# An Epistle Or Exhortation Of Reytse Aysess, Written To The Friends.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: AN EPISTLE OR EXHORTATION OF REYTSE AYSESS, WRITTEN TO THE FRIENDS.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

O dear friends, fear not, neither be surprised,
when you are tried by manifold temptations which
may come upon a Christian, and also do come upon
him in bonds and imprisonment, as I now find, it is
grievous according to the flesh, but very light according
to the spirit, for it is the power of God.
This I have experienced in these bonds, that the
Lord is with those that seek and fear him from the
heart. Hence, my dear friends, who have received
like faith with me, fear the Lord from the heart,
that if it should be the Lord’s will to have you here
in such bonds or imprisonment, you may be able
to withstand, for they employ much craftiness and
subtlety, to draw us away from the truth, and they
know how to exalt lies, and abolish truth, with
feigned words of their own devising: sometimes with
very gentle words, and sometimes with harsh ones,
by which they think to weaken and discourage one,
as they have done with me. And also Satan, as
Peter says, walketh about us as a roaring lion,
seeking where he can devour us; so he has also
assailed me, but the Lord has hitherto kept me,
for which I thank him. But Satan once assailed me
with a temptation which I must write to you, to
show you how crafty the evil One is. I once spake
with a priest, who reviled us and said that they
sang the psalms of David, while we sang hymns
which men had made. And when I came back into
prison, the tempter very craftily assailed me, that
it was true, that we did sing hymns which men had
made. And I was grieved that I should suffer, and
it might be wrong, and I was still young in years,
and it grieved me much. Finally I thought: I know
better; I know that the hymns are made from the
holy Scriptures, and that it is right; if I could do
according to them, I should be saved. Then I reflected
on the priest’s walk, and on their faith, and
on the things which they had spoken against the
holy Scriptures, which are lies, and I entreated the
Lord, and it entered my mind no more. Hence,
dear friends, Satan is very crafty; but we must always
pray the Lord in every assault which he makes
upon us, in manifold temptations, for the almighty,
eternal, merciful God will not suffer us to be tempted
above that we are able, but will with the temptation
951
also make a way to escape, as he has spoken
(1 Cor. 10:13); for he is our Captain, our Champion
in all our distress. And do not fear though
they place me at the stake, and burn me; but be
strengthened thereby, that the Lord is still so powerful
in his works; and always fear him, and praise
him, and thank him, now and forever. Amen.

I further thank those who sent me that book, for
it delighted and rejoiced me much in the Lord; and
I commend all of you who fear him to the Lord.





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Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-an-epistle-or-exhortation-of-reytse-aysess-written-to-the-friends/

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