A Letter from Lijsken, Jerome's Wife

The grace, peace, joy and love left by Christ to His disciples be with you. I earnestly ask Him to give us such love and such a steadfast mind that we may be found fit to receive the beautiful promises which He has given us, if we remain steadfast to the end. To this Christ be praise and honor forever and ever. Amen.

I cannot thank or praise the Lord enough for the great grace, the unfathomable mercy, and the great love which He has shown us, that we should be His sons and daughters, if we overcome, even as He overcame. Second Corinthians 6, verse 18; Revelation 3, verse 21. Oh, well may we say that true faith, which works by love, and which will bring us to glory if we suffer with Him, is moved by things not seen. Galatians 5, verse 6; Romans 8, verse 17; Hebrews 11, verse 1. Let us consider, dear friends in the Lord, what great love worldly people have for one another. There are some in prison, I have heard it said, who rejoiced when they were about to go to the rack, because they would then be nearer those whom they loved, though they could not come together in person. Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord: if the world has such love, what love then should we have, who expect such glorious promises! I also have before me the beautiful example of a bride, how she adorns herself to please her bridegroom of this world. Oh, how then should we adorn ourselves, to please our bridegroom! Oh, that we might be adorned as the five wise virgins were, with oil in their lamps, to meet our bridegroom, that we might also hear the sweet voice: "Come, you blessed, inherit the kingdom of my Father." I pray the Lord day and night to give us such fervent love that we may not regard the torments which they may inflict on us; indeed, that we may say with the prophet David

"I fear nothing of all that men can do to me." Psalm 118, verse 6. And this pain of ours, which is light and temporary, is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8, verse 18.

Since, then, it is the will of the Lord that with Daniel I must remain so long in the den of lions, and wait for the howling and ravening wolves and lions, and the old serpent, which was from the beginning and shall be to the end; therefore I ask all my dear brothers and sisters to remember me in their prayers; I will gladly do the same, as I am able. O my dear friends, how can I thank my heavenly Father enough, that He has made me, a poor sheep, fit to remain in bonds so long for His name's sake. I pray the Lord day and night that this trial of mine may tend to the salvation of my soul, to the praise of the Lord, and to the edification of my dear brothers and sisters. Amen.

Nicholas op de Suyckeruye brought two priests to me, to instruct me, and by the grace of the Lord I answered them. They told me they were sorry that I had embraced this opinion, which they could not call a faith, but only an opinion, since we observed nothing commanded by the Christian church. I replied to them: "We desire to do or believe nothing except what the church of Christ commands us; but we will have nothing to do with the temple of Baal, or with other temples made with hands, after the doctrines and commandments of men, and not after Christ. With these we will have nothing at all to do; for Stephen says that the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands; but he said that he saw the heavens opened, and Christ sitting at the right hand of His Almighty Father. Acts 7, verses 48 and 56. And Paul says that we are the temple of the living God; if we do His will, He will dwell and walk in us." Second Corinthians 6, verse 16. They said that they were the ones sent, and those who sit in Moses' seat. I replied to them that in that case the woes spoken of in Matthew 23 applied to them. They asked me whether I meant to say that the one who taught me these things was sent by God. I said

"Yes, I know for certain that he is sent by God." They then asked me whether I knew what a teacher ought to be. I answered: "A teacher must be the husband of one wife, blameless, having his children in subjection, no drunkard, winebibber or whoremonger." First Timothy 3, verse 2. They replied: "If we do wrong, it will fall on our own heads; the Lord is merciful." I then asked whether they meant to sin upon the mercy of God, and said it was written that we should not add sin to sin, and say: "The Lord is merciful." Sirach 5, verse 5. We said much more, but it would take too long to relate it. [n723-1]

I told them that they were always learning and never able to come to a right knowledge of the truth. Second Timothy 3, verse 7. They then said that Christ said to His apostles: "To you it is given to understand, but to others in parables." Matthew 13, verse 11. I replied

"They who now rightly understand it, to them it is also given."

Finally they crossed themselves over and over, and said that I should find it out when I stood before the judgment. That is true, I said; we shall be appointed judges there, to judge this disobedient and adulterous generation. Matthew 19, verse 28. With this they went away. I also told them that they had come from Satan, to murder my soul.

Once more I wish my dear husband in the Lord, and myself, the crucified Christ, as an imperishable joy and love, forever. Amen.

Know, my dear husband in the Lord, when I read that you rejoice so greatly in the Lord, I could not finish reading the letter, but had to pray the Lord that He would give me the same joy, and keep me to the end, so that we may offer our sacrifice with joy, to the praise of our Father who is in heaven, and to the edification of all dear brothers and sisters. I herewith commend you to the Lord, and to the word of His grace. Know that I thank you very much for the letter you wrote me. The grace of the Lord be with us always.