THE ELEVENTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO P. J., HIS YOUNGEST BROTHER-IN-LAW.

Grace and peace from God the Father through Jesus Christ, and the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, be multiplied to you, my much beloved brother, and to all that seek their salvation with all their heart, in the name of Jesus Christ; that we may be able to stand, by the help of the Lord, in this last conflict that is set before us, and may patiently finish it, for an example to our neighbor, for a light to the world, to the salvation of the soul, and to the praise of God. Amen.

After this my heartfelt wish, I cannot forbear to write you a little, if peradventure I and you may be refreshed somewhat thereby. In the first place, know that I cannot fully thank our God for his grace, that he has called me, unworthy, poor, vile man to this state, whereby I perceive the great love which he has to me, unworthy one; he chastens me according to his mercy, thereby confirming that I am not a bastard. O what great grace is this, that the good God seeks my salvation, which salvation has been, and still is, the sole object of my seeking and praying, as I wrote to you before my imprisonment, to help me to pray, that the Lord would give and let come upon me what is for my salvation, which I trust his grace that he, out of great mercy, does, and will do according to his promise and goodness, and not according to my righteousness, for his grace knows better than I what I need. Hence his will be done for my salvation, to take me away from the evil, which frequently arises through the work of Satan, which he works in the children of unbelief; for I have found from my youth, that one trouble and difficulty follows upon the heels of another. And he that from the heart seeks his salvation and the welfare of the church, often has to suffer the pains of travail. Moreover, one has much to die unto and mortify in himself, and constantly to fight, so that one is seldom without conflict, even as Paul and also many pious witnesses of God; but all who do not become weary, and who overcome, shall inherit all things, and to them that overcome the crown is promised. Let therefore no one become faint or weary, knowing 880 and believing that we have such a strong champion, who cannot be conquered, but from whom the wicked must flee. Paul says: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Rom. 8:31. The Lord said to Abraham: “Fear not; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Gen. 15:1. The Lord said, yea, commanded him, that he should be of good courage, and not be afraid or dismayed; he promised always to be with him, wherever he should go (thus he was also with his faithful servant Moses), and [told him] that he should meditate day and night on the law of God. (Oh! herein I fall far too short, which I heartily regret), that he should not depart therefrom either to the right or to the left, and his way should be prosperous and full of blessings, and he should trample his enemies under foot and devour them as bread. Yea, God sent his angel, as he had promised, as a champion, so that the Lord himself fought the battle. O is this not a faithful God! who should not trust in his powerful word? And though we do not see him externally, yet we daily behold his creation, which through the power of his word still stands in its strength, though it be but a little flower out of the earth.