The Fifth Letter which Matthias Servaes Wrote from Prison, to his Mother

Grace and peace from God the Father, and the prompting of the Holy Ghost to all righteousness, I wish to you all, my beloved, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Further, I inform you, dear mother, and brother John, and Frances and Barbara, my dear sisters, that according to the flesh it is very well with me (except for these bonds, which I nevertheless also consider good); and according to the soul it is still much better. Praise and thanks for it be to the eternal God, who has ordered it so well for me, an unworthy, weak servant; for it had already been determined (as you yourselves partly know) that I was to leave you; but of this journey, on which I now am, we all knew nothing. This was the journey which I was to take. I have now gone a little way on it, and am (thanks to the Lord) not yet worthy of it, though I have so far traveled a very dangerous and painful way, and it has cost me many a drop of sweat. I also know well that the delicate children of the Lord must go rough ways, and though I have suffered, and still daily suffer much, from robbers, evil workers, false brothers and deceitful, lying apostles, yet I trust that I shall not look back, but go on joyfully by the help and support of God, until I come to the blessed end and inherit the beautiful city. Baruch 4, verse 26; Second Corinthians 11, verse 26; Revelation 2, verse 2. But He who sent a guide with Tobias, preserved the prophet Daniel in the den of lions, and took away the power of the fire, so that it could not harm the three men in the fiery furnace, the same, and no other, has also mightily preserved me until now, and I am confident that He will also keep me safely to the end. Amen.

So, my dear mother, and John my brother, and my two sisters, this is my repeated entreaty and fatherly and brotherly exhortation, that you steadfastly walk in piety before God; for it will do no good to cry: [n902-1] "Lord, Lord," if we do not diligently do what He has commanded. Therefore put your own wisdom and your pride far from you, and beware of sudden anger and violent passions; for they produce no good, but pollute the mind, and defile prayer; and let each one take care that his conscience is not stained with deceitful, malicious, and perverse thoughts; for they separate from God. And I ask of you, my dear mother, who are very dear to my heart, that you be content with humble fare, and not let evil thoughts come into your heart; but thank God for everything, and remember that at Kottenem you often did not have enough to eat. And if you were still there now, and still held all the property in your possession, and had to run and go day and night, laboring and toiling, you would scarcely get a living from it. Take this in good part, my dear mother, for it is all done for your good, that you may keep a pure heart, free from evil thoughts, and so see God, and be saved. Matthew 5, verse 8. So I also ask of you all, that whatever you do, you do willingly, without murmuring and disputing, so that no one may accuse you. First Corinthians 10, verse 10; Philippians 2, verses 14 and 15. I had set apart three Koenigs Thaler,* as a lesson for you, brother John, for your mother and mine. If you do not already have them, I think you will get them yet. Keep Barbara at work, and urge her to fear God from the heart; and this I ask of you all, for there is no one among you with whom I have had more trouble and anxiety: I wish my brother in law the highest good from God. Finally, I ask of you, my dear mother, that you do not complain, or grieve too much, because of my bonds and imprisonment; but thank the Lord, who has kept me, that I have not come into these bonds and this imprisonment for doing evil, but for His name's sake; so neither I nor you need feel ashamed of it. Pray also diligently for me, that He would from now on preserve me from all evil, and give me a steadfast mind, and true patience, so that in all temptations and afflictions I may hold steadfastly to His word to the end. And take for an example, my dear mother, the manly courage of the mother of the seven sons, of whom we read in Second Maccabees 7. For that mother of the seven brothers, out of perfect wisdom, stirred up her womanly heart with manly thoughts, and said to her sons: "I cannot tell how you came into my womb; for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you; but doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the generation of man, will also of His own mercy give you breath and life again, as you now do not regard your own selves for His law's sake." See, mother, what a manful spirit this was; so you also be manful now, and surrender me willingly to the Lord, from whom you received me; for we are also sure that we shall receive again in that day, and keep forever, the life which we now gladly despise and lose for the name of Christ. This, my affectionate beloved mother, I wanted to set before you very briefly, so that you might be valiant and of good cheer while I am in bonds, and might also not love your life, but willingly give it up for the name of Christ, if it should come to that. And since the Lord has called you almost at the eleventh hour, and sent you into His vineyard, give all the diligence you possibly can, to do the work of the Lord faithfully for this one hour; and remember the words of the prophet where he says: "Cursed be the servant who does the work of his Lord slothfully." Jeremiah 48, verse 10. So be faithful, and wait patiently for the evening, and you will also receive the penny, indeed, the beautiful crown, and the glorious kingdom, from the hand of the Lord, together with all the children of God. But may this God, who alone is wise, make us ready for every good work, to do His will, and grant that our works may be acceptable before Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and might forever and ever. Amen.

I commend you all to God; we must part here; entreat God for me, as I do for you. I greet all believers.