A Letter of Jan Quirijnss

The eternal, almighty and merciful Father, who by His mighty arm led His chosen out of the house of Pharaoh's bondage, keep and confirm you, my beloved sister in the Lord, with the power of His Holy Spirit, so to do His will that you may be found spotless and blameless in all peace, and in all righteousness, truth, zeal, and love, to the end; may the almighty and strong Lord grant you this, who alone is wise and just; to Him be praise, honor, glory, and gratitude, now and forever. Amen.

Very dear and much beloved sister in the Lord, whom I greatly love according to the spirit, I have undertaken, by the saving grace of God, to write you a little, as you asked of me, a poor servant; for I consider myself unworthy of writing to another — it would be more necessary that someone should write to me. For, dear sister, I find so much lacking in me that, when I call upon the Father, I am afraid that I am not His child, for I do not do half His will. But, dear sister, though we are surrounded by vile flesh, we will not give up courage, but will firmly keep on, and always pray without ceasing, and give Him the praise, and constantly thank Him for His unspeakable kindness which He has shown us simple children. Ephesians 2, verse 7. Oh, what great grace has appeared to us! Oh, what love has been shown us! Oh, what light has arisen for us! Oh, what excellent, precious, hidden treasure has been given into our earthen vessels! That which is hidden from the wise and prudent He has now revealed to us poor, simple children. Matthew 11, verse 25. The clear truth is now made known to us; the beautiful, shining light has shone into a dark place; the clear radiance has been given into our hearts, whereby we are enlightened with the uncovered, clear light, through Christ Jesus, this gracious Lord of lords. Second Peter 1, verse 19; Second Corinthians 4, verse 6.

He took the great darkness out of our dark hearts and gave Himself, this merciful Jesus Christ, to be a shining light to us, as John says: "This then is the message which we have heard from him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not do the truth." First John 1, verses 5 and 6. Therefore, dear sister, take heed to the light, and let it be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path, as David says (Psalm 119, verse 105), that you may not stumble by day, but may always see before you wherever you go; for the darkness is past, and the true light now shines. First John 2, verse 8. He has delivered us from the power of darkness [and called us] into His marvelous light, who, as Peter says, in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God. Colossians 1, verse 13; First Peter 2, verses 9 and 10. For this reason we may well be glad in our hearts, and rejoice, and say with David (Psalm 124, verse 7): "The snare is broken, and we are escaped; we are delivered out of the jaws of the lion, in which we were imprisoned," that is, in this dismal, abominable, subtle, wicked world, which lies in wickedness. First Peter 5, verse 19. [n985-2]

The God of this world, who rules in the children of unbelief, has so blinded the minds of those who do not believe, and so stopped their hearts, that they cannot see or perceive in the least, nor taste that the Lord is gracious. Second Corinthians 4, verse 4. With them we all had our fellowship, and lived our lives in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and we were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ephesians 2, verse 3. But the rich, merciful and kind God looked with His gracious eyes upon us poor sinners, and stretched out His blessed hand, and has now extended it to us, and has delivered and brought us out of the pit of death, and bound up and healed our wounds; our hungering and thirsting souls He has satisfied with the bread of life, and refreshed with the water of the Holy Ghost; He did not let us lie in our blood, He did not want to pass us by, He did not let us perish with hunger; when we asked for bread He did not give us a stone; neither did He let us go thirsty, but refreshed our famishing souls from the clear fountain of living water. Oh, that we had never spent money for that which is not food! But we have largely spent our money for bitter gall and vinegar, and for false, corrupt leaven. Oh, that we had thought of this gracious host, who gives it for nothing to all who ask Him (Revelation 21, verse 6); and none who come to Him will be cast out. So then, my dear sister, let us desire the rational, unadulterated milk, as newborn babies, who are born again from above of God, through Jesus Christ. First Peter 2, verse 3; John 3, verse 3. Let us take good heed to our new birth and hold it firmly; for John says: "Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." John 3, verse 9.

Oh, that we might take an example from Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Oh, how little he esteemed his salvation; but afterward, when he sought it with tears, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance. Genesis 25, verse 33; Genesis 27, verse 38; Hebrews 12, verse 17. But, dear sister, let us diligently take heed that we hold fast what we have, which has been given us from above by Him who is the giver of all good. Revelation 2, verse 25; James 1, verses 5 and 17. And if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us; and if we know that He hears us, in whatever we ask, we know that we have the petition we desire of Him. First John 5, verses 14 and 15. Is this not a gracious Lord? Yes, assuredly, and He is a Lord rich toward all who call upon Him; only place your trust firmly upon Him, and put your will into God's will, and all will be well.

Therefore, my dear sister in the Lord, be steadfast, 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. For you will receive reward for it. Matthew 20, verse 9. If you sow to the Spirit, you will of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6, verse 8. If we sow in tears, we will reap with joy; for our shame we will receive honor, and for confusion we will rejoice, says the prophet. Isaiah 61, verse 7. Oh, let us be content then — we will be such a glorious people; and let us wait for it with patience, and think of the glorious promise that He has promised us. First John 2, verse 25. He also will do it, He will not delay His promise (Second Peter 3, verse 9); only let us continue valiantly, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer, not slothful in our business, but fervent in spirit, with a burning love in our hearts (Romans 12, verse 10, and so on), and the Lord grounded and rooted in us through love (Ephesians 3, verse 17), so that no one may be able to separate us from the love of God, nothing of all that may come upon us for the name of Jesus Christ, and for His testimony. Romans 8, verse 35. Let no one, then, cheat us of our reward, but let us show virtue out of our faith, and let our moderation be known to all people. Colossians 2, verse 18; Second Peter 1, verse 5; Philippians 4, verse 5. The Lord is at hand; be anxious for nothing, for it is soon over; our time, dear sister, is so short, if we consider it well. First Corinthians 7, verse 29. So let us pass our short time in the fear of God, and be sober and watchful; for our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; resist him, steadfast in the faith. First Peter 5, verses 8 and 9. As James says: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4, verse 7. Yes, dear sister, he walks about us very craftily; now with this, now with that, whether outwardly or inwardly with our evil flesh, which is our greatest enemy, with whom we have most to contend; the Spirit against the flesh, the flesh against the Spirit: these are contrary to each other, so that we do not do the things that we would. Galatians 5, verse 17. But Paul gives us comfort when he says: "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Verse 16. Oh, that we were as fervent in spirit, as diligent in good works, in seeking eternal life, as we are in seeking earthly treasures, worldly things, which must nevertheless perish and stay here; and that we might love God's commandments above gold or precious stones; we would be such blessed children, we would continually have less and less conflict. But alas! it is sometimes the case that greater efforts are made for these temporal things than for the abiding riches that are in heaven, which will nevertheless endure forever. In writing this I do not mean that this is the case with you; for I well perceive that you seek the Lord with all your heart. So then, my dear sister, let us lay to heart the words of the apostle, who warns us against the tempter; lest we too be deceived by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his devices (Second Corinthians 2, verse 11), that is, that he aims to capture God's children in his net by lies and envy, since he has been the father of lies from the beginning (John 8, verse 44), as he showed in the case of the first man, as is written in Wisdom: "God created man for eternal life; but through the envy of the devil death came into the world; and they who are of his part do follow him." Chapter 2, verses 23 and 24. So he also comes to us with his emissaries, with whom we have a hard conflict, indeed, those who went out from us being the most troublesome to us, so that we find that the Scripture is fulfilled, namely, that in the latter days it should be as John says: "Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." First John 2, verses 18 and 19. See, dear sister, this is how the apostle warns us; for they are not all Abraham's children who are of Abraham's seed. Romans 9, verse 7.

Therefore, dear sister, look to the pious, and not to the weak; look to Jesus Christ the Author and finisher of the faith, as Paul says, and do not let yourself be led astray by certain vain talkers who undertake to turn you aside. Hebrews 12, verse 2; Titus 1, verse 10. Christ says that in the latter days many false prophets will arise in His name (oh, mark it, in His name); so much so that, if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived. Matthew 24, verse 24. But he who endures to the end will be saved; the elect will not be deceived. Be valiant in your mind, and always pray without ceasing, with prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Meditate day and night in the law of the Lord, that you may be a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its rich good fruit in its season; whose leaf will not wither (Psalm 1, verses 2 and 3); and that you may be a fruitful branch in the vine Christ Jesus. For David says: "The righteous will never fall, but will stand forever like mount Zion; indeed, the righteous will never be removed," says Solomon. Psalm 125, verse 1; Proverbs 10, verse 30.

Let us therefore finish our course with joy, and strive lawfully (Second Timothy 2, verse 5); for no one is crowned unless he strives lawfully, as the pious forefathers did, who placed their hope in God, whom they faithfully served. He did not forsake them, nor did they forsake Him; they bowed their necks under the scepter of Christ Jesus, as the pious Esther also bowed her neck. Second Esther 14, verse 2. Oh, take heed to this; though the righteous must suffer much here, and be deprived of all human help and comfort, let us turn our eyes to the helper Jesus Christ, who will not forsake us. Can a mother forsake her child? Indeed, though she forsake it, yet I will not forsake you, says the Lord. Isaiah 49, verse 16. He who touches us touches the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2, verse 8. Who should not fear such a God, who always preserves and protects His poor people? For the joy which He has promised us sweetens everything. He who overcomes will inherit all things. Revelation 21, verse 7. They will sit with Christ Jesus in His throne, even as He sat down with His Father in His throne. Revelation 3, verse 21. Indeed, He will gird Himself, and go before us, and serve us at table. Luke 12, verse 37. How the righteous will shine forth then in the kingdom of his Father! How they will leap up then as calves of the stall! How the righteous will then shine, as sparks that run among the stubble! How they who did not love their lives to the death will then triumph and sing the song, and, with palms in their hands and crowns upon their heads, thank, praise, and magnify the name of the Lord! In short, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have there entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. Matthew 13, verse 43; Malachi 4, verse 2; Wisdom 3, verse 7; John 12, verse 25; Revelation 14, verse 3; Second Esdras 2, verse 46; First Corinthians 2, verse 9.

So then, let everyone who has this hope in him purify himself, even as He is pure. First John 3, verse 3. But the God of all grace, who has called us by His glory and power, strengthen and confirm you, my beloved, dear sister in the Lord, with the power of the Holy Ghost, to the end. Amen. First Peter 5, verse 10.

With this I will commend you, my beloved sister in Christ, to the Lord, and to the Word of His great grace. Receive this my short, simple letter in good part, for I have written it out of true, unfeigned brotherly love; this the Almighty Lord knows. So I ask you, receive this from me in good part; for he who fears God receives everything for the best. Always hold fast your first love to the end, and the fervent love to God and the brothers and sisters (Revelation 2, verse 4; First Peter 4, verse 8); may the Almighty, eternal and strong God grant you this. Amen.

Greet all my friends in my name, especially M. S's daughter, G. R. W., and further all who know me. Several who were with me when I wrote this greet you; also Cornelis Janss greets you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.