To Claes Schepens

The eternal grace and peace from God our heavenly Father, and the kindness and love of His Son, and the fellowship and consolation of the Holy Ghost, be with you my dear brother and sister in the Lord, as an affectionate greeting and perpetual adieu in this time. The Lord grant His grace, that we may hereafter see one another in eternity. Amen.

After much affectionate greeting and loving reverence to you, let me please inform your love that my mind is still unchangeably fixed, to confess and serve the Lord, according to my weak ability, all the days of my life; and I also have the same good confidence concerning you, which I also partly understand from what you write in your letter, by which I was comforted when I heard it read. May the Lord always grant you to grow up, and to be strengthened and increased in the same, to His praise, and to the salvation of your souls. Amen.

Further, dear brother and sister in the Lord, I inform you how it goes with me in my bonds, namely, that I am very much resigned, the Lord be thanked for His great grace; the Lord comforts and strengthens me so, and makes my bonds so light, that I sometimes scarcely know that I am imprisoned; and He takes away my fear, and gladdens my heart, and gives me new strength. Second Corinthians 1, verse 5; Isaiah 40, verse 31. And though the false prophets shoot their deadly arrows at me, the Lord preserves me so faithfully that it does no harm, but rather gladdens me, though they have attacked me very subtly, with many fair words, and I have had to resist a great many, and to listen to my father, and Lieven de Kroock, and Maeye Moeye, and our cousin Pieter, and Daniel de Keyser. Those who arrested me were with me on Ash Wednesday, and they led me up such a high mountain, and offered me so many fair promises without power, if I had been willing to listen to them; but thanks be to God, who always helps us to triumph. Indeed, they said so much to me that I think it could not be written on four sheets. Lieven de Kroock said at first that I had devils in me by the score, and that he saw them sitting on my shoulders. Then I said: "Will you not take down one?" And it seemed to me that they sought to make me drunk, but I would not drink, though they tormented me greatly to do it; but the Lord gave me strength to resist it. I further inform your love that my father was with me again today alone, and tormented me greatly; but I told him that he should be satisfied, since I did in no way wish to forsake the Lord. And he told me that you were also robbed of and driven from your possessions, which greatly grieved me when I heard it. But, my dear brother and sister in the Lord, be of good cheer, and patient in your tribulation and affliction; for we must know that it is given to us, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His name. Philippians 1, verse 29. And Christ Himself says: "If anyone does not forsake all for my name's sake, he cannot be my disciple; and if anyone loves anything more than me, he is not worthy of me." Luke 14, verses 26 and 27.

Hence, my much beloved friends, think of the words of Tobit, when he too had become so poor, for the Lord's sake: "My child," he says, "true, we are poor; but be of good cheer, we shall have much wealth, if we fear God, do good, and shun sin." Tobit 4, verse 21. For, dear friends beloved in God, we are children of the saints, and hope for a life which God shall give to those who stand up for Him and continue steadfast in the faith. Therefore do not become weary in the way of the Lord, and do not lose heart because of the tribulation, but persevere firmly, until you are taken from here. I further understand from your letter that it is your intention to move away, which I myself beg you to do, since they greatly seek your life, and ask you much concerning me. And Maeyken Moeye said that it was your fault that I was here; but I said: "No." Furthermore, dear brother and sister, I entreat your love that you would remember me with a fervent heart in your prayer to God, that I may fight a good fight, and finish my course, to the salvation of my soul; I hope to do the same also for you, and that the Lord will prosper you on your journey, in soul and body. I now bid your love, my dear brother and sister in the Lord, beloved in God, an affectionate and perpetual adieu. The same great, omnipotent, Almighty God, who led Jacob when he had to flee, guide you also, and bring you into everlasting rest. Amen. Adieu, farewell, farewell, adieu, adieu.

I, Raphel van den Velde (the writer of this), also greet your love most heartily with the peace of the Lord.

Love overcomes all things.

Your beloved weak brother.

JERONYMUS SCHEPENS.