Here Follows a Letter which Maeyken Wouters Wrote from Prison to her Parents

The abundant mercy of God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, this I wish you, my dear father and mother, brothers and sisters, whom I love much from my heart, but our heavenly Father above all; for He has called me to help Him bear His sufferings, which I have asked of Him many times, if I might be worthy of it. So I followed Him with great joy.

My dear father and mother, do not think (though I am separated in body from you and from the flock of Christ) that my Bridegroom will forsake me; think what He has said: "Though a mother should forsake her child, yet I will never forsake my elect, whom my heavenly Father has given me." Isaiah 49, verse 15. So if it is His pleasure, I will soon be delivered. But if you now deliver me with temporal wealth, you deprive our Bridegroom of His honor, and do not believe that He will deliver me.

So, my dear father and mother, grieve me no more about paying the costs; for you have burdened me greatly, day and night, because I sent word to you so many times that you should not ransom me, and you did not write me an answer.

So, my dear father and mother, speak with our friends, so that I may receive a comforting letter from you or from the others, which would be a great joy to me; for otherwise I desire no comfort from men, only from our heavenly Father alone, who is able to provide for us.

O dear friends, if I remain steadfast in what my heavenly Father lays upon me, what great treasure I hope to gather by it, which will come to me hereafter, and this is a great joy to me. O my dear father and mother, is this not a greater joy to you than if I had not done according to your will, and had gone off with a young man, as you have no doubt heard of other girls? So rejoice and make melody to the Lord in your hearts, because the Lord has made me, unworthy as I am, worthy of it, and you have brought me up to God's praise. Remember that still more is written, where the Lord says: "Blessed are you, when men persecute and revile you for my name's sake; rejoice then and be exceedingly glad, for great will be your reward in heaven." Matthew 5, verses 11 and 12.

Know, dear father and mother, that I have stood before so many lords and authorities, and also priests and Jesuits, who sought nothing but to murder my soul. But the Lord our God gave me wisdom and understanding, and a mouth to speak, which I believe was pleasing to our dear Lord. Very many times they predicted my eternal damnation, and said to me: "If you do not forsake your sect, and live according to the holy Roman Church, as the whole world does, you will, as truly as God is in eternal life, never attain to repentance." Then I said to them: "I do not doubt, but trust, that if we finish it by the help of the Lord, we will through grace obtain the eternal joy." Then they said to me: "God has nothing to do with you; you are a child of the devil; the devil has you by the throat, and he will confirm you even to the fire. God created you beautiful, and made you after His own image; and is it not a pity now that you must die a shameful death, and hereafter inherit eternal fire?" I said to them: "I would rather die than fall away from my faith, if it is God's pleasure. So I am ready, much rather today than tomorrow; I will not fear men, who must die; but I will much rather fear my heavenly Father, who has given me my life; though I now lose it for His sake, He can give it to me again."

Then they left me. May the omnipotent, strong and mighty God, our heavenly Father, who always helps us to triumph, and does not forsake those who have put their hope in Him and never turn their faith from Him, the Lord our God, who sits on the highest throne of glory, come to our aid; He alone is worthy to receive praise and thanks, honor and glory, and blessing forever and ever. Amen.

With this I greet most heartily my dear father and mother, brother and sister, with the peace of the Lord. Dear friends, when you offer up your prayers before the Lord, do not forget me, since I will not forget you; may the Lord be our helper. Amen.

Once more I greet in particular father and mother, brother and sister, and further all believers and lovers of the truth; let all pray heartily for me. I hope to be diligent, as far as the Lord has given me grace. God be with us all. Amen.

I had this letter written when I was in prison for the testimony of the truth, in the town of Luyck, in the year 1595. I, a feeble member of the Christian church, bearing now in my body the marks of my Lord. Adieu, now, all of you.

MAEYKEN WOUTERS.