Part 2-061-THE FOURTH LETTER OF JACOB THE CHANDLER, WRITTEN TO HIS CHILDREN; BEING PROPER LY A CO...

THE FOURTH LETTER OF JACOB THE CHANDLER, WRITTEN TO HIS CHILDREN; BEING PROPER LY A CONFESSION OF HIS FAITH
My chosen dear children, I hope briefly to write you my faith, that you may know, that 1 did not die as a deceiver or heretic, but for the true faith, which avails before God.
1. I believe and confess, that there is one true God, who created and made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that therein is, by His eternal, Almighty and incomprehensible Word, which was with God in the beginning, and was God with the Father. Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-2.
2. And God on the sixth day made man after His image or likeness, that is, according to His nature. But man did not remain as created, through the subtilty of the serpent, in whom the devil worked, so that he brought Adam with his whole seed into death, as is written. Genesis 3.
God created man immortal, and made him according to the image of His own likeness; but through the envy of the devil death came into the world, and all that are of his side follow him. Wisdom 23:24. As also Esdras writes: “The first Adam having an evil heart transgressed and was overcome and also all them that are born of him.” And he further says: “O thou Adam, what hast thou done! for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but also all we that come of thee.” 2Es_7:48.
3. Now when the man Adam with his whole seed had fallen into death, the merciful Father through grace many times promised His Son, who as a spotless lamb, that had been foreordained before the foundation of the world, delivered us from death by His death and blood. Genesis 3:15; 1 Peter 1:19-20. And when the fullness of the time was come, He became man, and was born of the virgin Mary, as had been prophesied concerning Him, in these words: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6. And again: “A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.” 7:14. Thus, through the power of the Most High He was conceived in Mary of the Holy Ghost, even as the angel said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” Luke 1:35. To Joseph he said: “That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of her shall be called the Son of God.” Matthew 1:20. For the Word which was with God in the beginning became flesh, and dwelt among men, visibly and tangibly, so that also His glory was seen, a glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. He humbled Himself, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, became as another man, and was found in fashion as a man. Php_2:7-8. And all that He saw and heard of His Father He taught and made known to us, and was obedient to His Father unto death; for He was innocently sentenced by Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, and the third day rose from the dead. And after His resurrection He commanded His disciples to preach the Gospel to every creature, and to baptize believers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. And He ascended up to heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father, from whence He shall come again, in the glory of His Father, and in the clouds of heaven, to judge the quick and the dead. Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:51; Revelation 1:7.
4. I further believe and confess, that there is a Holy Ghost, which proceeds from the Father, and is poured out, through Christ Jesus, upon the believing and regenerated children, as is written in Titus 3 and Ephesians 1, as an earnest of the Spirit, and as an assurance of the mind; by which Spirit the), cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15. By this Spirit they are guided into all truth, since He is also their teacher. John 16:13. By the same Spirit the prophets prophesied, since God through Him distributes the spiritual gifts to believers, for the profiting of all. Hence the apostle writes: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. These three names are one true God. The Father is the Creator, who created everything by the Son, or His Word; and by His Spirit He has also renewed all things, and has purified believers by the Son, and by the Holy Ghost; in which three names the apostles were commanded to baptize believers. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7.
5. I further believe and confess, that there is a holy Christian church, which is the communion of the saints, and the assembly of the believing and righteous, which is the temple of the living God, the pillar and solid ground of the truth, and the city of God in the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:15. And in this temple the Holy Ghost is the teacher, and the apostles the laborers, who first built this temple. 1 Corinthians 3:9. As Solomon, when he wanted to build his temple, sent out his servants, to hew out the stones from a mountain; and the stones having been hewed, when they were brought to the work, they joined them together, so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building; so Christ sent out His apostles, to teach men, and to preach repentance in His name, before they were to be baptized; for they had to be regenerated with the hammer of the divine Word, and by the incorruptible seed of God the Father, who is a mountain and rock forever, if they were to be a living stone in the temple of God. 1 Kings 5:17; 1 Kings 6:7; Daniel 2:45. Thus the apostles, as wise builders, first built the temple, and laid the foundation. Hence Paul says, that God has set in the church first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers. 1 Corinthians 12:28. In another place he says: “He set some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” For as a body which has many members, and yet is but one body, so also, though there are many believers, there is nevertheless but one body, of which Christ is the head. For Paul writes: “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body ..and have been made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13. And all that are in this temple or city have Christ for their Lord and King; Him they must obey; they must suffer Him to rule over them, and to bear dominion with the sceptre of His kingdom, namely, with His Spirit and Word; for to Him all power is given in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18. The Father judgeth no man, but bath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as though they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which bath sent Him. And as the Father hath life in Himself; so bath He given to the Son to have life in Himself. John 5:22-23; John 5:26. He that bath the Son of God bath eternal life; and he that bath not the Son of God bath not life. But this church has forgiveness of sins through Him; for they believe in Him, and seek their salvation in Him alone, for there is none other name given them under heaven, whereby they can be saved, than by the name of Christ; for He is made unto them, of God, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:30. And He gave Himself for them, that He might redeem them from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar neople, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14. These have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God for their Father, and one Holy Spirit, upon whom and through whom the temple is built and founded. Ephesians 4:5-6.
6. I further believe and confess a Christian baptism, according to the import of the Word of God, as Christ commanded His apostles, saying
“Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20. And Mark 16:15-16 : “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is bantized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Thus the apostles did according to the command of their Lord; for on the day of Pentecost Peter opened his mouth, and taught the people of Jerusalem, and reproved them of their sins, so that they said: “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be, baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and .to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:37-39.
Hereby the apostle proves, that the gift of the Holy Ghost should be given not only to the Jews and their children, but also to the Gentiles, who were far from the kingdom of God, but whom God should also call to it, as the prophet Joel had foretold, that God in the latter days should pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Joel 2:28. Hence God poured out the Holy Spirit upon the Gentile Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44), in order to convince Peter and his [other] apostles, that He had given power to all men by faith, to become children of God; for with such He would establish His covenant. Hence Peter commanded; that they should be baptized in the name of the Lord; for they had been baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost and with fire; by which Holy Ghost He purged their hearts from dead works, to serve the living God. Hence Peter said to those of Jerusalem: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Not as though sin could be forgiven through baptism, as may be seen in the case of Simon the sorcerer, who had also been baptized by Philip, but Peter said that he should have neither part nor lot in this matter. Acts 8:21. But they are cleansed from sin through faith in Christ Jesus, in whose name they receive baptism; hence baptism is a sign by which something better is signified; therefore it must be received upon or through faith, for Peter says: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God.” 1 Peter 3:21-22. Therefore Philip, according to the command of Christ, first taught those of Samaria, before they received baptism. Also many Corinthians that heard it, believed and were baptized. Thus baptism must be received upon faith, for the burying of sin (Romans 6:4), for a washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5), for a covenant of the Christian life, for a putting on of the body of Christ, for an ingrafting into the true olive tree and vine Christ, for an entrance into the spiritual ark of Noah (1 Peter 3:20), of which Christ is the true householder, as is written concerning Him: “Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” Hebrews 2:13. And Isaiah calls him, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6. Thus they are baptized by Christ inwardly with the Holy Ghost and with fire, outwardly with water, as the eunuch said: “Here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 8:36-37.
Thus the true Christian baptism must be received according to the command of Christ, and the practice of the apostles, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, for the burying of sin, to walk with Christ in newness of life, and that we henceforth should serve sin no more.
7. I further confess a true Supper, a breaking of bread, which Christ Himself instituted, and observed with His apostles, with bread and wine. The same night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, brake it, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same Tanner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new'testament in my blood: This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. From this no one is to understand, that the bread was the body itself of Christ, because He calls it His body; else we must also understand, that the cup is His testament, since He calls the cup His testament. But now they are only memorials, by which His death and the testament (which is sprinkled with His blood) are to be remembered;.for where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator ..otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Hebrews 9:16-17. Hence Christ confirmed with His death His testament which He made with the house of Israel; and suffered His blood to be shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28. And for such a remembrance the bread is broken, and the wine drunk, in the church, as Christ said: “This do in-.remembrance of me.” For as the bread is broken in the church, so also was the body of Christ broken on the tree of the cross; and as no one is fed by this bread, but those who eat of it, so also no one is fed, according to the soul, by Christ, who is the bread of life, except those that believe in Him. Therefore Judas could not receive Christ, though he ate of the bread; for no one has a right to the breaking of bread, except those who by faith have become partakers of Christ, and one bread with Him; and no one has a right to drink out of the cup, save he that is become a child of the new testament (which is sprinkled with the blood of Christ, 1 Peter 1:2), and he must have the law of the Lord written in his heart, and the Lord must have become his God, so that He will remember his sins no more. Jeremiah 31:33-34. For if we are to use a memorial, we must have that which is to be remembered by it. Hence the apostle says: “Let everyone examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthilv, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29); for we must discern for whom the Lord gave His body. Hence, Christians, or those that would be called so, must examine themselves, whether they also have a right to the bread, for it represents much to them, since it becomes to them as a mirror. For it is one bread baked of many grains, which must be alike among one another, because they are ground, made into a dough with water, and baked with fire into one bread, so that it cannot be distinguished which was the smallest or the largest grain. Thus must we also be broken in heart, by the hammer of the divine Word (Jeremiah 23:29), being united together through the communion of the Holy Ghost; and through fervent love be in union and peace with one another, and do nothing through strife or vain glory, but each esteem other better than themselves. Php_2:3. They that have thus become one bread with Christ have a right to the breaking of bread, and may receive it in remembrance of Him, for, for such a people He gave His body; they may drink out of the cup, for they are cleansed by His blood, and have by faith obtained that which is signified by the wine. 1 Peter 1:19. Hence Paul writes: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?” 1 Corinthians 10:16-18. For as Aaron and his children ate the sacrifice, and no strangers might eat thereof, so no one has a right to the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup, save only the true, regenerated children of God, who are inwardly baptized by Christ with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and outwardly with water, upon their faith, and are thus become one bread and body with Christ. And as the children of Israel had to eat the paschal lamb with unleavened bread, so also the Supper of the Lord must be observed by an unleavened people, who have purged out the old leaven, and are become a new lump, or they observe it to their condemnation. 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Thus the bread is not His body, though Christ so calls it; but it is a memorial of His body, which He has given for us. For Christ said to His disciples: “He that receiveth you receiveth me.” Matthew 10:40. And He also says: “Whosoever shall receive such a child in my name receiveth me.” Luke 9:48. These words must not be so understood, that they receive Christ bodily; but they that received such a child or His disciples, did virtually as much as though they.had received Christ; for they were His messengers, and they received them in His name. Paul also says that the Israelites drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, which Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4); though Moses with his rod did not smite Christ, but a stone, which signified Christ (Exodus 17:6). For as through the smiting with Moses' rod water ran out of the stone, so that the Israelites drank; so God the Father by His power caused the water of eternal life to flow, to give drink to the spiritual Israelites; hence he says: “Which Rock was Christ.” They also, he says, did eat the same spiritual meat; though they yet ate only the figurative heavenly bread in the wilderness; but God gave us the true bread from heaven (John 6:50), which is Christ, of which the bread which the Israelites ate was a figure. Therefore Paul writes: “They did all eat the same spiritual meat.” 1 Corinthians 10:3. Christ and His apostles were wont to call the signs and figures as though they were the substance, as in the case of the two wives (Galatians 4:24): Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; though the wives were not the covenants, but they signify the covenants.
So one is also not to understand, that the bread is the body of Christ; else the cup must also be the testament, and the wine His blood, which is not so, but they are only symbols by which His body, and His blood, which was shed on the tree of the cross, are to be remembered. Hence Christ says: “This do in remembrance of me.”
8. I further also confess a Christian excommunication, or exclusion from the church, which Christ and His apostles themselves ordained and instituted, and this in a twofold manner. In the first place, Christ said to Peter and His other apostles
“Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18. For He previously says: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” 16:19. And He also says to His disciples: “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. [And when he had said this], he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:21-23. From this no one is to understand, that Christ gave the apostles such power that they might govern the kingdom according to their will. God forbid; but He appointed unto them the kingdom, as it had been appointed to Him by His Father; that they should govern it according to His will. Hence He made them vicegerents, because He could not remain with them. As the King of Spain, when he wished to travel out of his dominion, he appointed vicegerents in his place, that they should govern the people according to his will; however, he does not make them lords over it, but he commits to them his laws, decrees and mandates. Hence, whatever they have bound or loosed here in this country, that is, what they have judged, must stand before the king, as far as they have judged according to his laws and customs; or he would not be a true king. Thus Christ also gave His apostles a rule, after which they were to govern themselves; and He, moreover, gave them His Spirit, in order that they might fully expound it to the church. Hence Christ said to them: “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.” The same He also says with regard to the feet and the eyes. Mark 9:43. Now as among them of Corinth there was such an offensive member, who had his father's wife, Paul determined with his spirit and with the power of Christ, when they were gathered together, to deliver him to Satan, for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved. 1 Corinthians 5:1. Hence, that which Paul bound on earth was bound in heaven, for he did it with the power of Christ; for this was the power which they had received, to cut off such offensive members, and to purge out that old leaven, that they might be a new lump. Hence he writes to the Thessalonians: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6. For the dead may not remain among the living, lest their offensive smell be imparted to them, and they also become unclean; hence one is to withdraw himself from all unclean brethren and sisters. The apostle also writes: “A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” Titus 3:10-11; Romans 16:17. Such are to be avoided for they cause contention and offenses-that the church may not be corrupted by their false doctrine. Hence we are to have nothing to do with those who are excommunicated from the church (1 Corinthians 5:11), that we may not defile ourselves with them; in the second place, that they may be ashamed and repent (2 Thessalonians 3:14), for it is a punishment for amendment, and not for destruction. Not as Israel's excommunication which was done by death (Deuteronomy 13:5); but we are to withdraw ourselves from all [such] brethren or sisters without regard of person; for as Moses with his severe, deadly excommunication did not make a distinction of persons, so Christ makes no distinction with His excommunication, which tends to amendment. Hence the apostle writes: “I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11.
In the second place it is written, Matthew 18, where He [Christ] gives them the keys. If thy brother shall trespass against thee (here He does not speak of offensive members, whom He would have cut off, as is written in the same chapter; for He says): go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother (that is, if he confesses his guilt, you are to forgive him, for it is not a deadly matter for which God has excommunicated him; hence you are to forgive him, even as God daily forgives you through Christ. (Ephesians 4:32). But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican, (which heathen and publicans were excluded from the covenant of the Lord). Leviticus 19:17; Deuteronomy 17:6. From this we may perceive, that this is spoken of sins that may be adjusted between brother and brother, and concerning which the apostles had received no binding keys, except after the third admonition, and then he is not punished for the sin, though the sin is the cause, but for his disobedience. Then said Peter: “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” Christ said: “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven;” that is, as often as brethren sin against one another, they are to forgive one another, whether the sin consist in words or in works upon which excommunication is not pronounced by the Scriptures. For this is the key with which everything must be locked and unlocked, bound and loosed, or it will not stand in heaven. O my dear brethren, take good heed, that it be always used rightly, and it shall redound much to your peace.
9. Lastly I believe in and confess a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust. For as by one man death came upon all men, so also by one man the resurrection of the dead comes upon all men. Romans 5:12. As in Adam we all die, even so in Christ we all are made alive (1 Corinthians 15:21); everyone in his order, for many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall wake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2. For the dead that are in the grave shall hear the voice of Christ, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:28-29. For their faces shall be blacker than darkness, and they shall be greatly terrified and sigh for anguish of spirit; for they shall all be placed before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall there receive according to that they have done. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Jeremiah 17:10. Then they shall say to the mountains: “Come and cover us, that we see not the face of him that sitteth on the throne.” Hosea 10:8; Revelation 6:16. Then they shall begin to creep into the holes of bats, and to hide themselves in the clefts of the rocks from the terrible majesty of the Lord. Isaiah 2:20-21. But it will not be possible; for he shall come in the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they shall then know whom they have pierced. Matthew 24:30; Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7. And they shall see the righteous stand in great boldness, and shall say
“These are they whom we sometimes had in derision; we fools accounted their life madness: How are they now numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints!” Wisd. 5:3. Then shall they fear that terrible sentence; then Christ shall say: “Depart ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41. But the righteous shall shine above the stars, yea, as the sun, in the throne of their Father, and shall be clothed in white raiment, and fed with the hidden heavenly bread, and eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Then they shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; for the Lamb shall lead them unto the fountain of living water; and then they shall inherit all things, for they have overcome. Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43; Revelation 2:7; Isaiah 49:10; Revelation 7:17.
Behold, how glorious they shall be that are accounted worthy for the resurrection of the just; for this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality. Now it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption: it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:53; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. And Isaiah says: “But, Lord, thy dead shall live, and arise with their bodies.” Isaiah 26:19, [See German version] Job says: “I know, that my Redeemer liveth, who shall hereafter raise me up from the earth. This my skin shall encompass me, and in my flesh shall I see God; mine eyes shall behold him and not another.” [See preceding note.] Job 19:25. Then shall the mortal clothing be put off, and the immortal put on; then shall they have palms in their hands, and a crown on their heads, and shall live forever; then shall they sit with Christ on twelve thrones, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel; then shall they stand in great boldness before the face of them that afflicted them; then shall the bride have her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ; then shall she hear His beloved voice: “Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom of my Father, prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” 2Es_2:45; Matthew 19:28; Wisd. 5:1; Matthew 25:34. Thus I confess a resurrection of the flesh, a righteous judgment, and an eternal life. Amen.
See, my dear children, here I have briefly set forth to you in writing my faith, that you may know, in what faith your father died; and I hope that it may serve for your instruction, and that you may be induced the more to follow the same; the Lord grant you His grace, that this may be accomplished.
Herewith I will commend my dear wife and children to the Lord; may He help and bless you by His Spirit, that you may all grow up in wisdom, holiness and righteousness: this I wish you with all my heart. When we are to die, I do not know.
Finished in the year 1569, in May, in my prison, at Bruges, by me, JACOB DE RoosE, or the chandler.
Alle die liiden na den wille Godts, wilt hieropmercken, Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Shep¢ermet goede Wereken.
1 Peter 4:19.
ANOTHER LETTER OF JACOB THE CHANDLER WRITTEN IN PRISON AND SENT TO POUWEL VAN MEENEN, ONE OF HIS FELLOW MINISTERS IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, IN ANSWER TO A LETTER WHICH HE HAD RECEIVED FROM HIM
The eternal, incomprehensible God, who is alone wise, grant you His grace, mercy, and peace, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and fill you with all wisdom, knowledge and understanding, through the Holy Ghost, that you may walk worthily before God, to do His will, to the praise of His holy name, to the edification of His church, and to the salvation of your soul; this I wish, my much beloved and very dear brother Pouwel, as a friendly greeting and for a parting farewell.
After all proper greetings, I inform you, my dear brother, that I understood from your letter, that you request of me, that I should write to you, for a remembrance, concerning all the articles of faith; which I would willingly do for your sake, but I do not think that I shall have the time. In the second place, I understood, that after the writing of the first letter you saw the articles of faith which I briefly wrote to my children.
In the third place, I understand from the little note which you wrote subsequently, that you particularly desire to know my views as to what is to be done with persons who will not avoid those whom the church has excommunicated according to the Scriptures, and are not willing to confess to guilt in the matter. I am greatly astonished that this spirit also manifests itself; but I fear that he is different in his nature from what he pretends to be; for the avoidance is very much in the way of Satan, yet the apostle teaches that it is a good means to make the excommunicated ashamed, that is, to bring him to humility or repentance. 2 Thessalonians 3:14. But now I hear that the defect in regard to this avoiding lies chiefly, not with those that are avoided, but with those that should avoid. From this it is quite evident, that the reason why they will not avoid, lies with them, and not with those that are avoided, which also appears so to me, since I have noticed and feared that there was a covetous, selfseeking spirit with many, so that the mind was far more exercised in temporal business, traffic, and the like, than in godliness; yea, that they sought more to lay up treasures on earth, than in heaven. And this avoidance is often greatly in the way of this spirit, for it inconveniences him sometimes in his business; hence one begins to consider, whether this cannot be set aside, and this with Scripture; for this spirit is of such a nature, that he does not like to make himself known; but he seeks to cover himself with the cloak of righteousness. He is also not reproved much in the church, or if he is to be reproved, he must be called by another name; for he is sometimes reproved as a heretic, sometimes as a juggler, sometimes as an idolater. And this is the reason, that he can conceal himself so well, but yet manifests his nature in this wise; for wherever he goes he does not go to be idle. Hence the apostle writes: “The love of money is the root of all evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
The apostle further writes: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6. And he further writes: “If any man obey- not our word, signify that man by an epistle, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15. With this the apostle indicates, that the church is as much bound, to have nothing to do with the disobedient, as she is bound to withdraw herself from such as walk disorderly, even though the word withdraw might be understood only with reference to excommunication; for as the church must withdraw herself, lest she should be leavened or defiled by such persons, so she must have nothing to do with them, that they may be ashamed. Again, the church defiles herself, when she does not avoid, since this is commanded and taught her by the apostle, for he taught this, that it should be done, as may be perceived in his epistle to the Corinthians;.for he writes: “I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators.” 1 Corinthians 5:9. From this it seems that he had written them before that time; but as they did not observe it, he explained it to them more fully, for he says: “Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world; or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But I. have written unto you, not to keep company with these.” See, he says again: “I have written unto you.”
From this it can well be seen, that he repeats it, in order that they should observe it better, than they had done before; for they did also not observe excommunication, because they could not avoid; for where no excommunication is, there is also no avoidance, for avoidance springs from excommunication. Hence he reproved them as being puffed up, and that they did not mourn that such heinous deeds were committed among them; and determined concerning him that had done this deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, when they were gathered together, with His spirit, and with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver him unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus. Hence it is evident from this, that for whatever excommunication is good, avoidance is also good, and that they serve the same purpose. For the apostle says, that he delivered him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that is, for the mortification of the flesh; and concerning avoidance he says
“And have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” Mark, for what this shame serves; for it serves a woman to wash herself when she is told that she is begrimed; a man, also, that is disrobed, does not want to be seen in his nakedness, for he is ashamed; hence, when someone comes that would see him, he immediately puts on his clothes, that he should not be seen in his nakedness. As Adam, when he knew that he was naked, he forthwith sought to cover himself, for he was ashamed; and he made an apron of fig leaves, to cover his shame. Now we must, according to the words of the apostle, avoid the excommunicated, that they may become ashamed; for if we withdraw ourselves from them, and avoid them, they have cause to consider why this is done, and through this considering to know their nakedness; and become ashamed before the Lord their God, against whom they have sinned, and are thus smitten in their conscience, so that in this condition they dare not appear before the Lord, and hence seek a means to cover their nakedness, but not with fig leaves, as did Adam but with the skin of the Lamb Christ Jesus, who must be received through faith with a broken and contrite heart. As Adam, when he humbled himself, God put a coat of skins on him, to cover his nakedness. Thus, dear brother, excommunication and avoidance have the same purpose, and they .are not contrary to each other; hence the apostle says: “Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” Admonition is not contrary to avoidance, for admonition serves to amendment, even as avoidance and excommunication serve to it. Hence the apostle does not prohibit it, but teaches that they are to be admonished as brethren; for all that is not contrary to them, namely, excommunication and avoidance, they do not prohibit; but where excommunication is, there must also be avoidance, for it proceeds froth excommunication. Hence, when he wrote to the Corinthians, how they should deliver the fornicator to Satan, and purge out the old leaven, he also wrote to them: “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that it called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?” Mark, he says, judge; yet he had not written anything from which they might have understood, that the world should be excommunicated; but he had written that they should have no company with fornicators; and m order that they should not understand it with reference to the fornicators of the world, that one should have no company with them, he says: “Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous; for then must ye needs go out of the world. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?” See, he calls it judging, that, as he said, one should have no company with them; although avoidance is not excommunication or the judgment itself, but it confirms the judgment; for when I say: You must have nothing to do with that man, I thereby declare that he is excommunicated, and all that avoid him show that he is judged. Hence he says: “Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
From this we can well perceive, that avoidance is as well founded in the Scriptures as excommunication; hence those who now reject avoidance, reject the Scriptures, since it is founded in the Scriptures. Therefore, they that will not avoid, sin, not against men, but against the Lord; hence the church may not tolerate such, who so sin against the Lord, and will not confess to guilt; for they are servants of the Lord, to punish all disobedience.
Now we perceive, in the first place from the words of Christ (Matthew 18:15 ), that if any one sins against his neighbor, by any transgression, he must be reconciled to his neighbor, or he cannot, after sufficient admonition, remain a brother, but he must be regarded as a heathen man or publican, who was excluded from the covenant of the Lord, and with whom the Jews would have no fellowship. John 4:9. And since they must be regarded as persons that are excluded from the covenant of the Lord, because they have only through weakness sinned against their neighbor, and will not confess to guilt; how much more shall they be regarded so who sin against the Lord, and transgress His doctrine-which is frequently done through heedlessness, or self-interest, or for the sake of friends or relatives-and yet will not become reconciled to the Lord?
In the second place Moses writes, that if any one touched a dead body, and would not wash himself the third and the seventh day, he was to be cut off. Yet the dead had to be touched, for they must be buried; and yet, if they would not wash themselves, they had to be cut off; and the priest might not defile himself with any dead person; he was not allowed to go to any dead, for he had the anointing oil on his head. Numbers 19:11; Leviticus 21:1; Leviticus 8:12; Exodus 19:10. Hence, if they in Israel had to be so punished who would not wash themselves with water from a pollution which was caused by necessity how shall they now be tolerated in the church, who without necessity, yea, often for the sake of gain, or through the prompting of flesh and blood, defile themselves with these dead, after they have been separated from the church, and yet will not wash themselves, or bear or confess their guilt? These people may not thus be tolerated, according to the view which I have from the Scriptures: and if they are allowed to go unreproved, it must be declared as a liberty, and then perhaps tomorrow already another will arise and demand the abolishment of excommunication, and will prove to you, that you have just as much power to maintain avoidance, as you have to maintain excommunication; and then you will be beaten with your own staff, and thus the hedge will be completely broken down, and the wild boars will run into the vineyard of the Lord, and root it up. Psalms 80:13; Isaiah 5:5. O dear brother, take heed; blow the trumpet on Mount Zion; let Israel hear the word of the Lord; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering. Joel 2:1; 2 Timothy 4:2.
With the simple that are led astray in understanding, deal in a fatherly, longsuffering manner, if .God may haply yet enlighten them by His Spirit. Bind up the wounded; seek the erring; break not the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax. Isaiah 61:1; Luke 10:34; Luke 15:4; Isaiah 42:3. Always take heed unto yourselves, and to the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28. Hence feed the flock of Christ not by constraint, but willingly (1 Peter 5:2), and remember that the apostle says: “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, a dispensation of the Gospel is committed unto me.” 1 Corinthians 9:16-17. Hence he also says: “Though we might have used authority, as the apostles of Christ, we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8. And he said, that as a father admonishes his children, so he had exhorted, comforted, and charged them, that they should walk worthy of God. vv. 11, 12; Php_1:27; Colossians 1:10.
Thus, my dear brother, take heed to your sheep, and tend to your flock with a ready mind, and, when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 5:4; James 1:12. Thus, my dear brother, be watchful, and do the work of a true preacher; make full proof of thy ministry (2 Timothy 4:5) and say like the prophet: “For Zion's sake will I rtot hold my peace and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.” Isaiah 62:1. Be on your guard, and watch over their souls, as one that must give an account thereof Hebrews 13:17. If you see the sword coming, blow the trumpet, and warn the people in the name of the Lord, that the drowsy may awake, and the feeble knees make straight paths, and the hands which hang down be lifted up, and you be free of their blood. Hebrews 13:17; Ezekiel 3:19; Ezekiel 3:21; Ezekiel 33:3; Hebrews 12:12-13. To this end may the Lord grant you His grace, and strengthen you by His Spirit, that you may receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. Amen.
I pray you, dear brother, receive my brief exhortation in good part, for it has been written out of love; and here you have my simple views with regard to avoidance, and briefly what is to be done with those who do not avoid, and will not confess to guilt. I should have written more fully concerning it, but there was no good opportunity. Herewith I will commend my dear and much beloved brother, whom I love with all my heart, and his dear wife, to the Lord and to the Word of His grace. Pray the Lord for us. I thank you heartily for what you sent me; thank Peter very much in my name, this I ask of you. Written on the 17th and 18th of May by me, JACOB DE Room
I wish that you would send a copy of this letter to one of the ministers at Armentiers, or to my wife for this is my desire. Dear brother Pouwel, if you desire anything further, and I have the time, I am at your service, though there is little to be obtained from me. Greet your ministers very much in my name, and all them that fear and love God, where it is convenient.
Alle die lijden na den wille Godts, wilt hieropmercken, Die bevelen haer Zielen den getrouwen Schepper met goede Wercken.
1 Peter 4:19.