Here I should have liked to quote some more scriptures, but they interrupted me too much. I said that their hope was vain, or something similar, and this because of their sins, as the prophet says: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God.” Then they became angry, especially the jailer, and I thought they ought not to get angry. I further said that it now is as the prophet says: “He that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey, and, as Christ says, is hated by all men. Is. 59:15; Matt. 10:22. They all interrupted me again, and finally said that I should be led away. And there sat a man there, who said to the jailer, that he would first give me a drink. Then we had many words again, but I could never quite properly finish what I wanted to say, though I would have liked so much to finish it, on account of an honest man that was there, who reproved the jailer himself, because he became so angry. Then the jailer brought me a glass of wine, and I thanked him, saying: “To your health!” He asked me why I did not say: “God bless you.” I replied: “We ought not to take the name of the Lord in vain, as the drunkards and fornicators do.” This made them so angry that they had me led away without giving me the drink. God be thanked and praised for his great grace that he gives his own all that is necessary to their salvation. I am told, my sisters, that they only did this to see whether I would not depart from the Lord; yet I know that they did not once urge me to forsake my faith.
Excuse this simple letter. I greatly long for the day of our deliverance; I was so rejoiced the night that I heard that we were so near our deliverance, that for joy, the tears streamed from my eyes. The Lord be praised for his great grace. We trust to await our time with patience. They perhaps thought to frighten me by it; but I rejoice in it, God be praised, who gives me such strength. O my sisters, should one not rejoice at the prospect of so soon being delivered from all sorrow through the grace of the Lord? O that we were fit for it, what a great joy this would be for me! Yet I expect it through the Lord’s great grace, though I am not worthy of it. O that matters were so far, that the fiery furnace were prepared. O that it were so far, that I were standing in the strait gate, where flesh and blood must be left behind; then it should soon be over.
O my dear sisters, I am of such good cheer, and I receive such strength from the Lord, that I can not express it, praise be to him forever for his great grace which he shows me. I find it to be true: he that trusts in the Lord alone has in his sufferings such joy of heart, that no one can know it, save he that experiences it.
Farewell; I commend you to God in grace. Pray God, the Lord for me; I will do the same for you.
Written by me your weak brother,