The First Letter of Jacob the Chandler, Written to his Wife

The eternal, imperishable wisdom of God our heavenly Father, the great love of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of His Holy Spirit, for the comforting of your mind—these I wish you, my very dear and beloved wife, as a heartfelt greeting from God, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

My affectionately beloved and chosen wife, please know that my mind is reasonably well, the Lord be praised forever for His grace, except that I am very sorrowful for your sake and for the children's, since I love you and them from the heart, so that I know of nothing under heaven for which I would be willing to leave you; but for the Lord and His invisible riches we must forsake everything, through the love of God, which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.

So Christ says: "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. And he who does not take his cross, and follow after me, is not worthy of me," Matthew 10, verses 37 and 38. And He also says: "If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, ... he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14, verse 26. Yes, brothers and sisters, wife and children, and our own life also; with all that we possess, or we cannot be Christ's disciples; although this hatred extends only as far as these things cling to us, to draw us away from Christ. So we must overcome and forsake them through the love of God, for by this we prove that we love God above all, with all our strength, and with all our ability, which is the greatest commandment in the law. Of this Paul says: "The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." First Timothy 1, verse 5. By this love and faith one must confess Christ sincerely, and not forsake Him for father or mother, for wife or children, or for his own life. So Solomon writes: "Love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: its coals are coals of fire, and a flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be despised." (Song of Songs 8, verses 6 and 7); for it cannot be bought with riches, but it is given freely by God, through the Holy Ghost, to those who seek Him in truth.

Therefore I ask you, my dear wife, that you seek to possess your soul in patience, and do not grieve too much on account of this my trial, which happens through God's permission. For I had thought to come and take leave, and to send you away with H., or with someone else; but the Lord did not permit me. He knows why it is. Still I am grieving much on your account, for I leave you in great distress. But I hope that the Lord, who has taken me from you, will help you and provide for you, according to His promise, since He feeds the ravens and the little animals, because they are His creatures. How much more then will He provide for His elect, who cry day and night to Him? Therefore Peter said: "Cast all your care upon the Lord; for he cares for you." First Peter 5, verse 7. As David also says: "The eyes of all wait upon you; and you give them their meat in due season." Psalm 145, verse 15.

Thus, my dear wife, trust in the Lord, this I ask you; for He who ministers seed to the sower will also minister bread for your food. Second Corinthians 9, verse 10. And move to the country of C., where there is much tranquility. And the brothers said that they would assist us in whatever they could. I had made such good arrangements that I hoped it would please you well, and I still intend to let you know of them.

Furthermore, I ask you, my dear and much beloved wife, that you do the best with my children, to bring them up in the fear of God, with good instruction and chastening, while they are still young; for with the rod their back is bowed, and they are brought into obedience to their parents. So it is written: "He who loves his son makes him often feel the rod; and he who spares his rod hates his son: but he who loves him instructs him early." Sirach 30, verse 1; Proverbs 13, verse 24. For instruction must accompany chastisement; for chastisement demands obedience, and if one is to obey, he must first be instructed. This instruction does not consist in hard words, or loud yelling; for this the children learn to imitate; but if one conducts himself properly toward them, they have a good example, and learn proper conduct; for by the children the parents are known. And parents must not provoke their children to anger, lest they be discouraged; but must bring them up with admonition and good instruction. Ephesians 6, verse 4; Colossians 3, verse 21.

Thus, my dear and much beloved wife, do the best with them, this I ask you; and take heed to yourself, that you may receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. First Peter 1, verse 9. And do not faint because of the tribulation which we must suffer, but remember how the innocent lamb, Christ Jesus, had to suffer from the beginning in the faithful. So the Lord says: "He who touches you touches the apple of my eye." Zechariah 2, verse 8. To Paul He said: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And Paul said: "Who are you, Lord?" He said: "I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute." Acts 9, verses 4 and 5. Not that he persecuted Christ according to the flesh; for Christ had died before he persecuted: but he persecuted the Christians, in whom Christ lived according to the spirit; for they do not live to themselves, but Christ lives in them. Romans 14, verse 7. So when they suffer, they do not suffer for their own name, but for the name of Christ; for if they lived to themselves, they would not be in trouble, for the world would love them; but because they are not of the world, and because Christ has chosen them from the world, therefore the world hates them. John 15, verse 19. So Peter says: "If you suffer for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part he is spoken evil of, but on your part he is glorified." First Peter 4, verse 14. For they are comforted by the same Spirit, so that we know: as the sufferings of Christ abound in them, so their consolation also abounds by Christ, namely, if they suffer with Him, they will also rejoice with Him; for their light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; because they look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. Second Corinthians 1, verse 5; Second Timothy 2, verse 12; Second Corinthians 4, verses 17 and 18. So Paul says: "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in us; for we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, where mortality will be swallowed up of life; for there will be no more death, neither sorrow, neither any heat, for God will wipe away all tears from their eyes." Romans 8, verse 18; Second Corinthians 5, verse 1; Hebrews 11, verse 10; Second Corinthians 5, verse 4; Revelation 21, verse 4; Isaiah 25, verse 8.

Then they will leap as the calves of the stall; then they will triumph upon Mount Sion, have palms in their hands, and receive the crown of honor, which God has prepared for all those who love Him and His appearing. Malachi 4, verse 2; Second Esdras 2, verse 42; Wisdom of Solomon 5, verse 16.

Thus, my dear wife, comfort yourself with these words, and be patient in your tribulation, this I ask you; for though I am thus taken from you, consider that we are not assured of each other; for we must all die, and the Lord has long permitted us to be together, considering the perils in which we walked.

There have been so many within our time who had to leave each other, some through imprisonment, some dying of sickness. But there is no more glorious death than that for the name of Christ; for not all are made worthy of God to suffer for His name, for this is acceptable with God, says Peter. First Peter 2, verse 20. So he and John went their way rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Acts 5, verse 41.

O my dear and beloved wife, it would greatly rejoice me if I could hear that you were of good cheer; for every time that I have written your name or the children's, I could not refrain from weeping. Nevertheless, as for myself, I am of reasonably good cheer, the Lord be praised for His grace; so that I would not have thought it before my arrest—I found myself so weak. So Christ truly did say: "I will not leave you comfortless; but I will come to you." John 14, verse 18. With this I will commend you, my dear and much beloved wife, to the Lord, who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you an inheritance with all those who through faith in Jesus Christ will be sanctified. May the Lord Almighty strengthen you by His Spirit. Amen.

Written on the 24th of April, by me, Jacob, your husband. Have this copied, and keep it in remembrance of me; for I do not know whether I can write you any more. Greet all the brothers and sisters much in my name, and all those who fear God; my children B. and his wife; your brother T. and his wife; J. and F. T. and F. his brother; J. de L. and his wife; and my friends at Kortrijck.

Alle die lijden na den Wille Godts, wilt hierop

mercken,

Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Schepper

met goede wercken. (First Peter 4, verse 19.)

JACOB, your husband.