A Letter from Lenaert Plovier to his Wife

Dear and much beloved wife Maeyken, after affectionate greeting, know that I am still of good cheer, and that I am also well according to the flesh, which I hope is the case with you and those with you as well. But I should like to hear that it is your determination to follow the Lord in all righteousness; for we do not know when the Lord will visit us, so that we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, where everyone will receive his reward, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad. So, dear Maeyken, be obedient to the Gospel before that day comes, since it will come as a thief in the night (First Thessalonians 5, verse 2); for this is the true way that leads to eternal life, which has sometimes been presented to you, and besides which there is salvation in no other; for Christ says: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." Now if Christ is Himself the way, the truth, and the life, let us seek to follow the truth, and to walk this way, that we may have life. For it is written that the Lord shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all those who believe, and for the punishment of all those who have not obeyed the Gospel, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Second Thessalonians 1, verse 7.

Dear Maeyken, though persecution, tribulation and distress sometimes arise, indeed, bonds and imprisonment, as is daily seen in us and in others who want to be obedient to the truth, let us not for this reason cease to walk this way, or to follow the truth. For Christ says: "The world shall rejoice, but you shall mourn and be sorrowful; but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." John 16, verse 20. So, dear Maeyken, do not regard father or mother, or children, or anything that is in the world; for Christ says: "He who loves anything more than me is not worthy of me. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10, verse 37. For to be carnally minded is death, indeed, enmity against God, because it is not subject to the law of God; but this is a carnal mind: to love father, mother, children, or anything that is of the world, more than God, or for their sakes to cease to follow the truth, or on account of temporal occupation, or temporal loss, or because we have many children and are anxious how we are to provide food for them. Christ says:

"Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all that you need shall be added to you." Matthew 6, verse 33. Therefore do your best in this, my dear Maeyken; this is my heart's request of you, this I pray of you.

I also inform you that I was at the Ypres fair. Having returned to Antwerp, our cousin Hendrick and I took a walk out of the city, so that it grew rather late; and when we drew near the city, we met the servants (or thief catchers) of the city, who arrested us, so that we could not escape their hands and keep our faith. Therefore, dear Maeyken, though the Lord has now so ordered it that I have been arrested, and the time has come that the Lord will visit me, do not be discouraged, and do not grieve very much, though I know that you will grieve; but do not grieve too much, or you will have to take to your bed, or fall sick; for it is for the truth. Some of the hardest things for my flesh to bear are that I must leave you and the children, that I cannot help you provide food for them, nor be a protector, and that you are not minded as we are; but I hope that this will come about in time. So, dear Maeyken, do your best to be obedient to the Gospel, so that if we never see each other again according to the flesh, we may find each other hereafter. I should have liked to see you and talk with you once more; but my time is perhaps short. It would also be very hard for you and for me to part from each other, although it is very hard for me now, even though we do not talk with each other; but we must love God above everything else; rather forsake all than forsake God. So, if you come here, or intend to do so, do your best to follow the truth, and to bring up the children in the fear of the Lord. With this I commend you to the Lord. Written at Antwerp, in bonds. This happened on Sunday evening after the Ypres fair. By me Lenaert P., your husband. Greet Franse warmly for me, and tell him to pray to the Lord for me, that I may finish my course to the praise of the Lord.