Farewell; I commend you to God in grace. Pray God, the Lord for me; I will do the same for you.
Written by me your weak brother,
Abraham Picolet.
TIJS JEURIAENSS AND JAN CLAESS, A. D. 1569.
In this dark bloody reign of antichrist two other pious brethren fell into the hands of the tyrants, one of whom was a minister of the word, named Tijs Jeuriaenss, residing in North Holland, at Karop in Waterland. The name of the other was Jan Claess, born near Wesop, and residing in the same town; he was still a single man, about twenty-five years of age. And as said Tijs Jeuriaenss had gone to Muyen near Amsterdam, to serve the church of God in the word, while said Jan Claess in company with some others went to Muyen to hear the exhortation. Thus he was apprehended with Tijs Jeuriaenss, and brought to the castle of Muyen, where they remained in imprisonment for about half a year, and were then sent to the Hague, where they were also kept confined for about half a year, and were then sent back to Muyen, at which place after about three months both were sentenced to be strangled and burnt at the stake. This was so done, and they were burnt black in their faces with reed, and were each put at a stake outside of the dyke, in the reed, at Muyen, for food to the birds. And as these pious witnesses of God suffered all this, not on account of having committed any crime (upon which alone the secular power has a right to visit punishment), but only for the truth of the word of God, and a good conscience, they are under the blessed promise of God, who has said: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:10. And as they have here for Christ’s sake delivered up their bodies unto death, for a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God, in confirmation of the truth, so they shall receive these their mortal and corruptible bodies again in the resurrection of the just, in eternal, glorious immortality, and shall live forever with Christ, whom they confessed here.
The particulars of this offering we have received from the lips of Symon Fijts, teacher of the church of God in Tessel, who was present in a chamber at their apprehension, and visited them in prison, and with his own eyes witnessed their steadfast departure from this world.
This Tijs Jeuriaenss was a very zealous follower of Christ, who in his long imprisonment also wrote many excellent letters for the consolation of the godfearing, some of which have long before this been published in a separate book; treating, among other things: of the bringing in and incarnation of Jesus Christ, and, again, of his departure; and also of the free will of man. Of these letters we, in order to avoid prolixity, present two to the reader; they are as follows:
The manifold grace of our God, and the abounding, deep love of his Son Jesus Christ, with the unsearchable, rich mercy of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son and delivered us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father, and the communion, love, joy, comfort and mighty power of his Holy Spirit, we wish to all dear brethren and sisters, and all our fellow-believers; also much wisdom, patience, a valiant faith, immovable hope, the breast-plate, helmet and armor of our God, certain victory, the triumphant, two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the power of God through the blood of the Lamb. To this high God and Lord, and his blessed Son be power, strength, might, praise, honor, and glory, forever and ever. Amen.
I desire out of a pure heart, with the prophet Daniel, imprisoned in Babylon, from pure love, to open the windows of my heart toward the pleasant city of my God, Jerusalem, now to look lovingly upon her with a glad heart, and to show her a joyful face out of pure love; and thus to turn the eyes of pleasant desire to her, and to show her out of pure love a pleasant, glad and joyful countenance, with the sound of rejoicing; for Jerusalem signifies, vision of peace. This adorned and pleasant city of Jerusalem was shown by the angel of God to the apostle John. Rev. 21:10. He saw it in the Spirit and in a vision, with a joyful heart, and confessed that Jerusalem is a vision of peace, and therefore it cannot be beheld but through the vision of peace. John saw her in a vision, and discerned her by the Spirit of truth; hence no one can now see her but by the vision of the Spirit, and through the Spirit of truth. This city has the glory of God; her streets are like unto gold, yea, of pure gold. Verse 21. Here is the river of life, clear as crystal. 22:1. In short, here is the pleasant tree, which yields her fruit every month; the leaves of it are for healing, for they are fruits of life. This city has high walls, twelve foundations, and twelve gates. 21:12,19. She has also twelve watchmen, with twelve trumpets, the pleasant sound and glorious voice of which rejoice my soul. This is that joyful, pleasant and sweet voice which delighted John; for it is like the voice of harpers playing on their harps. 14:2. The sound and voice of all kinds of music in Babylon caused the Babylonians to kneel down and worship the high image (Dan. 3:7); but this sound causes my soul to rejoice with the joy of the Holy Ghost. This city is far more glorious than all other cities, for her builder and maker is God. Heb. 11:10. This city comes down from heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God; for God will dwell with them, and he shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rev. 21:2,3,4. Behold, here is the spiritual Solomon of the spiritual tabernacle or temple. Here is the spiritual sea which is carried by twelve oxen. 1 Kings 7:23. In short, here every thing is spiritual; according to the request of Peter, lively stones in this living or spiritual temple or house. 1 Pet. 2:5. Here the golden vessels filled with incense are brought to the altar of the Lord. These golden vessels filled with incense are poured out before the Lord, for they are the prayers of the saints. Rev. 5:8. Thus everything is renewed in spirit and in truth. For here is the spiritual paradise planted or founded by God himself. Here men eat of the tree of life. Here is the spiritual Adam, of which the literal was a figure, after whose image all Christians strive, till they are like unto him in weakness, for they must be conformed to the image of his Son. Romans 5:14; 8:29. Here has also the spiritual Eve and bride of this spiritual husband come forth, through the spiritual sleep, and is thus flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones. Gen. 2:23; Eph. 5:30. There is also here, in spirit and in truth, the spiritual ark seen by John. Rev. 11:19. Here we enter in a spiritual manner into the ark of God, through the baptism of Jesus Christ, inwardly prompted to it by fire and the Holy Ghost, and outwardly all the evil carnal lusts washed with water; yea, baptized into his death. Rom. 6:3. For as by the flood all flesh perished, so must now also perish, through baptism, all lust of the flesh, and die without the ark, which is represented by the former, 1 Peter 3:20,21. Here is the spiritual dove, which brought the spiritual olive branch into the ark of the Lord; for as the dove brought an olive branch in her mouth into Noah’s ark, to show that the flood was abating, so the Holy Ghost came down in the form of a dove upon Christ, to show that he was the Son of God, as had been said to John the Baptist: “Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, he it is.” John 1:33. In the second place, to show that the flood or punishment had departed, and joy and glad tidings were come.
Behold, this is the spiritual dove, as Esdras says: Of all the fowls thou hast chosen thee one dove. 2 Esd. 5:26. And Christ Jesus says to his disciples: Be harmless as doves. Matt. 10:16. These doves bear the pleasant olive branch, which is Christ, to all those that with Noah desire and apprehend it by faith. I desire once more, with the eyes of love, and with the vision of peace, to turn my heart and mind with John to the glorious woman (Rev. 12:1) since the Lord has shown her to me through faith and the vision of his word; for her beauty has drawn me, her loveliness inflames me, I am inclined to her, she has with her sweet singing conquered my heart, she has captivated me with her lovely eyes, she has bound me with heavenly bonds, for her bond is the girdle of truth, the bond of peace and love. Ephesians 6:14; 4:3; Col. 3:14.