Martyrs Mirror 1066A LETTER FROM LAUWERENS ANDRIESS, THE FEL; LOW PRISONER OF JOOST VERKINDERT; SENT THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, TO R., THE WIFE OF SAID JOOST

The eternal, abundant and rich grace and mercy of God the heavenly Father, and the pure love, joy and peace of the Son, together with the comfort of the Holy Ghost, who proceeds from both the Father and the Son, to comfort those that are in any tribulation; this I wish you, my dear and God beloved sister in the Lord, as a friendly greeting, to strengthen you in your great tribulation, in which you now also are for the Lord's holy name and the Gospel's sake, which Gospel He left us, and sealed it with His precious blood, that He might thereby cleanse and wash us from all our uncleanness, and present us unto Himself holy and blameless, without spot or wrinkle, yea, that He might thereby prepare unto Himself a holy people zealous of good works. Eph. 5:26 , 27 ; Tit. 2:14 . To Him be praise, thanks, glory, honor, power, and majesty, forever and ever. Amen.

After all proper greetings, my dear and beloved sister in the Lord, whom I love from the depth of my heart, because of our regeneration, I inform you, that I and your dear husband are still tolerably well according to the flesh; and as regards the spirit, it is still the purpose of us both, to adhere to the eternal truth by the great help of the Lord, without whom we can do nothing, and from whom we must also constantly look for help and comfort. And He, according to His promise, does not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but does with the temptation also make a way to escape. I Cor. 10:13 . Yea, He is a faithful helper in distress, who never yet forsook His own that continued in His fear, and firmly trusted in His Word; for He gives unto every one that asks Him, and will not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, that we should be to the praise of His glory. Matt. 7:7 ; II Pet. 3:9; Eph. 1:12 . Hence, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth; for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye* also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." Cal. 3:1-6. Therefore, let all bitterness, conceitedness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us. Eph. 4:31 , 32 ; 5:1 , 2 . And Christ says: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye .love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples." John 13:34 , 35 . And Peter says: "Have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins" ( I Pet. 4:8 ); and love is the fulfilling of the law. Rom. 13:8 . But we must love God above all, as is written: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26 . And fur

* "We," in the original.

ther: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 19:37 . Thus, we must love Him above all, and for His name forsake everything, and entirely deny ourselves. 16:24. Hence, my dear sister, be content, and do not grieve immoderately on this account; for it is the will of the Lord, and His will must be done. We must part here once. Thus, hasten, that we may all meet together when men shall not be able to part us any more. May the good and almighty Lord full of grace and truth make us fit hereto. Amen.

Farewell, and accept this in good part.