# The Last Letter From Raphel Van Den Velde, Written To His Wife After He Had Received The Message That He Was To Die.

16th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: THE LAST LETTER FROM RAPHEL VAN DEN VELDE, WRITTEN TO HIS WIFE AFTER HE HAD RECEIVED THE MESSAGE THAT HE WAS TO DIE.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

Grace and peace, love, patience, longsuffering,
kindness, power and strength in your faith, this I,
Raphel, wish you my dear and in God beloved wife
and sister in the Lord, as an affectionate adieu; the
Lord grant you and us all grace, that we may hereafter
see one another in the eternal joy. My love, I
thank you for your letter, which you sent me for a
comfort in my last extremity. And I also thank
Kestijntgen heartily; and her dear husband also
thanks her, and now bids an affectionate adieu; the
Lord grant you grace, that you may follow him at
the proper time; and he also thanks you, that you
the last time so cheered and rejoiced his heart;
adieu, adieu. I wrote this after I had received the
message that I must die, which was to me a joyful
message, according to the spirit. But it seems that
the flesh now and then is inclined to shrink back,
which is not surprising, for it is touched by it.

Herewith, my love, I will commit and commend
you and my dear son to the Lord; he will provide
for you in soul and body, this is my confidence to
God. My love, be resigned to my sufferings and
death, for all men must once die, and many a man
loses his life in an ignominious, dreadful and unhappy
manner; but this is for the most glorious
cause that one can find, and the most blessed work
983
that one can do, and though it is attended with distress,
yet the reward will make ample amends. O
my love, be resigned and of good cheer, and Kestijntgen
our sister too; and thank God, that you had
such husbands, who confessed the truth, with all
might and great power, and with much labor.
Thanks be unto God, who has helped us to triumph.
2 Cor. 2:14. We may now say with the
apostle Paul: The fight is fought, the course is finished,
the faith is kept; the crown of life is now
ready for us. 2 Tim. 4:7,8. O Lord, what a glorious
comfort. O my love, remember frequently
what I have written you for the edification and consolation
of your mind; and forget me, for it is a
sealed fact, that the dead will not return.

Herewith I bid you adieu, adieu, adieu, flesh and
blood, adieu, adieu, farewell.

Written in my extremity, by me, your dear husband
and brother in the Lord.

Raphel van den Velde.





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Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-the-last-letter-from-raphel-van-den-velde-written-to-his-wife-after-he-had-received-the-message-that-he-was-to-die/

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