Therefore, my most beloved in the Lord, do not complain, or grieve much, because he has taken me first; for he has done all for our best, that I should be an example unto you, and that you may follow me as valiantly as I, through the grace of the Lord, who has made us both worthy to suffer for his name, shall go before you. O my dear lamb, I humbly entreat you, not to listen to the papists or other sophists, but steadfastly to follow your bridegroom, your immovable bridegroom. Follow his footsteps, and fear not their threats, nor let their tortures terrify you; for they can do no more than the Lord permits them; they cannot hurt a hair of your head without the will of the Father which is in heaven. Matt. 10:30.
Hence, fear not, but continue firmly and steadfastly in the doctrine of Christ, and in the right truth; for the Lord will not forsake you, but will preserve you as the apple of his eye; yea, as his daughter and child, since it is impossible for God’s elect to be deceived; for his sheep hear his voice, and follow him; but they hear not the voice of strangers. Hence, no man shall pluck them out of his hand; for he is their Shepherd and Protector. Hence, fight valiantly, my chosen lamb, for the glory of the Lord, even as he fought so valiantly, for the salvation of our souls. Be therefore of good cheer, even though you have to lie yet a little longer in this den of lions. Your deliverance is nigh; it tarries not, but comes; and when he comes that will come with power, he will receive you as his bride and queen; for it is his pleasure to have his chosen with him, since he delights in beholding them; and the day of the Lord is at hand. Habakkuk 2:3; Ps. 45:14; Isa. 13:6.
Therefore, my dear wife in the Lord, fight valiantly now, and fear not man, but rather say with Susanna, that you would much rather fall into the hands of man, than into the hand of God; for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Susanna 24; Heb. 10:31. Go to meet the Lord with ardent love as you have done hitherto by the grace of the Lord, who works in you; and fight valiantly, for the crown of life is prepared for you, since to those that overcome all things are promised, and they shall also inherit all things; for Christ says: “Blessed are ye, when all men speak evil of you; for great is your reward in heaven.” Matt. 5:11. He also says: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The Lord also said that when they have brought us before lords and princes, and tortured and killed us, they shall yet think to have done him service thereby. John 16:2. Therefore, trust firmly in Christ alone, and the Lord will not forsake you, and the crown of life is prepared for you.
Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the word of his grace, and take leave of you, here in this world; for I do not expect to see your face any more; but I hope to see you under the altar of Christ before many days. Therefore, my beloved wife in the Lord, though the world counts us liars, and separates us bodily, yet the merciful Father will soon bring us together again under his altar, together with our brother; for I do not doubt it, but am firmly trusting in him; for I have commended us three into his hands, to do his divine will with us, whereby his name may be most praised and thanked, to the salvation of our souls, and to the consolation and strengthening of all those that fear the Lord, and serve and love his name; this he will also do, I doubt not; for he does not forsake his own who trust in him; hence I go with a glad heart, to offer up my sacrifice to the praise of the Lord. If I could yet have come to you, I would have done so; but Joachim would not have it. But Christ will soon bring us together again under his altar; this men will not be able to prevent. Herewith I bid you adieu, till we meet under the altar. I commend you to the Lord. Big Henry salutes you much in the Lord. See, my dear wife in the Lord, the hour is now come that we must part; and thus I go before, with great joy and gladness, to my and your heavenly Father (John 20:17), and I most humbly entreat you, not to grieve on this account, but to rejoice with me. Rom. 12:15. However, I am sad in one respect, because I leave you among these wolves; but I have commended you and the fruit to the Lord, and know assuredly, that he will preserve you unto the end, and herein I rest content. Be valiant in the Lord.
HOW LIJSKEN, JEROME’S WIFE, VALIANTLY FOUGHT, AND CONFESSED THE GROUND OF HER FAITH BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE, REMAINING STEADFAST UNTO THE END; AND HOW THEY BY NIGHT PUT HER INTO A BAG, AND THREW HER INTO THE SCHELDT, SHE THUS SEALING HER FAITH WITH HER DEATH.
Lijsken, our sister, who was in bonds for a long time, fulfilled the time of her sojourning, continuing most perfectly and steadfastly in the word of the Lord unto the end, the Lord be praised forever, and confessed her faith very frankly and unfeignedly, in the court, before the authorities and the common people. In the first place, they questioned her concerning baptism, to which she replied: “I know but one baptism, which Christ and his saints practiced and left us.”
“What do you think of infant baptism?” asked the bailiff?
Lijsken answered: “That it is nothing but infant baptism, and a human institution.”
The lords then arose and put their heads together. In the meantime Lijsken clearly confessed and explained the ground of her faith to the people. Thereupon they passed sentence upon her. Lijsken thus addressed herself to the judges: “You are judges now, but the time will come when you shall wish that you had been shepherds;[253] for there is a Judge and Lord over us all, who will judge you in due time; ‘but we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.’ ” Wis. 5; Ps. 7:11; Eph. 6:12. The lords therefore said: “Take her out of the court.”
The people then ran together in great crowds to see her. Lijsken boldly said to them: “Be it known to you, that I do not suffer for theft, murder, or any other evil deed, but solely for the incorruptible word of God.” Thereupon they came to the Bargkerk,[254] when she said: “O thou den of thieves (Matthew 21:13), how many a soul is murdered in thee!” As she was thus going along between the servants, though not led by them, the latter said [to the people]: “Arise, make room.” Then Lijsken said: “They do not hinder me; they may look on me, and take an example from me, all who love the word of the Lord.” Phil. 3:17.