A Letter Written by Said Walter of Stoelwijk

Grace, peace, and mercy from God our heavenly Father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, be with all those who live godly in Christ Jesus, and therefore suffer persecution, to the glory and praise of the true God, to the trial of their faith, and the eternal salvation of their souls. Amen. Romans 1, verse 7; First Corinthians 1, verse 3; Second Corinthians 1, verse 2; Galatians 1, verse 3; Second Timothy 3, verse 12.

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His unfathomable grace and mercy has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, and still daily lets His face shine upon us, so that we may know His way on the earth, and His salvation among the Gentiles. Indeed, blessed, praised, and glorified be God our most blessed Lord and most merciful Father, who, through His unspeakable goodness, and not through the merits of our works, has chosen us, through Jesus Christ, to be His children, so that we should be heirs of His eternal kingdom, and inherit all things as true children and heirs of God; children of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we do the will of God our heavenly Father, so that we may be glorified with Him, and enter into His glory. Titus 3, verse 5; Second Timothy 1, verse 9; Ephesians 2, verse 6; Romans 8, verse 17. For it is true what Christ says: "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7, verse 21. Now it is the will of our heavenly Father that we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus Christ.

In the first place, we must deny ourselves; that is, we must forsake our own will, and surrender ourselves wholly to Jesus Christ, so that, according to the words of the apostle, we live no longer for ourselves, but for Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that He may be Lord both of the dead and the living, and that no one shall live for himself, but for Him who died for him, and rose again. O to deny themselves, and desire only to do the will of God; indeed, how many do not yet know what the true will of God is, but hold to the doctrine and commandments of the Roman pope, and antichrist, and are in such a condition that they do not know Jesus Christ. [n655-1] To these, the Almighty God, according to the pleasure of His will, must open the eyes of their understanding with the radiance of His grace, so that they may emerge from this blindness into the true light, and know with all the saints what the delusion and sorcery of the Babylonian whore is (Revelation 18, verse 2), and that the teachings and commandments of Christ Jesus alone are to be kept; indeed, that we must follow and preserve only the teachings and commandments of Christ Jesus, and that we may in no way live according to our own will, but are to consider that Christ Jesus Himself did not do His own will, but the will of His Father, who sent Him. This was done and written for our admonition and instruction, that we should not fulfill our own will, which, because of the innate wickedness of our cursed nature, is prone to evil, but the acceptable and perfect will of God, so that we may pray rightly, as Christ has taught us, saying: Heavenly Father, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6, verses 9 and 10. How many there are who do not say this with a good heart, but with false lips, just as Judas said to Christ: "Hail, Master" (Matthew 26, verse 49; Mark 14, verse 45; Luke 22, verse 47), at the same time betraying Him. So they say with the mouth that God's will is to be done, while at the same time all their thoughts and works are contrary to the will of God. These are those real false Christians who say to Christ Jesus: "Lord, Lord," and yet do not what He has commanded them. These are the true Pharisees, the hypocritical saints, who honor God with their lips, while their heart is far from Him. These are the true unbelievers of whom Saint Paul says that with their words they profess to know God, but in works deny Him, so that they are abominable to the Lord, because they are disobedient to Him, and reprobate for every good work. Indeed, these are the true hypocrites, the disciples of deceitful Satan, who have learned from their master to disguise their inward craftiness, and outwardly to adorn themselves with a beautiful appearance. Such hypocrites the Lord will forever curse and cast out, and say to them: "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity; I do not know you." Matthew 7, verse 23; Psalm 6, verse 8. But He will bless the pious Christians, and bless and glorify the good and true disciples of Jesus Christ, who deny themselves, and have surrendered themselves to the will of God, which is the true beginning of the Christian life, and without which that life cannot be begun.

In the second place, we must take up our cross, namely, prepare ourselves for suffering, according to the teaching of Jesus Sirach, who says: "My son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for temptation. Set your heart right, and endure steadfastly, and do not make haste in time of trouble. Cleave to him, and do not depart, so that you may be increased at your last end. Whatever is brought upon you, take cheerfully, and be patient when you are changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity." Sirach 2, verses 1 to 5; Wisdom 3, verse 6. This agrees also with what Paul says: "All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Second Timothy 3, verse 12. Indeed, Christ Himself says to His apostles: "You shall be hated by all men for my name's sake." Mark 13, verse 13. From all these words it must incontrovertibly follow that all servants of God, all godly men, all disciples of Jesus Christ, must suffer persecution for His name's sake, and be tried through manifold temptations.

Therefore it is an awful blindness that men boast of the Gospel and Christianity, and know what belongs to a Christian life, but, alas! they have the least thought of suffering anything for the name of Christ Jesus. Indeed, though they know and confess that all the works which take place in papal desolation are evil, and nothing but blasphemy against God, yet they have fellowship with it, and commit the most shameful idolatry, in order that they may avoid and escape the cross, in which cross all pious Christians may glory (Galatians 6, verse 14), and still they want to be considered good Christians. O what wicked servants! O what wicked disciples! We say wicked servants, because they would be above their Lord Jesus Christ; we say wicked disciples, since they reject and condemn the doctrine of their Master Jesus Christ. O people, people, mockers of the living God! who think to deceive God with your dissimulation, and to pay Him with words, unmindful of the words of Paul, namely, that the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power! First Corinthians 4, verse 20. O people, true hypocrites! who imagine that they serve Christ, but how far they are from glorying with Paul, the pious and faithful minister of Christ, only in the cross of Christ. Galatians 6, verse 14. O miserable people, who would rather now live for a little season in peace and voluptuousness with the Babylonian whore, and afterwards be tormented with her in everlasting pain, than suffer with Christ Jesus for a little while, and so enter into eternal glory!

Ah! the true saints and servants of God did differently; they would rather suffer death than transgress the commandment of God. Pious Joseph would rather go to prison, indeed, to death, than offend the Lord his God, and commit adultery with the adulterous woman. Genesis 39, verse 8. Moses, the ardent and jealous lover of God, through his faith chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to live in carnal and worldly lusts with the Egyptians, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect to the recompense of the reward. Exodus 2, verse 11; Hebrews 11, verse 25. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego feared God the Lord more than all the torments of the tyrannous king, and would rather die a temporal death, and hold fast to their God, than deny Him. Daniel 3, verse 16. Daniel, who was rich in spirit and strong in faith, did not shrink from the den of lions, into which he would rather be cast than worship any strange God. Daniel, chapter 6. The pious Tobit would rather transgress the commandment of the king at the peril of his life than forsake God his Lord; therefore he also commanded his son to fear God all his life, and never to let his will be set on sin, or to transgress the commandments of God his Lord. Tobit 1, verse 18; Tobit 4, verse 5. Eleazar, the pious Israelite, would rather die for the law of God than act contrary to it; indeed, than dissimulate once, and so cause offense in Israel. The mother and her seven sons were so ardent in the love of God that they were not afraid of all the tyranny of the wicked king, nor would they act contrary to the law of God, but much rather suffer a severe death for it. Second Maccabees, chapter 7. Indeed, how many saints and witnesses of Jesus Christ are still hated, persecuted and slain by the Babylonian whore, because they will not drink of the wine of her fornication, or have fellowship with her idolatrous works.

Therefore all hypocritical saints, all wicked hypocrites, who boast of being called Christians, yet will not suffer for the name of Christ, may well be ashamed. Christ may justly say to them: If I am your Lord, why do you not keep My commandments? If I am your Master, why do you not hear and believe My words? Malachi 1, verse 6; Luke 6, verse 46. Well then, let all hypocrites, and falsely prudent, unfaithful servants, and falsely wise disciples of Jesus Christ, depart from their Lord and Master; we nevertheless, through the grace of God, intend to hold fast to Christ, and are ready to suffer for His sake, even as He suffered for our sakes. But He suffered as Lord, and we as disciples; hence we servants and disciples must not bear the cross reluctantly, seeing that our Lord and Master Himself bore it.

In the third place, we must follow Jesus, but not as many Jews did, who followed Him because they had eaten of the loaves; which, alas! many false Christians still do, who join the Christian church, not because they truly seek Christ Jesus, not because they love the truth, but that they may be aided and fed by the Christian church (whom they perceive to be the most charitable). But to follow Christ in this manner is nothing but a mockery of God, and Christ will not have such followers, as we may clearly understand from the case of the scribe whom Christ condemned, because he wanted to follow Him from covetousness; for the Lord beheld the heart of the scribe, and therefore did not answer him according to his words, but according to his thoughts, saying: "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; Luke 9, verse 58. Just as if Jesus had intended to say: If you will follow me, follow me in the manner in which I go before you. For Christ well knew his intention, namely, that he wanted to follow Him for gain, and thought that Christ should give him power to perform wonderful signs and miracles, as He had given to His apostles, by which he might have sought gain. But such designs are not good, and cannot succeed; for the Lord Himself was poor (Zechariah 9, verse 9), as He declares: If I the Lord and Master am poor, it is evident that My servants are poor, and that My disciples do not seek or desire riches. As though the good Lord had meant to say: He who would follow Me must follow Me in the poverty in which I walk before Him. But, alas! many people at the present day think that gain is godliness, as Paul says (First Timothy 6, verse 5), and, under the semblance of the Gospel and the Christian name, seek their own profit. O what perverted men! who will not go in the right way, but follow the way of the traitor and thief Judas, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; when he received the awful punishment of his wickedness, as everyone knows. Matthew 27, verse 6; Mark 14, verse 18; John 12, verse 4. O what blinded men, who cannot take to heart that Ananias and Sapphira were put to such great shame, and punished, for their equivocation, by which the Almighty Lord God has undoubtedly given us an example, that all hypocritical and double-minded men shall be thus put to shame and punished; as we find in Jesus Sirach

Woe to those who are of a double heart, to those of wicked lips who enter the land by two ways. Therefore the wise man also teaches us that our hearts should be without any deceit and dissimulation, saying: "Do not be obstinate, and do not distrust the fear of the Lord . . . and do not come to him with a double heart. Do not be a hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what you speak. Do not exalt yourself, lest you fall and bring dishonor upon your soul, and so God discover your secrets, and cast you down in the midst of the congregation, because you did not come in truth to the fear of the Lord, but your heart is full of deceit." Sirach 1, verses 28 to 30.

O that all hypocrites would earnestly consider the words of Jesus Sirach, and reform, before they are confounded and punished by God, which shall be done to all the double-minded, if not now, yet in the day of judgment, when the ungodly shall not stand, nor sinners remain in the congregation of the righteous. Psalm 1, verse 5. Then Christ will bring to light what is now in darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; indeed, He will take the fan into His hand, and purge His floor, and gather the wheat into the garner, but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3, verse 12; Luke 3, verse 17. Hence, let everyone beware of hypocrisy; and let him truly follow Christ Jesus, as is proper, not with the Jews, for the sake of the loaves, nor with the scribe, from covetousness. But, O you Christians, follow Christ, your Lord and Master, with a pure heart, a clean conscience, unfeigned faith, and ardent love, without turning to the right or to the left. But those who follow Christ Jesus differently are among good Christians what chaff is among the wheat, and their end will be everlasting fire, from which the Almighty Father preserve us through Jesus Christ.

Moreover, we must, from ardent love, follow Jesus Christ even to the end, and not do as some of His disciples did, who forsook Him, and became offended at His words, saying: "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" John 6, verse 60. O how many are unwilling to hear the divine words of our Lord Jesus Christ, indeed, rave, when told that Christ Jesus promises tribulation and suffering to all His servants and disciples. From a stony heart and an embittered mind they say: Must one always suffer? Must one always be persecuted? This is a hard saying; who can hear it? O God, how is the sweet honey changed into gall, and the clear wine into bitter water! Alas! how have they come to loathe that precious, heavenly bread, and how has the eternal medicine, by which every soul must be healed, become a deadly poison to them! And how do men who will not believe the Word of God, nor receive the holy doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ, condemn the comforting Gospel, which has been sent us from heaven through the Holy Ghost, and sealed by Christ with His own precious blood; but if a lying prophet comes, a messenger prophesying of temporal peace and happiness, though it never comes to pass, he is heard, while the good Lord Jesus Christ, who has promised us the eternal peace of His heavenly kingdom, cannot obtain a hearing; so that it is as Christ said to the Pharisees: "I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive." John 5, verse 43. Indeed, many now do as the rebellious and unbelieving Israelites did, who forsook God the Lord, who had delivered them out of Egypt, and desired other gods for leaders and protectors. Numbers 14, verse 2; Exodus 32, verse 1; Acts 7, verse 39. Thus also now many Christians forsake Jesus, who has freed them from the power and tyranny of Satan, and delivered them from the jaws of the lions, who devoured them; indeed, had hastened with them in the way to eternal damnation, utterly to destroy them. Then Christ delivered them, and placed them again in the way of eternal salvation. John 1, verse 29. Many now forsake the good Shepherd, who did not spare His life for our sakes, but delivered it to death, because of the great love which He had for us; and trust in men, of whom the prophet says that their assistance does not avail, and they cannot help; for their breath must go forth and return to the earth, and the thoughts of all those who put their trust in men and follow false prophets, who delight in unrighteousness, shall perish. Hence all pious Christians must follow no other than Christ Jesus, who, as Peter says, suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps. First Peter 2, verse 21. The same is declared also by Paul, with these words

"Let us lay aside all guile and hypocrisy, and the besetting sin, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12, verses 1 and 2; Mark 16, verse 19. In these words of the apostles we may perceive that we are to follow Jesus Christ, and look to Him as the Captain of the faith, the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, indeed, the good Lord and Master, who has given an example to all His servants and disciples, that they must suffer even as He suffered. Hebrews 2, verse 10; John 10, verse 11; First Peter 2, verse 25. But, O God, how much Christ had to suffer! He who was Lord of heaven and earth became so poor for our sakes that He had nowhere to rest, or lay His head. When He was in the form of God, He humbled Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant (Philippians 2, verses 6 and 7; John 13, verse 5), that He might serve us, and gave His life for our redemption; indeed, though He was the eternal wisdom of the Father, who upholds all things by the word of His power, He had nevertheless to hear the Pharisees call Him a flatterer and deceiver of the people, a sinner, indeed, a demoniac and madman, and many other abominable blasphemies, reproaches and mockeries; in short, though He was the only begotten Son of God, the Almighty Father, yet He was counted a malefactor, and had to die the most bitter death, so that Isaiah could well say of Him: "He has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid, as it were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities." Isaiah 53, verses 2 to 5. Hence He could justly say

"I restored that which I did not take away. For, for my friends' sake I have suffered pain; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother's children. And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. All those who see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue clings to my jaws; and you have brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." Psalm 69, verses 4, 7, 8, 20, and 21; Psalm 22, verse 7, and verses 13 to 18; Matthew 27, verse 34; Matthew 15, verse 23; John 19, verse 23. Indeed, as He says through the prophet: "I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people." Psalm 22, verse 6. Indeed, my beloved brothers and sisters, God the heavenly Father laid the chastisement of our peace upon Him; for by His stripes we are healed. We all went astray, as sheep that have no shepherd; we have turned everyone to his own way; but the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he did not open his mouth." First Peter 2, verses 24 and 25; Isaiah 53, verses 5 to 7; Acts 8, verse 32.

Are you pious Christians? Then consider what Christ Jesus suffered for us poor sinners; the Lord for His servants, the Master for His disciples, the Shepherd for His sheep, indeed, God for men. First Peter 4, verse 1; John 10, verse 11; Ezekiel 34, verse 23. O deep humility of the Master, that He would serve His disciples, and give Himself up to death for them. John 13, verse 5. O great grace of the Lord, that He would suffer so much for His servants! O infinite righteousness of the Shepherd, who would give His life for His sheep! John 10, verse 11; John 17, verse 9. O unspeakable love of God to us poor mortals, that He would redeem us by His own precious blood. This every Christian should at all times remember, and be grateful to Jesus Christ for these benefits, not only with words but also with works. But alas! some have gone so far that they can indeed talk of Christ, that He suffered and atoned for us, and they desire also to share in the redemption purchased for us with the blood of Christ; but they never once think of suffering with Christ Jesus, though they nevertheless hope to be glorified with Him. But it is a faithful saying, says Paul, that if we are dead with Christ, we shall also live with Him; if we suffer with Him, we shall also rejoice with Him forever; if we deny Him, He also will deny us. Second Timothy 2, verses 11 and 12; Romans 6, verse 23; Luke 12, verse 9. Let all apostate Christians, who return to the Roman Babylon from which they had separated, and make friendship with the whore whom they had hated, bear this in mind. What shall we say to such unstable people? How can men who once knew the truth be so blinded as to depart from Christ Jesus their only Savior, and return to the infamous, accursed whore of Babylon, the mother of all unrighteousness, and queen of all the children of unbelief and cursing, who has become their comfort and protection, indeed, their idol? Woe to such perverse men, who depart from righteousness, from light to darkness, from life to death, and go from Jesus Christ to antichrist, seeking consolation in Satan, and not in God. Woe to such fearful ones, who fear those who can kill only the body more than God, the Almighty Lord, who can cast both body and soul into eternal damnation. Revelation 21, verse 8; Matthew 10, verse 28; Luke 12, verses 4 and 5. Woe to such, that they were ever born, unless they thoroughly amend their ways and go out of Babylon; for the Scripture does not say in vain: "Go out of the midst of Babylon, my people, and do not touch the unclean thing, that you may not be partakers of her plagues, or sins." Isaiah 52, verse 11; Second Corinthians 6, verse 17; Revelation 18, verse 4. These are the clear words of the Lord. Who can blot them out? Who can endure the stings of a guilty conscience? Let him begin as he may, he will find it a hard undertaking, and will not succeed in it. Acts 9, verse 5; Acts 5, verse 5.

Here also no excuse will avail, as is clearly shown in the parable of the wicked servant who, out of fear, had buried his Lord's pound in the earth, but was not heard when he wanted to excuse himself to his lord. Matthew 25, verse 26; Luke 19, verse 22. By this wicked servant we understand all the fearful, who are not fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who relish and seek all earthly things more than heavenly things. They may excuse themselves as much as they will, their excuse shall not avail, but eternal damnation will be their recompense; for every tree which does not bring forth good fruit shall be cut down and thrown into the fire. There must be fruit; leaves alone will not avail. Matthew 21, verse 19. Christ is our example; He practiced and taught. He taught His disciples to suffer and endure, for He Himself suffered and endured; hence Paul teaches us to look to Christ Jesus, saying: "Consider him (Christ Jesus), you Christians, who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied, and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted to the point of blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by him: for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not chasten? But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they truly chastened us for a few days after their own pleasure; but he does it for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." Hebrews 12, verses 3 to 10; Proverbs 3, verse 11; Revelation 3, verse 19.

By these words the apostle indicates to us how necessary and profitable chastisement is for us, indeed, so necessary and profitable that we cannot be children of God unless we are chastened by our God and heavenly Father, as is clearly declared in these words: "For what son is he whom the father does not chasten? But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons." With this agree the words of Judith, namely, that Abraham was tried by many tribulations, and became the friend of God; so also Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and all who pleased God were found faithful through many tribulations. Judith 8, verse 26. But those who did not receive their trial in the fear of the Lord, and showed their impatience and the evil of their murmurings against the Lord, were destroyed by the destroyer, and killed by the serpents. First Corinthians 10, verse 6; Numbers 21, verse 6. Therefore, as gladly as we have God for our Father, so readily must we receive the chastisement of our heavenly Father; and as unwilling as we are to be counted bastards by God, so unwilling must we also be to be without chastisement and correction, and so willing must we also be to be tried by tribulation. In short, as much as we love God and the salvation of our souls, and as much as we fear the punishment of God, so cheerfully must we receive all sufferings imposed upon us by God, and remember that Christ says: "He who does not take up his cross, and follow after me, cannot be my disciple." Matthew 10, verse 38; Matthew 16, verse 24; Mark 8, verse 54; Luke 9, verse 23. Also: Whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life in this world, for the Gospel's sake, shall save it forever. [n655-2] Where now are the false Christians, who do not lose their life for Christ's sake, and still think to keep it in eternity? Indeed, so Saul thought that he could please the Israelites, and still remain the friend of God; but God rejected him for his double-mindedness. First Samuel 15, verse 26. Thus they may also think to save their temporal life, and still obtain eternal life; but they shall find themselves disappointed in their hope. O Lord God, how can men be so blinded as to love this transient life so much, seeing they know neither the day nor the hour when they must die; even as the apostle James says that this life is but a vapor, which appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. Jesus Sirach also says that our life, compared with the days of eternity, is as dust, or as a grain of sand to all the sand of the sea, or as a drop of water to all the water of the sea. What then is man! And what is his beauty? Or what are his possessions on which he would rely?

Since then our life is so uncertain and brief, it is a lamentable matter that men take so much care for it, and bestow so little thought upon the eternal life. This is partly owing to false teachers and deceitful laborers, the adversaries of Christ and His apostles, who openly teach that Christians are not to suffer any more.

They shall be confounded with their people, who prophesy lies in the name of the Lord; they shall be punished with Zedekiah and Ahab, who shamefully sin, and seduce the Israel of God, causing them to trust in vain things. They shall be put to shame with the Egyptian magicians, who now resist the truth, even as they resisted Moses. They shall be accursed with Balaam the son of Bosor, who with him forsake the right way, and go in crooked paths; indeed, they shall sink into hell with Dathan, Korah, and Abiram, who with them caused contention and offense in the church of God, and despise the godly doctrine of Jesus Christ, by which they awaken the wrath of the Almighty God, and treasure up to themselves the wrath of God against the day when Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who did not know God, and did not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 2, verse 5; Matthew 25, verse 31; Second Peter 3, verse 4; Second Thessalonians 1, verses 7 to 10); who shall suffer pain and everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, when He shall come to be glorified in His glory, and glorified in all those who believe in Him. Isaiah 2, verse 10; Wisdom 5, verse 2.

Now, who are these unbelievers, who do not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and shall therefore suffer everlasting pain? They are those who now do not observe the commandments of Jesus Christ, and will not suffer for the name of God, or confess the truth according to the instruction of the Gospel; hence Christ shall also not confess them, or know them before His Father, and before His angels with whom He shall come from heaven, to punish such unfaithful and fearful servants, and to glorify the faithful and valiant soldiers, who have come out of great tribulation, and have washed and purified their robes in the blood of the Lamb. Matthew 10, verse 33; Mark 8, verse 38; Luke 9, verse 26; Second Timothy 2, verse 12; Matthew 25, verse 31; Revelation 7, verse 14. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He who sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. [n655-3]

Revelation 7, verses 15 to 17; Isaiah 49, verse 10. The prophet Esdras says: "I, Esdras, saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs. And in the midst of them there was a young man of high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and he was more exalted; which I marveled at greatly. So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these? He answered and said to me, These are they who have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now they are crowned, and receive palms. Then I said to the angels, What young person is it who crowns them, and gives them palms into their hands? So he answered and said to me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then I began greatly to commend those who stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord." Second Esdras 2, verses 42 to 47; Matthew 16, verse 16; Matthew 10, verse 32; Mark 8, verse 29.

O what joy and glory are prepared for all pious Christians! Who now is so fainthearted and fearful as to be unwilling to suffer a little for such joy and glory? It is indeed true that suffering and tribulation are hard for the flesh; but we must remember the words of Paul: "Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it." Hebrews 12, verse 11. Christ says the same to His apostles: "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail has sorrow, because her hour has come; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a man is born into the world. And so you now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one takes from you." John 16, verses 20 to 22; Isaiah 26, verse 17.

Behold, all you believers, who now suffer tribulation, anguish and persecution for the truth for a little season, consider these words, and take comfort: do not let it terrify or grieve you, and though tribulation is not pleasing to the flesh, remember that for a little sorrow you shall receive eternal joy; indeed, remember that it is written: "The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seem to die; and their departure is taken for misery, and their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. For though they are punished in the sight of men, yet their hope is full of immortality, and having been a little chastised they shall be greatly rewarded, for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. As gold in the furnace he has tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. They shall judge the nations and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign forever. Those who put their trust in him shall understand the truth; and those who are faithful in love shall abide with him; for grace and mercy are to his saints." Wisdom 3, verses 1 to 9; Deuteronomy 33, verse 3; Philippians 1, verse 21; Wisdom 5, verse 1; First Peter 1, verse 7; Matthew 13, verse 43; First Corinthians 6, verse 2. Oh, what beautiful promises are these for all who are persecuted for the truth; and how comforting are the promises made to us by Christ in the Gospel, namely that we are blessed when we mourn, for we shall be comforted; and that we are blessed when we are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for the kingdom of heaven is ours; in short, that we are blessed when men shall despise and revile us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely, for Christ Jesus' sake; then we shall rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is our reward in heaven. Matthew 5, verses 4 and 10 to 12; Luke 6, verse 22; First Peter 2, verse 20. Indeed, great is our reward, as Isaiah tells us: "that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love him." Isaiah 64, verse 4; First Corinthians 2, verse 9. And the prophet David says: "O Lord, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You; which You have wrought for those who trust in You before the sons of men!" Psalm 31, verse 19.

But how few now labor for this great glory? It is as represented in the parable of the Lord, where it is said that the householder prepared a supper to which he invited many, for all things were ready. But one had bought a farm, and had to go and see it. Another had bought five yoke of oxen, which he had to go and prove. Another had married a wife, and therefore could not come. But when the householder heard of this, he was angry, and said that none of those who would not come should taste of his supper. Matthew 22, verse 2; Luke 14, verse 16; Revelation 19, verse 7. Oh, what severe judgment and sentence is uttered against all those who will not come, despising the call of the Lord, and loving anything rather than God; that is, those who for father, mother, brother, sister, wife, child, wealth, poverty, praise, or reproach forsake God, and do not obey His voice; indeed, who count all earthly things and excellence as nothing but dung, that they may win Jesus Christ, even as Paul did, and also the Hebrews, of whom the apostle says that they joyfully took the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had in heaven a better and enduring substance. Matthew 10, verse 37; Philippians 3, verse 8; Hebrews 10, verse 35. But, O God, how little do men now regard heavenly things. Oh, how little do they think what difference there will be between the righteous and the wicked. Indeed, there will be such a difference as the Lord has declared through Isaiah. "Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit." Isaiah 65, verses 13 and 14. Hence Christ says in the Gospel:

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." Luke 13, verse 28. Oh, how glad shall the pious Christians then be, who fight valiantly for the name of Christ, and through Him overcome. Indeed, how glad, say we, will they be, when they shall receive the beautiful promise of which the Spirit of God says: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Fear none of those things which you shall suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful even to death, and I will give you a crown of life. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden manna; and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no one knows except he who receives it. And he who overcomes and keeps my words to the end, to him I will give power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to pieces, even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold fast what you have, that no one take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, even as a father the son in whom he delights: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Revelation 2, verses 7, 10, 17, and 26 to 28; Revelation 3, verses 5, 10 to 12, and 19 to 21; Proverbs 3, verse 12. Indeed, my beloved brothers and sisters, that they shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father, and possess all things.

Oh, how sorrowful will the persecutors of the Christians be, when the righteous God will measure out to them with the same measure with which they measured to the Christians. Where shall murderous Cain then hide himself, when the sorrowful and innocent blood of righteous Abel shall cry to God for vengeance against him? Where shall the Babylonian whore, who now sits in her pleasure house and pomp, and has become drunken with the blood of His saints, and of the martyrs of Christ Jesus, escape the punishment of God, when the Lord will avenge the blood of His saints and witnesses, and require it at her hands? Which shall undoubtedly come to pass, as has been said through the prophet:

"Behold, the innocent and righteous blood cries to me, and the souls of the just complain continually. And therefore, says the Lord, I will surely avenge them, and receive to myself all the innocent blood from among them." Second Esdras 15, verses 8 and 9. Christ says: "Shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night to him, though he bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily." Luke 18, verses 7 and 8. Oh, how fearful will the punishment be, with which the Almighty God will avenge all the blood of His saints! How dearly did tyrannous Pharaoh have to pay for the blood of the innocent children which he had shed! Exodus 1, verse 22; Exodus 14, verse 28. How severely was Amalek punished, because he had shed the innocent blood of the Israelites! First Samuel 15, verse 33. The bloodthirsty Jezebel was thrown into the field, so that the dogs licked her blood, because she had shed innocent blood. Second Kings 9, verse 33. O Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets that are sent to you, and stone the Levites, you are therefore trodden down by the Gentiles, and have become a sport to all nations! Thus shall God punish those who now shed innocent blood, and it shall come to pass as is written in the book of Wisdom: "Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of those who have afflicted him, and made no account of his labors. When they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all that they looked for. And they, repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit, shall say within themselves: This was he whom we once had in derision, and as a proverb of reproach: we fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honor: How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints! Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness has not shined upon us, and the sun of righteousness did not rise upon us. We wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and destruction: indeed, we have gone through deserts where there lay no way, but as for the way of the Lord, we have not known it. What has pride profited us? Or what good have riches with our boasting brought us?" Wisdom 5, verses 1 to 8.

All these things they will say who are in hell, having sinned: "For the hope of the ungodly is like dust that is blown away with the wind; like a thin froth that is driven away with the storm; like the smoke which is dispersed here and there with the tempest, and passes away as the remembrance of a guest who stays only a day. But the righteous live forevermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore they shall receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand; for with his right hand he shall sever them, and with his arm he shall protect them." Wisdom 5, verses 14 to 16. O unfathomable grace of the Almighty God! O unspeakable love of the heavenly Father, how abounding is Your grace, and how infinite is Your goodness, that You have prepared such glory for Your elect? Who can thank You rightly for all the benefits which You have so richly shown us, and still show daily? Blessed be Your name forever. Therefore we pray, and admonish all pious Christians, all who love their salvation, to deny themselves, to take up their cross, and to follow Christ Jesus, and thus to do the will of God, that we may receive the promise. Let no one be afraid of or terrified by the ungodly tyrants; but let each one do as Matthias taught his sons, saying:

"Now therefore, my sons, be zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so you shall receive great honor and an everlasting name. Do not fear then the words of a sinful man, for his glory shall be dung and worms. Today he shall be lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be found, because he has returned into his dust, and his thought has come to nothing. Therefore, my sons, be valiant, and show yourselves men on behalf of the law; for by it you shall obtain glory." First Maccabees 2, verses 50, 51, and 62 to 64.

O you pious Christians, take these words of God to heart, and arm yourselves with them, to do battle for righteousness, even to death, and God shall fight for you and subdue your enemies. "And do not fear those who are able to kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; but fear the Almighty God, the righteous Lord and judge, who is able to cast soul and body into eternal perdition." Matthew 10, verse 28; Luke 12, verses 4 and 5. Him alone let us fear, and walk in His ways, serving Him in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life; indeed, suffering death for His name, that we may say with Paul: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; from now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord Christ shall give me." Second Timothy 4, verses 7 and 8. May God, the Father of mercy, and the God of all comfort, by whom it is given to us not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His name, strengthen, confirm and establish us with His Holy Spirit, that we may not become weary of suffering for the truth, but continue steadfast to the end, and rejoice with all the pious and true saints, when we are reviled and persecuted for the name of Christ Jesus. This grant us the Almighty Father, through Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Savior, to whom be glory, majesty, blessing, the kingdom, and everlasting dominion, Amen.

Be manful, strong and very courageous, to keep and do all things, even the words and the law of God. Do not depart from them, neither to the right nor to the left; do not add to them, nor take away from them, that you may act wisely. Wherever you go, do not be terrified, and do not fear, for the Lord your God is with you, when you pass through the waters, or into the fire; and though through hypocrisy or dissimulation you may now evade pain and punishment, you can neither alive nor dead escape the power of Almighty God. First Peter 3, verse 14; Second Maccabees 6, verse 26.

Therefore let us forsake all that is in this world, for it lies in wickedness; and let each one take up his cross, and follow Jesus Christ; for He is near to and with all those who are in distress, and will deliver them, and bring them to honor, if they are of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Oh, what great comfort it is to have such a powerful and faithful companion, and what great honor it is that He Himself will so kindly aid us! But we must know that our Lord Christ Jesus is our Companion and Helper only at His own proper time, according to the counsel of the divine will and pleasure, in which He has ordered everything by one measure and weight; for even as He is the Head of the holy church, and beholds her sufferings, so He has also appointed the number, measure, and weight, how far He will permit the wicked to go, how far they shall reach, and no longer nor farther, even as the Babylonian captivity was to continue seventy years. Jeremiah 29, verse 10. Indeed, when the distress is at its height, and men think that God has utterly forsaken and forgotten them, at this very time the help of God is nearest them; indeed, properly speaking, the Lord comforts before and in the midst of all affliction, for the Christian has in his heart the Spirit of God, the fountain of living water, by which he is always refreshed, comforted, rejoiced, and made glad. John 4, verse 10; John 7, verse 37; Second Corinthians 7, verse 7. Indeed, the more sufferings increase, the greater the help and aid we receive; "for God will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it." First Corinthians 10, verse 13. Behold, in these words Paul tells us for our great consolation, that God will not allow us to be assailed or tempted above what we are able to bear; for if the sufferings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also abounds by Jesus Christ our Lord. Second Corinthians 1, verse 5.

As a captain makes his soldiers valiant by encouraging words and promises, how then should the true and faithful God not make us manful and strong by His divine Word of the Gospel, which is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1, verse 16. Indeed, the righteous God does not stop at mere words, but is present with us with His Spirit, who, as an earnest, assures our hearts of His divine grace and help, and strengthens our weakness. Ephesians 1, verse 13; Galatians 4, verse 6; Romans 8, verse 23; Second Corinthians 1, verse 22. For if the devil, by his lying spirit, so animates men that they are perfectly willing to commit wickedness, though it cost their life, why should not the grace of God, by His true Spirit, make us equally ready for every good work, in all distresses and tribulations? This the gracious God also does, not only through His Spirit, but also through angels, stars, elements, beasts, men, and all manner of creatures. For instance, Elisha said to his servant: "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who come against us." Second Kings 6, verse 16. The Red Sea and the Jordan divided, so that the children of Israel passed through them dry shod. The sun and the moon stood still for Joshua at the time when he defeated the five kings. Elijah was miraculously fed by the ravens. The children of Israel were delivered by the hand of a woman from their wicked enemies. Judith 14, verse 18.

God the Lord generally comforts men through their fellows; for all the saints and Christians on earth have fellowship with one another, in adversity as well as in prosperity; for when one suffers pain and grief, he suffers it not alone, but Christ and all Christians suffer it with him. For He says in the Gospel: You have fed, clothed, entertained, and comforted me. And all Christians are one body, one bread, one drink in the Lord Christ Jesus. Acts 9, verse 4; Matthew 25, verse 35; First Corinthians 10, verse 17.

Now if Christ Jesus our Lord frequently spent whole nights in prayer, and also prayed in the garden before His death, we should also pray without ceasing, especially in our distress, to the Father of lights, from whom alone is every good and perfect gift, that He may forgive our sins, for the death of His dear Son, who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised for our justification. Matthew 14, verse 23; Luke 6, verse 12; Matthew 26, verse 36; Mark 14, verse 32; Luke 22, verse 41; First Thessalonians 5, verse 17; James 1, verse 17; Romans 4, verse 25.

Hence we are to pray that He would deliver or punish us, not according to our judgment, but according to His divine wisdom, lest we utterly perish. Indeed, we must give praise and thanks to God also in our tribulation, that He may not forget us, but chasten us according to His fatherly mercy, and graciously help us to bear every burden, even as Paul thanked God in his affliction, saying:

"Blessed be God, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation. Amen." First Corinthians 1, verses 3 and 4. [n655-4]