Adrian Rogiers, Burned for the Testimony of Jesus Christ, in the Year 1572

Here follow three letters which Adrian Rogiers wrote from his prison.

First letter to his wife,

Out of tender love, an affectionate greeting to you, my most dearly beloved wife, whom I love from the heart; this the Lord knows, who knows all things, and who, according to the words of Jeremiah, tries men's hearts and reins. Jeremiah 17, verse 10. Further, my love, after this proper and Christian greeting of mine, let me please inform you that I, the Lord be praised forever, am in tolerably good health according to the flesh; and according to the spirit, God be praised, my mind is disposed to leap over a wall by our God. Psalm 18, verse 29. However, my dearest, I trust through the goodness of God that you are also well in soul and body, and prepared, by the help of God, rather to die honorably with Eleazar than to live with ignominy. Second Maccabees 6, verse 19. The almighty Lord, who in time of need provides bread, and who according to the words of the prophet gives both wine and milk without price (Isaiah 55, verse 1), may so strengthen and confirm you and us all by His Holy Spirit, that we may in our present tribulation be able to bear all that comes upon us for the Lord's sake, and may fear His name; for to this end God has delivered us from him that was too strong for us, that we should serve and fear Him in true righteousness all our lives; for Sirach says: "There is nothing better than the fear of the Lord." Sirach 23, verse 27. Therefore, O my dear wife, let us fear the Lord with all our heart, and in every distress let us flee to the Lord, and He will help us; for David says: "The Lord lays a burden upon us, but he also helps us bear it; for we have a God that helps, and the Lord of lords that delivers from death." Psalm 68, verse 20. For He is, says the prophet, a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, and a shadow from the heat. Isaiah 25, verse 4. For He stands at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. Psalm 109, verse 31. But God shall wound the head of His enemies, and the hairy scalp of one who goes on still in his trespasses. Psalm 68, verse 21. For Judith also says: "Woe to the heathen that persecute my people! For the Lord Almighty shall judge them, and visit them in the day of vengeance; he shall torment their body with fire and worms, and they shall burn and weep forever." Judith 16, verse 17. But that with which the Lord chastens us, O my chosen, endures only for a moment; for David says: "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30, verse 5. "For God," says Judith, "chastens us, his servants, for correction; but the ungodly he punishes to their destruction." Judith 8, verse 27.

Therefore, my dear wife, let us bear our cross patiently for a little while yet; and let us consider how much our dear Lord suffered for us, even as the prophet says: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and, as it were, we hid our faces from him; he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he does not open his mouth." Isaiah 53, verses 3 to 7.

Hence, O my dear wife, since we know, as Peter teaches, that Christ suffered in the flesh, let us arm ourselves with the same mind; for he who 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 the flesh, but to the will of God. First Peter 4, verses 1 and 2.

Thus, my dearest, be of good cheer when the Lord tries you, for it is written: "The souls of the righteous are chastised a little, but much good shall come to them; for God proves them, and finds them worthy for himself. He tries them as gold in the furnace, and receives them as a fat sacrifice. And in the time of their visitation, they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the heathen, and have dominion over all nations, and the Lord shall reign over them forever. For they that put their trust in him shall find that he faithfully keeps what he has promised; and those who are faithful in love shall abide with him; for his saints are in his mercy, and he has care for his elect." Wisdom of Solomon 3, verses 5 to 9.

Therefore, O my love, let us commit our cause, and the distress that comes upon us, to the Lord, and cast our care upon Him; for He, says Peter, cares for us; and if God is for us, says Paul, who will be against us? First Peter 5, verse 7; Romans 8, verse 31.

Hence, O my love, let us be of good courage, and watch diligently, so that when our Bridegroom comes, we may triumph with Him forever and ever. Amen.

Further, my very dear wife, I commit you to our dear Lord; may He in every way be your guide, for I take leave now, and bid you adieu. Do the best for the children, as I am confident you will.

Know further, my love, that I have received your letter, for which I thank you much; greet warmly in my name the one that wrote it. However, you must also know that I am very much grieved that I have not heard from you so long; I beg you to let me know how it goes with you and the children.

I further bid you adieu once more; pray to the Lord for me, as I do for you, and greet the acquaintances. We prisoners all greet you; pray to the Lord for us.

Written in my bonds, for your best, by me, your dear husband.

ADRIAN ROGIERS.