A Letter to Said Adriaenken Jans in her Bonds. Sent by her Husband

To the dear wife of my heart, Adriaenken Jan's daughter, out of love, to strengthen your heart. Amen.

We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5, verse 29.

Grace and peace, wisdom and comfort be with you, my much beloved dear wife and sister in the Lord, from God our heavenly Father; through the great love of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and through the power of the Holy Ghost, and patience in your bonds; this I wish you, my beloved wife and sister in the Lord, as an affectionate greeting, to the praise of the Lord, and to your soul's salvation. Amen. Possess your soul in patience.

After all hearty greeting, my much beloved wife and sister in the Lord, I affectionately ask you to prove valiant in your tribulation and distress, and always to look to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who, when the joy was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame. Hebrews 12, verse 2. Note, he says, despising the shame. So go out of the camp, and help bear His reproach. Chapter 13, verse 13. For when Christ suffered, He had to suffer outside Jerusalem, and there took our sins upon Him, and became as a worm, greatly despised, says the prophet Isaiah. Chapter 53, verse 3. And Paul says: "Who, being in the form of God, did not think it robbery to be equal with God, but delivered himself to death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2, verses 6 and 8. And Peter says

"Since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so that he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." First Peter 4, verses 1 and 2. Paul also says

"All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (Second Timothy 3, verse 12); as he also tells the Hebrews (chapter 11) of so many pious witnesses, who through their faith suffered so much, having respect to the recompense of the reward; they were stoned, cut in two, tempted, slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy; and so they took the kingdom of God by force, hoping only from afar for the promise, which they did not yet possess, as Christ says: "Blessed are the eyes which see what you now see, and the ears which hear what you now hear; for many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you now see, and it could not be." Luke 10, verses 23 and 24; Matthew 13, verses 16 and 17. Paul also says: "God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholds all things by the word of his power." Hebrews 1, verses 1 to 3. See now, my dear lamb, how many pious witnesses we have; so let us not grow weary, but see that we may enter the promised land with Caleb and Joshua. For you have already passed through the wilderness, and now stand before the Jordan, which, though it is terrible to look at, you will pass over; only do not waver, all you need do is to pass over. Be valiant, my lamb; the Lord will help you; put your trust in Him, for He is our captain, our strong fortress and castle. My dear lamb, be of good cheer in the Lord; such a glorious crown is awaiting you, for the Lord says

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the truth, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5, verse 10.

See, my fair one, you will be one of that number whom John saw under the altar, who were clothed in white robes; and you will help fulfill their number, and the great multitude of whom the angel told Esdras, Second Esdras 2, verse 45. For when the number, or the company, of the righteous is fulfilled, the rewarding will soon take place. Then shall all your tears be wiped away; the heat of the sun will hurt you no more, for you shall rest under His shadow with all the chosen children of God. My dear lamb, if you now only strive manfully for the truth, it is but for this life; after this time there is no more time. No one is crowned unless he strives lawfully. Second Timothy 2, verse 5. And James says: "Dear brothers, we count them happy that have endured." James 5, verse 11. And Solomon says that His [God's] people are tried as gold in the furnace, and when He finds them acceptable, He receives them as a burnt offering. Wisdom 3, verse 6. Confess now the word of the Lord before this evil generation; for if we confess Him, He also will confess us before His heavenly Father, and before His angels; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we do not believe, yet He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. Matthew 10, verse 32. Second Timothy 2, verses 12 and 13. Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, "The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Verse 19.

Behold, my dear lamb, here the sentence is already pronounced. Take heed now, that in your bonds, as you have begun, you remain faithful for the word of the Lord; that you may receive a full reward, and not lose that for which you have labored so long by faith; for whoever transgresses, and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God; he that remains in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. Second John, verses 8 and 9.

Dear Jan's daughter, we expect such a glorious crown, if we remain in the truth; how we will rejoice when we get into the new heavenly Jerusalem, where the streets are of pure gold; and her gates are not closed against the penitent, but they are not open to the ungodly, for outside are dogs and sorcerers. Revelation 21, verse 21; chapter 22, verse 15. See, my dearest lamb, for none but the God fearing; for them His grace is always ready, and He will give them to drink of the beautiful river which flows through the fair city; these are the living waters of which the Lord told the Samaritan woman, that if she drank of them she would never thirst. John 4, verse 14. Behold, my dear rib, of these waters all the righteous drank. They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. First Corinthians 10, verses 4 and 5.

Behold, dear Adriaenken Jans, what virtues the Lord has shown us, and how richly He has bestowed gifts upon His children, and how He shall endow them when He comes to judge all the nations of the earth. Then shall we tread down all our enemies, and shall sit with all the elect of God upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel; and shall stand in great boldness before the face of those that have afflicted us; and we shall shine as sparks among the stubble, and leap as calves of the stall, in that day which the Lord has appointed. Matthew 19, verse 28; Wisdom 5, verse 1; chapter 3, verse 7; Malachi 4, verses 2 and 3. We also read that Esdras saw in the spirit, upon Mount Sion, how the Lord went and gave palms into the hands, and set crowns upon the heads, of those who had confessed Him in the world. Second Esdras 2, verse 42. Peter also says that we shall be made kings and priests, so that we should show forth the virtues of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Revelation 1, verse 6; First Peter 2, verse 9.

Ah! Jan's daughter, my dear wife and sister in the Lord, if we were to recount all the glorious promises which the Lord has promised those that continue faithful in their temptation, it would take too much time to write it all.

With this I commend you, my dear wife and sister in the Lord, to God, and to the rich Word of His grace, which is able to keep us from all the subtle wiles with which our adversary the devil walks about us as a roaring lion, as Peter says. First Peter 5, verse 8. He could assail the Lord; should he then not assault His people? For we are not ignorant of his devices (Second Corinthians 2, verse 11), for he works also through his emissaries, that is, the children of unbelief, who will possibly come to assail you; but we can well overcome them, we can do all things through the grace of the Lord, which grace may God grant you and me, and us all. Amen.

Farewell, and pray the Lord for me, that He may keep me in this evil time, that I may always walk in the way of the Lord. I also pray for you, that the Lord will grant you strength, that you may be an acceptable offering to Him, and that through your bonds and through the voluntary surrender of your body into the tyrants' hands, many may come to the truth. Though it is somewhat hard for the flesh, the Lord can give strength to those that trust in Him. Yes, dear Jan's daughter, my dearest, beloved sister in the Lord, let us take heed and pray the Lord, that we may guard ourselves well, that we do not dishonor the temple of God; for this is what Paul says (mark it well): "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." First Corinthians 3, verses 16 and 17. If we guard ourselves well, it will be well with us, for we have a precious treasure in earthen vessels, the Spirit of the Lord, the Comforter, which will not be taken from us, if we fear God, depart from all sin, and do good.

O my dearest, put out of your mind that you went there to get the bed, for possibly the Lord wants to prove you in this way; and let us not tempt the Lord; He does all for the best; I would not give you for all the treasures of the world; this the Lord knows, for He knows every heart. Now that it is so, let it be so in the name of the Lord. You may readily suppose that Abraham was sorrowful that he had to offer up his beloved son; for he was dear to him, and the Lord had told him that his seed should be as numerous as the dust of the earth and the stars of heaven. But, my dear lamb, he feared the Lord, and did not dare to disobey His command. So we, too, have courage, my dear wife; think, it is only for one evil hour, or half an hour, and all is over, for much may be done in half an hour. See, my dear, he that overcomes shall inherit all things; he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 21, verse 7; chapter 2, verse 11. Therefore let those that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator. First Peter 4, verse 19. Let us pray for those that afflict us (that is, the pope and his adherents), that they may see how blind they are; and also for the magistrates, that they may no longer seek innocent blood, but be satisfied, and see where they are sinning before God.

Adieu, be resigned in the Lord, my dear wife and sister in the Lord; take my simple letter in good part, for it has been written from a good intention.

Written with much sorrow and labor. Nothing more for this time, only may the Lord keep you in a godly life, and preserve you from the second death. Amen.

By me, your dear husband and weak brother in the Lord, who am not worthy of the name; but by the grace of the Lord we can do all things.

J. VAN DORT.

Written on the 18th and 19th of January, in the year 1572. Whatever I can do for you is at your service; do not spare me. Adieu, farewell; put your trust in the Lord alone, and you will find rest for your soul. Amen.

Yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is doing God service. And these things they will do to you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. John 16, verses 2 and 3.