# [Testament,] Written To Janneken My Own Dearest Daughter, While I Was (Unworthily) Confined For The Lord’S Sake, In Prison, At Antwerp, A. D. 1573.

1573 · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: [TESTAMENT,] WRITTEN TO JANNEKEN MY OWN DEAREST DAUGHTER, WHILE I WAS (UNWORTHILY) CONFINED FOR THE LORD’S SAKE, IN PRISON, AT ANTWERP, A. D. 1573.

Source heading; not independently verified

The true love of God and wisdom of the Father
strengthen you in virtue, my dearest child; the Lord
of heaven and earth, the God of Abraham, the God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the Lord in Israel,
keep you in his virtue, and strengthen and confirm
your understanding in his truth. My dear little
child, I commend you to the almighty, great and
terrible God, who only is wise, that he will keep
you, and let you grow up in his fear, or that he will
take you home in your youth, this is my heart’s request
of the Lord: you who are yet so young, and
whom I must leave here in this wicked, evil, perverse
world.

Since, then, the Lord has so ordered and foreordained
it, that I must leave you here, and you are
here deprived of father and mother, I will commend
you to the Lord; let him do with you according to
his holy will. He will govern you, and be a Father
to you, so that you shall have no lack here, if you
only fear God; for he will be the Father of the orphans
and the Protector of the widows.

Hence, my dear lamb, I who am imprisoned and
bound here for the Lord’s sake, can help you in no
other way; I had to leave your father for the Lord’s
sake, and could keep him only a short time. We
were permitted to live together only half a year,
after which we were apprehended, because we sought
the salvation of our souls. They took him from me,
not knowing my condition, and I had to remain in
imprisonment, and see him go before me; and it was
a great grief to him, that I had to remain here in
prison. And now that I have abided the time, and
borne you under my heart with great sorrow for
nine months, and given birth to you here in prison,
in great pain, they have taken you from me. Here
I lie, expecting death every morning, and shall now
soon follow your dear father. And I, your dear
mother, write you, my dearest child, something for
a remembrance, that you will thereby remember
your dear father and your dear mother.

Since I am now delivered up to death, and must
leave you here alone, I must through these lines
cause you to remember, that when you have attained
your understanding, you endeavor to fear
God, and see and examine why and for whose name
we both died; and be not ashamed to confess us before
the world, for you must know that it is not for
the sake of any evil. Hence be not ashamed of us;
it is the way which the prophets and the apostles
went, and the narrow way which leads into eternal
life, for there shall no other way be found by which
to be saved.

Hence, my young lamb, for whose sake I still
have, and have had, great sorrow, seek, when you
have attained your understanding, this narrow way,
though there is sometimes much danger in it according
to the flesh, as we may see and read, if we
diligently examine and read the Scriptures, that
much is said concerning the cross of Christ. And
there are many in this world who are enemies of the
cross, who seek to be free from it among the world,
and to escape it. But, my dear child, if we would
with Christ seek and inherit salvation, we must also
help bear his cross; and this is the cross which he
would have us bear: to follow his footsteps, and to
help bear his reproach; for Christ himself says: Ye
shall be persecuted, killed, and dispersed for my
name’s sake. Yea, he himself went before us in this
way of reproach, and left us an example, that we
should follow his steps; for, for his sake all must be
forsaken, father, mother, sister, brother, husband,
child, yea, one’s own life.

I must now also forsake all this for the Lord’s
sake, which the world is not worthy to suffer; for if
we had continued in the world, we would have had
no trouble. For when we were one with the world
and practiced idolatry, and loved all manner of unrighteousness,
we could live at peace with the
world; but when we desired to fear God, and to
shun such improper ways, well knowing that this
could not please God, wherefore we sought to shun
all this, and turned from idolatry to the worship of
the living God, and sought here in quietness and
gentleness to practice our faith, then they did not
leave us in peace; then our blood was sought; then
we had to be a prey to every one, and become a
936
spectacle to all the world. They seek here to murder
and to burn us; we are placed at posts and
stakes, and our flesh is given as food to the worms.

Thus, my dear child, it is now fulfilled in your
dear father and mother. It was indeed prophesied
to us beforehand, that this was awaiting us; but not
every one is chosen hereunto, nor expects it; the
Lord has chosen us hereunto. Hence, when you
have attained your understanding, follow this example
of your father and mother. And, my dear
child, this is my request of you, since you are still
very little and young; I wrote this when you were
but one month old. As I am soon now to offer up
my sacrifice, by the help of the Lord, I leave you
this: That you fulfill my request, always uniting
with them that fear God; and do not regard the
pomp and boasting of the world, nor the great multitude,
whose way leads to the abyss of hell, but
look at the little flock of Israelites, who have no
freedom anywhere, and must always flee from one
land to the other, as Abraham did: that you may
hereafter obtain your fatherland; for if you seek
your salvation, it is easy to perceive which is the
way that leads to life, or the way that leads into
hell. Above all things, seek the kingdom of heaven
and his righteousness; and whatever you need besides
shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33.

Further, my dear child, I pray you, that wherever
you live when you are grown up, and begin to
have understanding, you conduct yourself well and
honestly, so that no one need have cause to complain
of you. And always be faithful, taking good
heed not to wrong any one. Learn to carry your
hands always uprightly, and see that you like to
work, for Paul says: “If any will not work, neither
shall he eat.” 2 Thess. 3:10. And Peter says:
“He that will love life, and see good days, let him
refrain his tongue from evil.” 1 Pet. 3:10.

Hence, my dear Janneken, do not accustom your
mouth to filthy talk, nor to ugly words that are not
proper, nor to lies; for a liar has no part in the kingdom
of heaven; for it is written: “The mouth that
lieth slayeth the soul.” Hence beware of this, and
run not in the street as other bad children do;
rather take up a book, and learn to seek there
that which concerns your salvation.

And where you have your home, obey those
whose bread you eat. If they speak evil, do you
speak well. And learn always to love to be doing
something; and do not think yourself too good for
any thing, nor exalt yourself, but condescend to the
lowly, and always honor the aged wherever you are.

I leave you here: O that it had pleased the Lord,
that I might have brought you up; I should so
gladly have done my best with respect to it; but it
seems that it is not the Lord’s will. And though it
had not come thus, and I had remained with you
for a time, the Lord could still take me from you,
and then too you should have to be without me,
even as it has now gone with your father and myself,
that we could live together but so short a time,
when we were so well joined, since the Lord had
so well mated us, that we would not have forsaken
each other for the whole world, and yet we had to
leave each other for the Lord’s sake. So I must
also leave you here, my dearest lamb; the Lord
that created and made you now takes me from you,
it is his holy will. I must now pass through this
narrow way which the prophets and martyrs of Christ
passed through, and many thousands who put off
the mortal clothing, who died here for Christ, and
now they wait under the altar till their number shall
be fulfilled, of which number your dear father is one.
And I am now on the point of following him, for I
am delivered up to death, as it appears in the
eyes of man; but if it were not the will of the Lord
(though it seems that I am delivered up to death),
he could yet easily deliver me out of their hands
and give me back to you, my child. Even as the
Lord returned to Abraham his son Isaac, so he
could still easily do it; he is still the same God that
delivered Daniel out of the lion’s den, and the three
young men out of the fiery furnace; he could still
easily deliver me out of the hands of man.

Now, my dear child, if this be not so, I know
that he is faithful and faithfully keeps his promise.
Thus, my poor orphan child, always be resigned;
though I and your father are now taken from you;
know that you have a Father in heaven, who will
doubtless well provide for you. And when you are
old enough, give diligence to learn to read and
write, since it is very convenient, and most profitable
in this distress, for him that fears God, that you
may sometimes read this letter; as also the other
letters, which your father left you; do read them,
and remember us both thereby. Dear Janneken,
we have not left you much of this world’s goods,
and I have now not much to give you, but what I
have I give you. However, we leave you a good
example to fear God, which is better than much
of the temporal goods of this world. Only follow
us, and you shall have wealth enough; true,
you are poor here, but you shall possess much
wealth, if you only fear God and shun sin. As the
apostle says to the Hebrews: “My son despise not
thou the chastening of the Lord; for they that would
be without chastisement are bastards, and not sons
or heirs.” Heb. 12:5. Hence, my dear lamb,
cease not, because of the cross, to fear God, for a
Christian is not made meet except by much tribulation
and persecution upon this world, and we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of
God; for Paul says: “All that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12.
And Christ says: “He that taketh not his cross,
and followeth after me, is not worthy of me; for the
servant is not better than his lord, nor the disciple
above his master. If they have called the master of
the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call
them of his household. Matt. 10:38,24,25. If they
have persecuted the Lord, they will also persecute
us; if they have hated him, they will also hate us;
and this they do because they have not known my
Father, nor me, says the almighty Lord. For his
kingdom was not of this world; had his kingdom
been of this world, the world would have loved him;
but because his kingdom was not of this world;
therefore the world hated him. So it also is now:
since our kingdom is not of this world, the world will
hate us; but it is better for us to be despised here by
937
the world, than that we should hereafter have to
mourn forever. But they that will not taste the bitter
here, can hereafter not expect eternal life; for we
know that Paul says, that all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted and be a prey to
every one.

Thus, my dear child, this way the prophets and
apostles and many thousands of other godfearing
persons went before us, for an example unto us; and
Christ himself did not spare himself for us, but delivered
up himself unto death for our sakes—how
then should he not give us all things? Hence, my
dearest lamb, seek to follow this way, this I pray
you, as much as you value your salvation; for this
is the only way which leads to eternal life, yea,
there is no other way by which we can be saved
than only through Jesus Christ, as Paul says:
“Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11); by whose
stripes we are healed, and through whose blood we
have been dearly purchased; for we have not been
bought with gold or silver, but through his bitter
death, and his precious blood which he shed for us.
And we were as erring sheep in this world, but now
are we redeemed through his precious and dear
blood, and he has now called us to be heirs and
first-fruits of Christ. All those that have died unto
sin, and amended their lives, and are thus risen
with Christ into newness of life, these no longer desire
to live to themselves, but their life belongs to
the Lord: if they live, they live to the Lord;
if they die, they die unto the Lord; they are
so resigned that whether they live or die, they
belong to the Lord. For, my dear lamb, what shall
it avail them that Christ died, who still continue in
their sins, and do not turn from this improper life
in which they are still sunk, as, drunkards, murderers,
adulterers, idolaters, liars, backbiters, or
railers, who cannot please God, whose works proceed
only from the devil, all of which the Lord prohibits
and says that except they amend their lives,
they shall not inherit the kingdom of God? and it
shall avail them nothing that he died, if they will
not repent. They would sin upon the grace of God,
but they say not that he is just; he is indeed merciful,
but he is also just; we may not sin upon his
grace. Though we do our best to fear the Lord,
and to renounce ourselves according to our ability,
yea, though we did all that he commands us, which
we are far from doing, we should only do that
which is commanded us; we must yet confess that
we are unprofitable servants and have not merited
anything, but are guilty of eternal death. If he were
not merciful, we could not be saved; hence we may
not sin upon his grace, but always strive according
to our ability to follow that which he commands us.

My dear lamb, we can merit nothing, but must
through grace inherit salvation; hence always endeavor
to fear God, for the fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom, and he that fears the Lord
will do good, and it will be well with him in this
world and in that which is to come. And always
join those that seek to fear the Lord from the heart,
and be not conformed to the world, to do as she
does, nor walk in any improper course of life; for
the world shall pass away, and all the nations that
serve her shall perish with her. Nor have fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them; and be transformed by the renewing
of your life, that you may show forth the
virtues in which God has called you.

O my dearest lamb, that you might know the
truth when you have attained your understanding,
and that you might follow your dear father and
mother, who went before you; for your dear father
demonstrated with his blood that it is the genuine
truth, and I also hope to attest the same with my
blood, though flesh and blood must remain on the
posts and on the stake, well knowing that we shall
meet hereafter. Do you also follow us my dear
lamb, that you too may come where we shall be,
and that we may find one another there, where the
Lord shall say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning.”

Then our joy shall not be taken from us. Though
they have separated us here, so that we are taken
from you, and must go before you, know that it
was the Lord’s will; if it had been his pleasure, he
could easily have ordered it otherwise.

Hence, my dear child, be content; he knows what
he has determined concerning you, that I must
leave you here. Always be honorable and courteous
toward all men, and let your modesty be manifest
to all men when you have attained to your understanding.

I leave you here among my friends; I hope that
my father, and my step-mother, and my brothers,
and my sisters will do the best with you as long as
they live. Be subject and obedient to them in every
thing, so far as it is not contrary to God. I leave
you what comes from my mother’s death, namely,
thirty guilders and over; I do not know how much
it is, since I have been long imprisoned here, and
do not know what it has all cost. But I hope that
Grietge, my dear sister, who has shown me so much
friendship, will do her best to give you what belongs
to you. And as to what may come to you from
your father, I do not know, since I can learn nothing
about his parents, because it is so far from here;
if they should inquire after you, my friends may do
the best in the matter.

And now, Janneken, my dear lamb, who are yet
very little and young, I leave you this letter, together
with a gold real, which I had with me in
prison, and this I leave you for a perpetual adieu,
and for a testament; that you may remember me by
it, as also by this letter. Read it, when you have
understanding, and keep it as long as you live in
remembrance of me and of your father, if peradventure
you might be edified by it. And I herewith bid
you adieu, my dear Janneken Munstdorp, and kiss
you heartily, my dear lamb, with a perpetual kiss of
peace. Follow me and your father, and be not
ashamed to confess us before the world, for we were
not ashamed to confess our faith before the world,
and this adulterous generation; hence I pray you,
that you be not ashamed to confess our faith, since
it is the true evangelical faith, an other than which
shall never be found.

938

Let it be your glory, that we did not die for any
evil doing, and strive to do likewise, though they
should also seek to kill you. And on no account
cease to love God above all, for no one can prevent
you from fearing God. If you follow that which is
good, and seek peace, and ensue it, you shall receive
the crown of eternal life; this crown I wish you
and the crucified, bleeding, naked, despised, rejected
and slain Jesus Christ for your bridegroom.

This I wish you for a perpetual testament, and
for a perpetual adieu and farewell my dearest
lamb.

Remember thereby your dear father, and me,
your dear mother, who have written this with my
own hand, for your edification; and always keep this
gold real with you, with this letter, for a perpetual
testament. I herewith bid you adieu and farewell; I
hope to seal this letter with my blood at the
stake.

I herewith commend you to the Lord, and to
the comforting word of his grace, and bid you
adieu once more. I hope to wait for you; follow
me, my dearest child.

Once more, adieu, my dearest upon earth; adieu,
and nothing more; adieu, follow me; adieu and
farewell.

Written on the 10th of August, A. D. 1573, at
Antwerp.

This is the testament which I wrote in prison for
my daughter Janneken, whom I bore and gave birth
to here in my bonds.

By me your dearest mother, imprisoned for the
Lord’s sake.

Janneken Munstdorp.

Note.—With this testament we also received a
letter which the same Janneken van Munstdorp
wrote to her dear father and mother, who, as it
seems, had not yet come to the true faith; who are
by her exhorted to the best, and to whom she in
the meantime commends her little child.





---

Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-testament-written-to-janneken-my-own-dearest-daughter-while-i-was-unworthily-confined-for-the-lords-sake-in-prison-at-an/

[Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+%5BTestament%2C%5D+Written+To+Janneken+My+Own+Dearest+Daughter%2C+While+I+Was+%28Unworthily%29+Confined+For+The+Lord%E2%80%99S+Sake%2C+In+Prison%2C+At+Antwerp%2C+A.+D.+1573.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0A%5BTestament%2C%5D+Written+To+Janneken+My+Own+Dearest+Daughter%2C+While+I+Was+%28Unworthily%29+Confined+For+The+Lord%E2%80%99S+Sake%2C+In+Prison%2C+At+Antwerp%2C+A.+D.+1573.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-testament-written-to-janneken-my-own-dearest-daughter-while-i-was-unworthily-confined-for-the-lords-sake-in-prison-at-an%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-testament-written-to-janneken-my-own-dearest-daughter-while-i-was-unworthily-confined-for-the-lords-sake-in-prison-at-an%0A%0ADate+currently+shown%3A+1573%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.)