When I perceived this, I said: “We are nevertheless also human beings, and you no more; nor can I, from fear of God, esteem you more than men. Hence, consider the matter well, and do not deal so cruelly and tyrannically with us; for the Lord will visit and punish all violence, and he is the Judge over all this. Amos 5:12. Remember also, that in due time you will have to let us stand by the side of you, when the Lord will judge you and us together; for, as the Scripture says, we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ; and there every one shall receive in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:16. Yes, then your judgment will appear again, and be sifted there by the Lord. And I desire of you, my dear sir, that you do not take this as an insolent answer or threat, but accept it as a warning; for as such I say it to you, because I wish you eternal rest, as well as I wish it to my own soul. Therefore lay it well to heart, and take good heed how you deal with us.” Here it rested, and thus our brethren were for this time exempted from torture, and I put in their stead. They led me to the rack (where I still lie) and wanted to torture me simply because I would not tell where I had been with Henry last, and how many teachers there were, and where they lived. When they had asked me this many times, I wanted to know of them the reason, why they were so anxious to know it; whereupon the count replied to me: “If we were to tell you this, you would probably answer that you did not want to betray any one.” Then I said; “You answer yourself;” after which I spoke several times with him yet. As they persisted in demanding to know this, and the sole object was treachery, I determined to give the matter into their hands before proceeding to confess; hence I told them to retire into their own hearts and confess the truth, as before God in Heaven, and then to say whether they would or dared advise me this. In this manner I asked them several times, but received no answer; and thus they desisted and turned away from me, and said among themselves: “The matter were well enough, if it would not finally give rise to an insurrection.”
I commend you all to God. I have not the time, for the present, to write you more. Remember us always before the Lord. Amen.
MATTHIAS SERVAES, of Kottenem.