“Noyt meerder vreught in my en was,
Als nu tot desen tijden,
Mijn treuren vergaet my alsoo ras,
Godts woordt doet my verblijden:
Als ick dencke op ’t eeuwigh Goedt:
Och dan Krijgh ick sulck eenen moedt.”
I cannot tell it (express the joy); yea, I think that if every one of the hairs of my head were a tongue, I could not express it. And that they torment me with examinations, this I deem a recreation, for I get out of my stinking hole every time, into the pure air, and this rejoices my heart.
Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the rich word of his grace. Always endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and purify your souls before the Lord, if peradventure God be pleased to let you fall into the same trouble; if one is not a good Christian previously, one can hardly become one here, this I well experience, O dear brethren and sisters, I pray you by the love of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, that you will show love to my dearly beloved wife and my dear child, in all love, in unity, in kindness, and in patience, Bear one another in love, this I pray you from the bottom of my heart, and consider in what trouble she now is. Alas, you are sorry on my account, for which I thank you, for it is godly sorrow; but she has the greatest reason to be sorrowful. O she has lost so much, and my son too; but I must resign myself herein, for it is the will of the Lord; who will hinder it? O, when I think of her and her grief, and of my child, I cannot restrain myself; but I hope that the Lord will help me also in this. I beseech you by the love of God. O brethren, my dear brother, write me once how she is situated, how it is with her tribulation, and with my dear son.
O my dear son, I am taken from you too soon. O dear brethren, do this much for my sake; and for the Lord’s sake; you will thereby afford such great comfort to my heart. O it seems to me that I have not heard anything for such a long time, and of my son I do not know that I have had any intelligence; and of our Tanneken. O poor lamb! Adieu my dear brother; adieu my dear sister; adieu to all your little ones.
Adieu, adieu; may God grant grace, that we may rejoice hereafter. Written by me, Raphel, your weak brother in the Lord, with many tears and sighs; not on my own account, as though my mind were ill at rest—God forbid, it was in eleven years never better, the Lord be thanked; but it is my weak nature. If I have written too little or too much in any thing, excuse me, since my mind is much engaged, and my mind is getting confused from all the troubles. Written the 25th of May, in the year 1576.