The First Letter from Bartholomeus Panten, Written to his Brother Karel

After an affectionate greeting to you, my beloved brother, without forgetting your wife and household, I inform you that through the grace of the Lord I am well in body; and as regards the spirit, it is my purpose, by the help of the Lord, to hold to the truth to the end, which I also wish for you. Further, my beloved brother, I inform you of the condition in which I now am, that is, that I am now imprisoned at Ghent together with another man and a woman, for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the truth of the Gospel, for which the other man and I have been tortured, and I have unworthily suffered; and they threatened to inflict still further sufferings on us. But Peter says:

"And do not be afraid of their terror, and do not be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts;" since they cannot do to you more than is permitted them by God. First Peter 3, verses 14 and 15. And Paul says to the Corinthians: "For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if indeed, being clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened." Second Corinthians 5, verses 1 to 4.

Thus, my dear brother, I see no other way to attain to eternal life than to bear the cross which God has laid upon us, as Christ says: "If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16, verses 24 to 26. But the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, for which cause, says Paul, we do not faint; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. Romans 8, verse 18. Second Corinthians 4, verses 16 to 18. Know that I have had temptation from the Jesuits and priests, and from the pensionary, but by the help of God I have resisted all these storms so far, and hope that He will help me further by His Spirit and power, without which we are not able to do anything; for of myself I have nothing but all weakness, misery and imperfection, which I have lamented with tears before God, praying Him that He would not enter into judgment with me, without His grace, for no living soul shall stand innocent before Him.

With this I commend you to God, and remember the words of Paul, where he says: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beg you that you walk worthy of the vocation to which you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit." Ephesians 4, verses 1 to 4. And to the Colossians: "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a quarrel against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body; and be thankful." Colossians 3, verses 13 to 15. And to the Galatians: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brothers, if anyone is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens . . . . For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let everyone prove his own work, and then he shall have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For everyone shall bear his own burden." Galatians 5, verses 25 and 26; Galatians 6, verses 1 to 5. Again, in James 5, verses 19 and 20, we read: "Brothers, if any of you err from the truth, and someone converts him; let him know that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." And Peter says:

"Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." First Peter 4, verse 8. For John says: "Whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, nor he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that you should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and killed his brother." First John 3, verses 10 to 12.

Hence, my dear brother, be kind and affectionate with one another, and forgive one another, even as God has forgiven you through Christ. Paul also says: "Warn those who are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that no one renders evil for evil to any man; but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."

With this, my dear brother, I bid you adieu, if we should see each other no more.

Written in my bonds, to Karel Panten, my brother, by me,

BARTHOLOMEUS PANTEN.