Another Letter from Jacob van den Wege, Written in his Bonds

The unfathomable, abundant grace and mercy of God the heavenly Father, the peace, holiness and merits of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, and the joy, comfort and power of the Holy Ghost. May this only, eternal and Almighty God, who alone is holy and good, grant you, my dear and most affectionate beloved sisters in the Lord, who are now imprisoned for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, this my greeting; indeed, may the Lord grant it to you through His great goodness and kindness; this I wish you from the depth of my heart, as an affectionate and heartfelt greeting. Amen.

Further, after all unfeigned Christian greeting, let my dear sisters in the Lord please be informed that we three prisoners, who are now also in bonds, in Ghent, in the count's castle, for the testimony and doctrine of our Savior Jesus Christ, are still of good cheer, and not changed in the least in our purpose to suffer with Christ, and to strive for the truth. And we are also ready not only to endure poverty, reproach, imprisonment, and bonds, but also to die for the name of the Lord, if it is His pleasure; and all this by His great and mighty power, with which He strengthens us through His great grace; to Him be praise, thanks and glory forever.

From your letter I also understood that it is still well with you four, at which I and my fellow prisoners greatly rejoiced; and I pray God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has chosen us to this from our birth, and through His great mercy and love has given us His abundant grace, that He would keep and strengthen us to the end with His Holy Spirit, so that His name may be praised and honored forever through us all, for the edification of our neighbor, and the salvation of our souls. O my dearly beloved sisters in the Lord, let us continue steadfastly, and take good heed that we do not neglect the grace of God which He has so faithfully shown us, but use it well; for through neglect one may soon lose what he has labored for so long, and then it is sometimes very difficult to find it again. Therefore I say, let us take good heed, and hold fast what we have, so that no one take our crown. For if we continue steadfast in what we have, we shall without any doubt be saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12, verse 15; Revelation 3, verse 11; Matthew 10, verse 22; Acts 15, verse 11. And to this end (namely, to be saved) we have already begun; may God grant us strength, that we may be able to carry it out to His praise and to the salvation of our souls. For God knows that on earth we seek no other riches or honor than the honor of His name and the salvation of our souls, for which salvation we now with great patience endure here so much affliction amid sorrowing and sighing (all of which rises from reproach and imprisonment), together with many conflicts and temptations.

But, my most beloved, let us not become despondent in tribulation and affliction, nor let us think it strange, as though some strange thing had happened to us, for from the beginning of the world the righteous had to suffer; but let us rejoice in this, that we are partakers of Christ's sufferings, knowing well that if we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him. First Peter 4, verses 12 and 13; Second Timothy 2, verse 12. For Paul says that it is given to us, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake; for we must through much tribulation and affliction enter into the kingdom of heaven. Philippians 1, verse 29; Acts 14, verse 22. But the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, who look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have there entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him and keep His commandments; but He has revealed them to us by His Spirit. Romans 8, verse 18; Second Corinthians 4, verse 18; First Corinthians 2, verses 9 and 10. Therefore, my dear sisters, we ought to be comforted by these promises, and work with a joyful heart in the vineyard of the Lord, patiently endure the heat of the sun, and not fear what man shall do to us; for we know, and are sure through our faith, that if they kill our body, our Redeemer lives, and that He shall afterward raise us up from the earth, and then we shall see God in our flesh; our eyes shall behold Him and not another. Job 19, verse 25. And Paul says that we look for the Savior, Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that He may fashion it like His glorious body. Philippians 3, verses 20 and 21. Then we shall be caught up in the air to meet Him, to inherit eternal life, and then He shall fill our hearts with joy, and comfort us, and make us glad after our tribulation, shall wipe our tears from our eyes, and shall reward our labor; for sorrow and mourning shall flee away from us, and everlasting joy shall be upon our heads. First Thessalonians 4, verse 17; Revelation 7, verse 17; Isaiah 51, verse 11. Indeed, all this shall happen to us through His great grace; and if we firmly persevere and take good heed, and remain steadfast to the end in what we have, we shall be saved. With this I will commend you to the Lord, that He will keep you, my dear sisters in the Lord, with the strong power of His Holy Spirit. And take my brief, unfeigned letter in good part, for I had almost not written to you at all, because of my ignorance and simplicity; but because of your request I did not dare refrain.

Written with my own hand, on the last day of April. Farewell. Amen. My fellow prisoners also greet you most cordially with the peace of the Lord. By me.

JACOB VAN DEN WEGE.