The grace, peace, joy and love left by Christ to his disciples be unto you. I earnestly beseech him, that he will give us such love and such a steadfast mind, that we may be found fit to receive the beautiful promises which he has given to us, if we continue steadfast unto the end. To this Christ be praise and honor forever and ever. Amen.
I cannot thank or praise the Lord sufficiently for the great grace, the unfathomable mercy, and great love which he has shown us, that we should be his sons and daughters, if we overcome, even as he overcame. 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:21. O, well may we say that true faith, which works by love, and which will bring us to glory, if we suffer with him is actuated by things not seen. Gal. 5:6; Romans 8:17; Heb. 11:1. Let us consider, dear friends in the Lord, what great love worldly men have towards one another. There are some in prison, I have heard say, who rejoiced when about to go to the rack, because they should then be nearer those whom they loved, though they could not come together in person. Hearken, my beloved brethren and sisters in the Lord, if the world has such love, what love, then, ought we to have, who expect such glorious promises! I also have before me the beautiful example of a bride, how she adorns herself, to please her bridegroom of this world. O, how ought we then to adorn ourselves, to please our bridegroom! O that we might be adorned as were the five wise virgins with oil in their lamps, to meet our bridegroom, that we might also hear the sweet voice: Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom of my Father. I pray the Lord day and night, to give us such fervent love, that we may not regard the torments which they may inflict upon us; yea, may say with the prophet David: “I fear nothing of all that men can do unto me.” Ps. 118:6. And this our pain, which is light and temporal, is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18.
Since, then, it is the will of the Lord that with Daniel I must remain so long in the den of lions, and await the howling and ravening wolves and lions, and the old serpent, which was from the beginning, and shall be unto the end; therefore, I entreat all my dear brethren and sisters, to remember me in their prayers; I will gladly do the same, according to my ability. O my dear friends, how can I sufficiently thank my heavenly Father, that he has made me poor sheep fit to remain in bonds so long for his name’s sake. I pray the Lord day and night, that this my trial may tend to the salvation of my soul, to the praise of the Lord, and to the edification of my dear brethren and sisters. Amen.
Nicholas op de Suyckeruye brought two priests to me, to instruct me, whom I answered by the grace of the Lord. They told me they were sorry that I had embraced this opinion, which they could not call a faith, but only an opinion, since we observed nothing commanded by the Christian church. I replied to them: “We desire to do or believe nothing but what the church of Christ commands us; but we will have nothing to do with the temple of Baal, or with other temples made with hands, after the doctrines and commandments of men, and not after Christ. With these we will have nothing at all to do; for Stephen says that the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands; but he said that he saw the heavens opened, and Christ sitting on the right hand of his Almighty Father. Acts 7:48,56. And Paul says, that we are the temple of the living God; if we do his will, he will dwell and walk in us. 2 Corinthians 6:16. They said that they were the sent, and those who sit in Moses’ seat. I replied to them, that in that case the woes spoken of in Matt. 23 applied to them. They asked me whether I meant to say that he who taught me these things, was sent of God. I said: “Yes; I assuredly know that he is sent of God.” They then asked me, whether I knew how a teacher ought to be. I answered: “A teacher must be the husband of one wife, blameless, having his children in subjection, no drunkard, winebibber or whoremonger.” 1 Tim. 3:2. They replied: “If we do wrong, it will fall on our own heads; the Lord is merciful.” I then asked, whether they would sin upon the mercy of God, and said it was written that we should not add sin unto sin, and say: “The Lord is merciful.” Sir. 5:5. We said much more; but it would take too long to relate it.
I told them that they were ever learning, and never able to come to a right knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim. 3:7. They then said that Christ said to his apostles: “To you it is given to understand, but to others in parables.” Matt. 13:11. I replied: “They who now rightly understand it, to them it is also given.”
Finally they crossed themselves over and over and said that I should find it out when I should stand before the judgment. That is true, I said: we shall there be appointed judges, to judge this disobedient and adulterous generation. Matt. 19:28. With this they went away. I also told them, that they had come from Satan, to murder my soul.
Once more I wish to my dear husband in the Lord, and to myself, the crucified Christ, as an imperishable joy and love, forever. Amen.
Know, my dear husband in the Lord, when I read that you rejoice so greatly in the Lord, I could not finish reading the letter, but had to pray the Lord, that he would give me the same joy, and keep me unto the end, so that we may offer our sacrifice with joy, to the praise of our Father who is in heaven, and to the edification of all dear brethren and sisters. Herewith I commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace. Know, that I thank you very much for the letter you wrote me. The grace of the Lord be with us always.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM LIJSKEN TO HER HUSBAND.
The abundant grace of God be with us both always, and the love of the Son, and his unfathomable mercy, and the joy of the Holy Ghost be with us forever. Amen. To him who has begotten us again from the dead, be praise forever and ever. Amen.