# PIETER BRUYNEN, JAN, PLEUNIS, AND JAN THE OLD CLOTHES BUYER, AND ANOTHER BROTHER, ALL PUT TO DEATH, ON THE 2d OF OCTOBER, A. D. 1551, AT ANTWERP. · Page 2 of 2

[Previous page: PIETER BRUYNEN, JAN, PLEUNIS, AND JAN THE OLD CLOTHES BUYER, AND ANOTHER BROTHER, ALL PUT TO DEATH, ON THE 2d OF OCTOBER, A. D. 1551, AT ANTWERP.](/en/stories/mm-pieter-bruynen-jan-pleunis-and-jan-the-old-clothes-buyer-and-another-brother-all-put-to-death-on-the-2d-of-october-a-d-1/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: CONFESSION OR DEFENSE OF FAITH, OF JAN, THE OLD CLOTHES BUYER, WHEN HE LAY IN PRISON AT ANTWERP, A. D. 1551.](/en/stories/mm-confession-or-defense-of-faith-of-jan-the-old-clothes-buyer-when-he-lay-in-prison-at-antwerp-a-d-1551/)

As regards our present condition, the Lord be
praised for it, whom we cannot thank enough for
the joy, that he has counted us worthy to suffer for
his name, and for the joy given us by him, which we
have in our imprisonment; for he is faithful, so that
with the temptation he also provides for his own a
way of escape, and he does not suffer his own, who
trust in him, to be confounded. The grace of the
Lord be with you. Greet one another with a holy
kiss, Jan, Pleun, and I, also greet you much.
Herewith I commend you to God, and to the word
of his grace. Written by me, Peter Van Weert,
while in prison with two others.

Peter’s second letter, in which he takes leave.

Herewith we commend you all, dear brethren, to
the Lord, wishing that you may finish your course
to the praise of the Lord, so that you may obtain
the crown, and remain steadfast unto the end, in
order that you may obtain salvation; for no one obtains
the prize, except he strive valiantly. 1 Corinthians
9:24; 2 Tim. 2:5. Run, therefore, that
you may obtain the prize; fight as soldiers of the
Lord; firmly resolve to take no thought how or
what you shall speak when you shall be brought before
the magistrate, for God the Lord suffers not his
own who trust in him to be confounded. Matthew
10:19. Though they are arraigned as malefactors,
yet he does not forsake his own; for though weeping
come in the evening, joy shall return in the morning.
Ps. 30:5. And though he, to chasten us, be
angry for a moment, yet through his mercy he
keeps us alive. Heb. 12:8; Is. 54:8. Hence, we
are not forsaken by him, though we have more
adversity than the world.

My brethren, the servant is not greater than his
Lord or Master. Remember, that though Christ
was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, and
though he was exalted, yet for our sakes he suffered
and accepted reproach, that we through his poverty
might be made rich, and through his reproach become
heirs of his promises. 2 Cor. 8:9. Let us go
forth therefore unto him without the camp, and help
bear his reproach. Heb. 13:13. Let us long for the
future possessions. And be not in darkness, nor
overcharged with eating or drinking; neither entangle
yourselves with the cares of this life; walk as
children of the light; be always ready like those who
constantly wait for their lord; for he will come as a
thief in the night. Luke 21:34; 12:36; Rev. 3:3.
Make yourselves ready, take the staff into the hand,
gird up your loins, and journey to the promised
land; you shall possess it, if you do not fall into unbelief.
It is pleasant and beautiful; we have seen it
from afar, for which we thank and praise the Lord.

On this account, we desire of you, lovers of the
truth, that you help us thank the Lord. For I once
made a vow to the Lord, that I would live to him
all the days of my life (Luke 1:75), which he has
helped me fulfill, for which I praise him, and have
often earnestly done so, with outstretched arms.
The reason I write this, is, that you may not forget
to thank and praise the Lord, for he is greater than
all our lives; for you cannot so magnify him that he
is not still more wonderful. Sir. 43:30. Continue in
his words, and keep his commandments. Love one
another sincerely. 1 Pet. 1:22. We also praise him
for his faithfulness according to his promises, which
he shows in us, in that we cannot sufficiently describe
the joy he gives us; for in the beginning of our
confinement, when we were imprisoned, we were
joyful and fearless, likewise before the lords, and
505
were filled with joy also afterward on the bridge and
in our prison. Moreover, we hope that God will
give us boldness unto the end.

Hence, our dear brethren, be not terrified, if they
inflict more than one death upon us, since much can
be done in a quarter of an hour, yet it is as nothing
to the pain of hell, and not worthy to be compared
to the future joy. For after we have suffered this
distress, and passed through this strait, we expect
joy and amplitude; then shall all our tears be wiped
away, and we shall weep and cry no more, but pass
from one joy to another. O, my brethren, strive
to enter into his joy. Lead henceforth a Christian life
and see that the Gospel be not evil spoken of on
your account. Rom. 14:16. Be always meek, and
have an unspotted conscience, and whatsoever you
take in hand, remember the end, that you will not
do amiss. Matt. 11:29; Sir. 7:36. And forget not
the ardency of the spiritual reformation in the beginning
of the Christian life, lest when you think you
are a perfect Christian, reformation of life be still
necessary. We commend you to God, and to the
word of his grace. We, Jan, Pleun, and Peter, greet
you in the Lord. Pray the Lord for us, that we may
finish our course to his praise. We also pray for
you.



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_505)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

[Previous page: PIETER BRUYNEN, JAN, PLEUNIS, AND JAN THE OLD CLOTHES BUYER, AND ANOTHER BROTHER, ALL PUT TO DEATH, ON THE 2d OF OCTOBER, A. D. 1551, AT ANTWERP.](/en/stories/mm-pieter-bruynen-jan-pleunis-and-jan-the-old-clothes-buyer-and-another-brother-all-put-to-death-on-the-2d-of-october-a-d-1/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: CONFESSION OR DEFENSE OF FAITH, OF JAN, THE OLD CLOTHES BUYER, WHEN HE LAY IN PRISON AT ANTWERP, A. D. 1551.](/en/stories/mm-confession-or-defense-of-faith-of-jan-the-old-clothes-buyer-when-he-lay-in-prison-at-antwerp-a-d-1551/)

---

Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-pieter-bruynen-jan-pleunis-and-jan-the-old-clothes-buyer-and-another-brother-all-put-to-death-on-the-2d-of-october-a-d-1/part-2/

[Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+PIETER+BRUYNEN%2C+JAN%2C+PLEUNIS%2C+AND+JAN+THE+OLD+CLOTHES+BUYER%2C+AND+ANOTHER+BROTHER%2C+ALL+PUT+TO+DEATH%2C+ON+THE+2d+OF+OCTOBER%2C+A.+D.+1551%2C+AT+ANTWERP.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+2&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0APIETER+BRUYNEN%2C+JAN%2C+PLEUNIS%2C+AND+JAN+THE+OLD+CLOTHES+BUYER%2C+AND+ANOTHER+BROTHER%2C+ALL+PUT+TO+DEATH%2C+ON+THE+2d+OF+OCTOBER%2C+A.+D.+1551%2C+AT+ANTWERP.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+2%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-pieter-bruynen-jan-pleunis-and-jan-the-old-clothes-buyer-and-another-brother-all-put-to-death-on-the-2d-of-october-a-d-1%2Fpart-2%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-pieter-bruynen-jan-pleunis-and-jan-the-old-clothes-buyer-and-another-brother-all-put-to-death-on-the-2d-of-october-a-d-1--b00007-o000000%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1551%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.)
