The Second Letter of Jacob the Chandler

Affectionately beloved brothers, may much grace and mercy be yours from God our heavenly Father, through Christ Jesus His only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, through whom the Holy Ghost is given us, that we should be led by Him, and guided into all truth, so as to be a light in this world, so that we might with a good conscience praise our Father who is in heaven; to this end may the Lord give His grace, that it may so remain with me, and with all my beloved brothers and sisters, to the end of their life. This I wish them as a friendly greeting and a heartfelt farewell.

Furthermore, my dear brothers, know that while I was in the country of C., I was greatly moved to appear among you once more, so that we might once more enjoy ourselves together; but the Lord prevented it by my imprisonment. Yet I could not keep from writing you a little, in order to exhort and refresh your minds, so that, as you received the Lord Jesus Christ, you might go on in Him, and be rooted and built up in Him, and abound in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2, verses 6 and 7. For, my dear brothers and sisters, if we do not abide in Him, all our labor is lost, and we cannot share in His abundant riches, which He has prepared for us in heaven; for we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. Hebrews 3, verse 14. And if he draws back, His soul will have no pleasure in us. Hebrews 10, verse 38. Yes, dear friends, if we do not abide in Him, we are like a branch that does not abide in the vine, and withers at once. It is therefore cut off from the vine and cast into the fire; for it is of no other use to men. For the prophet says: "One cannot make a wooden pin of it." Ezekiel 15, verse 5. So, according to the words of Christ, those Christians who do not abide in Christ will be cut off and cast into the fire of hell; for they are of no use to Christ in heaven; and so there shall in no way enter into it anything that defiles, nor whatever works abomination, [or makes a lie:] but those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Revelation 21, verse 26. Therefore I exhort you, my dear brothers, with the apostle John: "Abide in him, so that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (First John 2, verse 28); that we may then not be like the foolish virgins who had to remain outside in shame, because they had taken their lamps and no oil in them. For what can it profit us that we have simply been baptized, and separated from popery, as though we would be virgins who did not want to remain in such spiritual whoredom, and yet do not have the love of God in us, by which to lead a pure and chaste life, to the honor of our Bridegroom? In this case we are foolish to think that by such conduct we can please Christ. For David says: "The King's daughters shall be brought to the King in glorious adornment." Psalm 45, verse 14. Therefore love is the bond of perfectness; for he who abides in love abides in God; for God is love. Through this love we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous. Colossians 3, verse 14; First John 4, verse 8; First John 5, verse 3.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and be yourselves like men who wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him at once. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord [when He comes] shall find watching. Luke 12, verses 35 to 37. For these are wise virgins, who have come to know the Bridegroom; who know that He takes pleasure in their beauty; whose beauty lies not outwardly in braided hair, or in the putting on of apparel, but inwardly in a chaste life, in a modest behavior, which is shown before all men. First Timothy 2, verse 9; First Peter 3, verse 3. These virgins are baptized not only with water, but with the Holy Ghost and with fire; for they not only guard against outward idolatry, but will not consent to sin in any way; nor do they love the world, or the things that are in it; for in it there is not the love of the Father. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world, by which so many a Christian is seduced; even as it is the cause of ruin to many a young girl, when she begins to grow proud. Then she becomes eager for fine clothing; then the young fellows make their addresses to her, who at first do not speak of carnal indulgence, for this would be too blunt for an honorable maiden; but they seek first to stir her heart to love, after which carnal sin will the more readily be consented to.

So also, my dear brothers, Satan goes to work with many a Christian; he does not at first tempt them to idolatry, for they would rather let themselves be burned, when they are pure in their conscience, than resort to idolatry. But he shoots such arrows at them that they become earthly-minded, seek their own more than what is Christ's or their neighbor's, and scatter their minds in their occupation and in trade; and so the love of the world takes hold of them, and temporal riches are valued more than the eternal. Think, my brothers and sisters, when Satan has gained this point, how easily one then consents to serve idols, and to wed the world; and so the door is opened wide to Satan, for the light has become darkness, and the day is changed to night, so that one's shame or nakedness is not seen; for they are alienated from the life of God through the blindness of their heart. Ephesians 4, verse 18. Therefore, dear brothers, take heed, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief [in departing from the living God]. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3, verses 12 and 13. And take heed that no one neglect the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up, and by it many be defiled. Second Corinthians 6, verse 1; Hebrews 12, verse 15. Therefore strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4, verse 3), having the same love among yourselves, so that you may not be a stumbling block or an offense to one another. But if you see any brother or sister stray from the way of truth, run after him, and instruct and admonish him in a meek spirit, until he becomes a Christian, or until he strays into some carnal works; that you may be natured and minded as Christ, and not abuse His ordinance; for one can be too severe as well as too indulgent in reproving. So, my dear brothers, take good care for one another, and let each take heed to himself; for this is a perilous time, and love is seen to grow cold in many. Therefore let each lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest you stumble like a lame man; and do not be slothful in your business, but be fervent in spirit, and redeem the time; for your time here may perhaps be short, for Satan is stirred up to wrath, knowing perhaps that he has but little time. Hebrews 12, verses 12 and 13; Romans 12, verse 11.

Therefore, my dear brothers, be watchful everywhere, and do not faint because of the tribulation which is now seen; but trust only in the Lord, for He has said: "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." So that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me." Hebrews 13, verses 5 and 6. For the sufferings which men inflict on us pass away; and so Christ says: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; but fear him who, after he has killed, has power also to cast soul and body into hell." Luke 12, verses 4 and 5. But if we suffer with Him, we shall also rejoice with Him.

Therefore, my dear brothers, be faithful to death, and you shall receive the crown of life. Revelation 2, verse 10. Think, dear brothers, if the children of this world were promised the crown of Spain on some condition, how diligently they would work, how joyfully they would run to obtain it. How much more ought we to be joyful in our tribulation, and with patience run the race that is set before us, since the crown of life is promised us, with which the crown of Spain cannot be compared; for that is a perishable crown, and its glory is not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Therefore Moses chose rather to live in affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; counting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the recompense of the reward. Hebrews 11, verses 25 and 26.

My dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord through faith give you such a heart and vision, that you may with Moses and all the saints of God know what God has prepared for those who love Him; for the righteous shall live forever, for the Lord is their reward, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore they shall receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand, and they shall shine forth as the sun in the throne of heaven. Wisdom of Solomon 5, verses 15 and 16; Matthew 13, verse 43.

So the apostle writes: "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." Second Corinthians 5, verse 1. By this the apostle shows that though our earthly body be put to death here, it shall rise again, and be shed about with heavenly glory. Therefore he writes: "Our citizenship is in heaven; from there also we look for the Savior Jesus, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body." Philippians 3, verses 20 and 21; Titus 2, verse 13. By this he again shows how gloriously the body will be changed after the resurrection: now it is weak, then it shall become strong; now natural, then spiritual; now mortal, but then immortal; for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal, immortality; then shall the terrible death be swallowed up in victory; then shall the last enemy, which is death, be destroyed; then shall there be no more death, nor sorrow, nor any heat; then shall the tears be wiped away from the eyes; then shall they inherit all things with Christ, because they have overcome; then shall He lead them to the fountain of living water and feed them with the hidden heavenly bread, so that they shall neither hunger nor thirst any more; there shall the spiritual Solomon dwell in perfect peace with the spiritual Israel, for all His enemies shall be made His footstool.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, since you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. First Corinthians 15, verse 58.

With this I commend my dear brothers and sisters to the Lord, who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Pray the Lord for me, that I may contend steadfastly, and continue in the hope in which I (the Lord be praised forever) still stand at the present time. And I ask you, dear brothers, do the best with my wife and children.

Written by me, Jacob the Chandler, your weak brother and minister, on the 18th of April.

Alle die lijden na den Wille Godts, wilt hierop mercken,

Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Scheppers met goede Wercken. (First Peter 4, verse 19.)