[testament] Written to Janneken My Own Dearest Daughter, in the Year 1573

May the true love of God and the wisdom of the Father strengthen you in virtue, my dearest child; may the Lord of heaven and earth, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the Lord in Israel, keep you in His virtue, and strengthen and confirm your understanding in His truth. My dear little child, I commend you to the Almighty, great and terrible God, who alone is wise, that He will keep you and let you grow up in His fear, or that He will take you home in your youth. This is my heart's request of the Lord: you who are still so young, and whom I must leave here in this wicked, evil, perverse world.

Since, then, the Lord has so ordered and foreordained it that I must leave you here, and you are left here without father and mother, I will commend you to the Lord; let Him do with you according to His holy will. He will govern you and be a Father to you, so that you shall lack nothing here, if you only fear God; for He will be the Father of the orphans and the Protector of the widows.

So, my dear lamb, I who am imprisoned and bound here for the Lord's sake can help you in no other way. I had to leave your father for the Lord's sake, and could keep him only a short time. We were allowed to live together only half a year, and after that we were arrested, because we sought the salvation of our souls. They took him from me, not knowing my condition, and I had to stay in prison and see him go before me; and it was a great grief to him that I had to remain here in prison. And now that I have waited out the time, and carried you under my heart with great sorrow for nine months, and given birth to you here in prison, in great pain, they have taken you from me. Here I lie, expecting death every morning, and shall now soon follow your dear father. And I, your dear mother, write you something, my dearest child, for a remembrance, so that by it you will remember your dear father and your dear mother.

Since I am now delivered up to death, and must leave you here alone, I must by these lines remind you: when you have come to your understanding, try to fear God, and see and examine why and for whose name we both died; and do not be ashamed to confess us before the world, for you must know that it is not for the sake of any evil. So do not be ashamed of us. It is the way the prophets and the apostles went, and the narrow way that leads into eternal life, for no other way shall be found by which to be saved.

So, my young lamb, for whose sake I still have, and have had, great sorrow: when you have come to your understanding, seek this narrow way, though there is sometimes much danger in it according to the flesh, as we may see and read, if we diligently examine and read the Scriptures, that much is said about the cross of Christ. And there are many in this world who are enemies of the cross, who seek to be free of it among the world, and to escape it. But, my dear child, if we would seek and inherit salvation with Christ, we must also help bear His cross; and this is the cross He would have us bear: to follow in His footsteps, and to help bear His reproach; for Christ Himself says: "You shall be persecuted, killed, and dispersed for my name's sake." Indeed, He Himself went before us in this way of reproach, and left us an example, that we should follow in His steps; for, for His sake all must be forsaken: father, mother, sister, brother, husband, child, indeed, one's own life.

I must now also forsake all this for the Lord's sake, which the world is not worthy to suffer; for if we had stayed in the world, we would have had no trouble. For when we were one with the world and practiced idolatry, and loved all manner of unrighteousness, we could live at peace with the world; but when we desired to fear God, and to shun such improper ways, knowing well that this could not please God, and so sought to shun all this, and turned from idolatry to the worship of the living God, and sought here in quietness and gentleness to practice our faith, then they did not leave us in peace; then our blood was sought; then we had to be a prey to everyone, and become a spectacle to all the world. They seek here to murder and to burn us; we are placed at posts and stakes, and our flesh is given as food to the worms.

So, my dear child, it is now fulfilled in your dear father and mother. It was indeed foretold to us beforehand that this was awaiting us; but not everyone is chosen to it, nor expects it; the Lord has chosen us to it. So, when you have come to your understanding, follow this example of your father and mother. And, my dear child, this is my request of you, since you are still very little and young; I wrote this when you were only one month old. Since I am now soon to offer up my sacrifice, with the help of the Lord, I leave you this: "That you fulfill my request, always joining with those who fear God; and do not regard the pomp and boasting of the world, nor the great multitude, whose way leads to the abyss of hell, but look at the little flock of Israelites, who have no freedom anywhere, and must always flee from one land to another, as Abraham did; that you may hereafter obtain your fatherland; for if you seek your salvation, it is easy to see which is the way that leads to life, and which the way that leads into hell. Above all things, seek the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness; and whatever else you need shall be added to you. Matthew 6, verse 33."

Further, my dear child, I ask you that wherever you live when you are grown up, and begin to have understanding, you conduct yourself well and honestly, so that no one will have cause to complain of you. And always be faithful, taking good care not to wrong anyone. Learn to keep your hands always upright, and see that you like to work, for Paul says: "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." Second Thessalonians 3, verse 10. And Peter says

"He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil." First Peter 3, verse 10.

So, my dear Janneken, do not accustom your mouth to filthy talk, nor to ugly words that are not proper, nor to lies; for a liar has no part in the kingdom of heaven; for it is written: "The mouth that lies kills the soul." So beware of this, and do not run in the street as other bad children do; rather take up a book, and learn to seek there what concerns your salvation.

And wherever you have your home, obey those whose bread you eat. If they speak evil, you speak well. And learn always to love to be doing something; and do not think yourself too good for anything, nor exalt yourself, but stoop to the lowly, and always honor the aged wherever you are.

I leave you here. Oh, that it had pleased the Lord that I might have brought you up; I would so gladly have done my best in it; but it seems that it is not the Lord's will. And even if it had not come to this, and I had stayed with you for a time, the Lord could still take me from you, and then too you would have to be without me, just as it has now gone with your father and me, that we could live together only so short a time, when we were so well joined, since the Lord had matched us so well that we would not have forsaken each other for the whole world, and yet we had to leave each other for the Lord's sake. So I must also leave you here, my dearest lamb; the Lord who created and made you now takes me from you; it is His holy will. I must now pass through this narrow way which the prophets and martyrs of Christ passed through, and many thousands who put off the mortal clothing, who died here for Christ, and now they wait under the altar till their number shall be fulfilled; and of that number your dear father is one. And I am now on the point of following him, for I am delivered up to death, as it appears in the eyes of man; but if it were not the will of the Lord (though it seems that I am delivered up to death), He could still easily deliver me out of their hands and give me back to you, my child. Even as the Lord returned to Abraham his son Isaac, so He could still easily do it. He is still the same God who delivered Daniel out of the lion's den, and the three young men out of the fiery furnace; He could still easily deliver me out of the hands of man.

Now, my child, if this is not to be, I know that He is faithful and faithfully keeps His promise. So, my poor orphan child, always be resigned. Though I and your father are now taken from you, know that you have a Father in heaven, who will doubtless provide well for you. And when you are old enough, take pains to learn to read and write, since it is very useful, and most profitable in this distress, for one who fears God, so that you may sometimes read this letter, and also the other letters which your father left you; do read them, and remember us both by them. Dear Janneken, we have not left you much of this world's goods, and I have not much now to give you, but what I have I give you. However, we leave you a good example to fear God, which is better than much of the temporal goods of this world. Only follow us, and you shall have wealth enough; it is true, you are poor here, but you shall possess much wealth, if you only fear God and shun sin. As the apostle says to the Hebrews: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord; for those who would be without chastisement are bastards, and not sons or heirs." Hebrews 12, verse 5. So, my dear lamb, do not cease to fear God because of the cross, for a Christian is not made fit except by much tribulation and persecution in this world, and we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God; for Paul says: "All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Second Timothy 3, verse 12. And Christ says: "He who does not take his cross, and follow after me, is not worthy of me; for the servant is not better than his lord, nor the disciple above his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household." Matthew 10, verses 38, 24 and 25. If they have persecuted the Lord, they will also persecute us; if they have hated Him, they will also hate us; and this they do because they have not known my Father, nor me, says the Almighty Lord. For His kingdom was not of this world; had His kingdom been of this world, the world would have loved Him; but because His kingdom was not of this world, therefore the world hated Him. So it is now also: since our kingdom is not of this world, the world will hate us; but it is better for us to be despised here by the world than that we should hereafter have to mourn forever. But those who will not taste the bitter here cannot hereafter expect eternal life; for we know that Paul says that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted and be a prey to everyone.

So, my dear child, this way the prophets and apostles and many thousands of other God-fearing people went before us, as an example to us; and Christ Himself did not spare Himself for us, but delivered Himself up to death for our sakes. How then should He not give us all things? So, my dearest lamb, seek to follow this way; this I ask of you, as much as you value your salvation; for this is the only way that leads to eternal life. Indeed, there is no other way by which we can be saved than only through Jesus Christ, as Paul says

"No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (First Corinthians 3, verse 11); by whose stripes we are healed, and through whose blood we have been dearly purchased; for we have not been bought with gold or silver, but through His bitter death, and His precious blood which He shed for us. And we were like erring sheep in this world, but now we are redeemed through His precious and dear blood, and He has now called us to be heirs and first fruits of Christ. All those who have died to sin, and amended their lives, and have thus risen with Christ into newness of life, these no longer desire to live to themselves, but their life belongs to the Lord; if they live, they live to the Lord; if they die, they die to the Lord; they are so resigned that whether they live or die, they belong to the Lord. For, my dear lamb, what good will it do them that Christ died, who still continue in their sins, and do not turn from this improper life in which they are still sunk, as drunkards, murderers, adulterers, idolaters, liars, backbiters, or railers, who cannot please God, whose works proceed only from the devil, all of which the Lord forbids, saying that unless they amend their lives, they shall not inherit the kingdom of God? And it shall do them no good that He died, if they will not repent. They would sin upon the grace of God, but they do not say that He is just. He is indeed merciful, but He is also just; we may not sin upon His grace. Though we do our best to fear the Lord, and to renounce ourselves according to our ability, indeed, though we did all that He commands us, which we are far from doing, we would only be doing what is commanded us; we must still confess that we are unprofitable servants and have merited nothing, but are guilty of eternal death. If He were not merciful, we could not be saved; so we may not sin upon His grace, but must always strive according to our ability to follow what He commands us.

My dear lamb, we can merit nothing, but must through grace inherit salvation; so always try to fear God, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and he who fears the Lord will do good, and it will be well with him in this world and in the one to come. And always join those who seek to fear the Lord from the heart, and do not be conformed to the world, to do as she does, nor walk in any improper course of life; for the world shall pass away, and all the nations that serve her shall perish with her. Nor have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them; and be transformed by the renewing of your life, so that you may show forth the virtues in which God has called you.

Oh my dearest lamb, that you might know the truth when you have come to your understanding, and that you might follow your dear father and mother, who went before you; for your dear father proved with his blood that it is the genuine truth, and I also hope to attest the same with my blood, though flesh and blood must remain on the posts and on the stake, knowing well that we shall meet hereafter. You also follow us, my dear lamb, that you too may come where we shall be, and that we may find one another there, where the Lord shall say: "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning."

Then our joy shall not be taken from us. Though they have separated us here, so that we are taken from you, and must go before you, know that it was the Lord's will; if it had been His pleasure, He could easily have ordered it otherwise.

So, my dear child, be content; He knows what He has determined concerning you, that I must leave you here. Always be honorable and courteous toward all people, and let your modesty be plain to all people when you have come to your understanding.

I leave you here among my friends. I hope that my father, and my stepmother, and my brothers, and my sisters will do their best with you as long as they live. Be subject and obedient to them in everything, so far as it is not contrary to God. I leave you what comes from my mother's death, namely, thirty guilders and more; I do not know how much it is, since I have been imprisoned here a long time, and do not know what it has all cost. But I hope that Grietge, my dear sister, who has shown me so much friendship, will do her best to give you what belongs to you. And as to what may come to you from your father, I do not know, since I can learn nothing about his parents, because it is so far from here; if they should inquire after you, my friends may do their best in the matter.

And now, Janneken, my dear lamb, who are still very little and young, I leave you this letter, together with a gold real, which I had with me in prison, and this I leave you for a perpetual adieu, and for a testament; that you may remember me by it, as also by this letter. Read it when you have understanding, and keep it as long as you live in remembrance of me and of your father, if perhaps you might be edified by it. And with this I bid you adieu, my dear Janneken Munstdorp, and kiss you heartily, my dear lamb, with a perpetual kiss of peace. Follow me and your father, and do not be ashamed to confess us before the world, for we were not ashamed to confess our faith before the world, and this adulterous generation; so I ask you, do not be ashamed to confess our faith, since it is the true evangelical faith, and no other than it shall ever be found.

Let it be your glory that we did not die for any evildoing, and strive to do the same, though they should also seek to kill you. And on no account cease to love God above all, for no one can keep you from fearing God. If you follow what is good, and seek peace and pursue it, you shall receive the crown of eternal life; this crown I wish you, and the crucified, bleeding, naked, despised, rejected and slain Jesus Christ for your bridegroom.

This I wish you for a perpetual testament, and for a perpetual adieu and farewell, my dearest lamb.

By it remember your dear father, and me, your dear mother, who have written this with my own hand for your edification; and always keep this gold real with you, with this letter, for a perpetual testament. With this I bid you adieu and farewell; I hope to seal this letter with my blood at the stake.

With this I commend you to the Lord, and to the comforting Word of His grace, and bid you adieu once more. I hope to wait for you; follow me, my dearest child.

Once more, adieu, my dearest upon earth; adieu, and nothing more; adieu, follow me; adieu and farewell.

Written on the 10th of August, in the year 1573, at Antwerp.

This is the testament which I wrote in prison for my daughter Janneken, whom I carried and gave birth to here in my bonds.

By me, your dearest mother, imprisoned for the Lord's sake.

JANNEKEN MUNSTDORP.

NOTE. With this testament we also received a letter which the same Janneken van Munstdorp wrote to her dear father and mother, who, as it seems, had not yet come to the true faith; whom she exhorts for the best, and to whom she in the meantime commends her little child.