The Third Letter from Jan Wouterss

To the scattered saints and the others at Dortrecht, grace and peace from God our heavenly Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, ever be multiplied to you all, for comfort on your pilgrimage, so that you may be patient in your tribulation, that patience may have her perfect work in you, so that you may neither weary nor faint in that which you have accepted for the salvation of your souls, which has come and been brought to us by Christ; in that we are glad, so that we can rejoice in our temporal affliction. Remember Christ's prophecy, where He says: "You shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy, which no one shall be able to take from you." John 16, verses 20 and 22. O dearest, if we could enter the kingdom of God with ease, how could we speak of the narrow way and the strait gate; but because of the tribulation we can say this, that one must walk in the same, and press through the strait gate, and take the kingdom by force, through much affliction and adversity; which confirms the word that the servant is not better than his lord. If our Head had to take His own kingdom through much suffering and contempt, if they called the master of the house Beelzebub, should they not call those of His household the same? Luke 24, verse 26; Matthew 10, verses 24 and 25.

In order to pass through all this, and to continue steadfast to the end, trust in God, and believe His Word, even as you believe that He has created heaven, earth, the sea, and what is in them; and He will help you, and fight the battle for you, so that you will not be confounded. For if God is for us, says the apostle, who can be against us? He that did not spare His own Son, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? May the almighty, good God grant His grace to this end, that you may neither waver in nor doubt God's promises; and fear shall depart from you, and you will not care what people can do to you, and will possess your souls in patience till the day that shall comfort you. Amen.

After this cordial wish to all you beloved, I, an unworthy servant, could not refrain, though my gift is small, from writing your love a little, to strengthen the older, and to give courage to the younger, so that every one may persevere steadfastly in the conflict that is set before us, always to make sure, by the fruits of your faith, your calling and election; for so an entrance shall be provided for you abundantly in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Second Peter 1, verses 10 and 11. What more would you have?

Therefore, you beautiful daughter of Zion, do not fear, since your entrance is prepared so abundantly.

O you fairest among women, therefore the filthy wrinkles that disfigure you must be put away from you. Song of Songs 1, verse 8. O you fair bride of Christ, constantly adorn yourself more and more with the wedding garment of righteousness, and also trim your lamps with glorious faith and imperishable love, that you may not lack these, as the foolish virgins did, but that you may ever have them abundantly, that thereby the light of Christ may shine in you, and be shown by you, to the praise of God, the building up of your neighbor, the salvation of your souls, and as a light to the world, and for a testimony to them. Although they then hate you, because the bright morning star, Christ Jesus, has arisen in your hearts, bear it, and do not be surprised at it, for Christ, who is the light Himself, was hated and cast out by the darkness before you. Second Peter 1, verse 19; John 1, verse 5.

It does not care about your person, but because the truth is in you, which the darkness, that is the world, tramples under foot, therefore you become a prey to every one. But do not fear because of that; O you warrioress, go on to your promised reward; the truth that is in you shall overcome, for it is the strongest. O you fair queen, remember at all times how loathsome and unwashed you lay in your blood as an outcast, and that the most mighty, richest and eternal King, the fairest above all men, chose you, washed you, purchased you with His own blood, and accepted you as His queen. And if we always think of our redemption, it is, or ought to be, a warning to cling to the royal Bridegroom alone, and not to forsake Him through wantonness or presumption, and run to others; for he that forsakes Him, him He will also forsake. His jealous love cannot bear or tolerate it, that one loves another more than Him; such a one is not worthy of Him. Oh, not so; not for anything; though you be surrounded as a lily among thorns, and though the bramble has usurped the government of the world (Song of Songs 2, verse 2; Judges 9, verse 14), do not cease therefore to give forth your sweetness, the fair fragrance of the lily, your beautiful grapes, and your fatness as olive branches; so that every one may be found a sweet savor of Christ in His calling; the poor, that they be diligent in their labor, if they can earn a stiver or a half, so that they may have a clear conscience before the Lord.

Again, that those who have abundance give abundantly; but those who do not have it in abundance, that they share the same with a faithful heart. If this is done, and every one offers his help, the ministers can serve with a joyful heart, especially if there are few ministers.

Further I write to you, you sixty valiant men (Song of Songs 3, verse 7), always have strong courage, always be well prepared with the sword of the Spirit at your side, to protect this lovely bride from all harm or nightly terror, bringing into captivity every thought that exalts itself against the obedience of Christ. Second Corinthians 10, verse 5.

Guard well, with a faithful heart, this pleasure garden of the Lord, that the cunning foxes that creep in may not nest in it, that the rooting swine do not come and dig it up, by which the young sprouts often lose their strength and wither. Psalm 80, verse 13. Though you then may sometimes have to meet false brothers, do not turn back on that account, nor faint; for if you turn back, what should the others do?

Therefore be of strong courage in the Lord; since the Spirit of the church has chosen you for the work of the Lord, offer your heads, and take your life into your hands, and go forth in the name of the Lord. If they threaten you, think: "We are in the hand of the Lord; you are only dust and ashes; the Lord will preserve us." Think: "We are not better than our brothers." Though it then comes to pass that one's time is fulfilled, that his course is finished, that he must be tried as gold, before kings, lords, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, to praise the name of the Lord; go forward nevertheless, and take for your example those valiant heroes, as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Samson, Gideon, David, the prophets and the apostles, and consider the former times, how mightily the Lord trampled upon the necks of their enemies, as Joshua said to his valiant men, that the Lord should do so to all that set themselves against them; therefore He said: "Do not fear." Joshua 10, verse 25.

Most beloved, excuse my simple letter; though it is very simple, yet, whatever its defects, consider that I hereby show in some measure my boldness and my affection toward you, which I, an unworthy one, have had and still have toward you; indeed I have this confidence by the grace of the Lord, that no one shall be able to separate me from the great love which I have toward you and the Lord.

Therefore I am of good cheer in all that comes upon me, for I find our Lord very faithful; that He is a true helper in time of need, who does not forsake His own; for I have now by the help of the Lord striven to blood, kept the faith, and received great comfort in my heart, so that I can rejoice in my suffering, and this through the aid of your prayers, and by the cooperation of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, I cannot tell you the great joy which I now have because the Lord has kept my lips.

Therefore I ask you all most affectionately, rejoice, and praise the Lord with me, that He has so faithfully helped His poor servant, and has eased my pain, and made a way to escape, so that I was able to bear it.

O most beloved, is this not a great comfort, that the holy and good God has made Himself our debtor, and has promised us (note, by promising an obligation is incurred), saying: "Though a mother forget the son of her womb, yet I will not forget you?" says the Almighty Lord, if we do not forsake Him, and do not sell our birthright as lightly as Esau did, for a little life; concerning which Christ says: "Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it." Luke 17, verse 33. Alas! he loses it badly who will not find it again; but well does he lose it who will again find an imperishable one.

This is certainly the promise of Christ, this He has merited for us by His righteousness and suffering; but we must also faithfully strive to death for the truth, and purify our souls by obedience to the truth, to persevere in this short conflict: "Therefore take to yourselves the armor of God, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery and subtle darts of the wicked. Gird your loins with the girdle of truth; put on the breastplate of righteousness; have your feet shod with the gospel of peace, so that you may be ready in all things; above all, take the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation [that is, the living hope] and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; and always pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." Ephesians 6, verses 13 to 18; Luke 12, verse 35; First Thessalonians 5, verse 8. With these weapons you can overcome all your enemies, in patience and meekness.

To this end you have many testimonies in the Scriptures, and also I, an unworthy one, your known weak brother, bear witness, that these are the true weapons; for I can now write of this because of the victory that I have gained through Christ Jesus, who always helps me to triumph. To Him alone be praise, honor and might forever and ever. Amen.

With this I will commend you, my dearest fellow helpers, brothers and sisters, to the Almighty God and the rich Word of His grace, who is able to strengthen you all, and to finish the good work that He has begun in you, and to bring you into His everlasting kingdom. Amen.

With this I bid you all adieu in this evil world full of all wickedness; with Christ Jesus our bridegroom I will await you, and there meet you again in fullness of joy; may the Lord grant His grace to this end. Amen.

Finally I humbly make this request, that if I have grieved any one by word, conduct, or deed, you will heartily forgive me; I likewise do so from the heart, but I wish that it had been better with me in this respect. Farewell, be of good courage.

Written by me, your weak brother and humblest member, imprisoned for the testimony of the Gospel of Christ, at Dortrecht, on the 3rd of March, in the year 1572.

JAN WOUTERSS.

I was tortured a week ago Saturday, and again the following Wednesday. So I now bear in my body the marks of the sufferings of Christ; which I might have easily escaped, had I been willing to tell what was demanded of me. I should in that case have acted contrary to the Scriptures, contrary to love and my conscience, and should die with a troubled heart; many hearts should have been grieved; but now I trust that many will rejoice with me, and be glad and bold, and praise God.

So, let all of you firmly resolve in your hearts to do those things that are of good report, honest, and pleasing to God (Philippians 4, verse 8); call upon the Lord for strength, and be assured in your hearts that He hears your prayer. Psalm 145, verse 19. Present to Him in your prayer His own promises, and you shall not be confounded, for He hears the prayer of the poor, says David. Also rejoice together, that our enemies obtained nothing by the torture from our dear sister, my fellow prisoner. Therefore praise the Lord, you saints. Psalm 147. I, an unworthy one, cordially greet you all in the Lord, in His name, with the love and peace of Christ. I thank you all for your Christian fellowship. O most beloved, let that which you have heard and accepted from the beginning remain in you, and beware of those that would take it from you; for I, an unworthy one, testify that you stand in the unadulterated truth; fulfill the same in the fear of God, and you shall have peace.

Written by me, in bonds,

JAN WOUTERSS KUYCK.