Written in my bonds, by me,
Unworthy prisoner in the Lord.
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Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matt. 5:8.
ANOTHER LETTER OF JOOST VERKINDERT WRITTEN IN BONDS TO HIS WIFE ON THE 20TH OF AUGUST.
The unspeakable grace of God the Father, the love of his beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, together with the comfort; joy and gladness of the Holy Ghost; this I wish you for a cordial and friendly greeting, my very dear and beloved wife and sister in the Lord. I inform you that I am still tolerably well according to the time, for which reason I thank and praise the Lord for his great grace, trusting to hear the same from you.
Know further, that in the letters mentioning the disputations with the priest not all the words are contained which we had together, for he also quoted: “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death” (Jas. 5:20); telling us, that if we would be converted, we should be set free, and suffered to go where we pleased. He spoke with an angelic mien frequently with folded hands, adding virtually, that he would stand in our stead at the judgment of God and that we had not the truth; so that it seems to me, that if a man were not firmly built upon Christ, he would have to perish. But the almighty God be praised and thanked, that all his sharp arrows which he shot did not harm or injure me, for God was with me. He also said, that not many rich followed Christ, but many poor and plain people; but by the apostles many signs and miracles were wrought, whereby, he said, the rich, and also kings and princes came to the faith, and since he is very profuse in words, he quoted many other fragmentary passages of Scripture, and gives himself very plain. In short, he made a fair display, but did not sell anything. If we however, had sought the temporal life, he indeed represented it to us in very fair colors; but the almighty God be praised and thanked for his great grace, for my mind is still determined at this day, rather to die honorably than to live ignominiously. For there is none other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved except only the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12); for he alone is the way and entrance to life eternal. O my beloved, this way has no by-paths, but those that depart from it go to death. Flesh and blood would indeed live still longer, but the spirit would rather be unfettered and present with Christ (2 Cor. 5:8); for as long as we live we are in many dangers; for in a short time we may lose that for which we have long labored.
Therefore, we may indeed constantly cry to God, to preserve us poor pilgrims in this dismal wilderness, where serpents spew fire, yea, where wolves run swiftly until evening to shed innocent blood; but, my beloved, he that is with us is much mightier than he that is with the world; for God is with us, but with the world, an arm of flesh. O that we might be found one of those of whom John writes, saying: “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:14–17. And also: “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” And again: “These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” 14:4. Also: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” 3:10.