Jacob was hated and persecuted by his brother Esau, who also sought to kill him.
Joseph was by his brethren cast into a pit, and sold to the Ishmaelites; and chose rather to flee from the wife of the captain of the guard, leaving his mantle behind than to comply with her desire.
So, dear mother, I will also rather lose my life, than do what they command. The children of Israel were also afflicted. If I were to tell further all that happened to all God’s prophets, I fear my paper should not suffice; such and similar examples, namely, concerning Christ, the author of faith, how he was persecuted in this life; yea, he had hardly been born, when his mother Mary had to flee with him. She nourished him up in poverty, yea, he was in poverty, for he himself says: “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20. Behold, how it further went with him: they crucified him; his feet and hands were pierced; the gave him vinegar and gall to drink; and his side was pierced with a spear, from which flowed blood and water.
Observe, thus it went with our Captain Christ Jesus; thus he concluded his days in poverty and with reproach, was scourged, beaten, mocked, and crowned on his head with a crown of thorns. O I cannot sufficiently tell all that he suffered for us poor men, to save us and yet these Pharisees are not ashamed to rob his honor, saying that we are saved by baptism; whereas the Lord Christ sanctifies and cleanseth from sin. O how sad it makes me when I hear this; the Lord forgive them. Yea, if Christ were here now, they would kill him yet.
Thus we have an example in our Captain Christ, yea, in his dear apostles. Paul too, suffered much for the name of Christ. Consider how many others yet have suffered since the time of Christ and the apostles, unto the present day.
Since, then, my beloved mother, so many have suffered, and we are compassed about, as Paul says, with so great a cloud of witnesses; I say with Paul: I rejoice in my sufferings which I endure for Christ’s sake. Heb. 12:1; Col. 1:24. Hence rejoice also, that Christ wants me, your son, to whom you have given birth, a poor, unworthy man, worthy to suffer for his holy name, so that I long to be delivered from this flesh, and to be with Christ, in whom I now believe, yet not see; but then I shall behold him; and partake of the joy which the heart of man has never conceived of, neither can tongue express the great joy that is prepared for the good. They shall be clothed in fine, white linen; they shall be crowned with the crown of eternal life; they shall sit upon Mount Sion, and sing the new song, so that I may say as David says: “A day with the Lord is better than a thousand in joy and gladness here.” Rom. 7:24; Luke 23:42; 1 Pet. 1:8; 1 John 3:2; Rev. 19:8; 2:10; 1 Esd. 2:42; Psalms 84:10.
O dear mother, who would now want to remain here, when such joy is prepared for the good, which shall last forever. There we shall neither hunger nor thirst any more, there we shall feel neither heat nor cold, so that I may say with Paul: I reckon the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18.
Hence, then, dear mother, in consideration of this, I need not think it strange, though I suffer for the name of Christ, for his word and truth; since all God’s righteous ones, from the beginning of the world have suffered. Hence Peter says: “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, which means tribulation, affliction and persecution.” 1 Pet. 4:12. For the prophet David says: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” Ps. 34:20. Paul well says: “That we must through much tribulation and affliction enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Acts 14:22.