The First Letter Of Jacob The Chandler, Written To His Wife.

Thus, my dear and much beloved wife, do the best with them, this I pray you; and take heed to yourself, that you may receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul, 1 Peter 1:9. And do not faint because of the tribulation which we must suffer, but remember how the innocent lamb, Christ Jesus, had to suffer from the beginning in the faithful. Hence the Lord says: “He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye.” Zech. 2:8. To Paul he said: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And Paul said: Who art thou, lord? He said: I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest. Acts 9:4,5. Not that he persecuted Christ according to the flesh; for the latter had died, before he persecuted: but he persecuted the Christians, in whom Christ lived according to the spirit; for they do not live to themselves, but Christ lives in them. Rom. 14:7. Hence, when they suffer, they do not suffer for their own name, but for the name of Christ; for if they lived to themselves, they would not be in trouble, for the world would love them; but because they are not of the world, and because Christ has chosen them from the world, therefore the world hates them. John 15:19. Hence Peter says: If ye suffer for the name of Christ, happy are ye: for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 1 Peter 4:14. For they are comforted by the same Spirit, so that we know: As the sufferings of Christ abound in them, so their consolation also aboundeth by Christ, namely, if they suffer with him, they shall also rejoice with him; for their light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; because they look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:12; 2 Cor. 4:17,18. Hence Paul says: I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; for we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, where mortality will be swallowed up of life; for there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither any heat, for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:10; 2 Cor. 5:4; Rev. 21:4; Is. 25:8.

Then they shall leap as the calves of the stall; then they shall triumph upon Mount Sion, have palms in their hands, and receive the crown of honor, which God has prepared for all them that love him and his appearing. Mal. 4:2; 2 Esd. 2:42; Wis. 5:16.

Thus, my dear wife, comfort yourself with these words, and be patient in your tribulation, this I pray you; for though I am thus taken from you, think that we are not assured of each other; for we must all die, and the Lord has long permitted us to be together, considering the perils in which we walked.

There have been so many within our time, who had to leave each other, some through imprisonment, 765 some dying of sickness. But there is no more glorious death, than that for the name of Christ; for not all are made worthy of God to suffer for his name, for this is acceptable with God, says Peter, 1 Pet. 2:20. Hence he and John went their way rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Acts 5:41.

O my dear and beloved wife, it would greatly rejoice me if I could hear that you were of good cheer; for every time that I have written your or the children’s names, I could not refrain from weeping. Nevertheless, as regards my own self, I am of reasonably good cheer, the Lord be praised for his grace; so that I would not have thought it before my apprehension—so weak did I find myself. Hence Christ did truly say: I will not leave you comfortless; but I will come to you. John 14:18. Herewith I will commend you, my dear and much beloved wife, to the Lord, who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you an inheritance with all them who through faith in Jesus Christ shall be sanctified. May the Lord Almighty strengthen you by his Spirit. Amen.

Written on the 24th of April, by me, Jacob, your husband. Have this copied, and keep it in remembrance of me; for I do not know whether I can write you any more. Greet all the brethren and sisters much in my name, and all them that fear God; my children B. and his wife; your brother T. and his wife; J. and F. T. and F. his brother; J. de L. and his wife; and my friends at Kortrijck.