# The First Letter From Jan Wouterss, To His Brother-In-Law And His Sister, Which Treats Of His Examination And Torture. · Page 3 of 6 [Previous page: THE FIRST LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SISTER, WHICH TREATS OF HIS EXAMINATION AND TORTURE.](/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE FIRST LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SISTER, WHICH TREATS OF HIS EXAMINATION AND TORTURE.](/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/part-4/) When the Bailiff heard this, he said to me: “You are worse than a rogue; for these have sinned, but you have apostatized from God, and denied him; hence he forsakes you in your distress.” I said: “If this is true, I am a poor man; but I have a better hope.” “Yea,” said he, “you are a strayed sheep; the wolves have taken you away, and devoured you,” etc. He also told me, that we people did not get baptized until we were first tried between two naked women. I said, that no such thing obtained with us. They also talked to me about David Joriss. I disavowed him and all his adherents. The executioner said that we held the belief, that infants that died in their mothers’ womb cannot be saved. I denied it. Another said, we had to give a pound Flemish when we were baptized, whether we had it or not. I think the Bailiff said this, for besides he said that in the church only three stivers or thereabouts are given, when one has a child baptized. I denied that too. O offense, offense! what have you done already, whereby the innocent have had to suffer? for the wicked soon take cause, though they should hear false testimony, even as was the case with regard to our Lord himself, and Stephen. In short, the number of the infamous things said was exceedingly great, and, I suppose that to some the infamous speeches and their threats, are almost as grievous as the tortures. Hence patience is especially needful, in order to overcome in this conflict. Christ may therefore well say: “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt. 11:29. That this is a true doctrine, I indeed now experience. He, the Lord himself from heaven, who was mightier than all men, suffered shame, reproach and contempt, and thus took possession of his own kingdom (Luke 24:26); how then should we not bear it, who are but for a little time subjugated by our enemies. Hence I unworthy servant beseech all the godfearing, that you forget not, constantly to learn of Christ, for he is meek and lowly in heart; and also possess your souls in patience, and you shall find rest, for patience is our strength. To be patient, and thus wait for the help of the Lord, is a good thing; for in Proverbs it is written, that a patient man is better or greater than a strong man. Lamentations 3:26; Prov. 16:32. Take for an example, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the three youths, Daniel, 860 the seven brothers and their mother, Job, the prophets, and the end of our Lord. Thus, my most beloved, trust God, and believe in him, he will help you, since he has promised it. But if you do not trust him, consider whether you also believe, that God is almighty and true, even as you believe, that by his word he created heaven and earth, and the sea and all that in them is. David testifies, and rejoices in it that he is a God who is ready to help. He further says, that he is a buckler to all those who trust in him. Yea, his angels encamp round about us, to keep us. But if we do not trust him, how then shall he help us? When I again expected the hour of my temptation, I, unworthy servant, besought the Lord my refuge, that he would also keep me the third time, as he, through his grace, had done twice; so that I should not be confounded, and that they should not deprive me of my boast (that is, the good purpose of my heart in the beginning), so that I might keep the faith in a pure conscience. Then I hope to praise, glorify and magnify thy holy name, to the joy of the pious saints, and to the babes, as a comfort and a sweet savor of life, that, smelling it, they may thereby be refreshed and strengthened, to become the bolder in the truth, which is the strongest of all, and will always conquer (1 Esdras 4:38); and not regard what men, who must perish like grass, may do to us, since it is manifestly found, that the Lord’s hands are not shortened, but that he always assists the pious, as David testifies. For, dear Lord, if I did not continue valiant, what a great sorrow would it be for the young babes, and to what great blasphemy it would give rise. I beseech thee, O heavenly Father, have compassion on me, poor sinful man, and remove from me the rest of the cup, if it is possible; and if it is not possible, thy will alone be done. Lord, help me to triumph, for thou knowest how the stripes of men taste. I commit myself into thy hands; though they exceedingly threaten me, they have not power to harm one hair of our head, thou must first permit them; but thy holy will be done to my salvation. O Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Acts 7:60. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_860) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: THE FIRST LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SISTER, WHICH TREATS OF HIS EXAMINATION AND TORTURE.](/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/part-2/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE FIRST LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW AND HIS SISTER, WHICH TREATS OF HIS EXAMINATION AND TORTURE.](/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/part-4/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture/part-3/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+The+First+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Brother-In-Law+And+His+Sister%2C+Which+Treats+Of+His+Examination+And+Torture.+%C2%B7+Page+3+of+6&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AThe+First+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Brother-In-Law+And+His+Sister%2C+Which+Treats+Of+His+Examination+And+Torture.+%C2%B7+Page+3+of+6%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture%2Fpart-3%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-the-first-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-brother-in-law-and-his-sister-which-treats-of-his-examination-and-torture--b00039-o000000%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.)