A Third Letter of Wouter Denijs and his Fellow Prisoners

Let everyone take heed, though I do not write much or very learnedly, which is something that is not in me. Receive this from me in good part, as I trust you will do. I send these greetings and warnings to those indicated in my earlier letters, and further to those who are chiefly my acquaintances, and to all who walk in the fear of God, and love His appearing, and desire to follow it; and I urge everyone to be diligent in searching the Word of God. Exhort one another in love, and copy this for my dear and beloved wife, and keep these three letters; this I heartily ask of you. Take further care for your salvation, and have it read to you from time to time. Do not grieve on my account, but grieve before God because of your sins. Do not think within yourselves that you are without sin, but always think humbly of yourselves before the Lord; for James says: "If anyone thinks that he serves God, and does not bridle his tongue, this man's religion is vain." James 1, verse 9. Therefore, my beloved, comfort yourselves in the Lord, and consider that He has called me to this; and I trust, by His power, through the help and strength of Him who counts me worthy of it, not to turn away from it for any torture. And I firmly trust that the Lord counts me worthy of it, and will make me so; and I will firmly trust in Him with a pure heart to the end. So far I may well say that the Lord shows me, and five or six others with me, such abundant grace that I could never describe it with the pen; for we scarcely feel our bonds, but are together in fervency of spirit. So I urge you all to pray for the prisoners with greater diligence than I have sometimes done, as the apostle exhorts us. Therefore let everyone be diligent to pray in love; for we find that those who are in bonds pray much more fervently for those who are out of bonds. Now I will conclude my writing. Let everyone be quick to see how the life and doctrine of the learned and wise of this world agree with the life of our Lord, Christ Jesus, our Savior.

With this I commend you to the faithful Creator, and to the word of His grace.

Written by me,

WOUTER DENIJS,

And my fellow prisoners.