Letters from prison: "Jacob The Chandler" 04/24/1569

The following letter was written from prison by a person imprisoned for The Faith in the 16th Century. A person who later gave his life for said Faith. He was one of the millions who were martyred by "catholicism" and later by her "christian" daughters in a time know as the "inquistion", the 12th thru 17th centuries. A time that ended with the "reformation". That was a time when "catholicism" "reformed" herself! That is she made herself appear different as she transformed herself into the many religious systems of "strong delusion" that called themselves "christianity". All such systems believe in death:-((((((

The First Letter of Jacob The Chandler,​

Written to His Wife April 24, 1569​

The eternal, imperishable wisdom of GOD our heavenly Father, the great love of His Son The Messiah, and the power of His Holy Spirit, for the comforting of your mind, these I wish you my very dear and beloved wife, as a cordial greeting from GOD, through The Messiah our Master and Saviour. Amen.

My affectionately beloved and chosen wife, be pleased to know that my mind is tolerably well, the Lord be praised forever for His grace, except that I am very sorrowful for your and for the children's sake, since I love you and them from the heart, so that I know of nothing under heaven for which I would be willing to leave you; but for The Messiah and His invisible riches we must forsake everything, through the love of GOD, which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.

Hence The Messiah says, "He that loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he hat loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of Me," Matthew 10:37, 38. And He also says, "If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, ...he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26. Yes, brother and sisters, wife and children, and our own life also; with all that we possess, or we cannot be The Messiah's disciples; although this hatred extends only as far as these things cleave to us, to draw us away from The Messiah. Hence we must overcome and forsake them through the love of GOD, for thereby we prove that we love GOD above all, with all our strength, and with all our ability, which is the greatest commandment in the law, of which Paul says, "The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." I Tim. 1:5. By this love and faith one must confess The Messiah unfeignedly, and not forsake Him for father or mother, for wife or children, or for his own life. Hence Solomon writes, "Love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, and a flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." (Sol. Song 8:6, 7); for it cannot be bought with riches, but it is given for nought by GOD, through the Holy Ghost, to those that seek Him in Truth.

Therefore, I pray you, my dear wife, that you seek to possess your soul in patience, and do not grieve too much on account of this my trial, which happens through GOD's permission: For I had thought to come and take leave, and to send you away with H., or with someone else; but the Lord did not permit me-HE knows why it is. Still I am grieving much on your account, for I leave you in great distress. But I hope that the Lord, who has taken me from you, will help you and provide for you, according to HIS promise, since HE feeds the ,ravens and little animals, because they are His creatures; how much more then shall He provide for HIS elect, who cry day and night unto HIM? Therefore did Peter say, "Cast all your care upon the Lord; for HE care for you." I Peter 5:7. As also David says, "The eyes of all wait upon THEE; and YOU give them their meat in due season." Ps. 145:15.

Thus my dear wife, trust in the Lord, this I pray. you; for HE that ministereth seed to the sower, will also minister bread for your food. II Cor. 9:10. And move to the country of C., where there is much tranquility. And the brethren said, that they would assist us in whatever they could. I had made such good arrangements, that I hoped that it would please you well, which I intend to let you know yet.

Furthermore, I pray you, my dear and much beloved wife, that you do the best with my children, to bring them up in the fear of GOD, with good instruction and chastening, while they are still young for with the rod their back is bowed, and they are brought into obedience to their parents. Hence it is written, "He that loves his son causes him oft to feel the rod; and he that spares his rod, hates his son: but he that loves him instructs him betimes." Sir. 30:1; Prov. 13:24. For instruction must accompany chastisement: 'for chastisement demands obedience, and if one is to obey, he must first be instructed. This instruction does not consist in hard words, or loud yelling; for this the children learn to imitate; but if one conducts himself properly towards them, they have a good example, and learn propriety; for by the children the parents are known. And parents must not provoke their children to anger, lest they be discouraged; but must bring them up with admonition and good instruction. Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21.

• Thus, my dear and much beloved wife, do the best with them, this I pray you; and take heed to yourself, that you may receive the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. I Peter I:9. And do not faint because of the tribulation which we must suffer, but remember how the innocent lamb, The Messiah, had to suffer from the beginning for the faithful. Hence the Lord says, "He that touches you, touches the apple of MY eye." Zech. 2:8. To Paul The Messiah said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" And Paul said, "Who are You, Master?" He said, "I am Joshua(Yahshua) of Nazareth Whom you persecute." Acts 9:4, 5. Not that he persecuted The Messiah according to the flesh; for The Messiah had died, before he persecuted: but he persecuted those who followed The Messiah, in whom The Messiah lived according to the spirit; for they do not live to themselves, but The Messiah lives in them. Rom. 14:7. Hence, when they suffer, they do not suffer for their own name, but for the name of The Messiah; for if they lived to themselves, they would not be in trouble, for the world would love them; but because they are not of the world, and because The Messiah has chosen them from the world, therefore the world hates them. John 15:19. Hence Peter says, "if ye suffer for the name of The Messiah, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of GOD rests upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified." I Peter 4:14. For they are comforted by the same Spirit, so that we know: As the sufferings of The Messiah abound in them, so their consolation also abounds by The Messiah, namely, if they suffer with Him, they shall also rejoice with Him; for their light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; because they look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 1:5; II Tim. 2:12; II Cor. 4:17, 18. Hence Paul says, "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; for we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of GOD, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, where mortality will be swallowed up of life; for there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, neither any heat, for GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Rom. 8:18; II Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:10; II Cor: 5:4; Rev: 21:4; Isa. 25:8.

Then they shall leap as the calves of the stall; then they shall triumph upon Mount Sion, have palms in their hands, and receive the crown of honor, which GOD has prepared for all them that love Him and His appearing. Mal. 4:2; II Esd. 2:42; Wisd. 5:16.

Thus, my dear wife, comfort yourself with these words, and be patient in your tribulation, this I pray you; for though I am thus taken from you, think that we are not assured of each other; for we must all die, and the Lord has long permitted us to be together, considering the perils in which we walked.

There have been so many within our time, who had to leave each other, some through imprisonment, some dying of sickness. But there is no more glorious death, than that for the name of The Messiah; for not all are made worthy of GOD to suffer for His name, for this is acceptable with GOD, says Peter. I Peter 2:20. Hence he and John went their way rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Acts 5:41.

O my dear and beloved wife, it would greatly rejoice me if I could hear that you were of good cheer; for every time that I have written your or the children's names, I could not refrain from weeping. Nevertheless, as regards my own self, I am of reasonably good cheer, the Lord be praised for His grace; so that I would not have thought it before my apprehension-so weak did I find myself. Hence The Messiah did truly say, "I will not leave you comfortless; but I will come to you." John 14: 18. Herewith I will commend you, my dear and much beloved wife, to the Lord, who is able to keep your treasure, and to give you an inheritance with all them who through faith in The Messiah shall be sanctified. May the Lord Almighty strengthen you by His Spirit. Amen.

Written on the 24th of April, by me, Jacob, your husband. Have this copied, and keep it in remembrance of me; for I do not know whether I can write you any more. Greet all the brethren and sisters much in my name, and all them that fear GOD; my children B. and his wife; your brother T. and his wife; J. and F. T. and F. his brother; J. de L. and his wife; and my friends at Kortrijck.

Jacob, your husband.

 

hm... long read but interesting.

 

will post the following letter today. a letter which was written to the martyrs
who were imprisoned from someone who encouraged them in their "good fight
of faith".

please understand that when you read "jesus" and/or "christ" in these
letters that, that is the work of the translators, for that name was
unknown to the one who wrote this letter as well as the one you
responded too, for the imagined name "jesus" was spoken by no one
until well into the 16th centrury. those of the pagan harlot "christianity"
translated these letters, yet when they read them seems "they have
eyes yet "see" not" ;-((((((

for indeed, "The WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one".......

and while there is breath(spirit) there is hope!

hope that many would "see" this world and it's systems of religion
for what they are, but the creations of "the god of this world", "the
father of lies", "d"evil.......period.......

all who "see" will have:

peace, even as war(spiritual and carnal) rages....... francis

TERTULLIAN'S CONSOLATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE MARTYRS
IN PRISON IN THE TIME OF THE HEATHEN EMPERORS, IN THE YEAR 200

Ye blessed and chosen martyrs of Jesus Christ, receive from me also, somewhat that may tend to your spiritual refreshment, in addition to the tem-
poral comfort and maintenance with which the lady, the church, has supplied
you from her own breasts, and the brethren from their individual labor. For, it is not profitable to nourish and cherish the body, while the spirit is permitted to suffer hunger; and when assistance is rendered to that which is weak, we should not neglect that which is still weaker. However, I am not the person to
address you. Nevertheless, the most consummate soldiers are addressed, not
only by masters and their superiors, but also by plain persons and those of
inferior rank, receiving occasionally abundant and circumstantial exhortations
from them. Hence, it has frequently happened, that the representations and
admonitions of such persons, have afforded them signal advantage.

Therefore, ye blessed, above all things, grieve not the Holy Spirit who has accompanied you into prison; had He not entered with you, you would not now be in bonds. Strive, therefore, to retain the Holy Spirit with you there, that He may lead you from prison and conduct you to the Lord. The prison is indeed the house of the devil, in which he keeps his household; but you have gone into prison for the purpose of trampling upon him in his own house; for when you contended with him without, you totally vanquished him.

Wherefore, he shall not say, "They are in my power, I will tempt them with disgraceful hunger, with apostasy, or with dissension among themselves." He will flee from your sight, and hide himself in his abyss, like a frightened, halting, torpid, accursed and vanquished serpent.

Moreover, he shall not be so successful in his kingdom, as to excite dissension among you, and incite you against one another; but he shall find you equipped and armed with concord, since your peace is to him a war. Even though some of you have not enjoyed this peace in your churches, yet they have usually obtained it through prayer, from their fellow martyrs in prison. You ought, therefore, to have and preserve this peace among you, that you may impart the same to others. Other hindrances, such as parents, etc., have accompanied you to the prison door. Thenceforth, you are separated from the world, and much more from the perishable things of the world. It should not be a source of fear and distress to you, that you are separated from the world; for when we consider that the world is rather a prison, we can perceive that you have rather escaped from than been committed to prison. For the world is filled with greater darkness, obscuring the minds of men. The world binds sinners with more ponderous chains, in order to keep their souls in bondage and security. The world exposes adulterous mankind to more desolating impurities. In fine, the world contains more prisoners; namely, the whole human family; and, moreover, is awaiting a sentence, not this sentence of aldermen or judges, but the judgment of God. So, ye blessed, ye are now in a place of refuge or safety from the prison of the world; true, there is darkness in that refuge, but you are a light in that darkness. There are indeed prisoners there, but you are God's freedmen; there is a loathsome smell there, but you are a sweet savor. These judges have to look for a judge, but you it is who shall judge these judges. II Cor. 6:2; Rev. 3:21. Those may indeed be distressed who sigh after the wealth of this world, but a true Christian had already renounced the whole world when he was out of prison: and now that he is in prison he also renounces the. prison. To you who have renounced the world, it matters not in what part of the world you are. And if you have but some of the joy of this life, it is profitable dealing to lose or relinquish a trifling bargain, in order, thereby, to gain a greater one. I forbear mentioning the magnitude of the reward and glorification to which the martyrs are called of God. Rev. 3:21.

Still, we would hereby compare the life of the world and the prison life; the spirit gains more in prison than the body loses. Nay, the body loses not the necessaries of life, in consequence of the providence of the church and love of the brethren. but the Spirit, moreover, makes such acquisitions as are every way advantageous to faith; for there (in prison) you see no strange gods; there you are not offended with their images; there you are not molested by the great throng of men, which takes place at the festivals of the heathen; you are not enveloped with foul stench; you are not terrified with the shrieks of the horrid exhibitions, and with the fury and insolence of tumult, when the heathen tragedians make such vain reptesentations. You are not disgusted with the sight of public brothels; you are free from offense, from temptation, from evil thoughts, nay, from persecution. The prison affords to Christians all the advantages derived by the prophets from their solitary wilds. The Lord was wont to withdraw from the people, that He might enjoy the more freedom in prayer, and in retirement from the world. Nay, in the wilderness, He manifested His glory to His disciples. We will, therefore, discard the name prison, and substitute that of separation, for, though the body is therein secluded and confined, yet all things are open to the spirit. Let the spirit then issue forth and wander abroad, not in shady orchards or spacious pleasure houses, but let it travel in the way that leads to God. Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:2; Heb. 13:14. So often as you expatiate in the spirit, so often will you be beyond the confines of the prison. The feet are free from the shackles, when the hands are uplifted to heaven; the mind carries the whole man with it, taking him wherever it goes; hence; our hearts should be wherever we should have our treasures. Matt. 6:21.

But be it so, ye blessed, that the prison is irksome to the Christians: yet we must remember, that we are called to the warfare of the living God. Eph. 6; and the more especially as we have taken the sacramental (baptismal) vow. Nay, no soldier marches to war with joy and delight. He marches forth to the battle, not from his bed, but from his tent, equipped and girded about, when the whole work is a series of trouble, sorrow and turmoil; nay, in peace they are free from labor. They teach with trouble to endure the fatigues of war; they march under arms, they exercise in the field, sink ditches and saw wood for the various kinds of armaments and fortifications. All is one continued
labor and toil, lest the body or the mind should be influenced by fear; from
the evening twilight till the dawn of day, from the heat of summer to the cold
of winter, from the taking off of the coat till the putting on of the armor, from
silence till clamor, from tranquillity till alarm.

Therefore, ye blessed, inure yourselves to all the hardships of the soldier, for the exercise and strengthening of the mind and body. You are now marching in a good contest, in which the living God is the dispenser of the prizes, and
the Holy Ghost the keeper; the coronation is an everlasting jewel, the citizenship angelic existence in heaven, a glory that shall endure forever: therefore, it is Jesus Christ who dispenses the prizes to you, who has given you the unction of the Holy Spirit, and advanced you to this grade of honor; may he withdraw you from lighter work before the day of battle, that you may be assailed with greater violence, and your strength be confirmed; for the combatants have to undergo severe discipline and exercise, in order that, by exertion, their physical powers may be improved. For, for this end they are kept from venery, rich victuals, and strong drink; they are subjected to constraint, tortured and exercised; and the greater preparatory exercise they take, the greater is their hopes of victory. Now they do it, says the apostle (I Cor. 9:25 ), to obtain a corruptible crown; but we shall obtain an eternal one. We should, therefore, make the prison a place of trial and exercise, that we may be inured to every misfortune and inconvenience, and so appear with the greater confidence, before the judgment seat of Christ.

We are not unacquainted with the declaration of the Lord Jesus, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." We ought, therefore, not to fear or be dismayed, since the Lord declares that the flesh is weak; but He has told us beforehand, that the spirit is willing and ready, in order that He might know which should be subject to the other, namely, that the flesh should serve the spirit, the weaker submit to the stronger-that the former might also acquire strength of the latter. The spirit should converse about the general eternal salvation, and not about the inconvenience of the prison, but meditate upon the contest, and what greater hardships may still be in reserve. Perhaps the flesh will be terrified at the huge sharp sword, the lofty gallows, the ravenous beast, or the exquisite pain of the flames, and the numerous instruments of orment; then will the spirit and flesh stand in opposition. What though this be great cruelty, numbers have suffered it with great joy; nay, persons have voluntarily desired and longed for it, in order to acquire honor and a name; and not only men but women. Hence, ye blessed, you may know how to deport yourselves according to the measure of your race.

It would consume too much time to mention all who have been executed with the sword, under the influence of a strong desire for such a death. Among females, there is Lucretia, who, being ravished, pierced her bosom with a dagger in the presence of her friends, that she might leave behind her the fame of her chastity. ATutius burst off his right hand, in order, thereby, to acquire a name. How, also, that many other extraordinary inconveniences and tortures have been suffered for the acquisition of worldly honor and fame, we omit for brevity's sake; and add that if temporal honor is worth so much torture and pain, endured through strength of mind, so that fire, sword, gallows, wild beasts, and torture were contemned for the reward of human fame, I may well say, that this, our affliction, is extremely light in comparison of the heavenly glory and the divine reward. If glass is so valuable, how much more precious are jewels? Who, then, would not much rather suffer so much for a real, substantial good, when so many endure so much for an unsubstantial one. I now dismiss the consideration for temporal fame; still the strife of indignation and that of martyrdom are analogous, etc.

This outward exercise, ye blessed, the Lord has not permitted to enter the world to no purpose; but for our sakes, to warn us, thereby, that we shall be put to shame and confusion at the last day, if we are afraid of suffering for the sake of truth unto salvation, that which others have endured for the sake of vanity, unto perdition, etc. And in conclusion, let us consider the end or design of the creation of man, at which we must arrive, that such reflection may stimulate us to prepare ourselves resolutely to endure those calamities which equally befall the willing and the unwilling, (namely, the punishment of death, etc.), There is no person who would not still suffer for man's sake; why then should we hesitate or fear to suffer in the cause of God, who will recompense us with the purest love, and with joy and everlasting glory? Meditate upon this, ye blessed.