My children according to the flesh, but, alas! not according to the spirit, here is a testament, which I, your mother, leave you, namely, Albert, Johan, Egbert, Truyken, my dear children. The Lord bless you, as Isaac blessed his son Jacob, that he should be a ruler over his brethren. My children in the flesh, I must leave you young; may the Most High permit us to meet in the world to come, which shall Be done before long by the Father, who will paternally bless us with his most holy name. This I expect from day to day, that, when it pleases the Lord, I may offer up my life and body for his holy name’s sake, and I trust that this will not be deferred, and that the good Lord will not forget me any longer. When you hear this, sorrow not, as the world does, which has no hope, or knows not where they shall be; but thank the Most High, that you had a mother who was found worthy to shed her blood for the name of the Lord, and who, through his great grace and mercy, may be counted as a witness or martyr. Hence, my children, respect this testament which I leave you.
I cannot leave you gold or silver, nor can I give you treasures of this world, as the world gives to her children; for this I did not take with me, but left it to your carnal father; and this I also did not seek, but I sought the eternal riches, which are imperishable. Do you also seek this way, and you shall live forever; and follow this testament and the instruction which I here write you. Even as Christ Jesus our forerunner left such to us for an everlasting testament, and sealed it with his blood; such a testament I also leave you, and will likewise seal the same with my blood, even as the blessed Jesus did. My children, do not set at naught or lightly esteem this; be not heedless: it is better than gold, for it will save your souls. If you do what I write you, you shall see me again in great glory, and you shall be as kings and queens; but you must keep yourselves from this corruptible world, for it shall pass away with all its lusts.
Hear, my children, the instruction of your mother, and incline your hearts to understanding, and open your ears to hear the words of my mouth, for I seek the salvation of your souls; believe me, and no one else, that you may come to me and live forever. Behold, my children, I hold before you the way of my Bridegroom, and our forerunner, Christ Jesus, who went before me, which leads to the truth, as the Lord has commanded me; and behold, I take up my cross, and follow the Savior of the whole world. Do so too, my children; I shall go before you, without looking back, for this is the way of the prophets and martyrs, and behold, I shall now drink the cup which they drank. I now go the way which Christ Jesus, the Lord full of all grace and truth, who laid down his life for his sheep, went; this cup I must drink, as Christ says: I have a cup to drink of, and a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Matthew 20;22; Luke 12:50. And having thus passed through, he calls his sheep, and his sheep hear his voice, and follow him whithersoever he goeth, for this is the way to the living fountain; this way went the priestly kings coming from the rising of the sun, as is written in Revelation (Rev. 16:12), and entered into eternity. And behold, they had to drink of this cup, and to go this way, who are now under the altar, crying and saying: Lord almighty Father, how long dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given them, and it was answered unto them: Bear yet for a little season, till the number of your brethren that shall also be killed yet for the testimony of Jesus Christ be fulfilled. Rev. 6:9–11. These also drank of the cup, and ascended up to enjoy the eternal Sabbath of the Lord. And of this cup also those had to drink who are crowned, have palms in their hands, and are clothed in white. 2 Esd. 2:42. Yea, this is also the way trod by the four and twenty elders that stand before the throne of God, and cast their crowns from their heads, and their harps before the throne of the Lamb, and falling down upon their faces, say: O God, to thee alone be praise, honor and glory, power and strength, forever and ever. Lord almighty God, who wilt speedily avenge the blood of thy servants and ministers, thine be the victory; magnified be thy name, which is, and which was, and which is to come. Rev. 4:10,11. This way also walked the marked of the Lord, who had the mark in their foreheads, who were chosen out of all the kindreds of men, who were not defiled with women, but follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. 7:3; 14:3,4. Behold, these had to drink the bitter cup, and also all those that are still lacking of the number and fulfillment of Zion, which is the bride of the Lamb, and the new Jerusalem, which shall descend out of heaven, in which city and throne the glory of the great King shall be revealed and seen, when the marriage feast shall be kept and celebrated in the day of the high and holy Sabaoth, the Lord their God, which is the day of their rest and joy, 6:11; 21:10. Behold, all these first suffered the judgment in their flesh, and had to bear the punishment of this world, for Jesus Christ was the first one, as is written: “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;” and Paul says, that whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. Rev. 13:8; Rom. 8:29. Christ our Savior also says, that the servant is not better than his lord, nor the disciple above his master; but it is enough for the disciple, that he be as his master. Matthew 10:24,25. This also Peter declares to us, who says that the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at God’s elect, what shall the end be of them that have not believed the Gospel of God? and if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the unrighteous appear? 1 Peter 4:17,18.