# The First Letter From Bartholomeus Panten, Written To His Brother Karel, Residing At Harlem.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: THE FIRST LETTER FROM BARTHOLOMEUS PANTEN, WRITTEN TO HIS BROTHER KAREL, RESIDING AT HARLEM.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

After an affectionate greeting to you, my beloved
brother, without forgetting your wife and household,
I inform you, that through the grace of the
Lord I am well in body; and as regards the spirit,
it is my purpose, by the help of the Lord to adhere
to the truth unto the end, which I also wish you.
Further, my beloved brother, I inform you of the
condition in which I now am, that is, that I am now
imprisoned at Ghent, together with another man
and a woman, for the testimony of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the truth of the Gospel, for which the
other man and I have been tortured, and I have
unworthily suffered: and they threatened to inflict
still further sufferings on us. But Peter says: “And
be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts;” since
they cannot do to you more than is permitted them
of God. 1 Pet. 3:14,15. And Paul says to the
Corinthians: “For we know that, if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have
a building of God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly
desiring to be clothed upon with our house
which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed
we shall not be found naked. For we that are in
this tabernacle do groan, being burdened.” 2 Corinthians
5:1–4.

Thus, my dear brother, I see no other way to
attain to eternal life than to bear the cross which
God has laid upon us, as Christ says: “If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will
save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose
his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul?” Matt. 16:24–26. But the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us, for
1026
which cause, says Paul, we faint not; but though
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed
day by day. For our light affliction, which
is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory; while we look
not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal. Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:16–18. Know, that
I had temptation from the Jesuits and priests, and
from the pensionary, but by the help of God I have
hitherto resisted all these storms, and hope that he
will further help me by his Spirit and power, without
which we are not able to do anything; for of
myself I have nothing but all weakness, misery and
imperfection, which I have lamented with tears before
God, praying him, that he would not enter
into judgment with me, without his grace, for there
shall no living soul stand innocent before him.

Herewith I commend you to God, and remember
the words of Paul, where he says: “I therefore, the
prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering,
forbearing one another in love; endeavoring
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit. Eph. 4:1–4.
And to the Colossians: Forbearing one another,
and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel
against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also
do ye. And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace
of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians
3:13–15. And to the Galatians: If we live in the
Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be
desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying
one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken
in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one
in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest
thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens. . . .
For if a man think himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
But let every man prove his own work, and then
shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in
another. For every man shall bear his own burden.
Gal. 5:25,26; 6:1–5. Again, in James 5:19,20
we read: Brethren, if any of you do err from the
truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he
which converteth the sinner from the error of his
way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a
multitude of sins. James 5:19,20. And Peter says:
Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1 Pet. 4:8. For John says: “Whosoever doeth
not righteousness is not of God, neither he that
loveth not his brother. For this is the message that
ye heard from the beginning, that ye should love
one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked
one, and slew his brother.” 1 John 3:10–12.

Hence, my dear brother, be kind and affectionate
with one another, and forgive one another, even as
God has forgiven you through Christ. Paul also
says: “Warn them that are unruly, comfort the
feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward
all men. See that none render evil for evil unto
any man; but ever follow that which is good, both
among yourselves, and to all men.”

Herewith, my dear brother, I bid you adieu,
if we should see each other no more.

Written in my bonds, to Karel Panten, my
brother, by me,

Bartholomeus Panten.





---

Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-the-first-letter-from-bartholomeus-panten-written-to-his-brother-karel-residing-at-harlem/

[Contribute a correction or addition](https://github.com/trueChristian/history.truechristian.church/issues/new?title=Correction%3A+The+First+Letter+From+Bartholomeus+Panten%2C+Written+To+His+Brother+Karel%2C+Residing+At+Harlem.&body=%23%23+Page+or+topic%0AThe+First+Letter+From+Bartholomeus+Panten%2C+Written+To+His+Brother+Karel%2C+Residing+At+Harlem.%0A%0APage%3A+http%3A%2F%2Fhistory.truechristian.church%2Fstories%2Fmm-the-first-letter-from-bartholomeus-panten-written-to-his-brother-karel-residing-at-harlem%2F%0A%0ARecord%3A+mm-the-first-letter-from-bartholomeus-panten-written-to-his-brother-karel-residing-at-harlem%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.)