Therefore, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, help to pray the Lord for us, since of ourselves we have nothing but all weakness, and are compassed about with frail flesh. But we find abundant comfort when we consider the word of the Lord, and his promises to those who strive valiantly unto death, and cleave to them; for he that remains steadfast shall receive the promises, since he never yet has forsaken any that trusted in him, and who think of the fight which our captain Christ Jesus fought for us, so that they willingly follow him. Hence, we joyfully wait for our redemption, though they threaten us much, they can do us no more than what the Lord permits them; and whatsoever the Lord permits them, to that we will resign ourselves, for our flesh, with which we have offended the Lord so often, has merited it more than a thousand times. Furthermore, my dear brethren and sisters, we expect from day to day to be offered up, for we thought we should offer up our sacrifice when our fellow prisoners offered up theirs. Now, my much beloved brethren and sisters, you that have submitted to the obedience of the Gospel, and have with Noah entered into the ark, and are with Lot gone out of Sodom, and with Moses out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and choose rather to suffer affliction with the children of God, than to enjoy, with Pharaoh, the pleasures of sin for a season; therefore now, my dear friends, be valiant with righteous Noah, who firmly trusted in the Lord’s promises, and with patience waited for the day promised him by the Lord, namely, an hundred and twenty years. See, my dear brethren and sisters, who are still in this tabernacle, and have with Noah received a promise, that there shall come a day that will be upon all flesh; if you are then found upright before the Lord, you shall with Noah be forever saved. And obey the Lord with Lot, and firmly believe what God commands you, for he wants his commandments kept, as we have an example in Lot’s wife, that she was turned into a pillar of salt; and further in Israel; when they observed his laws and commandments, no one was able to harm or hinder them; as we have an example in the children of Israel, to whom the promised land was promised; but they did not obtain it, because they did not trust in the Lord; for of six hundred thousand not more than two entered into the promised land; but their descendants were led through Jordan by Joshua, and the Lord mightily helped them, so that they according to the Lord’s command went around Jericho with the ark of the covenant, and the walls fell.
See, my dear, beloved brethren and sisters, if we trust in the word of the Lord, and keep his commandments, and always walk according to the Lord’s rule, and call upon the Lord day and night, he will fight for us. Yea, our enemies shall not be able to harm us, but they shall be confounded. But if the righteous forsake the Lord, they must turn their backs before their enemies, as we read in Joshua, concerning Achan and others, also of Saul, who was the first king of Israel; when the Lord had commanded him, to go forth to fight against the Amalekites, and to spare no one, he went, but did not keep the Lord’s command; hence the Spirit of the Lord departed from him, and the Lord set David in his stead; on which account he persecuted David. And thus the righteous have ever had to suffer from the unrighteous: Jacob, from Esau; Abel, from Cain, because his offering was acceptable before the Lord, and his brother’s not; hence he was killed by Cain; and this generation is still in the world.
See, my much beloved and chosen brethren and sisters, to whom the truth, which is hid from so many thousands is revealed, and who have received grace from God; let us show obedience to the Lord, as did our father Abraham, who is the father of the faithful; and Jephthah, who did not spare his only daughter, but willingly offered her up to the Lord. Judges 11:39. Hence, my dear brethren and sisters, let us diligently fear the Lord, and observe his commandments, and he will be gracious unto us. Therefore, my very dear and beloved brethren and sisters, only be faithful unto the end, and neither be terrified, nor fear; though this generation has now great power to crush and kill the people of God, they can do no more than the Lord permits them. Hence let us keep good watch for our souls, and always be vigilant; for the Lord says himself: Watch and pray; for the Lord shall come as a thief in the night. O, my dear brethren and sisters, that we might then not be found idle or drowsy, but with the five wise virgins always have oil in our lamps, and ever be ready and watch for the coming of our bridegroom, so that with Gideon we may be found worthy; for they were not all accepted; only three hundred were found worthy. Judges 6:12. Even as also Christ himself says, that many are called, but few chosen. Matt. 20:16; 22:14.
Hence, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, let us diligently pray to God with a fervent heart, that we may be known and reckoned with the little flock, and that we may be stones in the Lord’s temple, and branches on the Lord’s vine, and valiantly follow our Lord and Bishop even unto the end; and it shall be well with us; and walk in all righteousness and holiness, and always be mindful of the day of the Lord, and not depart from the Lord’s way; and he will have compassion upon us and be gracious unto us. For he shall separate the sheep from the goats, and say to them on his right hand: Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. And to them on his left hand: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire. Matt. 25:32. O how lamentable will it then be with those who here have feared men more than the Lord; yea, who now say: The Lord is gracious and merciful, which is true; but he is also righteous, and wants his commandments kept. Hence, O dear people, think of the day of which Peter says: “That one day is with the Lord as a thousand years.” 2 Peter 3:8. How lamentably it will then be deplored! See, my dear brethren and sisters, my materials are about to give out; hence I must conclude. We prisoners will therefore herewith bid you adieu, namely we four; our names you well know; let this reach Jan de P., our sister Lijntgen’s brother. We prisoners cordially salute you with the word of the Lord, and are still of good cheer, and trust to offer up a willing sacrifice to the Lord; the Lord God strengthen us with his Holy Spirit. And, dear brothers Bauke, Symon, and Pieter, who are my brothers according to the flesh, take care for your souls; though you are young yet, do not depend on that; you know neither the day nor the hour, and enough is revealed to you, that you well know that it is the truth. Herewith I will send you my last adieu, as I do not think that I will see you anymore; but see that we may meet one another again with joy.
Now, my dear brother Bauke and your wife, your mother and sister, and I your brother, salute you and all acquaintances most cordially; I send you our last salutation here, and may the Lord make us worthy, that hereafter we may meet one another again with joy. Claes greets you very cordially, and we also greet much all those that have remembered us by writing, and we are much rejoiced in this, that you still have such delight in the truth. Herewith we bid our dear brethren and fellow-believers of our faith our last adieu; may the Lord keep you all in righteousness and holiness.
Written in our dark prison, with bad materials; hence receive it in good part. Given the ninety-fifth day of our imprisonment, the 14th of June, in the year 1571, in Deventer.
DOUWE EEUWOUTS, A. D. 1571.
They who seek truly to follow the words and commandments of God often have to suffer great contempt and persecution from the learned of this world, as was well seen at Leeuwaerden, in Friesland in the case of a brother named Douwe Eeuwouts, who on the 3d of January of the year 1571, for the name of Christ, had to leave five little children alone in the house, and suffer himself to be imprisoned in a dark dungeon, where he had to remain confined with criminals for a long time, which he, though longing to be offered up, patiently suffered. Afterwards he was examined by the bishop and others, who greatly tormented him, in order to cause him to recant, but all in vain. They asked him concerning his faith, which he freely confessed. They also greatly praised up to him the Pope’s trumpery; but he said, he would keep to the commandments of God, and let go the commandments of men. He also proved, that their hours, mass, confirmation, anointing, exorcising, and other things, were not in accordance with the word of God; and he further besought them, that, now that he had confessed his faith, they should not torment him any more, but cut short his sufferings and troubles; for he was ready to give up his life for the truth, knowing that he might then expect the crown of life. Finally the bishop condemned him as a heretic, and delivered him to the secular judges, that they should deal with him according to the king’s decree, for these so-called Christians, like the Pharisees, can put no one to death. But in consequence of the bishop’s delivering him, Douwe Eeuwouts, after long imprisonment, was sentenced to death on the 12th of October, A. D. 1571, to be drowned the following night. When he heard this sentence, he showed himself valiant as a giant in the faith, not terrified by impending death, but greatly longing for the new Jerusalem; and sat in the room with his head uncovered, thanking, praising, and praying to his heavenly Father, till the hour of his departure had come. They then took him, and tied him in a bag, when he began to sing: “I poor lamb on the heath.” Many that were there praised his boldness, that he went to death so voluntarily and joyfully.
Thus he most joyfully departed this temporal sorrow, and ended his life in the water, and now rests under the altar, and there waits for the eternal joy which is promised to all of God’s dear children.