John Claess, and Lucas Lamberts, an Old Man, Called Grandfather

A testament to his wife

An affectionate greeting in the Lord, to my beloved wife, whom I no longer love according to the flesh, but according to the soul. Hear my admonition

You know that as long as we enjoyed prosperity with Israel according to the flesh, we did not know ourselves; but now that the good Father lays His hand upon us, we feel that we are sick, weak, miserable, poor, and naked. Therefore, my dear wife, take Jesus Christ as your example, and see the way in which He went before us, and that we must enter the kingdom of heaven through much tribulation. James 5, verse 10; Second Timothy 3, verse 12. Forget my flesh and all your sensuality and all your carnal desires, and pray to God for faith, that you may overcome. And I will willingly give myself to the Lord in the same way as He comforts my heart by His grace. You still have time to amend, but I am bound to His grace, in which I trust. So do not think of what is past, but persevere with a firm confidence in the Lord; He will help you in everything for the best; give yourself up to this, and always join yourself to those who fear the Lord, for this will be for your best interests. For "blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1, verses 1 and 2.

My beloved wife, the God-fearing speak of it, and thereby people depart from evil; for by the fear of the Lord people depart from evil, and through love every good thing is accomplished. Proverbs 16, verse 6. Awake, for we have both been negligent. Let the word of the Lord urge you on to all good. Ask Him for His Holy Spirit, who can comfort you; for 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. For this is the trial which must be found in our faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire. First Peter 1, verse 7.

My dear wife, if we could have entered the kingdom of God as we began, and have so long been doing, the way would not have been narrow. But our Savior had to enter into His own glory through suffering and anguish; how then will we enter by the broad way? For narrow is the way, says the Lord, which leads to life, and few there are that find it, and still fewer who rightly walk in it. Matthew 7, verse 14. The good Father did indeed show me this way, but my evil flesh was too strong and forced me away from it. Nevertheless, I hope to be saved through the grace of the Lord; for Paul says: "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing." Ephesians 2, verse 4; First Corinthians 13, verse 3.

Consider what this charity is, and you will be able to accept for the best whatever the Lord sends you. How should I be able to express it—love is the nature of God; may it be with you and us all. I give it to you as an affectionate greeting: may the good and merciful Father shed it abroad into all our hearts, through His beloved Son. Amen.

Greet all dear friends in the Lord. Pray to the Lord for me; all that He gives me, I will impart again. Third John, verse 14; First Thessalonians 5, verse 25.