Valedictory

So far the Lord has helped us.** We have longed much for the hour that would bring us to the end of our work. This hour has come; and so we will now rest. [n22-4]

Receive this according to the nature of love. We have had nothing in view except that it should promote the honor of God, and your, our, and the salvation of all men. Your days and ours are drawing to a close. [n22-1] Oh, may God grant that the end of your life and ours may be the beginning of the true and blessed life; that the setting of your days and ours, which are nothing but misery and vanity, may be the rising of the eternal and glorious day of immortal glory.*

O Lord, bless us and all who may read this work; that they and we, in the true faith and with a godly life, may spread Your honor abroad, and afterward, being honored by You, receive a like reward.

We look forward with joy to the day that can bring us comfort. It will deliver us from this evil and perverse world. It will bring us to the true rest, where there will be no more unrest. It will give us what our heart desires. Oh, that this time had come already!

The Lord Almighty calls me

My earthly work is done; and now

I long to get away from you,

O world so vain! O house of pain!

For though my flesh still moves in you,

The immortal soul tends heavenward.**

This was spoken by one of the ancients, when he thought that he had finished a good work, and that the hour of departure was near at hand. Certainly a great confidence springing from a well-meaning heart. We say in the same manner: Our earthly work is now finished. We do not know that we will be able to do much more good on earth. But as long as we are here, we hold ourselves bound to our Creator, confident that we have not lived in vain. In our weakness we have done what we could to promote our own welfare and the welfare of our fellow men.

Be then gracious, O God, to the least of Your servants, and grant that none of his natural or spiritual kindred, or of those who have been taught by him, may be lost; but that they all may come to the rest of Your saints and be saved forever.

With this, beloved reader, whoever you may be, we commend you to the Lord; and to you we commend the consideration of the things you will find here; feeling assured that if you do so, you will certainly receive what we have asked of the Lord on your behalf.

Yours very affectionately, as seeking your soul.

THIELEMAN J. VAN BRAGHT. [n22-5]

Dort, July the 31st, 1659 [n22-2]