The Ninth Letter From Jan Wouterss, To His Youngest Three Sisters.

Affectionately written to you, my three beloved sisters, by me your beloved imprisoned brother, imprisoned for well-doing, and for the obedience of the gospel, which is no shame to me before the Almighty, who has created us, but is a great honor to him, for his power is made manifest through us poor men, who suffer and endure stripes and contempt for his name’s sake, and adhere nevertheless to the truth. Hence we do not regard these wicked men, who are nothing but dust and ashes, and shall vanish away as a vapor; but they that do the will of God shall abide forever. Though our earthly tabernacle perish, which must perish once, we look with patience for a better one in heaven, which is imperishable. And since we are assured of this in our hearts, we faint not, willing to be freed from this vile flesh, which is prone to sin from infancy and to be at home, resting with Christ our Lord. But before we attain to this rest, we must first labor a little and fight against our enemies, who have been, and are still, very many. Understand this well, we get through this, and this through him who strengthens us, which is Christ our Lord, who fights for us, so that we keep the faith, and see our desire upon our enemies; and we can rejoice in our sufferings, because of the victory which we obtain through Christ. And striving thus, we enter into rest. Yes, our dear Lord so strengthened me, that I was not disturbed by all the torturing. It seemed to me that I could embrace the Bailiff, so friendly was my heart towards him, when I was not yet dressed after the torture.

See, my dear, beloved sisters, I have discovered it for you in advance; that the Lord of lords is a faithful helper in time of need. Hence I beseech you together, fear not men, but this almighty Lord; for they cannot harm one hair of the people of God, except they first receive the power from our Lord on high, and he will not permit them more than we are able to bear, and will always with the temptation make a way to escape so that we shall be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13. The souls of the righteous are ever in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. Wis. 3:1. He is able to alleviate the pain, as he did to me. Praise to him forever for his great faithfulness. Amen.

Mark thereby the wonderful deeds of God, that he so faithfully helps them that believe and firmly trust in him, whom they yet do not see.

Hence I know of no greater friendship to show you for this time, than to reveal to you the wonderful deeds of God, that you may rejoice therein with me, and that you may also be awakened to your salvation, to seek it alone in Christ Jesus, through his holy word, which teaches us, in the first place, repentance, and to believe in the gospel, in which Christ has said: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink for nought. He that believeth on me, as the Scriptures hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This spake he of the Holy Spirit which they that believed on Christ should receive. John 7:37. Hence I entreat you most affectionately, to betake yourselves to the clear wine Christ Jesus; you shall receive it without price. Hence, constantly lead a penitent life, and pray with a longing heart for saving faith; so hunger and long to receive it from Christ, as you would long to receive bread, when you are hungry; and you shall receive it, and shall bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit, namely, love, peace, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance and thus in all the virtues you are to approve yourselves in obedience and in a meek and quiet spirit, as dear children of God, and always prepare and adorn yourselves thereto, and not with gold, silver, or costly apparel, for thereby one conforms to the world, to please her. But I counsel you for the best, that you do not do these things, lest you be punished with the world by the future judge, Jesus Christ, whom they despised and cast out, together with the prophets, apostles, and many saints, and also your brethren. Hence do not seek to please the wicked world, but him who created you, that you may be saved through Jesus Christ.

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Hence exercise yourselves and read the word of the Lord, which will profit you in all things, how you may walk circumspectly in order to please the living God, and to be saved. And then the Spirit of Christ will guide you into all things, and you shall yourselves be taught of God. And he shall with the finger of his Holy Spirit write inwardly upon the tables of your heart.

Therefore always hearken to him, and you shall be his friends, yea, he shall be your brother; and if you follow him to the end, you shall possess what Christ possesses. Thither I will now go before, and wait for you there a short time, hoping that you will follow for your salvation’s sake. When then our beloved father, and our beloved mother, my dearest and beloved wife, and my dear, only child, my only brother, my dear, beloved sisters, and other familiar friends, when we shall meet together (as I hope) in God’s kingdom, what greater joy could we have? Hence take heed that this do not fail us, and that none of us be found to remain without. Love one another; set one another a good example; let each seek to be the first in good works and in the fruits of faith. Be diligent in reading, and warn one another against sin, for the other, crooked serpent331 is very subtle in drawing off, and in exhibiting the lusts of the world, thereby to allure you, in order to keep you from God. He will lay his ambushes and manifold nets and snares; but continue always steadfastly in the fear of God, and do not listen to him, and he will flee from you; and think how he deceived Eve and Adam, and the whole first world, with the exception of eight persons. And it is still the same spirit; hence keep diligent watch, often resort to fasting and prayer, and always live soberly, that your flesh do not overcome you; for this is the worst enemy, for wherever we be, he is always with us, and is constantly advising us to evil. He ever strives against the Spirit; for it is very painful to the flesh, that it cannot fulfill its lust, and that it is subjugated by the Spirit. But, dearest sisters, if it should happen that Satan should take you unawares (since he never rests, but is always seeking whom he may devour) always rise again, and do not yield yourselves to become servants or handmaids of sin, but take better heed; it is for your warning. Hence humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and seek henceforth to purify your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, and run henceforth in the conflict that is set before you and all the godfearing; that you may not be found as those who become weary and dissatisfied in the way of the Lord, as I have known many to do. For by conflict all the godfearing are tried; for how should they overcome, if there were no conflict? but to them that overcome the kingdom and an eternal crown are promised as a reward. And the holy Scriptures also teach you to honor father and mother; hence do not forget this, but help them in everything wherein they may need you, and always proffer your willing service; for this will be pleasing to the Lord, and our dear, beloved, venerable father, and our dear, beloved, venerable mother, can then rejoice, because their children have found delight in keeping God’s commandments, whereby one can escape the future wrath of God. And when their days are fulfilled, they can depart in peace and tranquillity, and commit the keeping of their souls in well doing unto a faithful Creator, and this because this good Lord has also called their dear children to the faith, and they have lived to see that they have found delight in the truth, to take it up, which has so long been trampled under foot, even as the whole world still does in its ignorance. Again, because they leave behind them believing children, for a child that fears God is better than a thousand that are ungodly; for children that do not fear God are to believing parents an affliction from the Lord, which cannot well be healed.

Thus, my dearest, beloved three sisters, I will commend and trust to you and my only brother, that you will fear and love God all your life, which will last but a short time when compared to the ages of eternity. The fear of God teaches to beware of evil; and to love God is to keep his commandments, as Christ says: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

The Scripture also says: The fear of the Lord driveth out sin; it is also the beginning of wisdom. Sir. 1:21,27. Hence I entreat you all, love the wisdom of God above gold, and it shall come and meet you; and when you have received much understanding and wisdom, do not exalt yourselves therein, as though you were somebody; but thank the Lord for it, that he gives it into your keeping, and always apply it for the purpose for which he has given it you, for he appoints you only stewards over it. And when the Lord then sees that you are faithful over his property, that you do not suffer it to lie idle, nor squander it, but that you are lights in the world, as pleasant olive twigs of Christ, pleasant branches, beautiful stones in the temple of the Lord, he can entrust to you much more still, so that you may bring forth fruit more abundantly, and come to Christ our bridegroom, as an adorned bride of Christ, as a people of God, as members, as sisters and brethren of Christ, yea, as a royal priesthood. But when the other, crooked serpent sees this, he will envy you most, and work against you through the children of unbelief, in whom he now works, and in whom he has always worked. But, my dear sisters, always be of good courage, and take faith for a shield, with which always to protect yourselves and you shall quench and resist his fiery darts; and be armed also with the other spiritual weapons of God, as the apostle teaches, Eph. 6, and you shall remain steadfast, and be saved. May the good, eternal, almighty God, who lives in eternity, who rejoices with his holy angels over one sinner that repents with all his heart, make you all, my beloved sisters and brother, meet and perfect for his heavenly kingdom, through Jesus Christ his only Son, and by the co-operation of his Holy Spirit, that you may always have your delight in the right way of the Lord as David says; for they [his judgments] are true and righteous, and more precious than fine gold, and sweeter than the honeycomb (Psalm 878 19:9,10); use all diligence to perform this, and this to the salvation of your souls. Amen.

Herewith I will bid you my much beloved three sisters, adieu in this sorrowful, transient world, and I thank your love for all your friendship.

Written in my bonds, and finished on the sixth day of March, by your beloved brother, for a remembrance to you all. A. D. 1572.

J. V. K.