A Testament Made by Maeyken van Deventer for her Children

My children according to the flesh, but, alas, not according to the spirit, here is a testament which I, your mother, leave you, namely, Albert, Johan, Egbert, Truyken, my dear children. The Lord bless you, as Isaac blessed his son Jacob, that he should be a ruler over his brothers. My children in the flesh, I must leave you while you are young; may the Most High permit us to meet in the world to come, which will be done before long by the Father, who will bless us as a father with His most holy name. This I expect from day to day, that, when it pleases the Lord, I may offer up my life and body for His holy name's sake, and I trust that this will not be delayed, and that the good Lord will not forget me any longer. When you hear this, do not sorrow as the world does, which has no hope, or does not know where they will be; but thank the Most High that you had a mother who was found worthy to shed her blood for the name of the Lord, and who, through His great grace and mercy, may be counted as a witness or martyr. So, my children, respect this testament which I leave you.

I cannot leave you gold or silver, nor can I give you treasures of this world, as the world gives to her children; for I did not take this with me, but left it to your carnal father; and this I also did not seek, but I sought the eternal riches, which cannot perish. Seek this way also, and you will live forever; and follow this testament and the instruction which I write you here. Even as Christ Jesus our forerunner left such a thing to us for an everlasting testament, and sealed it with His blood, so I also leave you such a testament, and will likewise seal it with my blood, even as the blessed Jesus did. My children, do not count this as nothing or think lightly of it; do not be careless: it is better than gold, for it will save your souls. If you do what I write you, you will see me again in great glory, and you will be as kings and queens; but you must keep yourselves from this corruptible world, for it will pass away with all its lusts.

Hear, my children, the instruction of your mother, and incline your hearts to understanding, and open your ears to hear the words of my mouth, for I seek the salvation of your souls; believe me, and no one else, that you may come to me and live forever. Behold, my children, I hold before you the way of my Bridegroom, and our forerunner, Christ Jesus, who went before me, which leads to the truth, as the Lord has commanded me; and behold, I take up my cross, and follow the Savior of the whole world. Do so too, my children; I will go before you, without looking back, for this is the way of the prophets and martyrs, and behold, I will now drink the cup which they drank. I now go the way which Christ Jesus, the Lord full of all grace and truth, who laid down His life for His sheep, went; this cup I must drink, as Christ says: "I have a cup to drink of, and a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened until it is accomplished!" Matthew 20, verse 22; Luke 12, verse 50. And having thus passed through, He calls His sheep, and His sheep hear His voice, and follow Him wherever He goes, for this is the way to the living fountain; this way went the priestly kings coming from the rising of the sun, as is written in Revelation (Revelation 16, verse 12), and entered into eternity. And behold, they had to drink of this cup, and to go this way, who are now under the altar, crying and saying: "Lord almighty Father, how long will You not avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given them, and it was answered to them: Bear it yet for a little while, until the number of your brothers that are also yet to be killed for the testimony of Jesus Christ is fulfilled." Revelation 6, verses 9 to 11. These also drank of the cup, and went up to enjoy the eternal Sabbath of the Lord. And of this cup also those had to drink who are crowned, have palms in their hands, and are clothed in white. Second Esdras 2, verse 42. Yes, this is also the way trod by the twenty-four elders that stand before the throne of God, and cast their crowns from their heads, and their harps before the throne of the Lamb, and falling down upon their faces, say: "O God, to You alone be praise, honor and glory, power and strength, forever and ever. Lord almighty God, who will speedily avenge the blood of Your servants and ministers, Yours is the victory; magnified be Your name, which is, and which was, and which is to come." Revelation 4, verses 10 and 11. This way also walked the marked of the Lord, who had the mark in their foreheads, who were chosen out of all the families of men, who were not defiled with women, but follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Chapter 7, verse 3; chapter 14, verses 3 and 4. Behold, these had to drink the bitter cup, and also all those that are still lacking of the number and fulfillment of Zion, which is the bride of the Lamb, and the new Jerusalem, which will descend out of heaven, in which city and throne the glory of the great King will be revealed and seen, when the marriage feast will be kept and celebrated in the day of the high and holy Sabaoth, the Lord their God, which is the day of their rest and joy. Chapter 6, verse 11; chapter 21, verse 10. Behold, all these first suffered the judgment in their flesh, and had to bear the punishment of this world, for Jesus Christ was the first one, as is written [n1105-1] "The Lamb slain" from the foundation of the world;" and Paul says that those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Revelation 13, verse 8; Romans 8, verse 29. Christ our Savior also says that the servant is not better than his lord, nor the disciple above his master; but it is enough for the disciple that he be as his master. Matthew 10, verses 24 and 25. This also Peter declares to us, who says that the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begins at God's elect, what will the end be of those that have not believed the Gospel of God? And if the righteous are scarcely saved, where will the unrighteous appear? First Peter 4, verses 17 and 18.

So, my dear children, press through the strait gate, for strait and narrow is the way that leads to life, and there are few that find it, and still fewer that walk it; but wide and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many that walk in it. Matthew 7, verses 13 and 14.

Therefore, my children, heed the chastening and instruction of the Lord, and bow your shoulders under His yoke and easy burden, and bear it patiently from your youth, thanking Him with great honor, for He receives no sons whom He does not chasten, for if you forsake chastisement after this manner, of which we all have become partakers, you are not children, but bastards, and you will be cast out of your Father's inheritance. Hebrews 12, verse 6.

So, my dear children, gird your loins, and follow Christ, and neither fear nor rest until you have found this way. And search the Scriptures: they will show you the way of life, for the angel says to Esdras: "Behold, a city is built, and set upon a broad field, and is full of all good things: the entrance to it is narrow, and set in a dangerous place to fall, like as if there were a fire on the right hand, and on the left a deep water: and one only path between them both, even between the fire and the water, so small that only one man could go there at once. If this city now were given to a man for an inheritance, if he never passes the danger set before it, how will he receive this inheritance?" Second Esdras 7, verses 6 to 9. Behold, my children, this way has no retreats; there are also no byways that lie on the right hand or on the left; this is the way which is found by so few, and trod by still fewer; yes, there are indeed some that see it and know well that this is the way to life, but it is too hard for them; it hurts them far too much.

Therefore, my children, do not regard the great multitude, and do not walk in their ways; keep your feet from their path, for they go to hell, even as sheep to the slaughter, as the prophet Isaiah tells us, saying: "Hell has opened wide her mouth, that there may enter in the princes of the earth, and the common people." For it is a people of no understanding; therefore He that made them will not have mercy on them. Proverbs 1, verse 15; Isaiah 59, verse 7; chapter 5, verse 14; chapter 27, verse 11.

But, my children, remember what I write, and wherever you hear that there is a plain, rejected little flock, that is despised and cast out by this world, join them; and wherever you hear of the cross of Christ, do not turn away. But flee the shadow of this world, go to God; fear Him alone; keep His commandments; remember all His words to do them; write them upon the tables of your heart; and bind them on your forehead, and speak of His statutes night and day, and you will be a pleasant branch in the garden of the Lord, yes, a beloved plant growing up in Zion.

My children, call the fear of the Lord your Father, and wisdom and understanding shall be your mother. If you do this, my children, the Lord will bless you, and sanctify your body for His service, that His name may be sanctified through you, and magnified to His glory. Confess Him before men, that He may also confess you before His heavenly Father. Yes, forsake your life, my children, rather than depart from the truth. And follow me; I go before you as a valiant soldieress, who is prepared for the war or conflict of the Lord, that I may deliver up my life for the name of the Lord. My children, I, your mother, the instrument by whom you were brought into this sorrowful world, desire your salvation. Believe me in what I write you and have left you, and no one else, except what they say agrees with the holy Scriptures. If you do this, you will come to me, and I to you. If you lose your body, which is of the earth, the Lord has prepared you a better one in heaven. So, my children, strive valiantly to the death for the truth and for righteousness, and arm yourselves with the armor of God, that you may be found valiant Israelites; trample down the world and all the unrighteousness that is in it; love or seek only what is above, and remember that you are not of the world, even as your Lord and Master was also not of the world. John 15, verse 19; chapter 17, verse 16. And be diligent, that you too may be found disciples; whatever you then ask will be done for you; for no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, except by the Holy Ghost, for the true worshipers will worship God in Spirit and in truth; for these Christ prayed, and not for the world, for when the world prays, it calls upon the devil, and they desire that his will be done in them. John 15, verse 7; First Corinthians 12, verse 3; John 4, verse 23; chapter 17, verse 9. So, my dear children, do not become conformed to it; flee from it, and have no fellowship with it. Romans 12, verse 2; Ephesians 5, verse 11. Do not regard what is fair to the eyes, for it is all vanity; seek only those things which are above, and set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth. Colossians 3, verses 1 and 2. Let your eyes always look to the Lord, and always labor with prayer and supplication, that you may always be with Him in heart. Hebrews 12, verse 2. Let your laughter be turned to weeping, for we are pilgrims here upon earth; and let there be nothing in this world that can make you rejoice, for it is all vanity, and passes away. James 4, verse 9; First Peter 2, verse 11; Second Corinthians 4, verse 18. Beware of covetousness for earthly riches, for this is the true foundation of perdition. Luke 12, verse 15; First Timothy 6, verse 9. Remember me. The Lord cause you to walk in His fear, and fill you with His Holy Spirit, and sanctify your understanding and mind. My children, be careful in all your conduct, and whatever you do, in it let the name of the Lord be praised and blessed. Colossians 3, verse 17. And guard your lips, that you may not take the name of God into your mouth in vain, for this is a great unrecognized sin; and do not use the name of God except with great reverence, with bended knees and with uncovered head, or it will be counted ill to you. Exodus 20, verse 7. Pray God that you may learn to know Him, and do not be ashamed to confess and honor Him who can save your souls; for the Lord will not tolerate that His people deny Him, for it is enough that the world dishonors and denies Him; so let us honor, praise and glorify His holy name with the whole heart, for it is written that whoever takes the name of the Lord in vain is worthy of death.

Therefore, my children, love your neighbor heartily, and this with a generous heart. Let the light of the Gospel shine in you. Second Corinthians 4, verse 4. Share your bread with the hungry, clothe the naked, and do not let anything remain with you double, since there are enough that lack. Isaiah 58, verse 7. And whatever the Lord grants you, possess it with thankfulness, not only for yourselves, but also for your neighbor, and do not seek your own profit, but that of your neighbor. In short, my children, let your life be conformed to the Gospel of Christ. And the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, that your whole spirit, soul and body may be found blameless at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, power and majesty forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13, verses 20 and 21; First Thessalonians 5, verse 23.