Mr. Jelis Matthijss, Put To Death For The Testimony Of Jesus Christ, At Middleborgh, In The Year A. D. 1564.

For this reason also I was in great anxiety, fearing that through my daily mistakes and polluted walk I should not be able to stand at his coming; hence I often besought him with tears, that through his fatherly mercy he would make me, poor, miserable man, fit, that I might suffer for his name’s sake, to go into bonds and imprisonment, and even into death, for his holy testimony;—then I should be sure of my soul’s salvation, and not fear to come to shame in the day of his wrath,—whereto he, through his fatherly mercy, has now chosen me and made me worthy, to declare his holy testimony before this evil and adulterous generation, in my bonds; on which account I am greatly rejoiced in my soul, and sincerely regret that I cannot thank or praise my and our merciful dear Father enough for his unspeakably great benefits which he has shown and is still daily showing me miserable creature; for I trust in his fatherly grace and mercy, that he will further fit me and make me worthy to go into death for his holy testimony; for he knows that I have for a long time longed to be at home, and this on account of the manifold dangers I behold in the way. Hence, my affectionately beloved sheep in the Lord, as I still have a fatherly care for you, and love you with a godly love, I cannot forbear, seeing I am still in this tabernacle for a little while, to admonish you a little by my writing, praying you not to think that I rule over you; but I seek to build you up with all kindness unto the full stature of the fullness of Christ, so that you, my dear sheep, may be found a true letter of Christ, not written with ink on paper, but by the Holy Spirit of the living God, whereby you are also sealed unto the day of your redemption, who has written God’s statutes and laws into your hearts and minds, whereby you are now become an epistle of Christ, which is seen and read by all men who behold your holy, chaste conversation in the humility of your heart and depreciation of yourselves. 2 Cor. 3:2; 1 Pet. 3:2.

Therefore, my dear lamb, I beseech you once more, though you are humble, humble yourselves still more; though you are clean, cleanse yourselves yet more; yea, though you have become holy, sanctify yourselves yet more and more, that you 648 may be found pure and blameless, the children of God, in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, so that I may not have labored in vain with you; for though I am to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand, yet I joy and rejoice in my heart, on your account, and of the others whom I have begotten in my bonds, who in time past were unprofitable to the house of God, but are now useful and profitable, whom I love for the truth’s sake, and desire that they shall also have a part herein, hoping that it will also rejoice them in the spirit and faith, for an assurance and confirmation of all your minds in Christ Jesus. John 15:3; Rev. 22:11; Philip. 2:15; 2 Tim. 4:6; Phil. 10:11; 2 John 1,2. Hence, my final and affectionate request to you all is, that you love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, namely, by the living, powerful and saving word. John 13:34; 1 Pet. 1:22,23. And remember the words of Paul our fellow brother, where he says: The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience; yea, it is the bond of perfectness. 1 Tim. 1:5; Col. 3:14. O how blessed is he who is truly girded about with this bond; for he does not live unto himself, but unto his Lord; and he observes the words of Christ in everything, also where he says: “Be merciful, as your heavenly Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36.

Hence, my dear sheep, I beseech you yet, by the mercy of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, and also for the sake of the eternal salvation of your souls, that you forget not to do good and to communicate; for the administration of this service supplieth not only the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; for by such offerings God is pleased. 2 Cor. 9:12. Remember also the words of the wise man, where he says: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” Proverbs 19:17. He further says: “He that giveth unto the poor shall suffer no sorrow; but he that turneth away his eyes shall decrease.” 28:27. “The righteous useth his wealth to life, but the wicked useth it to sin.” 10:16. He also says: “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” 11:24. Tobit, also, commands his son to remember the poor, saying: “Turn not thy face from the poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. Wherever thou be able, help the needy. If thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly; if thou have but little, give according to that little with a faithful heart.” and he adds: “For alms deliver from death, and blot out sin.” Tob. 4:7. With regard to this, also Sirach says: “Alms maketh an atonement for sin.” Sir. 3:30. Alms also preserve the giver in everlasting habitations; wherefore Christ commanded: “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” Luke 16:9.