A Letter of Hans Symons, which He Wrote in Prison at Antwerp

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforted us in all our tribulation, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ. And whether we are afflicted or comforted, it is all for our good, and for our salvation. Second Corinthians 1, verses 3 to 6. This I wish you, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, Vincent, Kaerle, Willem, and Hans Symons, and Tanneken, Vincent's wife, as a heartfelt greeting in the Lord. And brothers and sisters in general, I write this so that you may remember me, what tribulation and distress I suffered in Antwerp for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ; and because the time has come that I must part from you all. Amen.

Further, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, and coworkers and followers of the Gospel, to whom God has shown great mercy in this world, in that He, out of grace, revealed His will. So then, dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, I beg you from the depth of my heart, that you do not receive the grace of God in vain, for He says: "I have heard you in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Therefore, dear brothers, let us not give offense to anyone, so that our ministry is not blamed; but let us prove ourselves the ministers of God, in much patience, in necessities and distresses. Second Corinthians 6, verses 1 to 4. So then, dear brothers, accept this as a sincere request from me, that you take heed to your calling, in which you are called to holiness, for He says: "Be holy, for I am holy." First Peter 1, verse 16. And I pray you, that you show love to one another all the days of your life, for Christ says: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13, verse 35. If any prosper more than others, let one assist the other, and do not become alienated from one another, lest one be grieved on account of another; but exhort one another with the law of the Lord when you come together, and always remember the days when you were enlightened, how zealous we all were when we came together, to speak of the great benefits which God has given us, in that He has called us from the power of darkness into His marvelous light, which is kindled in our hearts, so that we have surrendered ourselves to serve the Lord all the days of our life, and no longer to live to ourselves. Hebrews 10, verse 32; First Peter 2, verse 9; Romans 14, verse 7.

O dear brothers and sisters, always write the law of the Lord into your hearts, and keep Him ever before your eyes, and serve Him faithfully to the end of your lives; for if there is anything that is not clear, however small it may be, in which the conscience is troubled, Satan brings forward, by way of accusation, all he can bring forward, so that he may at least lead us astray or trouble us; however, he often has cause, for we all sin in many things, as James says. Revelation 12, verse 10; James 3, verse 2.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, awake, and make straight paths for your feet, so that you may always be prepared for the Gospel of peace, which calls us only to peace, for beautiful are the feet of those who fear the Lord. Ephesians 5, verse 14; Hebrews 12, verse 13; Ephesians 6, verse 15; Romans 10, verse 15. Never separate from the church of the Lord, for it is the body of Christ, and He is the Savior of His body. And though sometimes there are some in it who do not truly follow the Lord, think: "Lord, I have no right to sin, too, because another sins, since the Lord has no pleasure in the multitude of sin, but that everyone turn from his evil way, and he shall live." And I pray you and all the brothers and sisters in the Lord, that they do not think it a small thing to grieve their neighbor, whether by word or deed, or by the putting on of apparel. We can avoid this sometimes, but we will not, not caring that our neighbor is troubled by it.

O dear brothers, when one is arrested or put into bonds, or the Lord takes us from this world, it greatly troubles our conscience. And our stay here is so brief; so prepare your lamps well, that when the bridegroom comes, you will not have to go for oil, for the doors will then be shut. What is a man profited, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will you give in exchange for your soul? Matthew 16, verse 26. [n917-1] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, but sanctify God in your hearts, and give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Romans 6, verse 12; First Peter 3, verse 15; Colossians 1, verse 12. O dear brothers, how true and certain we daily find it to be, that it is the truth for which we must suffer, of which I am becoming convinced more and more every day, though I never doubted that it was the truth.

O dear brothers and sisters, continue in this to the end, and you will prosper; and do not let yourselves be deceived through philosophy, or vain deceit, through vain pomp and subtle inventions; for men are soon corrupted from their simplicity which they have in Christ, for it is a great grace which we have received from God, that the truth is revealed to us, which is hidden from so many thousands. Colossians 2, verse 8; Second Corinthians 11, verse 3; Ephesians 1, verse 9. So then, my dear brothers and sisters, think now of us, how many tortures we have endured, how many sighs we have spent, how much weeping and pleading to God we have done, with strong crying and tears to Him for help, that you might be able to keep to the end the faith in which you stand.

O dear brothers, it is so hard for us, and the cup which we must drink is so bitter. Oh, how I am in anguish until the child is born! These woes are so bitter, dear brothers; I speak the truth; it is impossible to make anyone believe what pain it is to bring forth a child, except the one who has experienced it; yet when it is born, then the pain is remembered no more. So it is also with me and my fellow prisoners; we are now in the throes of travail, many a heart grief fills us with anguish, and we must cry to God for help. And He comforts us, for He is a God of comfort, who can comfort all troubled hearts, as He also does. But I hope that we shall soon have brought forth; then we shall remember the anguish and distress no more, and all the tears, that now often course down our cheeks, so that at times we almost, with David, water our bed with our tears, will be wiped away; for He is faithful who promised it to us, and will also keep it. We comfort one another much with the Lord's promises. John 16, verse 21; Isaiah 26, verse 17; Second Corinthians 1, verses 3 and 4; Psalm 6, verse 6; Isaiah 25, verse 8; First Thessalonians 5, verse 24.

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, exhort one another daily, and be subject to one another in love. And I pray you, dear brothers and brothers-in-law in the Lord, I pray you, take good care of my sisters, for you are placed over them; the watch over them is committed to you. Dear brothers, live with them according to knowledge, as I also trust you will do. I commend them to you from the heart. And you sisters in the Lord, and according to the flesh, I pray you from my inmost soul, in my bonds, which I suffer for Christ's sake, that you bear with all modesty your husbands, whom the Lord and His church have given you, so that you should live with them in all subjection and obedience. It well becomes women to honor their husbands, for a woman of understanding is the crown of her husband, and the wife is honored through the husband, and the husband through the wife. Therefore I entreat you, dear sisters, assist your husbands with all willingness, lest you discourage them. Oh, if the wife knew what trouble and grief she can cause her husband in his work, she would shun to do it as she would shun poison; for the wife can cause her husband to consume soul and body in his labor. Encourage each other in spiritual and temporal matters, and always shun whatever might give rise to trouble, for Satan is cunning; he is satisfied with any means by which he can cause contention; he walks about man, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. So then I beg you for the Lord's sake, lay to heart what I write you with sighing; I do it because I love you all in my heart, and also all those who fear the Lord. I say with Moses: "I would rather suffer affliction with the children of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin." Always associate with those who fear the Lord, and pray, lest Satan take you unawares; for when it is least expected, the Lord comes, as I and my fellow prisoners can testify. I trust the Lord has ordered it so with us. We are now in it; may the Almighty God help us through, as I trust He will do. Help pray the Lord for us, for the effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. Acts 12, verse 5; James 5, verse 16. I beg you, my dear brothers and sisters, take heed to yourselves; the time is short, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord. First Corinthians 7, verse 29; Hebrews 10, verse 31. Call to remembrance the day when you were enlightened, how ardent we were in the law of God, to walk in it. Verse 32. I hope you are better instructed in everything than I can write. And above all, I pray you, keep the Lord before your eyes above all else, and love one another fervently; by this men will know that you are children of the Most High, for love abides forever, it never perishes. John 13, verse 35; First Corinthians 13, verses 13 and 8. Be hospitable, remember those who are in bonds, comfort the sorrowing, remember the poor, each according to his circumstances. Oh, it gives such peace to the conscience. I wish indeed I had done much more. Hebrews 13, verses 2 and 3; Second Corinthians 1, verse 4.

With this I commend you all to the eternal, Almighty God; may He comfort, strengthen and establish you all, and us poor, forsaken sheep, deprived of all men, to the end of our lives; for it does not lie in the beginning, nor in the middle, but he who endures to the end, the same shall be saved. Matthew 24, verse 13. See, dear brothers, I go before, and hope to wait for you under the altar, where they cry: "Lord, Lord, when will You avenge the blood of Your saints?" Revelation 6, verses 9 and 10. But the Lord will shorten the days for His elect's sake; and then He will clothe them in white raiment, and wipe away all tears from their eyes, and they will see sorrow no more, for it has never entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him. Matthew 24, verse 22; Revelation 3, verse 5; First Corinthians 2, verse 9. With this I bid you all a final adieu in this world, and thank you all for the good fellowship I have had with you in my life. And where I have grieved you, or anyone else, forgive me; I am heartily sorry for it. I hope and trust to God that He has forgiven it me; and if there is anyone who has wronged me, I forgive him from the bottom of my heart, no matter who he is. We four, Hans, Cornelis, Mattheus, and Christian, in bonds for the testimony of Jesus, greet you and all who fear the Lord with His peace. Amen.

The mighty God keep you all from evil. Greet my mother, Charles and his wife; and Maeyken, who took care of my wife. Adieu to you all. This is my testament to you all, Vincent, Kaerle, Neelken, Willem, Hans, to each with his wife.

By me, Hans Symons, your dear brother, imprisoned at Antwerp for the testimony of Jesus.