# Another Letter From Raphel Van Den Velde, Written To His Son.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: ANOTHER LETTER FROM RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE, WRITTEN TO HIS SON.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

The same God that blessed Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, bless also you, my dear son, with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places, that you may from
your youth learn to know, fear and obey the Lord
all the days of your life. This is my most special
prayer, will and desire from the depths of my heart,
which I ask of God, that you may be eternally saved,
and the name of the Lord be glorified through you;
unto which great and glorious name be praise and
glory now and forever. Amen.

See, my dear son Raphelken, since the Lord has
so ordered it, that I must be taken from you, though
I would most gladly have remained with you, to
help you on, and to bring you up in the fear of God,
but it was not the Lord’s pleasure, for if it were not
for the Lord’s sake, it were impossible for me, thus
to leave your mother and my dear son, for I know
of no person, nor any treasures so great in the whole
world, that for it I should be willing to leave you,
but for the sake of Christ Jesus all must be forsaken;
for Christ says: If any man forsake not all, father
and mother, sister, brother, husband, wife, child,
yea, and his own life also, with all that he possesses,
he is not worthy of me; and if any man love aught
more, he cannot be his disciple; since it is the will
of God, that we must part, and I cannot speak with
you orally, I would write a little for instruction in
the fear of God, as the wise man says: “My son,
hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not
the law of thy mother.” Prov. 1:8. Be ever ready
to do what is commanded you of God, that is, that
you are to learn from your youth to know, fear and
obey him; for obedience proceeds from the fear of
God, and the fear of God proceeds from the knowledge
of God. Hence Solomon writes: “The fear
of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs
1:7. For a child that knows his father, that
he is so honest and righteous, that he will not have
his children to run with other children in the street,
fight, quarrel, and speak bad words, or bring home
stolen things; children that know their father thus,
are afraid to do such things, thinking: If I do this,
I shall be beaten. Prov. 13:24. Thus also, my dear
son, the Lord is a righteous God, who will not tolerate
sin; but he will punish them that commit it;
hence we must fear him, and not commit sin. For
the fear of God drives out sin, and he that fears
God will do good. Prov. 16:6; Sir. 15. As Solomon
says: The fear of the Lord is a fountain of wisdom,
to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs
14:27. For, my dear son, the wages of sin is death.
Rom. 6:23.

Hence, since the fear of God drives out sin, we
avoid by it the cause through which we incur death,
that is, sin.

Therefore, my dear son, endeavor from your
youth to walk in the fear of the Lord, so that you
will at no time consent to sin, and not forget the
commandments of the Lord your God. But fear
the Lord, while he may be feared; for they that fear
the Lord walk in the right way. Prov. 14:2. “For
the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job
28:28.

Hence, my child, fear the Lord and depart from
evil; for the prophet Jeremiah says; “How good
it is for a man, to take upon him the yoke of the
982
Lord from his youth; and for one that is forsaken,
to be patient, when he meeteth with adversity.”
Lam. 3:27,28. And Ecclesiasticus says: “My son,
gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou
find wisdom till thine old age.” Sir. 6:18. And
beware of all evil companions, that might seduce
you to affiliate with the world; for the world lieth
in wickedness, and shall perish with all its lusts.
1 John 5:19; 2:17.

Therefore, my dear child, love not the world,
neither the things that are therein; for all that is in
the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but
of the world, vs. 15,16. Hence abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul. 1 Pet. 2:11;
Gal. 5:16. Paul also says: “Flee youthful lusts.”
2 Tim. 2:22. For youthful lusts have plunged many
into perdition.

My child, heed the instruction of your father, and
forget it not. Prov. 4:1. Refrain your tongue from
backbiting, and beware of lying. Ps. 15:3. For the
mouth that lieth slayeth the soul. Wis. 1:11. For
liars have no part in the New Jerusalem, but their
part is in the fiery lake that shall burn with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death. And the
backbiter causes much contention and strife; he also
raises discord and envy, and separates good friends.
Moses writes: “Let there be no backbiter or slanderer
among you.” Lev. 19:16. Hence, my son,
beware of backbiting; and wherever you live or go
in and out in a house, be reserved, and tell not out
of the house what happens within; and keep silent
about all that ought to be kept secret, and you will
make yourself beloved. And always be faithful to
people, and beware of stealing, for it is a great sin,
for thieves have no part in the kingdom of God:
nor is a thief trusted or loved by any one, but wherever
he comes his hands are watched.

Thus, my dear son, always acquit yourself honestly
in the fear of God, and beware of all sin and
transgression; and it shall be well with you at the
last day, when the Lord shall reward every one according
to his works, such as he has done, whether
it be good or bad. My son, remember that it is
written: Honor thy father and mother; that thou
mayest live long on the earth. Ex. 20:12; Ephesians
6:2,3. For this is the first commandment with
promise in the law. But the greatest honor which
children show their parents, is that they are obedient
to them, in all that is not contrary to the
Lord and his commandment. Hence, my dear son,
though you lose me, be not impudent to your
mother, but obey her the more; for the sole care
will now be upon her. Therefore, my child, grieve
her not in your life, for in Ecclesiasticus it is written:
He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer;
and he that angereth his mother is cursed of God.
Sir. 3:16. Hence love her, and remember how
much pain she suffered for your sake, and how she
bore you, under her heart, and shall have much to
suffer yet, to bring you up, and to earn a livelihood.
Tob. 4:4; 2 Mace. 7:27.

Hence, my dear child, apply yourself from your
youth to labor and industry, and when you are
grown up and can earn something, let your mother
profit by it; and always labor diligently and willingly,
and do not think it irksome to do your best,
to help your mother gain a livelihood, for before
she has done it for you. And beware of being idle
or slothful, for from idleness proceeds much evil;
and slothfulness makes thieves of children, and thus
they finally come to a bad end. Hence, my son,
never desire it, but labor, working with your hands
that which is honest, that you may have to give to
him that needeth. Eph. 4:28.

Herewith I will commend you, my dear son, and
your mother, to the Lord—O bitter parting; yet
for His sake who is able to provide for you, and to
keep you from all evil I hope to leave you. The
Lord grant you his grace, that you may grow up in
the knowledge of God, through the Holy Ghost; so
that you, according to the sentence of the righteous
judgment of God (Rom. 2:5), may be found righteous
for his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our
Lord and Savior, to whom be praise and glory forever
and ever. Amen.

Written by me, your father. Adieu, my dear
son, whom I love more than any silver or gold or
precious stones; but God must be the dearest.
Adieu; love conquers all things; once more adieu,
my dear son; read over often this which your father
has written you out of love; and comfort your
mother, and always be kind to her in all subjection
in the fear of God; the Lord grant grace, that this
be so. Amen.

Raphel van den Velde.





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