ADRIAEN PAN AND HIS WIFE, A. D. 1559.
In the year 1559, also Adriaen Pan, the faithful friend of Christ, and his wife, were in the claws of the wolves, at Antwerp, in Brabant, where they, through the grace of God, endured severe imprisonment and cruel examinations; but through true faith and living hope they were so firmly united to their Captain, Christ Jesus, that they could by no means be brought to apostatize. Hence they were condemned to death by the rulers of darkness, who knew not the light of truth; and thus Adriaen Pan was most miserably put to death with the sword, his wife, who was pregnant, bearing it all for Christ’s sake, however much it pained her. After she had given birth to her child, she was drowned, suffering it with great steadfastness. And thus they entered into eternal rest with the Lord.
A letter by Adriaen Pan, written in prison, in the year 1559.
Grace and peace from Gd our heavenly Father, through the merits of Jesus Christ his beloved Son, with the true illumination of the Holy Ghost, we wish all lovers of the eternal truth. Amen.
My dearly beloved and longed-for brethren, whom we love from the bottom of our hearts, and bear in our hearts, as those with whom we are one soul and one body, though we are now apparently deprived of you, you are nevertheless the more in our hearts, and we entreat you, that no one will faint at our tribulations to which we are now subjected; for we hope that you will be rejoiced to hear it, since we know for certain, that it is for the truth. 2 John 1:1; Acts 4:32; Eph. 3:13; 1 Thess. 3:3.
Peter says: Let none of you suffer as an evil-doer, or as a thief; but if you suffer as a Christian, happy are you; for the glory and Spirit of God rest upon you; but on their part he is evil spoken of. Paul says that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; yea, that eye hath not seen, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. My dear brethren, how should we not be of good courage, when we hear such comforting words! My dear friends, the more tribulation there is to try us, the more we are comforted. This we experienced at the start, when we were apprehended, when they assailed the house, as though they meant to destroy it with all that was in it. Then was my heart strengthened, as though I was a different person. True, my wife was somewhat distressed before they laid hands on us; but when she saw that it had to be, fear left her, as a garment put off, and she began to sing:
“Dus weest bedacht, ende op hem wacht; Want by sal komen als een dief in der nacht.”[280]
For we had not expected them yet, and had packed our things, intending to depart soon; but the Lord ordered it otherwise, praised be he forever. As they were busily engaged in plundering, I would fain have sung: Noyt meerder vreught in my en was, dan nu is in desen tijden.[281] But I restrained myself from singing, because I thought that many more trials were awaiting me yet; but the Lord be praised, who does not suffer us to be ashamed. Ps. 25:3. They began to upbraid us much concerning Munster and Amsterdam; but I told them that I was innocent in the matter, and that it was for the truth that we suffered. I also said: “I am not yet thirty-three years old; how then could I have been there?” Some railed, others lamented: but I said: “Weep not for us, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.” Methinks, we could well have said with David: “Though I were compassed about by ten thousands of people, who should come upon me, I should not fear them; yea, they have compassed me about; they compass me about like bees, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.” Psalm 3:6; 118:12.
My dear brethren, we do not say this, to boast, but for joy, and to thank God for the great power and strength which he grants us; and for the joy of all lovers for the truth, who may hear this. Pray for us that we may continue steadfast unto the end. We beg you to receive our few lines in good part. The 15th day of our imprisonment, and the 9th of May. My wife and I salute you much, and all with whom we are acquainted, or who may inquire after us.
Another letter by Adriaen Pan, written after he was sentenced.