My dearest sister in the Lord, wait patiently for the time; be patient unto the coming of our Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Therefore be patient, and stablish your heart; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. My dear sister, you have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Jas. 5:7, etc.
My dear lamb, let us keep unto the end that which we have; he is faithful that promised it us. Heb. 10:23. My dear sister, humble yourself always; cast all your care upon him, for he cares for you, and for us all (1 Peter 5:6,7); for we know our reward beforehand, if we hold fast his commandments unto the end, according to our weakness; and we wait for it with patience. Hence Paul says that love is the bond of perfectness. Col. 3:14. And Peter says: Have perfect charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Pet. 4:8. My dear sister in the Lord, though we must now be the laughing stock of the world, and wander about in foreign lands, we will be none the worse for it when the Lord shall say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:34. Then shall the child be born; then there shall be no more reviling; then shall all our enemies be conquered; then shall the tears be wiped from our eyes; then shall no harm happen to us any more; then shall we drink of the fountain of life, without price; for whatsoever things were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have before. Rom. 15:4.
The God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Farewell, my dear sister in the Lord. Amen.
By me, Willeboort Corneliss.
Written in bonds.
PRIJNTGEN AND MARTIJNTGEN MAELBOUTS, IN THE YEAR 1564.
On the 12th of November A. D. 1564, there was beheaded with the sword, at Ghent in Flanders, one Prijntgen Maelbouts, widow of Jacob de Backer, brother of Pauwels van Meenen, and with her, her sister, Martijntgen Maelbouts, a young girl, a native of Thielt; not for any reported evil deeds, but simply for the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ, in a good conscience, since they, according to the teaching of the holy Scriptures, had separated from the papal church of antichrist—as being polluted with much uncleanness of the impure works of darkness, and the doctrines and commandments of men, militating against the holy word of the Lord—and united with the true members of Christ, and sought with them, according to their weak ability, to observe the commandments and ordinances of their Lord. On this account the persecutors and enemies of the truth deprived them of their lives, which, to please their Lord and redeemer, they willingly resigned, in the living hope and firm faith, that at the resurrection of the just, they should receive back into great glory these their corruptible members, which they here resigned for his name’s sake, and reign with God and his saints in eternity. 2 Maccabees 7:11,14; 1 Cor. 15:43.
MR. JELIS MATTHIJSS, PUT TO DEATH FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, AT MIDDLEBORGH, IN THE YEAR A. D. 1564.
A letter of Mr. Jelis Matthijss, written in prison, at Middleborgh , A. D. 1564, where he laid down his life for the name of the Lord.
The foundation of God standeth sure.—2 Timothy 2:19.