See, my fair one, you will be one of that number whom John saw under the altar, who were clothed in white robes; and will help fulfill their number, and the great multitude of whom the angel told Esdras, 2 Esd. 2:45. For when the number, or the company of the righteous is fulfilled, the rewarding will soon take place. Then shall all your tears be wiped away; the heat of the sun will hurt you no more, for you shall with all the chosen children of God rest under his shadow. My dear lamb, if you now only strive manfully for the truth, it is but for this life; after this time there is no more time. No man is crowned, except he strive lawfully. 2 Tim. 2:5. And James says: Dear brethren, we count them happy that have endured. Jas. 5:11. And Solomon says, that his [God’s] people are tried as gold in the furnace, and when he finds them acceptable, he receives them as a burnt offering. Wis. 3:6. Confess now the word of the Lord before this evil generation; for if we confess him, he also will confess us before his heavenly Father, and before his angels; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Matt. 10:32. 2 Tim. 2:12,13. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity, v. 19.
Behold, my dear lamb, here the sentence is already pronounced. Take heed now, that in your bonds, as you have begun, you remain faithful for the word of the Lord; that you may receive a full reward, and lose not that for which you have so long labored by faith; for whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 2 John 8,9.
Dear Jan’s daughter, we expect such a glorious crown, if we abide in the truth; how we will rejoice when we get into the new heavenly Jerusalem, where the streets are of pure gold; and her gates are not closed against the penitent, but they are not open unto the ungodly, for without are dogs and sorcerers. Rev. 21:21; 22:15. See, my dearest lamb, for none but the godfearing; for them his grace is always ready, and he will give them to drink of the beautiful river, which flows through the fair city; these are the living waters of which the Lord told the Samaritan woman, that if she should drink of them, she should never thirst. John 4:14. Behold, my dear rib, of these waters did all the righteous drink. They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 1 Cor. 10:4,5.
Behold, dear Adriaenken Jans, what virtues the Lord has shown us, and how richly he has bestowed gifts upon his children, and how he shall endow them when he shall come to judge all the nations of the earth. Then shall we tread down all our enemies, and shall sit with all the elect of God upon twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel; and shall stand in great boldness before the face of those that have afflicted us; and we shall shine as sparks among the stubble, and leap as calves of the stall, in that day which the Lord has appointed. Matt. 19:28; Wis. 5:1; 3:7; Mal. 4:2,3. We also read that Esdras saw in the spirit, upon mount Sion, how the Lord went and gave palms into the hands, and set crowns upon the heads, of those who had confessed him in the world. 2 Esd. 2:42. Peter also says that we shall be made kings and priests, that we should shew forth the virtues of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Rev. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:9.