Here Follows a Letter Written by Hans Marijns

Always have God before your eyes.

Grace, peace and joy from God our heavenly Father, wisdom, righteousness and truth, through Christ Jesus His beloved Son our Lord and Savior; together with the comfort and illumination of the Holy Ghost; these I wish you, much beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, as a friendly greeting and eternal farewell in this sad world, where nothing is to be found but every sorrow of heart. I trust to go and rest, with all the elect saints of God, under the altar, and I hope to wait for you there. To this end may the Lord grant us His grace, and may He keep me, a miserable sinner, to the end, as I hope and trust He will do. Amen.

Know, much beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, that we are all well yet, the Lord be praised; and it is still the purpose of us all to adhere to the holy truth of the Lord all the days of our life, for which we can never fully thank the Lord. O dear brothers and sisters, how could we fully thank Him, that He so loves me, unworthy one! I hope by His grace that I shall suffer for His holy name, and I trust to hear with all the beloved saints of God: "Come, you blessed of my Father, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25, verse 34. O dear brothers and sisters, what beautiful promises are given to those who overcome: "That they shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father; that they shall be of the household of God; that they shall eat of the hidden manna, and of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Revelation 3, verse 12; Matthew 13, verse 43; Ephesians 2, verse 19; Revelation 2, verse 17; Revelation 2, verse 7.

O why should I write you much; I hope and trust that you yourselves are all taught of God. So, dear brothers and sisters, I know of nothing special to write you, except that we should always take good heed to keep what is committed to our trust, that no man take our crown, for Peter says: "The devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; resist him, steadfast in the faith." First Timothy 6, verse 20; Revelation 3, verse 11; First Peter 5, verse 8. O we shall be well rewarded if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. With this I will commend you all to the Lord, and to the rich Word of His grace, which is able to build us all up for His heavenly kingdom. Amen. And I kindly ask you also to look after my child a little, as much as you can. I have also asked this of the sister at Vlissingen, and of Christian. You may take counsel together as is best; for I must now part from it, so that I cannot take care of it. But I am heartily satisfied with this, and am ready to forsake not only wife and child, but also body and life, if the Lord will only keep me, as He has done until now, and will yet do. O dear brothers and sisters, we are all of such good cheer. I and Hendrick and Gerrit greet you all much. Greet Hendrick and Maeyken much in my name, and Adrian and Gerrit Coelemey, and your companion Lieven, and Huybert; further, Yde and her husband, and Jacob Wit, and the rest of the brothers and sisters, and all whom it is convenient to greet. Bid them all farewell in my name. Written on the third of February, in the year 1569, after I have been informed of my sentence. Farewell, all of you, and be valiant always. I trust that we shall see one another again. Share with Geertgen occasionally something of the profit, as seems best to you; and do with her what is best; this I earnestly ask of you.

By me, Hans Marijns, your unworthy brother in the Lord, with what lies in my power for your best, for this time.