Another Letter of Joost Verkindert, Written from Prison

Grace, joy and peace from God the heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, together with the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from both the Father and the Son, to comfort all those who are in any tribulation and affliction for His holy name's sake; may He be multiplied in you; to whom be praise, honor, glory, dominion, power, and majesty, forever and ever. Amen. This and all divine virtues I wish you as a cordial and friendly greeting, my dear and beloved mother and sister in the Lord. I inform you by this that I am still fairly well, considering the time, and I trust that you are well, too. My mind also is still set to hold to the eternal truth, and not to forsake it, whether it mean life or death; for Peter says that there is no other name under heaven, given to men, by which to be saved, than only through the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 4, verse 12; Acts 10, verse 43. Therefore, my dear mother, it is necessary that we constantly, according to our weak ability, seek to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ; for John says: "Whoever transgresses, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son." Second John, verse 9.

So then, my beloved, let us take heed that we may always be found to be of the little flock (Luke 12, verse 32), so that our sheaf may be gathered with all the elect saints of God into one barn; for there is a great storm at hand. Oh, that we were all worthy of the Lord; then we would indeed have been born at a blessed hour! Oh, I pray the Lord most earnestly for you, to keep you in His holy truth, so that we may hereafter be crowned with praise and honor. O my beloved, the bringing forth is so grievous to me; how truly Christ says: "In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16, verse 33. And also, further: "You shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in labor has sorrow, because her hour has come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a man is born into the world." Verses 20 and 21. We now also have much sorrow, and the world is glad and joyful, and they do not once think how pitifully they are under the wrath of God, as long as they do not become converted, and show true repentance before the Lord. How fitting are the words of Isaiah: "Hell has opened her mouth wide, so that both their princes and the common people may go in: yes, they go to hell like sheep to the slaughter." Isaiah 5, verse 14. May the complaint ascend to the Lord of heaven, that the false prophets so pitifully lead the poor blind people astray (Ezekiel 13, verse 10), and, what is still more, so miserably oppress, persecute, rob, and make a prey for everyone, of those who seek to amend their lives. How truly Isaiah says: "Holy and pious men are taken away, but no one lays it to heart." Isaiah 57, verse 1. So then, my beloved, let us not fear men, who must perish like grass; for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. Isaiah 51, verses 2 and 8. O dear mother, they forbid the reading of the holy Scriptures, while Christ says and exhorts us: "Search the Scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are the ones that testify of me." John 5, verse 39. For Paul also says: "Whatever things were written in former times were written for our learning." Romans 15, verse 4. Oh, how hard it will go with those who esteem the Scriptures so little; they are those who call good evil, and evil good. Isaiah 5, verse 20. Oh, that they might once consider how grievously they have incurred the wrath of God. I pray the Lord most earnestly to open the eyes of their understanding, that they may see against whom they are fighting, that it is against God and the Lamb; but the Lamb shall overcome them. Revelation 17, verse 14. For Isaiah says: "Though a mother should forget her child, and forsake the son of her womb, whom she brought forth herself, yet I will not forsake you." Isaiah 49, verse 15. Yes, the Lord further says through Zechariah: "He who touches you touches the apple of my eye." Zechariah 2, verse 8. And again, Isaiah says: "Fear not, O Jacob; when you walk through the fire, I will preserve you; and when you are in the water, it shall not harm you: for I the Lord will keep you." Isaiah 43, verses 1 and 2. My beloved, His hand is not yet shortened; He is still the same God who delivered Israel out of the land of Egypt, and out of the hand of Pharaoh: who made the Red Sea a way, so that the ransomed of the Lord passed over. He is also still the same God who fed them for forty years with bread from heaven, as it is written: "He fed them with bread from heaven, and with angels' food." Psalm 78, verse 25. He is also the same God who preserved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and delivered Daniel out of the den of lions, and many other holy fathers, about whom an abundance is written in the Scriptures.

Therefore, my affectionately beloved sister in the Lord, my heart felt prompted to exhort you once more a little with the Word of the Lord, though you are yourself abundantly taught by Him; for Paul says: "Exhort one another [daily,] while it is called today" (Hebrews 3, verse 13), for the Lord comes as a thief in the night, as you may well see in our case.

Further, dear mother, I thank you for the affectionate love which you have shown me at all times; yes, even before I obtained your dear daughter as my wife you were always kind to me. I also thank you for the good fellowship which we have always had together in peace (the Lord be praised); for I have often rejoiced my soul with you. And now, my beloved, I commend to you my dear wife and her two little orphans, desiring that you will help exercise a Christian care over them, and do not spare the rod on the children. Associate with R. as much as is possible for you, so that she does not become despondent; for I know that I am dear to her heart, and that she will therefore sorrow for a long time. But exhort her to be patient in her tribulation; for I hope that every dispensation of God toward us will turn to the salvation of us all; for the Lord knows what we need. My beloved, receive this brief exhortation in good part as a testament, since it is written with a humble heart and mind. With this I will commend you to the crucified, bleeding Christ Jesus, and to the Word of His rich grace. Amen. Adieu, my dear mother, until another time, if we should see each other here no more. Lauwerens, my fellow prisoner, and I greet you and our acquaintances in the Lord most cordially with the peace of the Lord.