Three Other Brief Admonitory Letters by Joriaen Simons and his Fellow Prisoners

May God grant peace, joy and consolation in all trouble and suffering to all those who have to suffer for His Word, through His beloved Son, in the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

We want to inform our most beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, and all who seek to fear the Lord with the whole heart, that we are all (the Lord be praised forever) of very good cheer, and hope to hold to the Word of the Lord, and not to depart from it for any visible thing — indeed, neither for life nor death, since there is nothing, we trust, that will be able to separate us from the love of God. We shall be able to do all things through Him who strengthens us; we trust by our God to leap over walls. Romans 8, verse 35; Philippians 4, verse 13; Psalm 18, verse 29.

Dear friends, rejoice with us. Why should we fear, when there are so many in the world who, for a little gain, expose themselves to the greatest danger, both of soul and body, on the water and on the land, and do not even know whether, if they succeed, there will be gain or loss? But we know that when we have finished this journey by the help of the Lord, all is gain, and there can be no loss; for we do not run uncertainly, and we do not fight as one who beats the air. But we are assured by the grace of the Lord that if we fight bravely to the end, as we trust we shall, we shall receive what is promised us. We intend to return to them fourfold; we will not keep silent, but will proclaim aloud what the Lord gives and reveals to us. Our Sister Mariken is also of very good cheer, and has rightly confessed her faith, which she means to hold to as long as there is breath in her. She is of such courage and good cheer that she delights and gladdens us all. We exhort each other with the Word of the Lord, as much as God gives each one to speak, now by words, now by hymns. Indeed, I have many hours in which I never once think that I am a prisoner; such is the joy which the Lord gives us. I thank you with all my heart that you have fulfilled my request, also for your affectionate exhortation. Do the best you can as regards my H. F. I commend you to the Lord, and to the Word of His grace.