A THIRD LETTER OF WOUTER DENIJS AND HIS FELLOW-PRISONERS.
Let every one take heed, though I do not write much or very learnedly, which is something that is not in me. Receive this from me in good part, as I trust you will do. These greetings and warnings I send to those indicated in my preceding letters, and further to those who are principally of my acquaintance, and to all that walk in the fear of God, and love his appearing, and desire to follow this; and I admonish every one to be diligent in searching the word of God. Exhort one another in love, and copy this for my dear and beloved wife, and preserve these three letters: this I heartily pray you. Take further solicitations for your salvation, and let it be read to you occasionally. Grieve not on my account, but grieve before God because of your sins. Think not within yourselves, that you are without sin, but always have an humble estimate of yourselves before the Lord; for James says: If any man think that he serveth God, and bridleth not his tongue, this man’s religion is vain. James 1:9. Therefore, my beloved, comfort yourselves in the Lord, and think that he has called me hereunto; and I trust by his power, through the help and strength of him who counts me worthy for this, not to depart therefrom for any torture. And I firmly trust that the Lord counts, and shall make, me worthy for it; and I shall firmly trust in him with a pure heart unto the end; for I may well say hitherto, that the Lord is showing me, and five or six others with me, such abundant grace, that it were impossible for me to describe it with the pen; for we scarcely know of our bonds, but are together in fervency of spirit. Hence I admonish you all to pray with greater diligence than I have sometimes done, for the prisoners, as the apostle exhorts us. Let, therefore, every one be diligent to pray in love; for we find that they that are in bonds pray much more fervently for those who are out of bonds. Thus I will conclude writing. Let every one be quick to see how the life and doctrine of the learned and wise of this world accord with the life of our Lord, Christ Jesus, our Savior.
Herewith I commend you to the faithful Creator, and to the word of his grace.
Written by me, Wouter Denijs,
And my fellow-prisoners.
COPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN FROM PRISON, AT ANTWERP, BY A YOUNG WOMAN, NAMED NELLEKEN JASPER, OF BLIJENBERG, WHO LAID DOWN HER LIFE AT THE FORMER PLACE, FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DIVINE WORD.
Grace and peace be from God the eternal and Almighty Father, through Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins into the hands of the enemies, and received much suffering from sinners, that he might deliver us from this evil and perverse world, according to the will of his Father. To him be praise, and honor forever and ever. Amen.
This bleeding and crucified Jesus Christ I wish all dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, and all those that fear God from the heart, as a cordial greeting, and endowing of your mind. Further, my heartily beloved friends, and chosen in the Lord, please know that my mind is still unchanged, and desire to adhere to the eternal truth all the days of my life, as long as there is breath in my body. I am of good cheer; praise, glory and thanks be to the Lord evermore for the great grace which he shows me, for I have from the very beginning been of such good cheer. Yea, he gives such joy into my heart, that I cannot express it, and I cannot fully thank the Lord for the great benefits he shows me.
Know further, my dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, that I was before the lords. There were four of them: the Margrave, two judges, and the clerk of the criminal court. When I entered the room, I did reverence to them, and the Margrave said: “Well, my daughter how are you?” I replied: “Very well, sir.” The Margrave asked me whether I had not sat myself tired. I answered: “Yes, my lords, if it were your pleasure to make away with me, it would be very welcome to me.” The Margrave said: “How so, my daughter, you must not speak thus; you must give up your opinion, and the King will pardon you.” I said: “You have put my father and mother out of the way, and the two boys, but me you have left sitting here, which greatly grieves me.” The Margrave said: “How so, my daughter; if I should have put you out of the way with your father and mother, it would not seem good to me; since you are not yet baptized, the King will pardon you.” The judges asked: “Is she not yet baptized?” “No,” replied the Margrave. I said: “No; it is true, I am not yet baptized; but if I were released this evening, I should have it done to-morrow, if it were possible.” Then they sighed over me, and I said: “The two boys were likewise not baptized.” They replied: “It is true; they would not desist from their opinion; efforts enough were made in regard to them.” I said, “I will likewise not depart from my faith.” They told me that I should then not fare better. I said I was well satisfied with it; though they should roast me on a gridiron, or boil me in oil, yet I trust by the grace of the Lord not to depart from the truth, as long as there is breath in me; “and for this,” I said, “I am of good cheer and would rather see it to-day than to-morrow.” I firmly hope and trust in the Lord, that he will help me, and have fixed my confidence in his word, where he says: “O my chosen, fear thou not: I shall preserve thee in the fire and in the water, and I shall not suffer thee to be tempted above that thou art able to bear.” Then they said: “Daughter, you are deceived; your father and your mother deceived you; they compelled you to it; you were under their subjection; you did it through fear; but now you are free from them, and have your own free will; hence, let it go; the King will pardon you; you are young yet;” and other similar words. I said that I wanted to keep what I had. They said that I should advise with myself. I told them that I had my advice with me, and had sufficiently advised with myself.
They told me to think that they also had a soul, and wanted to be saved. I told them that there were many who would be willing to rejoice with Christ, but few that wanted to suffer with him. They said that it did not depend on suffering. I said that Christ himself had to suffer: how much more we? They did not reply to this, but said: “Forsake your opinion; we shall send you learned men into a little room alone;” and asked me what learned men and ecclesiastics I wanted. I told them that I did not want any, but that I wanted to keep what I had. They said that I must be forever damned if I should die in this condition, and that my father and mother, and brothers, were glad if they could be here and repent. I told them that I knew better. We had many more words, which it would take me too long to write; besides, I have forgotten much of it. Thus, my affectionately beloved brethren and sisters, whom I love from my inmost heart, it is my heartfelt prayer and request of you, that you would entreat the Lord in my behalf, that I may finish it to the praise of the Lord, and to my eternal salvation. Amen.
Dear friends, I must yet pass through a great wilderness, for it is desolate and perilous here; yea, I must yet tread through thistles and thorns; but the crown of life is prepared for us; for it is the right truth, and no other shall ever be found. O my dear lambs, do not depart from the Lord; he will not permit you to be tempted above that you are able to bear; for he is a faithful succorer, a strength in weakness, and a comforter in sorrow to those that are afflicted in heart. Let us nestle close into his arms, and cast all of our care upon him, for he cares for us, and will himself watch over us; that we may partake of the supper with all the saints in heaven, where Christ himself will gird himself, and serve at the table. Herewith I will commend you to the Lord, and to the mighty word of his grace; may the peace of God rule in your hearts. I heartily greet all our dear brethren and sisters, and all those that fear God from the heart, with the peace of God.