Now be of good cheer, my dear wife and sister in the Lord, and lay aside all grief; for what man is there (as said above) that can say: I have not sinned; my heart is clean, I am pure from sin? I also might have walked more diligently before you than I have done; however, may God take from us all that is displeasing to him in us. Amen. Be watchful, my dear sister in the Lord; for the devil seeks to disquiet men.
I have written this in Cunebert’s tower, but now we are in the count’s house, namely, I Matthias and Herman, and are in daily expectation of being offered up, with which we are heartily satisfied, if God count us worthy. Preserve this letter very carefully from the eyes of those who sharply examine us, lest others get into trouble thereby. The peace of God be with us all. Amen.
THE SEVENTH LETTER OF MATTHIAS SERVAES, WRITTEN FROM PRISON TO J. N. AND HIS BRETHREN.
Grace and peace be with all believers in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Know further, dear brethren and sisters, that it is still very well with us, namely, with me and Herman; for our hearts are full of joy, yea, running over with it. Time seems as short to us as it ever did. In the night we praise our God with one accord. We are now alone. Eberhard, the bishop’s chaplain, visited me again, on the Saturday after St. James’ day, and conversed very affably with me about infant baptism and the resurrection of the dead. And the count entreated me, saying: Dear Matthias, tell us your fundamental views concerning these articles, for I told you that your people in the other tower confessed that the dead bodies will not rise; but from you I have received no clear answer, and as you have taught them, they must have it from you. I replied: “It is true, Sir Count, you had such a conversation with me the last time, and I then answered to you, as also now, namely, that I call all the prisoners to witness, that I presented no further views in my doctrine (which is not mine, but Christ’s), than that the time will come when all the dead will rise from their graves, the righteous unto life, the wicked unto eternal death, and that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. But that this same flesh and blood which we now have should inherit the kingdom of God, this I did not teach, but the contrary, namely: ‘That flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.’ ” 1 Cor. 15:50.
Then Eberhard, the chaplain, said that he too did not believe that this flesh and blood should inherit the kingdom of God. I also said: “We shall be changed.” Now, he that would know how this will come to pass, and how the dead will rise, and with what bodies they will come, to him Paul says: “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth him a body as it hath pleased him.” (1 Cor. 15:35). This, I said, is my ground, O that I might become worthy to rise with the righteous, this is my care; as to how the Lord will give me a body, this I leave to him, and am well satisfied therewith. More than this I shall confess to neither you nor any other man. Herein, he said, we do not differ much.
I then further said: “The cry now raised against us is: This one has confessed this, and that one, that, and another one something else. My good friend, go among the people, and interrogate each individual separately concerning all the articles; what do you think, would they answer or confess to you anything certain? Certainly nothing at all, or at least but very little.” “It is true,” he replied. We had much additional conversation yet, concerning what ancient writers say on infant baptism. I rejected them all, and left them to God; but he begged me to consider it. I put the same request to him, and said: “I feel assured and confirmed in my heart, that it is the pure truth, and I want to live and die for it.” I also told them something in regard to their unclean and defective church—the brothel, gambling-house, fencing-school, and their daily life, which they lead in an utterly heathen manner; and also concerning the injustice and violence they, by way of torture, had inflicted upon us, only because we would not be traitors; all this I told him to consider, if he were a shepherd of the sheep. He replied that he was heartily sorry for it, and the count’s countenance fell, as it seemed to me. They arose, and Eberhard gave me his hand, and in a very friendly manner commended me to the Lord.
Thus, it is still very well with us, the Lord be thanked. Amen. Remember us day and night in your prayers, which we also intend to do for you. And I wish that all prisoners might be admonished and warned to decline all conversation: they are quite at liberty to refuse it. O brethren, how subtilly and craftily they spread their nets, to chase my soul into them; but they shall not capture it, this I confidently hope; for in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. Prov. 1:17.
Hence I desire of all prisoners, that they guard their lips, and bridle their tongues. While the wicked is before you, as David says (Ps. 39:1), make not haste to speak, lest you deceive your heart; and wait with patience until Christ speaks in you, or his Spirit, according to his promise, through you. Matt. 10:20. And though you reply not to every question, you need not be ashamed of it, for he who was the wisdom of God, namely, Christ, was also not ashamed of it, as the scriptures of the Old and the New Testament sufficiently testify. And if you are asked concerning others who are still at large or in prison, as to whether they are of our number or not, or whether they are baptized or not, you may reply: “I am not imprisoned here for another, but for myself; hence, I may speak for myself, and not for another.” And if they then threaten you with the torture or long imprisonment, let them threaten, let them torture; only do you firmly trust in the Lord, and they shall not be able to do more than God, who has the king’s heart in his power, will permit. Prov. 21:1. If it then be the will of the Lord, that you suffer, remember that you often said: Lord, thy will be done. And, surely, if you firmly trust the Lord, the very hairs of your head are all numbered, and not one of them will fall from it without the Father’s will. Matt. 6:10; 10:30; Luke 12:7.
Therefore, fear not their threats in the least, and be not terrified; but submit to the Lord with patience and long-suffering in all that befalls you on account of the truth. Trust God; he will not forsake you even unto death. Amen.