My dear brethren and sisters, may the Lord through faith give you such a heart and vision, that you may with Moses and all the saints of God know what God has prepared for them that love him; for the righteous shall live forever, for the Lord is their reward, and the care of them is with the Most High. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand, and they shall shine forth as the sun in the throne of heaven. Wis. 5:15,16; Matt. 13:43.
Hence the apostle writes: “If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Cor. 5:1. By this the apostle indicates, that though our earthly body be put to death here, it shall rise again, and be shed about with heavenly glory. Therefore he writes: “Our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior Jesus, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” Phil. 3:20,21; Tit. 2:13. By this he again indicates, how gloriously the body will be changed after the resurrection; now it is weak, then it shall become strong; now natural, then spiritual; now mortal, but then immortal; for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal, immortality; then shall the terrible death be swallowed up in victory; then shall the last enemy, which is death, be destroyed; then shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor any heat; then shall the tears be wiped away from the eyes: then shall they inherit all things with Christ, because they have overcome; then shall he lead them to the fountain of living water, and feed them with the hidden heavenly bread, that they shall neither hunger nor thirst any more; there shall the spiritual Solomon dwell in perfect peace with the spiritual Israel, for all his enemies shall be made his footstool.
Therefore, my dear brethren and sisters, be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58.
Herewith I commend my dear brethren and sisters to the Lord, who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified. Pray the Lord for me, that I may contend steadfastly, and continue in the hope in which I (the Lord be praised forever) still stand at the present time. And I pray you, dear brethren, do the best with my wife and children.
Written by me, Jacob the Chandler, your weak brother and minister, on the 18th of April.
_Alle die lijden na den Wille Godts, wilt hierop mercken, Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Scheppers met goede Wercken._ (1 Peter 4:19.)