# Valerius Schoolmaster Martyred, A. D. 1568. · Page 6 of 6 [Previous page: VALERIUS SCHOOLMASTER MARTYRED, A. D. 1568.](/en/stories/mm-valerius-schoolmaster-martyred-a-d-1568/part-5/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: JAN THIELEMANS AND JOB JANS, BURNT TO DEATH FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, IN THE HAGUE, IN HOLLAND, IN THE YEAR 1568.](/en/stories/mm-jan-thielemans-and-job-jans-burnt-to-death-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-in-the-hague-in-holland-in-the-year-1568/) “If then we are to be saved through God’s mercy, we must repent, must be obedient children of God, born again of him, and must follow Christ in the regeneration and the footsteps of faith, through the narrow way unto eternal life; nor are we then saved through the merit of good works, but by the grace which came through Christ. Eph. 2:5. For though we lived holy, blameless, and perfect in all righteousness (as the Scriptures require), and suffered for the truth a death more bitter than that of Christ which with us men is impossible, yet we could not be saved through our own good works, but only by God’s mercy, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who alone has wrought out our salvation. And if we sought or placed our salvation in our good works or our sufferings, we should commit idolatry, and we were our own idol, if we trusted in ourselves. But now our salvation depends only on the mercy of God, and not on our running and following after. Rom. 9:16. Though we should run and follow after ever so well (which is our bounden duty), so that we attained, and already had, the perfection (that for which we are apprehended of Christ), and had done all those things which are commanded us, and which it is our duty to do, we were yet only unprofitable servants. Philip. 3:12; Luke 17:10. How much more unprofitable then are we now, with our many defects, though we willingly strive after and should gladly perform that which is good, and are sorry that we are not perfect[298](/en/stories/mm-footnotes/part-16/#Footnote_298). Hence we have great reason, and are in duty bound, to humble ourselves very low under the abundant grace of God, and to pray; for eternal life is a gift of God, and not a debt or reward proceeding from our labor, merit, or good works; for we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God hath before prepared that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10), as is our duty to do, in the least as well as in the greatest. But the wages of sin is death; hence we must hate and fear sin, that we do not consent to or commit it, if we want to be saved by the grace and gift of God. Thus, we are delivered through Christ from the bonds of the devil, or sin; let therefore no one say or hope that he is saved by his good works, which are far too insufficient. That, also, no one say: “Should we not take thought, should we not gain a livelihood, else on what should we live? except to them who say that one is not to support himself by the labor of his hands, but to go idle.” Matt. 6:25; Luke 12:22; Eph. 4:28. And that, also, no one say: “No man knows the hour and the day of the Lord, except to those who have set the hour and the day, from doing which may the Lord keep me.” Mark 13:32; Matt. 24:42; Luke 12:40. Beware of frivolous babblers, for scorners will speedily come to an end. 1 Cor. 15:33. And if, when you speak your mind, or reprove with meekness that which does not meet your approbation, and one resist you in the good, be silent instantly, that you may retain your peace and the tranquillity of your conscience. If it vex you, do nevertheless not engage in contention, that you may be found in peace when the Lord comes. 2 Pet. 3:14. We must here at any rate suffer violence and wrong; but it will not last long; hence, let us possess our souls in patience. Luke 21:19. “The fourteenth week of my imprisonment, the first day of January, so called, A. D. 1568. I trust that the present year will not pass like the former. Watch and pray, for you know neither the day nor hour; but the godfearing may consider whether this is the year in which the Lord will deliver his elect and believers; let every one take warning.” ## Original source [Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#FNanchor_298) [Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855) [Previous page: VALERIUS SCHOOLMASTER MARTYRED, A. D. 1568.](/en/stories/mm-valerius-schoolmaster-martyred-a-d-1568/part-5/) · [Book contents](/en/sources/martyrs-mirror/#book-contents) · [Next page: JAN THIELEMANS AND JOB JANS, BURNT TO DEATH FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, IN THE HAGUE, IN HOLLAND, IN THE YEAR 1568.](/en/stories/mm-jan-thielemans-and-job-jans-burnt-to-death-for-the-testimony-of-jesus-christ-in-the-hague-in-holland-in-the-year-1568/) --- Page: https://history.truechristian.church/en/stories/mm-valerius-schoolmaster-martyred-a-d-1568/part-6/ [Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+Valerius+Schoolmaster+Martyred%2C+A.+D.+1568.+%C2%B7+Page+6+of+6&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AValerius+Schoolmaster+Martyred%2C+A.+D.+1568.+%C2%B7+Page+6+of+6%0A%0APage%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fen%2Fstories%2Fmm-valerius-schoolmaster-martyred-a-d-1568%2Fpart-6%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-valerius-schoolmaster-martyred-a-d-1568--b00041-o000000%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1568%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.)