Herewith adieu, my dear wife in the Lord, adieu, till we get in the kingdom of God to our heavenly Father. Written with tears by me,
Adriaen Janss.
Greet the friends much in my name, especially my S. J. I would write more, but there is no good opportunity here for writing. Written to my dear wife.
The third letter from Adriaen Janss Hoedemaecker written to the brethren and sisters.
I Adriaen Janss, imprisoned at Rijssel for the name of the Lord and the testimony of my conscience, wish my cordially beloved brethren and sisters, my companions of the faith in the kingdom of God, and in the patience of our Lord Jesus Christ, much grace, mercy and peace from God the heavenly Father, who is the true Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation; and from Jesus Christ our Lord, Redeemer and Savior, who delivered us from this present, proud world, according to the will of God his Father; together with the power and consolation of the Holy Ghost, and a steadfast mind unto the end of your life. This I wish you as a Christian salutation in the Lord, and as an affectionate adieu.
Furthermore, after all proper and Christian salutation, my dear and in God beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, I cannot forbear, because of the fellowship which we through the Gospel had together in the Lord, to write you briefly, for the comfort and joy of your heart, concerning the grace which I have received from God, so that I am of good cheer and well content (the Lord be praised for the grace he shows me), so that I hope by his grace, that he will make my cause terminate to his praise, for which I daily pray him. For I desire nothing else than that his name might be magnified by my weak members, and ask my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, with me to beseech God, so to strengthen me, that I may triumph in Christ Jesus our Lord; I hope that he will hear your prayer and mine. For the prophet David says: “The Lord will fulfill the desire of them that fear him; he will also hear their cry and will save them.” Ps. 145:19. Since I desire nothing but what tends to his praise, I hope that he will hear us. I trust I shall not forget you in my prayers to God, but to remember you, even as behooves the members of the body in Christ; and as I, when I was still with you, served you with the little gift which I received from God, so I must also exhort you yet in my imprisonment, and say with the apostle: “I the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called of God, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1–3. Yea, as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him (Col. 2:6,7); and always remember the former days, in which ye were illuminated (Heb. 10:32), and what promises you made to the Lord, when you entered into covenant with him, so that you should serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness all the days of your life. Hence, my dear brethren and sisters, walk faithfully before your God, who called you in his grace out of darkness into his marvelous light, who has received you as sons and daughters, enlightened you with his Holy Spirit, and promised you his kingdom.
Hence I repeat it, walk worthy of your vocation, in the love of God and your neighbor; love one another, as behooves brethren and sisters, and let not your hearts be overcharged with the cares of this life (Luke 21:34), that your hearts do not become alienated; for through many cares the heart becomes estranged from God. Therefore my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, I say with Christ: “Watch, and pray day and night to God, and be like unto men that wait for their lord; that, when he knocks, they may open unto him immediately. O how blessed are those servants whom the Lord shall find thus watching: they shall enter in with him into the kingdom of God, and possess all things”. Luke 12:36,37. Herewith I will commend my dear brethren and sisters to the Lord, who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Adieu my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, adieu, till we get into the kingdom of God. It is very inconvenient here for writing.
Written by me, imprisoned for the true testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Adriaen Janss Hoedemaecker.