Therefore, though they tell you ever so much about my having apostatized, believe it not, for the devil does this, in order to seduce and deceive you thereby; for by the grace of God I shall never forsake the Lord. But I have been sick in my flesh for many days; however, my spirit was so much the stronger. I prayed the Lord, to send me still more suffering, if it would conduce to my salvation, and he gives me more and more strength and consolation, for which I cannot sufficiently thank him. Herewith I commend you to the Lord. When you sing aloud, I can well hear you. I thank the Lord, that he still gives you so much strength that I hear you sing.
LAST LETTER OF JEROME TO HIS WIFE, WRITTEN THE NIGHT WHEN HE WAS SENTENCED; HE WAS PUT TO DEATH ON THE 2d OF SEPTEMBER, A. D. 1551.
Grace and peace from God the Father, the unfathomable mercy of the Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and the loving kindness and communion of the Holy Ghost be unto you, for an everlasting consolation, joy, gladness, and strength in your bonds, tribulation, sufferings, and vexation in your labor, and for strength in your faith, love and tribulation. To him be praise for ever and ever. Amen.
I wish unto you, my dearly beloved, chosen wife in the Lord, the true, genuine, penitent faith, which works by love, and a very firm, immovable, steadfast mind in my and your most holy faith. I further wish you the crucified Christ for a bridegroom, who has chosen you for a daughter, bride and queen. To this King of the Most High, to the everlasting Father and jealous, loving God, I have now commended you, my beloved in the Lord, that he will now be your Comforter and Bridegroom, since he has called and taken me first, with which I am well content, seeing that it was the will of the Lord; eternal praise and glory be to the Lord for his great power which he has manifested in us.
Therefore, my most beloved in the Lord, do not complain, or grieve much, because he has taken me first; for he has done all for our best, that I should be an example unto you, and that you may follow me as valiantly as I, through the grace of the Lord, who has made us both worthy to suffer for his name, shall go before you. O my dear lamb, I humbly entreat you, not to listen to the papists or other sophists, but steadfastly to follow your bridegroom, your immovable bridegroom. Follow his footsteps, and fear not their threats, nor let their tortures terrify you; for they can do no more than the Lord permits them; they cannot hurt a hair of your head without the will of the Father which is in heaven. Matt. 10:30.
Hence, fear not, but continue firmly and steadfastly in the doctrine of Christ, and in the right truth; for the Lord will not forsake you, but will preserve you as the apple of his eye; yea, as his daughter and child, since it is impossible for God’s elect to be deceived; for his sheep hear his voice, and follow him; but they hear not the voice of strangers. Hence, no man shall pluck them out of his hand; for he is their Shepherd and Protector. Hence, fight valiantly, my chosen lamb, for the glory of the Lord, even as he fought so valiantly, for the salvation of our souls. Be therefore of good cheer, even though you have to lie yet a little longer in this den of lions. Your deliverance is nigh; it tarries not, but comes; and when he comes that will come with power, he will receive you as his bride and queen; for it is his pleasure to have his chosen with him, since he delights in beholding them; and the day of the Lord is at hand. Habakkuk 2:3; Ps. 45:14; Isa. 13:6.