Further, my dear sister, I do not, because of my small gift, know much more to write you, but commend you to the Lord, and to the rich, comforting word of his grace. I moreover pray you to excuse the plain, simple letter which I, your unworthy servant, have written, who am the weakest in Israel, yea, not worthy to unloose your shoe’s latchet; however, I yet trust in the grace of God.
Furthermore, my dear sister, greet your dear husband, and also the acquaintances, in my name. My dear wife also greets you both, and the acquaintances much. There also greet you much, Adriaen, Grietgen, Hansken, and Dingentgen; and all of us prisoners jointly request of you, that you will diligently pray the Lord for us. Nothing more. Farewell, and do the best in the beginning and in the end.
Written in my bonds, by me, your weak brother and servant, as much as I am able.
I, Maerten van der Straten, imprisoned for the word of the Lord, wish you my dear and much beloved brother in the Lord, Servaes Janss, much grace and mercy from God our heavenly Father, and also to all that have been redeemed from the earth, and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to the word of the prophet, bore our reproach, took upon him our sins, and restored to us that which he had not taken away, that he might deliver us from this present evil world; according to the will of God his Father; to whom be glory power and honor forever and ever. Amen.
Out of a fond heart a loving greeting to you, my beloved, dear friend and brother in the Lord, whom I love according to the peculiar privilege of Israel, this the Lord knows, who according to the words of Jeremiah, tries men’s hearts and reins, and according to David, knows men’s thoughts when they are yet afar off. Jer. 17:10; Ps. 139:2.
Further, after all proper and Christian salutation, let me, please, inform your love, that I, the Lord be praised forever, am in tolerably good health according to the flesh, and according to the spirit my mind is still fixed to serve God all the days of my life. I have moreover the undoubted confidence concerning you, that you are also well in soul and body, ready to keep the covenant which you once made with the Lord our God, when you bowed your knees before God and his glorious majesty; may this only, eternal, and only wise God, endow you, according to the word of the prophet (Joel 2:28), with his Holy Spirit, that you, led by him, may lead a good and chaste conversation among the Gentiles, as Christ teaches us in the gospel, saying: “Let your light so shine before men, that they beholding your good conversation, may glorify God your Father.”
Hence, O my dear brother, let us, according to the writing of the apostle, diligently strive to be the chiefest in virtue; as Paul also says, that we should approve ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed: For God can wound, and heal again, as is written in the Book of Kings: “The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” Tit. 3:8; 2 Cor. 6:4–9; Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Sam. 2:6.