and lose none of those things which you have hitherto wrought through your faith. 2 John 8.