# A Testament From Joost De Tollenaer, To His Daughter.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: A TESTAMENT FROM JOOST DE TOLLENAER, TO HIS DAUGHTER.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy
voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver,
and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then
shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find
the knowledge of God. Prov. 2:3–5.

If thou wilt serve God, be in earnest with it, lest
thou tempt him. Eccl. 18:23.

Be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit,
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; continuing
instant in prayer. Rom. 12:11,12.

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye
have eternal life; and they are they which testify of
me. Jn. 5:39.

1020

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord
negligently, Jer. 48:10.

I, Joost de Tollenaer, your father, was apprehended
in Ghent, and brought into the Saucelet (the
city prison), in the corn market, after ten o’clock in
the night, of the 13th of January, 1589, and this for
the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Lord strengthen me by his Holy Spirit unto
the end of my life, and all those that are in distress,
without as well as in bonds.

Betgen, this is your age, and is for your remembrance.

Betgen de Tollenaer was born on the 14th of August,
A. D. 1574. God strengthen you in virtue
according to his will. And if I die for the name of
the Lord, the following letter is written to you for a
testament, and for a remembrance all your life.
But if I do not die, it is for the delight and instruction
of your heart, that you should conduct yourself,
to fear the Lord your God.

Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this
behooves all men.

By holy faith and love effectual

Man is saved through Jesus Christ.

May the only and merciful, almighty God, who is
full of all mercy and a Father of the afflicted widows
and orphans; and a Ruler of all those that trust
in him, cause you, my daughter and child, to grow
up in wisdom and in the knowledge of the truth, so
that you may know and learn to fear the most high
God, who created and made heaven and earth, the
sea and all the fountains of water. May the eternal
almighty Father, grant you this through Jesus
Christ his only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior.
Amen.

Hear, my dear child Betgen, and understand my
word, written to you in the name of the Lord, and
let my speech enter into your heart, and receive it as
a precious treasure of gold, that is, that you are from
your very youth to learn to fear the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your ability; and walk in all his ways, and serve the
Lord with the whole heart and soul, and keep the
commandments of the Lord your God, so that it
may go well with you in the land; and the Lord
will give you his rich grace, and all manner of spiritual
blessings. For the fear of God is an overflowing
fountain of eternal life, which quickens heart
and spirit, and creates a longing and desire to hear
the words of God; for they strengthen the inner
man in soul, spirit, and body.

Hence, my dear child, endeavor from your youth
to shun and avoid evil; for it will now be time to
perceive and learn to discern what is good and evil.
For he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not,
to him it shall be accounted sin. James 4:17. And
the wise man says: That the Spirit of God does not
dwell in a careless soul, nor in a body that is subject
to sin. Wis. 1:4. Therefore learn henceforth to
shun sin like the face of a serpent. Hence be sober,
of good conduct and modest, and avoid all light
company, which is carnal and worldly minded; for
the world and all the lust thereof shall perish, but
he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
1 John 2:17. Hence have your intercourse with
those that fear the Lord, and walk in God’s ways;
and you shall grow up as a daughter of Sarah,
which will be acceptable before the Lord. Hence,
my child, if you lack wisdom, you must ask it of
God: who giveth it to all men liberally, and upbraideth
not. But he must ask in faith, nothing
doubting, and it shall be given him. James 1:5,6.
Hence ask the Lord your God humbly with bended
knees, and this often and constantly. Going, standing,
working, always have the Lord before your
eyes, calling upon him with prayer and supplication,
saying: O Lord, my Lord, direct me in thy ways;
give me wisdom that comes from the throne of thy
glory, and cleanse me from all my sins, that I may
be worthy to become a holy temple. Give me grace
that I may be meek and humble of heart, and little
in my own eyes, so that thy Holy Spirit may dwell
in me, and that I may grow up in thy holy divine
fear; to the eternal salvation of my soul, and to the
praise, glory and honor of thy holy, most worthy,
adorable name. O Lord, strengthen me, miserable
one, since I am but dust and ashes. O Lord, be
merciful unto me, and help me forever. Amen.

And if you, my child, thus betake your heart
with all humility to the Lord, and unceasingly
cleave to him with prayer and supplication, he will
delight in you, and abundantly give you the fear of
God, and the knowledge of wisdom. For the fear
of God is a tree of life, and his branches flourish forever,
and his fruits are righteousness, peace and joy
in the Holy Ghost, and his leaves serve for the healing
of the nations; but none eat of the fruits save
those that are born again of water and of the Spirit;
who, through baptism in Christ Jesus, have buried
the old Adam with all his carnal lusts; who renounce
the devil, hell, death, the world and all its false appearance,
and henceforth walk according to the
holy will of God the Lord, with all the elect children
of God, whose names are written in the book
of eternal life. Hence fear God from the heart; not
as the world does, who profess that they know God
but in works they deny him, being abominable unto
God, and disobedient, and unto every good work
reprobate. Tit. 1:15. But God has chosen him a peculiar
and holy people, zealous of good works, to do
his will. 1 Pet. 2:9; Tit. 2:14. Hence we must
above all, as I have written before, diligently fear
the Lord with an humble heart. Perfect and upright
was Job, fearing God, and eschewing evil; for to
depart from evil is understanding. Job 1:1; 28:28.
Hence serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with
trembling. Ps. 2:11. For the fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom; it is a good understanding;
and he that doeth according to it, his praise
endureth forever. And then the wise man also says:
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride, and arrogancy,
and the evil way. Prov. 8:13. He that
walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord; but he
that is perverse in his ways, despiseth him, and falleth
in the snares of death. 14:2. For where one
suffers in the fear of God, for the name of the Lord,
there are wealth and honor; and the fear of the
1021
Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and is in the
depth of the heart only with the faithful, and dwells
only with the chosen women, and is found only
with the righteous and the faithful. The fear of the
Lord is true religion; it keeps and makes the heart
good, and gives joy and gladness; for he that fears
the Lord shall prosper, and when he needs comfort,
he shall be blessed of the Lord. The fear of the
Lord prevents sin; for he that is without fear cannot
please God. Eccl. 1.

Hence, my child, when it goes well with you,
watch, and continue steadfast in the fear of the
Lord, and be not proud, for a haughty spirit goes
before a fall. Prov. 16:18. Therefore have God
always before your eyes in all your ways, and seek
to please him with an upright heart; and God shall
be with you, and have compassion upon your weakness,
and wink at sin when it comes upon you
unawares through ignorance or misapprehension.
But presumptuous sinning and obstinacy are an
abomination before the Lord, and he will not leave
unpunished such as thus lightly esteem his words.
Therefore take heed to yourself, that you be not
a slave of sin. And give not your mouth to lying;
for the mouth that lieth slayeth the soul. Wis. 1:11.
There is more hope of a thief, than of a man accustomed
to lie; for they are every man’s enemy.
A lying child is always hated, and whatever they
speak, their words are not hearkened to, and men
hold them in derision. The devil is a liar from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth. Hence all
the ungodly are called children of the devil. When
they speak lies, they do according to the nature
of their father the devil, who has always continued
a liar, wherefore he was also cast out of heaven.
Hence, my child, always speak the truth, for the
same maketh not ashamed, whether it be for or
against you. Always say just as it is; for though
you have erred in something, yet if you speak the
truth, it will be overlooked more readily, than if you
sought to cover it by lying; for lies ultimately are
made manifest and come to light, and then the liar
must with shame hear words of reproach, which is
an abomination before God and men. Hence Paul
says: Lie not one to another, but let every one
speak the truth from the heart with his neighbor;
for liars shall have no part in the kingdom of God.

Behold, my dear child Betgen, I have set before
you many excellent and precious treasures, and all
for your admonition. I pray you, take them to
heart, and often read them over; so that you may
thereby be instructed in the fear of God. And do
not let this my letter (which I have written with
much pains in my prison, with trepidation, fearing
lest some one should suddenly surprise me), to lie
there idle as a dead fable; but lay it to heart, for
a child that loves her father will also love that which
comes from her father, and often read it over with
delight, thereby remembering her father’s affectionate
favor. For as a man, that has his delight in a
treasure of money, which he has locked in his
strong chest, often goes to contemplate the treasure,
to count it over, and to make calculations
with it; so do also you often look over and peruse
this my letter; for it is of more value than many
pieces of gold, for it points you to the fountain
of life, whereby your soul may live for ever, if you
will be subject to the truth. However, my child,
you are young yet, and your mind cannot yet
comprehend it all; but I hope the understanding
will come yet. Hence give good attention from
your youth, to hear the words of God, and the
Lord will give you wisdom; buy it of the Lord,
for he will give it to you for nothing. Hence lay
my words to heart, for they are not my words, but
the holy word of the Lord, which Christ himself has
taught us. Therefore, if you would be saved, keep
the Lord’s commandments. For he that loves
Christ, and will be his disciple, the same will continue
in his word; with him he shall keep his supper
in the kingdom of God, his heavenly Father,
and he will go before them and serve them, and
dwell with them for ever. But he that will be God’s
servant here, must submit to much temptation; he
must also take his cross upon him, and thus daily
follow him; for Christ says: Ye shall weep and lament,
but the world shall rejoice; but be of good
cheer: I have overcome the world. Even as appears
now, my child; because I fear God, and according
to my weak ability separate from the world,
therefore the world hates me. And through their
wicked hatred and envy they have imprisoned me,
and it may very soon come to pass, that they shall
kill me for the name of Jesus Christ, and for the
testimony of his holy word, wherein I also stand
steadfast through the grace of the Lord, to risk
for it all that I have. For I have nothing which I
have not received from the Lord; hence we must willingly
surrender it again for his holy name, for what
we possess here in this world is but lent us; hence
they are foolish who set their heart upon temporal
things. For he that fears God must possess all
things as though he had them not, for our goods
are a prey to every one. All they that fear God are
thrust out of their houses, and they will spoil and
scatter them. By this it is known who are God’s
chosen children: they are tried as gold in the
fire.

Therefore, my child, search the holy Scriptures;
they shall show you, that the godfearing must enter
into the kingdom of God through much tribulation
and suffering. But the ungodly world is not worthy
to suffer for the name of the Lord, for they do not
know the name of Christ in the spirit. For if they
had known him, they would in former times not
have crucified the Lord of glory. Hence, if they
hated, persecuted and envied Christ the Son of God,
and said that he had a devil, how much the more
his disciples! But the Lord be thanked, all their
upbraiding, reviling and envying is of no avail,
but the word of God; and Christ says: Blessed are
ye, when men speak evil of you falsely; rejoice and
be glad, for your reward shall be great in heaven.
Matt. 5:11,12. Peter says: The Holy Spirit of God
resteth upon him. 1 Pet. 4:14. For as the sufferings
of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ. 2 Cor. 1:5.

Therefore, my child, though the world upbraid
you with it to-day or to-morrow, you need not be
ashamed, for I do not suffer for any crime, as a
1022
thief, or murderer, or as one that seeks other people’s
property; but it is for the confession of my
faith in Christ Jesus, namely, that he is the true
Son of God. Hence Peter says, that if one suffers
for well doing, it is acceptable with God. 1 Peter
2:20.

Further, my dear child Betgen, it is my fatherly
request of you, if I am taken away from you, that
you may go to your uncle Lowijs, or to your aunt
Tanneken or Jacomijntgen, to live with them; or if
they think it best, they may put you with some
good friends, to service. Hence I pray you, that
you will be subject to your elders, not with eye-service,
to please men, but with all courtesy and
modesty, in their absence, as well as in their presence,
remembering that you serve not only men,
but God. Eph. 6:6,7. And always be diligent to
do what they command you, and be courteous and
friendly; and you will be loved by them. And
always make yourself the least, and they will exalt
and praise you, and do not in anything think too
well of yourself, and take good heed not to argue
against your elders, or with those with whom you
are living; for it becomes young people very ill to
contradict or talk back. And, my child, be also just
in all your dealings, and steal nothing from people,
for this would be a very shameful thing, if young
girls or boys were discovered in any unrighteousness.
Hence take good heed to keep clean hands,
this I pray you, as I hope you will do. And whatever
food or drink you see, take nothing therefrom,
for it would bring you into disfavor. Hence remember
all that I your father have requested of you, and
keep it in your heart for a perpetual remembrance;
for with careful love I have written this for a perpetual
memorial, that you might at all times have
or keep a good name.

Further, my beloved child, I must tell you yet,
always to conduct yourself honorably with all with
whom you live; and be well behaved, and show that
you do not run into any fornication, which is an
abominable, deadly sin before God, and besides exposes
a person to the scorn of all men, and you
could not attain to an honorable state. Hence
always take good heed not to talk, joke or play
with any young men, or to have much idle talk
with them, lest through the lust of error you fall
into sin. Besides I advise you out of fatherly love,
to lay to heart all that I request of you, which
will be an honor to you before God and all men.

Behold, my child, if I be offered up now, and go
the way of all the earth (for all men are born once
to die), be of good cheer and console yourself in
the Lord, and be strong, and attend unto the admonition
of the Lord our God, and lay it to heart,
that you walk in his ways and keep his judgments,
testimonies, statutes and commandments, as is written
in the law and prophets. Hence, my child, when
you live with any, if they fear God, they will be
bound to admonish and correct you with the word
of the Lord. This shall be a proof to you that they
love you and seek your soul’s salvation, for which
you are also to be thankful; but since you are
young yet, you will understand it better when you
have more understanding. Therefore pray the Lord
diligently, to endow you with wisdom and understanding,
so that you may grow up as a green
plant in Zion, and as the pleasant rose in Jericho,
and as the precious balsam that grows upon mount
Hermon. Eccl. 24:14; Ps. 133:2.

Behold, my dear child Betgen, if you fear the
Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your strength and ability, your name
shall be written in the book of life, and you shall be
marked in your forehead with the name of the living
God. You shall also receive a white, shining stone,
and upon it a new name written, which no man
knows, save he that receives it. You shall also be
arrayed in garments of pure, white silk, which is the
righteousness of the saints. Moreover, you shall
with all the angels of God follow the glorious Lamb
of God in great glory, and live forever and ever.
Behold, such glorious rewards shall they have; he
that overcometh shall inherit all things that God
has prepared for his chosen. He shall lead them to
the fountain of living waters, and shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes. Rev. 7:17. Therefore
fear God, and always seek to be instructed by the
godfearing, and lay the words of the Lord well to
heart, and keep them as did Mary the mother of the
Lord. And always walk with meekness and humility,
for God is pleased with those that are humble
and lowly of heart; for God has cast down the
proud from their seats, but has exalted the humble
thereupon; for God resisteth the proud, but giveth
grace to the humble. Luke 1:52; 1 Pet. 5:5.

Therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand
of God, and he shall exalt you in due time; for the
proud cannot please God. In Proverbs it is written:
“These things doth the Lord hate: haughty eyes,
a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent
blood.” Prov. 6:17. “When pride cometh, then
cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
11:2. A proud heart is an abomination unto the
Lord, and it shall not remain unpunished. Hence
Tobit said to his son: Let not pride rule in your
heart, nor in your words; for it is the beginning of
all destruction. Out of it proceeds all pride, when
man apostatizes from God, and departs with his
heart from his Creator; and pride impels to all sin,
and he that is infected with it causes many abominations.
Hence the Lord always rejected pride,
and ultimately cast it down. God cast the proud
princes from the throne, and set the humble thereupon;
God rooted out the root of the proud nations,
and set and planted the humble in their stead.

Hence do not think yourself wise, and do not reward
evil for evil to any one, but recompense with
good, as Christ teaches, where he says: “Ye have
heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and
a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye
resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if
any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy
cloak, let him have thy coat also. And whosoever
shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”
Matt. 5:38–41. Not, dear child, that we like to be
smitten, or like to lose our cloak when it is taken
away from us, that we should also give the coat, or
to go with any one three or four miles against our
1023
will; but this is what the Scriptures teach us; and
Christ also would herewith teach us, in order that
we should rightly understand him, that believers are
in no wise permitted to avenge themselves on any
man, however great reason they may have, but
must commit the matter to God, who judges aright.
For when some one smites us, we must rather suffer
ourselves to be smitten again, than that we should
defend ourselves, or smite back; and when our
cloak is taken away, rather also let the coat be
taken, than that we should take or get the cloak
back by force or by smiting. In short, we must always
suffer, but never inflict suffering upon any one,
as the law of nature teaches us. Do unto thy neighbor
as unto thyself.

Hence we are to wish evil to no one, though in
the law of Moses the contrary is written: “Thou
shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.”
But Christ takes this away; for that was in the law
of revenge, but now we are under grace. Hence we
must also show grace, and not punish, as Christ
says: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you; that ye may be the children of your Father
which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on
the evil and on the good.” Matt. 5:43–45. Hence,
dear child, one may not wish evil to his enemy,
much less do him any evil. And do not hate him,
neither avenge yourself, but give place to wrath;
and be slow to wrath, for the wrath of man worketh
not the righteousness of God; but as you would that
men should do unto you, so do to them, and you
will fulfill the law of Christ. Rom. 12:19; James
1:19,20; Matt. 7:12.

Further, my dear child, you are in duty bound
to hold your mother, whom you still have, in love
and esteem all the days of your life; for she has had
much trouble and care with you, from the time that
I have been married to her; hence you are also
bound to love her, as your own mother. If you
part from her to-day or to-morrow, you must heartily
thank her for the motherly love which she has
shown you; you ought not to part from her without
many tears, for she has been a good mother to you.
Therefore, though you should live far away from
her, write her a very respectful letter sometime, and
if you prosper, you may send her a friendly gift, by
which to remember that you hold her in love and
esteem; this shall be an honor to you. Hence do
the best in all that I command you. And copy or
read over frequently my letter, for a perpetual remembrance
of your father; and follow it, and all
that is good and acceptable before God.

Furthermore, my child, yield your heart under
the obedience of the truth. And always be desirous
to hear the word of God, and seek, when you attain
to your understanding, to betake yourself among
the church of the living God, and that in this way
you may enter into the ark of the covenant; so that
you may be a partaker of all the heavenly promises
with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all the
prophets and holy apostles of God, our Lord Jesus
Christ. Then you shall at the last day (that shall
burn as a fiery oven) be delivered. For the ungodly
shall be dreadfully tormented; they shall weep
and lament forever, for they shall with the dragon,
the devil, and all false prophets, be cast into the
fiery lake that shall burn with fire and brimstone.
Watch therefore in the fear of God, that you be not
a partaker of their plagues. For if you to-day or
to-morrow attain to your full age, and your hand is
able, remember the poor members of Christ, in
communicating to the poor with such as the Lord
grants you. And whatever you give, give with a
willing heart, and not by constraint, but of a ready
mind, for God loveth a cheerful giver, says the
apostle Paul. 2 Cor. 9:7. In Hebrews we read:
“To do good and to communicate forget not; for
with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13:16.
And alms cover a multitude of sins. Through fasting,
prayer and alms the Gentile, Cornelius, was
acceptable to God, and he received the promise of
salvation; for as water quenches fire, so alms extinguish
sin; and the Lord who holds it will requite
it in the time to come, and when he falls he shall
find help. “My child,” says Sirach, “let not the
poor suffer want, and be not hard toward the needy.
Despise not the hungry, and do not grieve the
needy in his poverty. Add not more trouble to a
sorrowful heart; and defer not to give to him that is
in need. Reject not the supplication of the afflicted;
neither turn away thy face from a poor man.”
Eccl. 3:30,31; 4:1–4.

Therefore assist the poor, so that the Lord may
richly bless you. If you lay this to heart, and do
according to it, your light shall arise as the bright
morning star at the beautiful dawn; hence always do
well, and if you love God, keep his commandments.
Herewith I will conclude my letter. I have presented
to you that which is best from the word of
the Lord. Water and fire are set before man,
namely, life or death. Eccl. 15:16,17; Deut. 30:19.
Hence choose life, that you may forever possess the
kingdom of God, with all his chosen saints.

Herewith, my dear child Betgen, I, for this time
take a perpetual adieu of you; commending you to
God the heavenly Father, who is the Father of all
orphans, and of all those that fear and love him.
And never neglect or forget diligently to ask God
Almighty, and you shall receive of him, more than
you ask, if it is according to his will.

Adieu, my child, if we should see each other no
more. I pray the almighty God and King of kings,
that he will govern you by his holy Spirit, so that I
may meet you in the clouds of heaven, where parting
shall be no more, this I pray God by his unfathomable
grace and love, with bended knees and
a weeping heart and uplifted hands.

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let it be done, that
through the fruit of my loins thy holy, most worthy
and adorable name may be praised now and forever.
Amen.

My child Betgen, if I die, I would like to have
your mother give you, for a perpetual memorial, a
Testament, a Dirrick Philips Book of Fundamentals,
a hymn book, and a copy of the book by Jacob de
1024
Keersgieter, which read diligently, for there are
many excellent admonitions contained in them.

By me, your father, who wishes you every thing
good. A. D. 1589.

Joost de Tollenaer.





---

Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-a-testament-from-joost-de-tollenaer-to-his-daughter/

[Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+A+Testament+From+Joost+De+Tollenaer%2C+To+His+Daughter.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AA+Testament+From+Joost+De+Tollenaer%2C+To+His+Daughter.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-a-testament-from-joost-de-tollenaer-to-his-daughter%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-a-testament-from-joost-de-tollenaer-to-his-daughter%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.)