Martyrs Mirror 806The first letter of Joris Wipe, written to his wife, when he was sent from. Dortrecht to the Hague

The eternal joy and gladness which ear has not heard, nor eye seen, nor has entered into the heart of man, this same joy and gladness I wish you my dearest wife and sister, whom I love in God, for a heartfelt salutation. Amen.

My most beloved wife and sister in the Lord, I wish you the joy of the Holy Ghost in your heart, for a heartfelt greeting in God our Saviour and Lord; which joy of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law; and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Gal. 5:22-24 .

Therefore my dear wife in the Lord, take heed to yourself, that you abound with this precious Spirit; for of that with which one is filled He will bring forth. Regard not the joy and pleasure of this world; "for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Gal. 6:7 , 8 . O dear sister in the Lord, let us "no be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Gal. 6:9 . Hence, pray always with all prayer, watching and supplication in the Spirit, in all your requests to the Lord ( Eph. 6:18 ), and let your modesty and obedience, and your love to God, be an example and pattern to all our dear obedient children, whom the holy Lord has given us, to the praise and glory of His Father. And use diligence in teaching and admonishing them; and chastise them, lest the Lord requires them at your hands. Do your very best, so that I may see you all again at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:14 . Be well content, and always fix your heart and mind upon the living God; for He will not forsake the widow and the fatherless; but His eyes behold the afflicted widows and fatherless, and His ear is open unto their prayer. Hence, be patient, and commit all your concerns to the Lord; He will be a kind Protector to you. If you remain faithful to Him, He will be faithful to you; He will not be wanting on His part.

I further let you know, that my mind and heart are still fixed upon the living God, and I trust by His great mercy not to separate from Him, and I daily wait for my redemption. I thought that your sister had just come in time to witness my offering. I knew nothing to the contrary for a time; but my hour had not come yet the Lord knows how to reserve His own for the proper time. O dear wife, pray the Lord for me as long as I am in this poor, weak flesh. I trust to remember you also in my prayers, and I most affectionately thank you in the Lord for sending me so kind an exhortation, which is food for the soul; I also thank you for the temporal things.

Herewith I commend you to Almighty God, and to the Word of His grace. Amen. Greet all the brethren and sisters much in the Lord.

Written by me, Joris Wippe, your husband and brother in the Lord, imprisoned at the Hague, in Holland, for the testimony of Jesus Christ.