Another Letter from Hans Bret, Written to His Beloved Mother

The unspeakable grace, peace and mercy of God our heavenly Father, who is a Father full of grace and truth, through the bitter suffering and death of our only Savior Christ Jesus, who washed and cleansed us from all our sins and unrighteousnesses; the power of the Holy Ghost, for the increase of your faith, to resist all the enemies of truth; this I wish you, my affectionately beloved mother, for the salvation of your soul. Amen.

My dearest mother, whom I love from the heart; my chosen mother, who gave birth to me in pain and anguish, from whose body I came forth; I, your son, who am now confined at Antwerp, in prison, for the word of truth, commend myself to you from the bottom of my heart, and thank you, my dear mother, for the great benefits you have shown me from the beginning of my existence until the present day, in that you have cared for my necessities, and are still caring for me. But especially do I thank you, my dearest mother, that through the comforting letter you wrote me, you show care for the salvation of my soul.

Oh, when I began to read the letter, and understood that it was from you, my mother, then my tears began to flow, so that I could hardly finish reading the letter, because of the many tears that flowed from my eyes; for I had thought that I should hear from you no more. I rejoiced greatly at your consoling instruction, and that you followed the example of Tobit, who also gave instruction to his son.

Oh, I thank, yes, I thank you, my dear mother, that you thus urge me to steadfastness and boldness, to confess the name of Christ, which I hope to do by the help of the Lord, who alone is my helper and my strength, to resist the principalities and powers of this world, the spirits of the air, as Paul says (Ephesians 6, verse 12), indeed, these priests of Jezebel, who thirst for the blood of the righteous who walk in the ways of the Lord, who, according to the word of Christ, seek to walk the narrow way, and to forsake their own life, as also sin, unrighteousnesses and carnal lusts, and seek to please the Lord in righteousness, according to the will of God, in holiness. First Thessalonians 4, verse 3. These are rejected, despised, and persecuted, indeed, imprisoned; their end is to be killed, because they seek to walk the way in such a manner that they may please the Lord. So Esdras says: "The way is narrow, and cannot be walked without danger." Second Esdras 7, verse 8. This we may well consider.

See, there were two brothers in the world, namely, Cain and Abel. Abel sought to walk the narrow way and to please the Lord with his offering, and the Lord was pleased with it and had respect to it, because he and his offering were good. Cain sacrificed to the Lord, but his offering did not please the Lord, because he was evil; so the Lord had no respect to his offering. Then Cain was angry at his brother Abel, and killed him. First John 3, verse 12.

Consider Lot in Sodom, how they assailed his house through their wickedness, and wanted to commit fornication with the angels who had entered his house. Again, Abraham had to leave his country, and went to live in a strange country, where he was a stranger, and had to live in tents. Again, see Isaac, who walked in the ways of his father Abraham, and served the Lord; he was hated by the Philistines; for they went and stopped up the well which his father Abraham had dug; indeed, that was not enough yet, but King Abimelech commanded him to leave his dwelling place. Genesis 26, verse 14.

Jacob was hated and persecuted by his brother Esau, who also sought to kill him.

Joseph was cast into a pit by his brothers, and sold to the Ishmaelites; and he chose rather to flee from the wife of the captain of the guard, leaving his cloak behind, than to comply with her desire.

So, dear mother, I too will rather lose my life than do what they command. The children of Israel were also afflicted. If I were to tell further all that happened to all God's prophets, I fear my paper would not be enough; such and similar examples, namely, concerning Christ, the author of faith, how He was persecuted in this life; indeed, He had hardly been born when His mother Mary had to flee with Him. She brought Him up in poverty, indeed, He was in poverty, for He Himself says

"The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." Matthew 8, verse 20. See how it further went with Him: they crucified Him; His feet and hands were pierced; they gave Him vinegar and gall to drink; and His side was pierced with a spear, from which flowed blood and water.

Observe, so it went with our Captain Christ Jesus; so He ended His days in poverty and with reproach, was scourged, beaten, mocked, and crowned on His head with a crown of thorns. Oh, I cannot sufficiently tell all that He suffered for us poor men, to save us; and yet these Pharisees are not ashamed to rob Him of His honor, saying that we are saved by baptism, whereas the Lord Christ sanctifies and cleanses from sin. Oh, how sad it makes me when I hear this; the Lord forgive them. Indeed, if Christ were here now, they would kill Him yet.

So we have an example in our Captain Christ, indeed, in His dear apostles. Paul, too, suffered much for the name of Christ. Consider how many others still have suffered since the time of Christ and the apostles, down to the present day.

Since, then, my beloved mother, so many have suffered, and we are surrounded, as Paul says, by so great a cloud of witnesses; I say with Paul

"I rejoice in my sufferings which I endure for Christ's sake." Hebrews 12, verse 1; Colossians 1, verse 24. So rejoice also that Christ wants me, your son, to whom you gave birth, a poor, unworthy man, to be worthy to suffer for His holy name, so that I long to be delivered from this flesh, and to be with Christ, in whom I now believe, yet do not see; but then I shall behold Him, and share in the joy which the heart of man has never conceived, nor can any tongue express the great joy that is prepared for the good. They shall be clothed in fine, white linen; they shall be crowned with the crown of eternal life; they shall sit upon Mount Sion, and sing the new song, so that I may say as David says: "A day with the Lord is better than a thousand in joy and gladness here." Romans 7, verse 24; Luke 23, verse 42; First Peter 1, verse 8; First John 3, verse 2; Revelation 19, verse 8; Revelation 2, verse 10; First Esdras 2, verse 42; Psalm 84, verse 10. [n1163-2]

O dear mother, who would want to remain here now, when such joy is prepared for the good, which shall last forever. There we shall neither hunger nor thirst any more, there we shall feel neither heat nor cold, so that I may say with Paul

"I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8, verse 18.

So then, dear mother, considering this, I need not think it strange that I suffer for the name of Christ, for His Word and truth; since all God's righteous ones, from the beginning of the world, have suffered. So Peter says: "Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, which means tribulation, affliction and persecution." First Peter 4, verse 12. For the prophet David says: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34, verse 20. Paul says well: "That we must through much tribulation and affliction enter into the kingdom of heaven." Acts 14, verse 22.

See, my dear mother, what consolation we have, so that when it pleases the Lord to try our faith, we should not be grieved in the trial; for he says: "To us it is given not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake." Philippians 1, verse 29. Paul, who cared well for the flock of Christ, did not fail to make known to those who wanted to walk according to Christ's ways, and tread the narrow way trodden by few, that they must suffer persecution, so that when affliction, tribulation, persecution or reproach comes, we should not think it strange. Second Timothy 3, verse 12.

So Christ also says: "In the world you shall have tribulation" ; and He comforts His disciples, so that they should not be grieved in the tribulation, and says: "Be of good cheer: I have overcome the world." John 16, verse 33. He also teaches His disciples that they should not fear tribulation or reproach: for when they, namely, the rulers of this world, have done all, they can but kill the body, but the soul they cannot harm. But He teaches us whom we shall fear, namely, Him who has power to cast soul and body into the eternal fire, which shall burn forever, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Luke 12, verses 4 and 5; Matthew 22, verse 13.

Oh, how sorrowful shall they then be, who have feared the kings and princes of this world more than the Lord, who is the Lord of lords, the God of gods, the King of kings, who, as David says, can make and crush the heart of the kings and princes of this world like potsherds. First Timothy 6, verse 15. Why then should we fear? For the Lord says by the prophet Zechariah: "He who touches you touches the apple of my eye." Zechariah 2, verse 8.

Consider what Christ says: "He who rejects or despises you, despises me; and he who despises me, despises him who sent me." Luke 10, verse 17. Again Christ says: "Blessed is he who is despised for my sake: for great is his reward in heaven." Matthew 5, verses 11 and 12.

So, my dearest mother, comfort yourself with these and similar words of Christ, and rejoice with me, and thank and praise the Lord, that you are counted worthy to be persecuted for His name. Now follow the advice of Paul: "Be patient in tribulation, and continue instant in prayer." Philippians 4, verse 4; Romans 12, verse 12; First Thessalonians 5, verse 17.

Remember the consolation of Moses, with which he comforted the children of Israel, saying: "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord your God, he it is who goes with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31, verse 6. So, my mother, though our enemies are many, and I am here in the midst of the hand of the enemy, yet I will say with the prophet David: "Lord, now you are with me, and are my helper, I will not fear, though I were surrounded by many thousands." Again with the prophet David: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Though death should come upon me, I will not fear; for the Lord is ever with me to strengthen me." And again: "He is my fortress; I will not fear, though the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." Psalm 27, verse 1; Psalm 23, verse 4; Psalm 18, verse 3; Psalm 46, verse 2.

So, my dear mother, press with me, by force, through the strait gate; that is, through affliction and persecution, for Christ says: "The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." Matthew 11, verse 12. I also hope to take it by force, through the strength which the Lord gives me to resist the cruelty of these fierce lions, who are not satisfied with the blood of the righteous, but seek, through their subtle words and fair speeches, indeed, with invented lies (according to the advice of their father the devil, as Christ says; for he was a murderer and deceiver from the beginning of the world), to devour and kill their souls, and to rob them of their inheritance, namely, of eternal life, which they obtained through the shed blood of Christ our only Savior. John 20, verse 31. But the Lord be forever praised and thanked, that He keeps and delivers us, so that they cannot harm our souls; for when they have done all that they can do, they have no more power than to take this temporal life, which I gladly give up for Christ's sake, for I know and do not doubt that the Lord shall give me a better one, which He promises to all the good who have not been ashamed to confess His word and truth before this adulterous generation. So Christ says: "He who loses his life for my sake shall find it again." Matthew 10, verse 39. Not a life that shall perish, but one that will endure forever, an incorruptible life, a life that shall endure forever in joy. Therefore, my dear mother, my soul longs for this life; though flesh and blood should remain at the stake, yet I do not regard it; rather than that I should let myself be robbed of my inheritance, namely, eternal life, for a little temporal life. Oh, no! God forbid; for now I do not regard this visible, but the invisible, the eternal and imperishable.

O my chosen mother, do not think that there is anything that might rob me of my salvation, for Paul says: "Who can separate us from the love of God? Neither hell, the devil, nor death. Christ has conquered all, so that I may say: O hell, where is your pain? O death, where is your power? Christ has vanquished death; Christ has bruised Satan's head, so that he can only bite the heel, which he indeed does, but that is of no account. Who then, says Paul, can lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is Christ who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died." Romans 8, verse 35; Hebrews 2, verse 14; Romans 8, verses 33 and 34. [n1163-1]

So, my dear mother, be armed with me, and with all God's righteous ones, as Paul says, with the armor of God on your body, the helmet of salvation upon your head, and the sword of the Spirit in your hand; and above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one, for the prophet says: "Be of good courage; you shall at last climb upon the devil's shoulders." Ephesians 6, verse 13; Baruch 4, verse 25.

Therefore, my mother, if you should hear anything of me that is not true for the devil is crafty, and deals much in lies, to grieve the righteous do not listen to it; as I also trust that you will not: for my mind is unchanged, for which I thank the living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to His name be praise forever and ever, through His only Son Jesus Christ our Savior, who strengthens me, a poor, unworthy, despised man, with His Holy Spirit to resist all the enemies of the truth who seek to rob me of my salvation (Colossians 2, verse 8) for which they have no power, for the Lord is my strength, as the prophet says: "He is my song; I shall with joy draw water out of the well of the Savior." Isaiah 12, verses 2 and 3. Again the Lord says by the prophet Isaiah: "I the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, Fear not: I will help you. Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you few men of Israel! I will help you, says the Lord, and your Redeemer." Isaiah 41, verses 13 and 14. Of whom should we be afraid, for the Lord has said it. Therefore, my mother, take courage with me, to overcome, like Joshua and Caleb, the great and strong giants, the princes of this world, and not to fear them, and so to take the promised land, the kingdom of heaven. Of whom should I be afraid, when we have this glorious consolation, that those who trust in the Lord shall not be ashamed, for the prophet says that the Lord will not forsake the righteous even to death; indeed, the Lord says by the prophet Isaiah: "Can a mother forget her child, that she should not have compassion on the fruit of her womb? And though she forget, yet I will not forget you; for I have engraved you upon the palm of my hands, says the Lord." Psalm 25, verse 3; Isaiah 49, verses 15 and 16. Remember, again, how the Lord speaks by the prophet Malachi, saying: "The Lord has a book of remembrance before him, in which he has written all those who fear him, and he shall deliver their souls from death." Malachi 3, verse 16. Happy are those then, who have feared the Lord, for David says: "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord." Those who then have not been ashamed to walk in the ways of the Lord, their names are recorded in heaven in the book of life. Luke 10, verse 20. So rejoice with me, my mother; I should like to write you still more, that you would always walk in the ways of the Lord, and never depart from them, and bring many to the knowledge of the truth, but my paper is failing me. I pray you, my dear and beloved mother, take this little knowledge and simple writing from me in good part, for I write you out of love, and impart to you of this little gift which the Lord, through His unspeakable grace, has given me, an unworthy man.

You further write me in your consoling letter, asking whether I have any lack of the necessaries of life. Oh, no, I have enough, the Lord be thanked. You also write in your letter that if I wanted you, I should write so, and you would come, though you had to pay for it with your blood. O my dear mother, why should I want this; I shall never want it, for you could not help me. For my refuge is the Lord alone; He is my helper; He it is who gives me strength to overcome and to go to battle valiantly. So, my mother, walk prudently, for they are cruel to shed the innocent blood. However, they can do no more than the Lord permits them. If I were to write more about it, my paper would not be enough, for I still intend to tell you that I have been twice more with the priests since I wrote the letter to you, so that in all I have been before the priests four times; but twice I wrote you a little; so I also hope to write you a little now. The third time I spoke with the dean, but mostly against the inquisitor, for he wants to be master; his name is Pardo. We talked much of the Supper, and there was present a bailiff, the new one, and a man who could speak English. I heard Pardo talk much of the Supper, which was contrary to the word of the Lord; and he asked me whether it was not true that Christ gave His apostles His own body, and that His disciples ate it. I said that He gave His disciples bread, and what they ate was bread; and that He gave His disciples wine, and what they drank was wine, and not changed, as you say.

I showed them how it was to be understood, both the bread and the wine; I would repeat it here, but my paper would give out. We then spoke of the baptism of infants; I said that he should show me from the Scriptures that Christ taught to baptize infants, and that the apostles followed or practiced it. They said: Christ said and taught, in John 3, verse 5: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." I said: "Christ there did not speak of water baptism, but Christ teaches of baptism in Matthew 28 and Mark 16," and I told them the text.

Then the man said: "A fool cannot believe; so he cannot be baptized; he is therefore damned." I said: "Christ does not say: Go teach fools. I ask you," said I, "whether a fool can be taught?" He answered: "No." He then asked me whether the fool was damned. I said: "I may judge no one; I leave the fool in the hands of the Lord." So, to be brief, the man asked me whether I had been in England. I said: "Yes." "What sort of people," said he, "were those who were put to death?" I said: "I believe that they were Menno's people." He said: "No," and that they were Puritans. I said: "No." He said that I was of that people, that I was also a Puritan. I said that I did not know them; that this was the first I had heard of it. I said that he should tell me what sort of a people it was, and what kind of a faith they have. But he would not tell me that. They said more, but it would take too long to relate it.

The last time was the 13th of June, when I spoke with four priests at once, but not so much as at other times; I was asked whether I would not repent. I said: "Yes, I want to desist from sin from day to day." No, whether I would not listen to the ecclesiastics and the Roman Catholic church? I said: "I thank the Lord, who has instructed me, and opened my eyes, and brought me into the right way; and I desire to be instructed by the Lord still more."

So they wrote a letter, that they would deliver me over to the lords; that I was an obstinate heretic, and would not listen to them; and they wrote that they had done their best, so that they would not talk with me any more. So I was released from the priests, and delivered to the authorities, so that I expect to hear my sentence on the 22nd of June, and to offer up my sacrifice on the 23rd. The Lord grant me strength to the end, to the praise of the Lord and the salvation of my soul. The Lord grant me the spirit of boldness, that I may finish my conflict with joy.

So, my dear mother, cleave to the Lord. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob be with you, and keep you. The Lord preserve your going out and coming in, now and forever. Numbers 6, verse 25.

My dear mother, I greet you with a holy kiss of love (First Peter 5, verse 14), for I think that you will see me no more in this flesh, nor I you, my mother. Farewell, the Lord be with you, my mother; I go before, and shall wait for you in the kingdom of heaven, where we shall see each other in joy and gladness.

I bid you adieu; once more, farewell. The Lord be with you forever, for I do not know whether I shall write you any more; I think that it is the last time. I greet you once more, my dear mother, who gave birth to me in pain and anguish. Greet warmly my dear brother D., and urge him to walk in the ways of the Lord, to the salvation of his soul; this I ask of you, my mother, just as I also trust and do not doubt that you will also do. Greet my beloved sister K. A., with T. and W. Greet also those whom you well know, also my beloved master, whom I love from the heart; and G. The Lord be with you all, now and forever. Amen.

My affectionately beloved mother, whom I love from the depth of my soul; I leave you here, and enter into joy, and shall behold Christ, in whom I now believe without seeing Him; and you remain here in this distressful world, where nothing else can be expected than tribulation, affliction and persecution, as long as it pleases the Lord. The Lord comfort you in all tribulation, and be with you now and forever. Amen.

Written by me, your son, whom you well know, at present confined in prison at Antwerp, for the word of the truth, and for the confession of God's holy Word; I expect my sentence, to be burnt alive at a stake, if it pleases the Lord, to the praise of His holy name.

JAN BRET.