I beseech all my brethren and sisters, and you, as a prisoner in the Lord, by the mercies of God, and by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word, nor by letter as from us. 2 Thessalonians 2:1,2. This is the faithful warning of Paul to his friends.
ANOTHER LETTER OF TIJS JEURIAENSS, WRITTEN IN PRISON TO THE FRIENDS IN EDAM, A. D. 1569.
My dear brethren and sisters, one with us in our most holy Christian faith, I wish you the weapons of light, to fight against the works of darkness; yea, from the depth of my heart and my inmost soul I wish you new tidings, glad news, an evangelical greeting, grace, mercy, peace, long-suffering, love, comfort, wisdom, and steadfastness; yea, from God our heavenly Father, all his heavenly treasures and riches, through Jesus Christ, our Giver and Distributor, our Prophet; great Apostle, and High Priest, our Ground, Foundation and Corner-stone in Sion, our Trumpet, and Horn of salvation in the house of David and camp of Israel, our Way, Door, Truth and Life, our Reconciler, Mediator and Advocate, our Peace, Atonement and Righteousness, our pashcal Dove and pashcal Lamb, our Sun, Light, Morning-Star, our delightful Emmanuel, Peace, Comfort, and Captain of the faith, our Shepherd, David and Solomon according to the spirit, our Comforter and Rejoicer, our Joy, Gladness, Might and Strength, our Fortress, Castle, Wall and Strength, our Hero, Warrior and Conqueror, who led captivity captive, deprived death of its might, power, and strength, that is, him that had the power of death, brought life and immortality to light, spoiled principalities and powers, triumphed over them in himself, broke down the middle wall of partition, blotted out the handwriting and nailed it to the cross, fulfilled the promises, satisfied the law, confirmed the testament with his death, and sealed it with his blood, and renewed all things, and put them under his feet, at the mercy seat upon the ark of God, above the cherubim, in the most holy place, that is, the head of his church forever. Amen. Eph. 4:8; Heb. 2:14; Col. 2:15; Eph. 2:14; Matt. 5:17; Heb. 9:17: Rom. 3:25; Ex. 25:17; Eph. 1:22.
Since you are often in our hearts, dear and in God beloved, sanctified brethren and sisters, we cannot well forbear to visit your love, in spirit, through love, with our unworthy letters. For though according to the flesh, we are not present together, we are nevertheless together in spirit, and we rejoice in our bonds, afflicted in the flesh, but joyful and delighted in spirit, when we consider your love, piety, brotherly love and godliness, the steadfastness of your faith, the assurance, constancy and confidence of your mind, your steadfastness and the obedience of the Gospel, your boldness of Jesus Christ, and the strengthening of our God through the power of his Holy Spirit. Hence the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one, which no one can do except he remain grounded, rooted and fixed in God through Jesus Christ, and God, again must dwell, walk and rest in him through Christ, that is: there must be the word and the wholesome knowledge of God, and an unconquerable love, hope and faith; and this in the power of the Spirit, irrefutable and unconquerable, in the firm foundation stone in Sion, which is to the unbelieving, a hard touch-stone of stumbling and offense. Hence, whosoever shall fall on it shall be broken and crushed; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder, that is, destroy him. 1 John 2:14; Eph. 3:17; 2 Cor. 6:16; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 Pet. 2:6; Matt. 21:44.