“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:14), and “Know, that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” 1 Peter 1:18–21. “Now, the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” 1 Tim. 1:5. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:1–3. “For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.” Hebrews 7:26–28.
Therefore I admonish you, my most beloved, seeing we have such “a high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Heb. 10:21,22. John says: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 2:1,2. “And now ... I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”[236] Acts 20:32.
[236] He deems eternal salvation of greater value than temporal necessities.
The grace of our Lord be with you now and forever, Amen.
So I admonish you, my most beloved mother [wife], diligently to see to it, that you teach the children from their youth to fear God.
A LETTER OF CONSOLATION AND ADMONITION, WRITTEN IN PRISON BY DIRK PIETERS SMUEL, DECEASED, WHO WAS BURNT ALIVE AT AMSTERDAM, IN HOLLAND, FOR THE NAME AND TESTIMONY OF JESUS; TO ALL LOVERS OF THE EVANGELICAL TRUTH, A. D. 1546.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”[237] 2 Cor. 1:3–5. Hence Paul says: “I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:13–15. He himself says: “I thank thee, O Father Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.... And no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Matt. 11:25,26,27.