Further, my dear father and mother, I will bid you adieu, if it be the Lord’s pleasure, till the appearing of our Lord. The peace of the Lord be with you forever. Amen. By me,
Clement Hendrickss,
Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.
Fifth letter of Clement Hendrickss.
I wish you, my dear and beloved in the Spirit and according to the truth, as I trust, in the knowledge of the faith, and in the mind of Christ Jesus, a clear vision, and an open heart, in all divine matters, and in the word of God, thereby rightly to discriminate which is light or darkness, lies or truth, yea, flesh or spirit; in order that you may not be deceived, but adhere firmly to the word of God, so that you may receive a full reward.
Further, my dear and much beloved, I cannot well forbear to write you a little, how it still is with me in my bonds, and that my mind is still fixed to fear the Lord with all my heart, with all my strength, and with all my soul, for which I can never fully thank and praise the almighty, great and allwise God, for his unspeakable, yea, incomprehensible grace which he has hitherto shown me and still daily shows me, through Jesus Christ, and the supply of the Spirit. For this I thank the almighty God, and bow the knee of my heart before the Father full of grace and truth, who is the true Father full of grace, and the God of all comfort, who can comfort us when we are in tribulation and distress. 2 Cor. 1:3,4. Hence, my dear and faithful, keep well this good treasure, which is committed to you, given you of God through grace; for faith is the gift of God. Rom. 12:3. By it the elders obtained a good report, and assurance in their hearts, through the ancient word of the Spirit of Christ, who had testified before with their spirit, that they were the children of God, and heirs of all the glorious promises. Heb. 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:11. Hence they willingly forsook everything, and esteemed it nevertheless much more and greater riches, to suffer affliction with the children of God, than to enjoy all the temporal pleasures of this world; for they had respect unto the recompense of the reward, and to that which was eternal and not temporal. Heb. 11:25,26; 2 Cor. 4:18. For faith looks to that which does not appear here now, nor is seen with carnal eyes, but which is beheld by the inner, hidden man, and by the eyes of the heart; and hence they hold it fast, as though they saw it before their eyes, and could touch it with their hands; for they judge him faithful that promised, that he also will do it, for he cannot deny himself. Heb. 11:1,11; 10:23; 2 Timothy 2:13. Therefore, my dear and faithful, look not at the things which are seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:18. And Christ says: He that loveth aught more than me, is not worthy of me. Matt. 10:37. And in another place he says: Every one that forsaketh house, home, lands, and father and mother, yea, also his own life, shall receive a hundred-fold. Matt. 19:29. Hence we must forsake everything here, and love nothing more than the living God, and show it with works and by the deed, that we are the children of God, and not bastards. The righteous must through much affliction enter into the kingdom of heaven; but the Lord helps them in all their afflictions; he does not suffer his own to be tempted above that they are able, but has with the temptation also made a way to escape. Ps. 34:19; 1 Cor. 10:13. But the ungodly he reserves unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2 Pet. 2:9.
Hence, my dear and much beloved, remember Joseph, who was tempted by the Egyptian woman to commit whoredom with her; and she had taken hold of his coat or mantle, and would not let him go; but he fled from her, and left the coat or mantle, in her hand, rather than commit this great sin with her. Therefore, my dear and much beloved, if the harlot of Babylon takes hold of our coat or mantle rather let go, by the grace of God, your earthly coat, namely, your temporal life, than that you should be compelled to commit whoredom with her; well knowing that our mortal clothing must first be put off before the immortal can be put on. 2 Esdras 2:45. And if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building in heaven, a house not made with hands, but which is eternal. 2 Corinthians 5:1.
Furthermore, my dear and much beloved, I have undertaken to write you a little yet, of the words of Christ, where he says: If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [that he may abide with you forever]; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive. . . . Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye shall see me, and ye know me, says the Lord. John 14:15–17,19,20. In another place Christ also warns us, saying: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. . . . Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matt. 7:15–17,19.
Herewith I bid you adieu with the sure word of his grace, until his coming. The peace of the Lord be with you forever and ever. Amen. Receive this my brief letter in good part.
Written in my bonds out of love, by me,
Clement Hendrickss,
Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.