See, my worthy, chosen brethren and sisters, here you have comfort and joy in these and other, similar passages, in which you can with the afflicted in Israel find joy and gladness; hence these passages belong to you. For it has been done out of the true fear of God, and because we feared in our conscience, we renounced them (God be praised), according to the word of the prophet (Jer. 15:17) and the teaching of the apostle; for I declare before the Lord, and before his angels and hosts, yea, that I am ready with all my heart, and desirous, by the help and grace of the Lord, to testify to this with my flesh, blood and death. This is the solid ground of truth, firm and incontrovertible. I doubt not that they, are wrong, and we, through the grace of God, right. Thus I longingly expect to testify with a joyful mind to their wrong, even unto death, and also to confirm my faith and little gift. May the Lord strengthen me and my fellow-prisoner. But we must first drink the bitter cup with fear and trembling. O that we might taste it! for I have already given myself to him who was first given for me.
Hence, I further pray for the sake of the fellowship and unity of the Spirit, that every one love the brotherhood. 1 Pet. 2:17: O brethren and sisters, take heed thereto with a pure heart and faithful love; for we have all been made to drink into one Spirit, and are baptized into one body. 1 Cor. 12:13. Therefore serve one another diligently in love: cleave to Christ’s body, abide with your members, and neither separate nor divide. Let each esteem other better than themselves, and you will remain together with peace and joy; (Philip. 2:3); the merciful God grant this to you and us all. Amen.
In the third place, I further pray by the power of the Spirit, and by the conqueror Jesus Christ, yea, I beseech you by the love of the Father toward us,—the words are full of joy, spirit and gladness—: As my heavenly Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. John 15:9. O brethren and friends, take heed to it; love must be according to the example of Christ firm and sure, for therein love is revealed, known and shown to us, yea, herein love stands fast; declared by the death, blood and confession of his Son. O friends, my most beloved, this is the true measuring-reed, according to John’s writing. Rev. 11:1. Consider this in the depth of your heart.
In the fourth place, I further beseech your love, consider with an attentive heart, and inwardly and outwardly, with a live, sober mind, prove, measure and correct yourselves with the word of God, and follow and hold fast the same. O hold fast to the word of God, and you will never be deceived.
In the fifth place, I beseech all my brethren and sisters, as one that loves you with all his heart, if you would have your souls saved, receive the warning of the Holy Ghost, that in the latter times many shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. 1 Tim. 4:1.
O brethren and chosen sisters, consider, and learn to know the lying spirits. O diligently try the spirits by faith, and the knowledge of the word of God. 1 John 4:1. Distinguish the good and the evil consciences of men. O discern and learn to know with diligence them whose minds are corrupt, also who have the form of godliness, but deny the power of the Spirit. These and other points despise not; let them never depart from your heart, but hold them fast according to the word of God; try all spirits, and measure them therewith, and you will know what form or appearance they have. O brethren, beware with a pure fear of God, beware every way, that no one set up his reason or conscience as a head, and relapse into his old natural state. But much rather let the heart and conscience grow and increase according to the word of God. Let your understanding be of the unadulterated milk, and of the wine from the pure vine Christ. Refresh your heart with the living waters. Hold fast to the fountain and rock unto death.
Lastly, I beseech your love yet, by the crying of Jesus Christ, by the weeping of the apostle Paul (Philip. 3:18), and by the many tears of the prophet Jeremiah, diligently to attend to and consider, and, with a living and working faith to hold fast to and not depart from the solid ground, and immovable foundation in Sion. 1 Pet. 2:6. My brethren, we longingly expect to have to go hence; help us, therefore, to contend for the faith (Jude 3) and to defend it unto death. We hope by his power and strong grace, help and consolation to go before you, if it is his divine will. We have already given our bodies to him who bought our souls with his precious blood. 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1:19.
Thus, my dear brethren and sisters, we will herewith bid you adieu, and take leave for this time; if it were the will of the Lord, I would from the heart that it might be our final farewell and adieu till in life eternal—his divine will be done with us.
We greet all brethren and sisters that love us in the faith, especially those that are banished, out of a pure, brotherly, unfeigned, sound love, with the mighty power, the word and peace of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, till in his eternal glory. Amen.
Further, do not forget us poor, miserable, weak fellow-members, and receive our letter in good part, it is written out of love. We would have written more, but it is now not necessary; besides, we may soon be debarred from it, for we are chained together like horses. We expect, as the bailiff says, a letter from the stadtholder as to what he shall then do with us.