# The Sixth Letter From Jan Wouterss, To His Only Daughter In Particular. · Page 2 of 3 [Previous page: THE SIXTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS ONLY DAUGHTER IN PARTICULAR.](/en/stories/mm-the-sixth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-only-daughter-in-particular/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE SIXTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS ONLY DAUGHTER IN PARTICULAR.](/en/stories/mm-the-sixth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-only-daughter-in-particular/part-3/) Thus, my dearest daughter, lay it to heart, despise it not, for it is of great importance to you; and diligently search (when you have received understanding from the Lord) the holy Scriptures, and you will find, that we must follow Christ Jesus, and obey him unto the end; and you will also truly find the little flock who follow Christ. And this is the sign: they lead a penitent life; they avoid that which is evil, and delight in doing what is good; they hunger and thirst after righteousness: they are not conformed to the world; they crucify their sinful flesh more and more every day, to die unto sin, which wars in their members; they strive and seek after that which is honest and of good report; they do evil to no one; they pray for their enemies; they do not resist their enemies; their words are yea that is yea, and nay that is nay; their word is their seal; they are sorry that they do not constantly live more holily, for which reason they often sigh and weep. Let not this, however, be the only sign by which you may know who follows Christ; but [they are] also these, namely: who bear the cross of Christ, for he says: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23. For he has said: If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. John 15:20. But now some one might say, and persuade people, that he said this to his apostles. But the apostle Paul declares to them and says that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12. The prophet, also, says that he that takes up the truth becomes every one’s prey; for that which is pure and clear cannot come forth. Is. 59:15. Hereby you may understand, my dear daughter, who follow Christ, to be saved through him. Beware of sin, that you do not commit it; and join these cross-bearers, that you may come to Christ, who bore the cross for us; for we must follow his footsteps, and be like our Lord, the disciple like his master; and as we suffer with him, so shall we forever rejoice with him. But, my only daughter, whom I love from the heart, I beseech you, fear not this present suffering, so that you do not, on this account, forbear to seek your salvation; this would be too great a folly; for now that I have suffered the same, I say with the apostle, that the suffering which comes upon us for Christ’s sake is light and temporal, and works for us an exceeding weight of glory. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ, and he always helps us to triumph, so that we keep the faith in a pure conscience; for it is blessed, says the apostle, if we endure stripes for well doing. Hence rejoice, that your dear father has suffered and endured threats, contempt and stripes for well doing; I say for well doing, because I would not with the world walk the broad way to everlasting torment, which all shall receive who do not turn and follow Christ in the narrow way. The word of Christ is always the judge; hence let no one think hard of me. John 12:48. In the second place I also suffered because I loved my neighbor as myself, and would not name him. Be therefore resigned, and always think that your beloved father did not suffer as a thief or murderer, but as a Christian, of which I need not be ashamed, nor need you; but let them be ashamed themselves who do evil; one need not be ashamed of that which is good. Though we are despised of men, who perish like grass, and vanish as a vapor, what care we for mortal man: if we only please the immortal God, all is well, for he will praise us. The praise of men is perishable. Hence we do not regard it, and look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; after these we follow and strive, and choose with Moses rather to suffer affliction with the children of God, than to live in the lusts of the world, for we have respect to the reward of Christ. Thither I will now go before, and wait for you and your dear mother a little while. Hence I pray you very affectionately, my dearest, only daughter, take the words of my letter to heart, so that you seek your salvation with all your heart, in following Christ. He will help you as well as he helps me, and has helped others who lived in my time and before. Christ is the way to eternal life; hence keep his commandment, which is life everlasting. John 12:50. ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_871) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: THE SIXTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS ONLY DAUGHTER IN PARTICULAR.](/en/stories/mm-the-sixth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-only-daughter-in-particular/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: THE SIXTH LETTER FROM JAN WOUTERSS, TO HIS ONLY DAUGHTER IN PARTICULAR.](/en/stories/mm-the-sixth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-only-daughter-in-particular/part-3/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-the-sixth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-only-daughter-in-particular/part-2/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+The+Sixth+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Only+Daughter+In+Particular.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+3&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AThe+Sixth+Letter+From+Jan+Wouterss%2C+To+His+Only+Daughter+In+Particular.+%C2%B7+Page+2+of+3%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-the-sixth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-only-daughter-in-particular%2Fpart-2%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-the-sixth-letter-from-jan-wouterss-to-his-only-daughter-in-particular--b00003-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.)