The Fourth Letter from Jan Wouterss, to his Wife

Grace and peace from God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and the cooperation of the Holy Ghost, be constantly multiplied in you, my most beloved wife, for consolation in your pilgrimage, for the strengthening of your faith, for comfort in your tribulation, to the praise of God, and the salvation of your soul. Amen.

After this, my heartfelt greeting to you, my chosen sister and most beloved wife: my love for you is great, but my love for the eternal truth is greater still; that same love helps me overcome all my enemies. In this great victory I rejoice greatly, since I have now been in the conflict twice. For the sake of this victory, in which Christ alone, who is the genuine truth, helps us to triumph so valiantly, rejoice with me from the heart, and magnify and thank the name of the Lord. I now know how the cup of suffering tastes, but I did not know that the good God works in us with such wonderful power; for I received such peaceful joy in my heart that I was amazed. This was shortly after I had been tortured; yet I was greatly threatened that I would be tortured again the following Monday. But I thought that the faithful God could keep my lips a second time also; and I prayed and begged Him earnestly to show it in me (since it is a small matter for Him), so that I would not be put to shame in my first boasting, or in the purpose of my heart, so that my neighbor would not be grieved, and no one would open the mouth of slander on my account.

And the eternal good God kept my lips in the second torturing; and I was threatened again, but my determination never weakened, such grace did the Lord give me. But when I earnestly prepared myself for it, and with Abraham offered up my only son, that is, my flesh, so that He should do His holy will for my salvation, the Lord turned my anxiety into joy; indeed, my eyes overflowed for gladness, because the Lord had kept the lips of our sister, my fellow prisoner, and, in the second place, because they were satisfied with my suffering. A few days before I was tortured I had also received the glad news that you were able to say with your mouth that though you could pull me out with your arm, you would not do it if I were valiant or resigned; which rejoiced my heart, that the good Lord strengthens and comforts you in this way by His Holy Spirit. May the eternal, good God be praised forever, that He shows to us unworthy ones such great tokens of mercy and love. O my dearest lamb, how shall we be able to thank the Lord enough for it? Yes, I have joy in my heart that the Lord has counted me, poor man, worthy to suffer so much reproach and contempt, and so many threats and stripes. With this the Lord proves me, just as He proved His dearest chosen ones, to see whether I fear Him sincerely, trust Him in the greatest distress, and love Him from the heart. My heart leaped up in my body, as it seems to me, for joy, because we have such a good, dear God. I thought that I loved Him, but now that my skin is touched, He proves this best Himself. Job 2, verses 4 and 5.

But, my chosen one, do not be dismayed on this account; this vile flesh has deserved much more yet, but the Lord chastens us according to His mercy. So my faith is tried like gold in the furnace; now all the glorious promises of the Lord belong to me; from now on the crown of eternal life is laid up for me; indeed, our King, Christ Jesus, will honor me Himself. Luke 12, verse 37. Oh, alas! I know of myself that I am unworthy of this; but our Lord has obtained it from His heavenly Father, that He may do this for us, that our joy may be full, and that we should comfort ourselves with His promises in our tribulation.

O how thoughtless are all those who think lightly of, indeed, who reject all these glorious promises because of this brief suffering. Indeed, what is this suffering once it is over? It is not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Romans 8, verse 18. I wrote the foregoing letter yesterday, and now I have just been before the bailiff and two judges and the secretary. The bailiff asked me whether I would not tell the truth yet. I said that I had done so. "Yes," he said, "as much as you wanted to." Then the bailiff's demand was read to me, setting forth that I had fallen away from the Christian Catholic faith, or Roman Church, and had been rebaptized by the Anabaptists, and married my wife. That having been admonished about this error by various learned men, I persisted in it; and he added further that the royal decree prescribed that I should be punished by being burned alive at the stake; but that if I recanted, the sword, and possibly also the churchyard, would be my portion.

Then I replied that I had not (or never) fallen away from the Christian faith; nor do I know, [I said,] any Anabaptists; I have been baptized only once, upon my faith; infant baptism I do not regard as baptism, and when I was a child I did as a child, just as my parents led me.

Further, I desire grace from the Most High, for if I fell away from my faith, I think that I should be eternally lost; but if I hold to it, I hope to be saved by the grace of the Lord.

All this was written down. I told them that they should do as they expected to answer for it before the Supreme Judge. I demanded that they tell me whether I had wronged anyone, so that I might defend myself. Then he said that I had seduced my wife and my child, and had helped to seduce still others, and had held meetings in nooks and corners by night, and at unseasonable hours, contrary to the royal decree. I said: "Who was injured by that?" And I was led away again, for they could not bear my words. My fellow prisoner was also brought forward then, but she too remained valiant.

I now hope that we shall soon be released from all our labor and trouble. So, my dearest upon this earth, I hope that you shall soon be made still more glad, when you hear of my deliverance. What more can they do? They cannot harm the soul; what more do they have, then, than what must remain here? It is certainly very profitable to me to be present with the Lord. Though this earthly house or dwelling perish, we expect a better one in heaven, which is eternal, indeed, which is like Christ's glory. What greater eternal joy shall we then have, when we shall shine like sparks among stubble, indeed, like the sun; then we shall leap like calves of the stall for joy. Wisdom 3, verse 7; Matthew 13, verse 43; Malachi 4, verse 2.

So comfort yourself with these and other promises, and hold fast what you have heard from the beginning, as I trust with all my heart that my most beloved lamb will do.

And when I have fallen asleep, then, my most beloved wife and dearest sister, you are released; conduct yourself in your widowhood to the praise of the Lord, to the building up of your neighbor, as a pattern to our most beloved, only daughter, and as a light to the world, and to your soul's salvation. Endure and persevere in the unadulterated truth in which you stand; though you be tried so that one conflict follows another, count it all for your salvation; always prepare your heart for patience, and the day shall come that will comfort you.

The promises are these: "Here tribulation, hereafter joy." Further, consider how gladly you would have taken my hand if my parents had loved the truth; but now that you and I have seen the day that they love the truth, it is a special joy.

So I ask you, show them as much honor and friendship as lies in you, for my sake, for our little daughter's sake, and for the truth's sake, as I trust you will do; and if you engage in any trade, see that you keep yourself "unspotted from the world." James 1, verse 27. If they press you with words, so that you are compelled to tell how much the goods cost you, tell it plainly, without adding any further words, by yes, or by no, for that would not become us. But if you do not find yourself strong enough in this, give up that trade, for you can get along with a little; if it is not fat, it is lean; the godly are soon satisfied. But if you do continue in any business, take care that it does not grow too large, so that your heart does not become overburdened and you can hardly perform your prayers. Luke 21, verse 34.

So remember what the Holy Scriptures counsel you for the best, and you will prosper as to the soul, as I trust you will. And continue constant in prayer, as becomes holy widows; pray for faithful laborers, for all the saints, for prisoners, for apostates, for kings, princes, and the rulers of this world; especially when you see sects or contention arising in the church, which must be, so that those who are tried may be made manifest. Although the elders should lose courage (which God forbid), continue in earnest prayer to God, as you have an example in the holy widow Judith (Judith, chapter 8); and always adorn yourself with a meek and quiet spirit, which will adorn you more than all jewels, as Peter and the Scriptures teach you (First Peter 3, verse 4), and as you are taught by God Himself; and possess your soul in patience, and you shall find peace in the Lord, and in your heart. Be of good courage also: your chief Captain and best Bridegroom still lives, and He will keep and feed you and our only daughter; for even if I should have to wander about with you for a while yet, it would all have to come from Him nevertheless. My most beloved, I have shown you a little faithfulness in my bonds, by putting my hands to work, so that I might not be an expense to you, and that you might have a little left to meet you in your labor; which is a great joy.

For I hope and trust concerning you, my dear, chosen, most beloved wife, that you will not change your state; for the good God has given you a special gift, for which praise be to Him forever.

But not, my most beloved, that I would cast a rope around your neck, as though I would forbid it to you. Oh, no; the apostle counsels you what is best. First Corinthians 7, verse 40. I married you for life, and thank you as affectionately as I can for your dear, good companionship, faithfulness and love, of which I consider myself in great measure unworthy. Now the only good, merciful God has called me, unworthy one, to a higher state, and you can offer me, your most beloved on earth, to the Lord for no higher state. So comfort yourself with the others, for your tribulation shall last only a short time.

So, my dearest, I will write you adieu in this evil world, and will commend you to the faithful Almighty God, for He alone is able to keep you from evil, and to bring you into His eternal kingdom.

O holy Father, I, Your weak servant, humbly ask You in my bonds that You will keep my most beloved wife, and my only daughter, and all the God-fearing, from evil, and sanctify them in Your name. O heavenly Father, hear me, unworthy one, through Jesus Christ; that we may all enter into Your eternal joy, and no one be left outside. To this end, may the good God grant His grace. Amen.

Adieu, my only daughter; your beloved father shall be crowned a king by our dear Lord. So be resigned and be an obedient daughter, and diligently read the holy Scriptures. Live according to them, and we shall meet again and rejoice forever, without end. Amen.

Finished on the fourth day of March, in the year 1572, by me, your dear husband, imprisoned for the testimony of the Gospel of Christ, to the praise of God. Amen.

JAN VAN KUYCK.

I greet you cordially in the Lord, with the love and peace that shall endure forever.