Another Letter by Said Adrian Rogiers, Written in Prison to his Wife

An affectionate, loving greeting to you, my most dearly beloved wife, whom I married before God and His glorious church.

Further, after all proper and Christian greeting, let me tell you, my love, that I, the Lord be praised forever, am in fairly good health according to the flesh; and according to the spirit, God be praised, my mind is still ready to leap over a wall by my God. However, I hope and trust that you too are well in soul and body, God be thanked, and unharmed in the faith. May the Almighty Lord, who alone, as David writes, does wondrous things, keep and strengthen you and us all, together with His Holy Spirit, that we may live and die to His glory, and be patient in this present tribulation. And when we are tried, let us remember that we are not the only ones, but that God, as Paul writes, scourges every son whom He loves. Hebrews 12, verse 6. So it also appeared that God tried our fathers before our time, as Judith tells, when the city of Bethulia was besieged, and they, because of the famine of water, wanted to surrender the city after five days (Judith 8, verse 11); at which Judith urged them to patience, saying: "Who are you, that you set the Lord the time and days when He is to help? For this does not tend to obtain mercy, but much rather wrath and disfavor. Let us therefore be sorry for it, and with tears seek the face of the Lord. And you men and brothers, you who are the rulers of the people, go to the people and tell them how God in former times tried our fathers, whether they served Him from the heart or not. Just as our father Abraham was tried by many temptations, by which he remained the friend of God; and so also Isaac, Jacob and Moses, and all who were counted among God's beloved, who had to overcome through much affliction, as Sirach teaches us, saying: My child, if you will be God's servant, prepare yourself for temptation. Endure and be steadfast, and do not turn away when the ungodly lure you. For as gold is tried in the fire, so righteousness is tried in the fire of affliction. But you who fear the Lord, hope the best of Him, and your comfort will not fail. For consider the examples of those of old, and lay them to heart; for no one who trusted in the Lord was ever put to shame; or who was ever forsaken that remained in the fear of God?" Sirach 2, verse 1.

Thus, my very dear wife, do not despair when you are tried by the Lord; for after He has wounded, says Job, He can heal again; for He kills, and makes alive again, He leads into hell, and out again. Job 5, verse 18; Deuteronomy 32, verse 39.

Thus, my very dear wife, hold firmly to the Lord, and diligently train yourself in godliness, and you will find that godliness is mightier than all things; for wisdom did not forsake the righteous when he was sold, but delivered him from sin; she went down with him into the pit, and did not leave him in bonds, until she brought him the scepter of the kingdom, and power against those who oppressed him. Wisdom 10, verses 13 and 14.

Thus, my dear wife, though we are now in tribulation for a little while, let us possess our souls with patience, for God will exalt us over all those who now do violence to us and oppress us, for Christ says in the Gospel: "Woe to you who laugh now! For you will mourn and weep; but rejoice, you who weep now, for you will laugh." Luke 6, verses 25 and 21.

Therefore, O my very dear wife, let us bear the heat of the sun yet a little longer, and give our back to those who strike us; for in yet a little while, He who is to come will come. Isaiah 50, verse 6; Hebrews 10, verse 37. Therefore, O my love, let us willingly help bear His reproach outside the camp, and remember that the servant is not better than his Lord; for if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of His household? Hebrews 13, verse 13; Matthew 10, verses 24 and 25. Ah, if they have done these things in a green tree, what will they do to us dry trees? Luke 23, verse 31. Let us therefore lift up the idle hands that hang down, and, as Isaiah writes, strengthen the feeble knees, to make straight paths for our feet, and run with patience, as Paul teaches, the race that is set before us, and let us with Moses look to the recompense of the reward; for what Paul writes is certainly true: "If we suffer with Christ, we will also rejoice and reign with Him." Isaiah 35, verse 3; Hebrews 12, verses 12 and 13; Hebrews 11, verse 26; Second Timothy 2, verse 12. So let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap with great abundance and with joy the precious seed which we now sow with weeping. Galatians 6, verse 9; Psalm 126, verses 5 and 6. For our light affliction, which is only for a moment, works for us a far greater and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Second Corinthians 4, verses 17 and 18. Thus, my very dear wife, I ask you to keep the Lord always before your eyes, that you may hereafter reign and triumph with the Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Further, my very dear wife, I commend you to the Lord, and to His Word, which is full of all comfort and consolation, asking you to take my letter in good part, and kindly requesting that you also remember me by writing, for I often long very much to hear from you.

I heard that you tried hard to come to me, but it could not be; however, be of good cheer. I hope that though we cannot meet here, we will hereafter meet together with the Lord, where there will be no more parting.

Thus I bid you farewell. Do the best for the children, and pray to the Lord for me; I will do the same for you as far as I am able.

Nothing more, except greet the acquaintances very warmly in my name; Maerten van der Straten, and Beliken van der Straten, his very dear wife, and Hansken, Margriet and Dingentgen also greet you and the acquaintances much; pray earnestly to the Lord for us.

Written in my bonds, by me, your dear husband and brother in the Lord.

ADRIAN ROGIERS.