# The Eighth Letter From Jan Wouterss, To His Sister-In-Law, Who Was Still Among The Papists, And In The Romish Faith. · Page 1 of 3 [Previous page: THE SEVENTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS FATHER AND MOTHER.](/en/stories/mm-the-seventh-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-father-and-mother/part-3/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE EIGHTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, WHO WAS STILL AMONG THE PAPISTS, AND IN THE ROMISH FAITH.](/en/stories/mm-the-eighth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-sister-in-law-who-was-still-among-the-papists-and-in-the-romish-faith/part-2/) Affectionately written to you, my much beloved sister Neelken, Jacob’s daughter, mother in the convent: I Jan Wouterss van Kuyck, your beloved brother-in-law, imprisoned at Dortrecht, not for any evil, but for the obedience of the gospel of Christ; which is no shame before my supreme Lord, who created us, but a great honor to him, that one for his name’s sake, yea, for well doing, endures contempt and bloody stripes; such are accounted blessed by the holy Scriptures, which blessedness [salvation] Christ has merited by his great sufferings. And since I sought my salvation in Christ, I have fallen into affliction, but I do therefore not regret it, for salvation is dearer to me than this transitory life, and I will give my life for it, knowing and believing that I shall, according to God’s promises, which will not fail, receive an eternal one, which is better. Hence, I beseech you most affectionately, grieve not on my account; I thank you very kindly for all the great friendship you have shown me and my dearest wife, and also my only daughter, and which you may have further shown while I have been in bonds. Henceforth I know of no greater friendship to show you, my beloved sister; than that I must at my end invite you yet to the marriage of the Lamb, which is Christ; yea, heartily entreat you, to prepare yourself for it during this short time. Hence put off the old man with his evil deeds, and put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge of God, of him that created him. Put off the old Adam, and put on the new, and walk therein, and you shall henceforth not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Col. 3:9,10; Rom. 12:2. See, beloved sister, I declare to you with the holy Scriptures, that you cannot come to Christ, the bridegroom, unless you sincerely follow him in his footsteps, in the narrow way which he walked; and I pray you, lay it to heart, for it is of great importance to you. I say and declare unto you, that neither you nor any one (I do not mean infants) can follow Christ, except you first deny yourself and deliver up to him your own understanding, reasons, opinions, and your own life, even as he delivered up his life for us, that all who believe in him, and do not live to themselves, should not perish, but have everlasting life through him. Suffer to be told and have mercy on yourself, and trust not in the learned or that you bear the name of a Christian; to the learned, God’s wisdom is hid, and the name does not make a Christian. But if you would nevertheless trust in the learned, perceive by their fruits what kind of trees they are, as Christ taught, that every tree shall be known by his fruit. Consider how Christ condemns them in the gospel, and how they were enraged against Christ and his apostles, and how they laid hands on them; and though the heathen judges found no cause of death, yet they had to put to death the innocent, if they wished to remain the friends of the scribes and of Cæsar. Thus it is still; think not that it is better now; they fill up the measure of their fathers, that the righteous blood may be found on them. I have worked or labored for my necessities, for my widow, and for my orphan child; they will not work themselves and rather live off that which is other people’s, and cannot bear that another works; hence the Bailiff forbids me to work, on their account. Again, when I was to be tortured the second time, in order that I should betray my neighbor, which I could not do, on account of my conscience, they brought to me 875 the superior, who was to prove to me with the Scriptures that I might do it. The superior said that I might do it, for, said he, “If you are the true people, your fellow brethren will with you receive the martyr’s crown. How can one attain to greater honor: hence you may name them. But since you are not the true people, you ought to name them, for God hates the wicked.” This the superior said to me. O dear, consider in your heart what spirit actuates these learned men, how they expound—the ultimate object is nothing but murder. O dear Lord, forgive them. Thou teachest us better, namely, to love our neighbor as ourselves, yea, to lay down our lives for the brethren. Hence separate from them, you have long been one with them; lest you partake of their sins and abominable plagues. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_875) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: THE SEVENTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS FATHER AND MOTHER.](/en/stories/mm-the-seventh-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-father-and-mother/part-3/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE EIGHTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, WHO WAS STILL AMONG THE PAPISTS, AND IN THE ROMISH FAITH.](/en/stories/mm-the-eighth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-sister-in-law-who-was-still-among-the-papists-and-in-the-romish-faith/part-2/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-the-eighth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-sister-in-law-who-was-still-among-the-papists-and-in-the-romish-faith/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+The+Eighth+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Sister-In-Law%2C+Who+Was+Still+Among+The+Papists%2C+And+In+The+Romish+Faith.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+3&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AThe+Eighth+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Sister-In-Law%2C+Who+Was+Still+Among+The+Papists%2C+And+In+The+Romish+Faith.+%C2%B7+Page+1+of+3%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-the-eighth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-sister-in-law-who-was-still-among-the-papists-and-in-the-romish-faith%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-the-eighth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-sister-in-law-who-was-still-among-the-papists-and-in-the-romish-faith%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.)