Therefore assist the poor, so that the Lord may richly bless you. If you lay this to heart, and do according to it, your light shall arise as the bright morning star at the beautiful dawn; hence always do well, and if you love God, keep his commandments. Herewith I will conclude my letter. I have presented to you that which is best from the word of the Lord. Water and fire are set before man, namely, life or death. Eccl. 15:16,17; Deut. 30:19. Hence choose life, that you may forever possess the kingdom of God, with all his chosen saints.
Herewith, my dear child Betgen, I, for this time take a perpetual adieu of you; commending you to God the heavenly Father, who is the Father of all orphans, and of all those that fear and love him. And never neglect or forget diligently to ask God Almighty, and you shall receive of him, more than you ask, if it is according to his will.
Adieu, my child, if we should see each other no more. I pray the almighty God and King of kings, that he will govern you by his holy Spirit, so that I may meet you in the clouds of heaven, where parting shall be no more, this I pray God by his unfathomable grace and love, with bended knees and a weeping heart and uplifted hands.
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let it be done, that through the fruit of my loins thy holy, most worthy and adorable name may be praised now and forever. Amen.
My child Betgen, if I die, I would like to have your mother give you, for a perpetual memorial, a Testament, a Dirrick Philips Book of Fundamentals, a hymn book, and a copy of the book by Jacob de Keersgieter, which read diligently, for there are many excellent admonitions contained in them.
By me, your father, who wishes you every thing good. A. D. 1589.