The Third Letter of Jacob the Chandler, to his Children

May the same God who blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also bless you, my children, with every kind of spiritual blessing in heavenly places, that from your youth you may learn to know the Lord, and fear and obey Him all the days of your life. This is the most special request that I make of God: that you may be eternally saved, and that the name of the Lord may be praised through you; to which name be praise and glory now and forever. Amen.

My children, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother (Proverbs 1, verse 8; chapter 4, verse 1); always be ready to do what God commands you; that is, that from your youth you shall learn to know, fear and obey Him; for obedience springs from the fear of God, and the fear of God comes through the knowledge of God.

So Solomon writes: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 1, verse 7. For a child who knows his father, that he is so honorable and just that he will not have his children run in the streets with other children, fight, quarrel, use bad language, bring home stolen things: children who know their father to be like this are afraid to do these things, knowing that if they do them they will be beaten. So too, my dear children, the Lord is a just God, who will not tolerate sin, but will punish those who commit it. Therefore we must fear Him, and not commit sin; for the fear of God drives out sin, and he who fears God will do good. Proverbs 16, verse 6; Sirach 15, verse 1. As Solomon says: "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of wisdom, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 14, verse 27. For, my dear children, the wages of sin is death. Romans 6, verse 23. So then, since the fear of God drives out sin, through the fear of God the cause which brings us into death, that is, sin, is avoided. Therefore, my children, begin from your youth to walk in the fear of the Lord, that you may never consent to sin, and may not forsake the commandments of your Lord and God; but fear the Lord while He may be feared. For those who fear the Lord walk in the right way; for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. Proverbs 14, verse 2; Job 28, verse 28.

So then, my children, fear the Lord, and depart from evil. For the prophet Jeremiah says: "How good it is for a man to take the yoke of the Lord upon him from his youth, and for one who is forsaken to be patient when he meets with adversity." Lamentations 3, verses 27 and 28. And Sirach says: "My child, receive instruction from your youth, until your old age, and you will find wisdom" (Sirach 6, verse 18); for the wisdom of God teaches that we are to receive God's instruction, in order to be taught by it how we are to depart from evil. "For wisdom cries out in the open; she lifts up her voice in the streets, saying: How long, you little children, will you love childishness? And how long will fools desire the things that are harmful to them, and the unwise hate knowledge?" Proverbs 1, verse 20. For this is the nature of children: they love to run and play in the streets, where they learn all kinds of wickedness, and they do not like to be chastised for it, and kept in the house. By this they are known as children; for they do not know how injurious this is to them; for by it they become alienated from the knowledge of God, and so grow up in wickedness that sometimes they can come to the truth only with great difficulty. Therefore wisdom calls the children of Israel little children, because they are sometimes so wicked that they want to live to themselves, and hate the chastening of the Lord, which is nevertheless administered to them out of love, that they should not be condemned with the world. First Corinthians 11, verse 32. Therefore, my dear children, beware of all bad company, which might seduce you into cherishing the world; for the world lies in wickedness, and will perish with its lusts. First John 5, verse 19; chapter 2, verse 17. Therefore, my children, do not love the world, nor the things that are in it; 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. Chapter 2, verses 15 and 16. So then, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. First Peter 2, verse 11. And Paul says: Flee youthful lusts (Second Timothy 2, verse 22); for youthful lusts have plunged many into ruin, into lasciviousness, whoredom and many improper things. Therefore, my children, beware of whoredom, and of all unedifying conduct in which whoredom has often originated: dancing and leaping, and the practice of young men and maidens sitting together at the beer table, drinking to intoxication, and speaking improper words; and besides, what is done in secret would be too shameful to mention. Tobit 4, verse 12; First Thessalonians 4, verse 3. O my children, beware of such things; for the apostle says: All those who do such things have no part in the kingdom of God. First Corinthians 6, verse 10. But when you are grown up, and cannot contain yourselves, marry in the fear of God. Pray God to provide you a faithful helpmeet, to walk in the fear of God, with a broken, lowly and humble heart.

My children, do not in any way let pride rule over you in your words or your thoughts, as Tobit admonishes his son (Tobit 4, verse 13); for the Lord rejects those who are proud in their hearts, but He has exalted the humble. So David says: "I thank You, O Lord, that You have humbled me; for before I was humbled I went astray." Psalm 119, verse 67. Therefore, my children, never exalt yourselves in your hearts, but condescend to men of low estate; for pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall; for such people become so proud that they reject the word of the Lord, and live according to the desires of their hearts; therefore the Lord will also not regard them. Romans 12, verse 16; Proverbs 16, verse 18; Hosea 4, verse 6.

My children, heed the instruction of your father, and do not forget it. Keep your tongue from backbiting, and beware of lying; for the mouth that lies slays the soul. Wisdom 1, verse 11. For liars have no part in the new Jerusalem; but their part is in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21, verse 8. And the backbiter causes much contention and discord, and also stirs up strife and envy, and separates friends. Proverbs 16, verse 28. So Solomon says: "Where there is no wood the fire goes out; so where there is no talebearer the strife ceases." Chapter 26, verse 20. So he further writes: "Put away from you a crooked mouth, and put perverse lips far from you;" as Moses also writes: "Let there be no backbiter or slanderer among you." Chapter 4, verse 24; Leviticus 19, verse 16. Therefore, my children, beware of backbiting, and wherever you are at home, keep your lips sealed, and do not tell outside the house what is done in it; keep still about everything concerning which silence is expedient, and then people will love you. Always be faithful to people, and beware of stealing, for it is a great sin; and thieves have no part in the kingdom of God (First Corinthians 6, verse 10), nor is a thief trusted or loved by anyone; but wherever he goes, his hands are watched. Thus, my children, always content yourselves honorably in the fear of God, and beware of all sin and transgression; and do not envy one another, for through envy Cain slew his brother, and the patriarchs sold their brother Joseph; for envy breaks all friendship, makes a man forget all kindnesses, and is bent only on doing harm. The envious man does not rejoice when he sees his brother or sister, but turns his face the other way; nor is he grieved at his brother's misfortune, but is pleased when the other meets with adversity. So James truly says: "If you have bitter envy and strife in your hearts, do not boast, and do not lie against the truth.

… For where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3, verses 14 and 16. Therefore, my children, do not envy one another, nor anyone else; but love one another out of a pure heart, as brothers and sisters ought to; not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother (First John 3, verse 12); but as Christ left an example, who gave His life for us.

So you must also love one another in this way, not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth (First John 3, verse 18); that you may be brothers and sisters, not only according to the flesh, but also according to the faith of the Son of God; for He says: "By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another." John 13, verse 35. So John writes: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love." First John 4, verses 7 and 8. So He would have children love one another with true, unfeigned brotherly love, with a pure heart, as being born not of natural seed, which is corruptible, but of incorruptible seed, namely, by the Word of God, which abides forever. First Peter 1, verses 22 and 23.

Thus, my dear children, I pray and admonish you: love one another and bear with one another, and let each be subject to the other; the younger shall obey the older, that there may be no contention or discord among you. And you, Katelijntgen and Kopken, are the oldest; when you are grown up, take care of the other children, and help them with the labor of your hands, thus showing mercy to them, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven; for you will perhaps not have your mother very long, and then you are duty bound to do the best for one another.

Thus, my children, heed the instruction of your father, and do not forget it. Obey your mother; for it is proper that children should obey their parents, as is written in Ecclesiasticus: "The Lord wills that parents should be honored by their children" Chapter 3, verse 2. For this was the first commandment in the law which had a promise: "Honor your father and mother, that you may live long on the earth." Exodus 20, verse 12. And the greatest honor that children can show their parents is to obey them. To obey them in everything that is not contrary to the honor of God; but where the honor of God is concerned, parents have no power to rule over them, but are themselves duty bound to admonish their children to obey the Lord. For they had to teach the law to their children when they went to sleep, and when they rose up; in which law it was written that God must be loved above all. Deuteronomy 6, verse 7. Therefore children are not bound to love their parents more than God, and God-fearing parents are not to require this, but are to exhort their children to the same, that they should exercise themselves in the love of God, that is, keep His commandments, and be humble before their God (Micah 6, verse 8), as I hope, my children, that your mother will also do. So obey her in love, and do not be disobedient to her; for it is written in the law that whoever cursed, struck or disobeyed his father or mother had to die; so great a sin it is before the Lord. Exodus 21, verses 15 and 17.

Therefore, my dear children, though you lose me, do not be defiant toward your mother, but obey her all the more, for the whole care of you will now be committed to her. So then, my children, never grieve her in your life; for in Ecclesiasticus it is written: "He who forsakes his father is a blasphemer, and he who angers his mother is cursed by God." Chapter 3, verse 16. Therefore love her, and remember how many pains she suffered on your account, and how she bore you under her heart nine months, and how she will still have to undergo much to earn bread for you. Tobit 4, verses 3 and 4; Second Maccabees 7, verse 27. So then, dear children, when you are grown up, apply yourselves diligently to labor, that you may help your mother gain a livelihood. And do not be idle; for from slothfulness springs much evil, for it makes thieves of children, and harlots of girls, and so they finally come to a bad end. Therefore, my dear children, do not desire this, but willingly work and labor with your hands at what is honorable, that you may have something to give to him who is in need. Ephesians 4, verse 28. And if your mother takes another husband, obey him as your father, and honor him; for he will have to care for you, and instruct and teach you as though you were his own children. Therefore you, as obedient children, are to receive his instruction, and not to despise it. O my dear children, I, Jacob, your father, have left you this as a testament, that you may remember me the better, and know where I stood and why I died, of which you need not be ashamed, since it was for the name of Christ. For it is for the Lord's sake that I leave you; there is nothing under heaven so dear to me that for it I should be willing to leave you; but for the Lord's sake everything must be forsaken, father and mother, wife and children, indeed, one's own life, or we cannot be His disciples. Deuteronomy 33, verse 9. But he who forsakes all this for His sake shall receive a hundredfold, and hereafter everlasting life. Matthew 19, verse 29. Thus, my dear children, with this confidence I leave you. May the Lord grant you His grace, that I may find you in life eternal. I now go before you the way which Christ Jesus and all the saints of God went before us; and I know that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. Second Timothy 3, verse 12. And Paul says: "To you it is given on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philippians 1, verse 29. For what we suffer, we suffer not for our own sakes, but for the Lord's sake, because we believe in Him, and by faith follow and obey Him, which the world will not tolerate; for the prophet says: "Truth is fallen in the street; truth languishes in prison; equity cannot enter; he who would depart from evil, and do good, makes himself a prey." Isaiah 59, verses 14 and 15. As Christ says: "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15, verse 19. So James says: "The friendship of this world is enmity with God; if you would be the friend of the world, you will be the enemy of God." James 4, verse 4. For, my dear children, if you would be the friend of the world, you will have to follow the world in her improprieties and false worship; so Paul writes: "If I still pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ?" Galatians 1, verse 10. For the Father has bestowed such love upon us that we should be called His children; therefore the world does not know us, neither does it know Him. First John 3, verse 1. Therefore, if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, it is no wonder that they also call those of his household so; for the servant cannot be above his lord, nor the disciple above his master. Matthew 10, verses 25 and 24.

With this I will commend you, my dear children, and your mother, to the Lord, for whose sake I hope to leave you; who is able to care for you, and to keep you from all evil. May the Lord grant you His grace, that you may grow up in the knowledge of God through the Holy Ghost, so that, according to the right judgment of God, you may be found righteous for His kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to whom be praise and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Written on the second and third days of May, in the year 1569, in prison at Bruges, where I was confined for the testimony of Jesus, under the house of the Vrye; by me, JACOB the CHANDLER.

This I send my dear children as a brief testament; I also hope to write out my faith for them, which may serve to show them upon what faith their father died.

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.