On November 27, 1560, Sotegen Van Den Houte of Ghent, Holland was martyred for her faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Prior to her passing, her husband had also been martyred for his faith. During the time of her imprisonment, she wrote several lengthy letters to her three youth-aged children. The following are abridged excerpts of these letters which can be found in full text on pages 646-651 in the Martyr’s Mirror.
Grace, peace, and mercy from God, the Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ, to my dear children, David, Betgen, and Tanneken. This affectionate greeting, written by your mother in bonds, is a memorial of the truth to you. I hope to testify to this Truth by my words, my life, and my death, with the help of the Most High. May the wisdom of the Holy Ghost instruct and strengthen you, that you may be brought up in the ways of the Lord. Since it pleases the Lord to take me out of this world, I will leave you this memorial of my faith in the only true God, not of silver or gold for such jewels are perishable.
Receive admonition. First, I admonish you, my most beloved children, always allow yourselves to be instructed by those who fear the Lord. As long as you obey good admonition and instruction, God will be your Father and not leave you as orphans. For David says: What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose –Psalm 25:12. Children, grieve not when you are corrected and do not speak in anger to those who correct you. A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke –Proverbs 13:1.
Guard your tongue. My dear children, guard your tongue, that it speak no evil. Do not practice deceit or backbiting with your lips. Paul teaches us to live peaceably with all men if it be possible. –see 1 Peter 3:10 and Romans 12:18. If you are crossly spoken to, learn to answer kindly, and you will be loved by all men. Humility and meekness are acceptable to both God and man.
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight –Proverbs 12:22. I admonish you to beware of lying, since liars have no part in the kingdom of God. –see Revelation 21:8.
Be diligent in work and give alms. Always be diligent to do your work, wherever you be; for Paul says …that if any would not work, neither should he eat –2 Thessalonians 3:10. It is also written, be diligent to labor, that you …may have to give to him that needeth –Ephesians 4:28.
Do not turn your face away from the poor. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard –Proverbs 21:13. Therefore, be diligent in prayer, and love the poor; for Christ also was poor for our sakes—For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich –2 Corinthians 8:9. Be therefore also merciful, even as your heavenly Father is merciful; for such shall be blessed, and shall obtain mercy. –see Matthew 5:7.
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith –Proverbs 15:16. And, Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife –Proverbs 17:1. Choose to earn your bread by the labor of your hands, and to eat your bread with peace. Seek not to be a merchant, nor be anxious for great gain.
Be meek, merciful, and pure in heart. Learn to be meek and lowly in heart for such are blessed and shall inherit the earth. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36. And, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth –Matthew 5:5. Finally, Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God –Matthew 5:8. Hence, my dear children, let no impure thoughts remain in your hearts. Engage yourselves with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and evil thoughts will have no room. –see Ephesians 5:19.
Neither let filthiness proceed out of your mouth. You will have to give an account of all filthiness. –see Matthew 12:36-37. Always esteem yourselves as the least and be not wise in your own conceit. Allow yourselves to be instructed by your elders and always be silent when others speak. Humble yourselves, for …whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted –Matthew 23:12. For Christ who is the greatest made Himself the least for an example unto us. –see John 13:13-15.
Avoid a luxurious life. My children, do not desire the luxuries of fine food or wine. He that desires costly feasts will not become rich. Be content with the labor of your hands. Do not be a burden to anyone as long as you can obtain the things needful—…It is more blessed to give than to receive –Acts 20:35. Paul says: And having food and raiment let us be therewith content –1 Timothy 6:8.
Be sober and thankful as you have heard me read of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were selected by the king of Babylon to be nourished with the same wine and meat which the king drank and ate at his table. But they chose to have pulse [vegetables] and water. They wanted to observe the law and commandments of their fathers with sobriety and thankfulness in the fear of God. In the end, they were fairer and fatter than those who ate of the king’s dainties, see Daniel chapter 1. Thus, faithfully they walked in the ways of the Lord. They made themselves acceptable to God in prayer and supplication, therefore, he did great things through them. He delivered them from the den of lions and out of the fiery furnace.
When Joseph was sold into Egypt, he desired no worldly dainties. When the Egyptian woman sought to seduce him, he feared God, and God preserved him. He pleased God in sobriety and prayer and God appointed him ruler over Egypt. –see Genesis chapters 37, 39, and 41. Take an example from this in your youth and you will please God. He will keep you from all seduction.
Oh, my lambs, you are still in your youth, yet you have a part in your Father’s kingdom. See that you keep it well and not as Esau who gave his inheritance or birthright for a mess of pottage, disregarding his father’s blessing. –see Genesis 25:30-34. But Jacob chose the better part, walking in the ways of the Lord with all righteousness.
Shun worldly living. Do not delight in the evils of the world such as lying, cheating, gambling, banqueting, playing, swearing, cursing, backbiting, hatred, and dancing, nor envy, drunkenness, excess, idolatry, covetousness, lasciviousness, vanity, filthy conversation. Though the world does not consider these things to be sin but rather calls them amusements, nevertheless, they are abominations in the eyes of the Lord. –see 1 Peter 4:3-4. If you take pleasure in these things, you sell your birthright (or the spiritual inheritance) from your Father, for a mess of pottage—namely, for a few temporal pleasures, which lead you to damnation.
Choose to suffer affliction with the children of God. From the time of Abel until now many have been afflicted and have suffered. They were rejected, despised, persecuted, and killed because they would not follow the wicked world and her false prophets.
My children, choose …rather to suffer affliction with the people of God [that you may be rewarded with them], than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season –Hebrews 11:25. Unto such belong all the beautiful promises of God. It is written: …ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy –John 16:20. And, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life –Revelation 2:10. Finally, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world –John 16:33.
Instructions to my son, David. David, my dear son, I commend you to the Lord. You are the oldest; learn wisdom, so that you may be a good example to your sisters. Beware of bad company and of playing in the street with bad boys. Diligently learn to read and write so that you may get understanding.
Love one another without contention or quarreling. Be kind to your sisters. Bear them up as the stronger and out of love help all you can. Assist them out of brotherly love.
Learn to obey your elders in that which is good. Be industrious so that people may love you. Exhort one another to good works, modesty, honorableness, and quietness. Always care for one another for the time has come that …iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold –Matthew 24:12.
Beware of deception. Remember, Jesus said …that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect –Matthew 24:24. Learn to diligently search the Scriptures so that you may not be deceived. Do not believe gossip but examine the matter.
Make no commotion when you are slandered but bear it for Christ’s sake. Love your enemies and pray for those who speak evil of you and afflict you. Suffer affliction rather than afflicting others. Suffer reproach rather than reproaching others. Be slandered rather than slandering others.
You must constantly see that you do not seek solely your own profit, but always care for those with whom you have dealings, whether they be young or old.
Instructions to my daughters Betgen and Tanneken, my beloved lambs, I admonish you in all these same things, that you obey the commandments of the Lord. Also, obey your elders and all who instruct you in virtue.
Be diligent to do your work, and you will be loved wherever you live. Don’t be quarrelsome, talkative, light-minded, proud, or surly of speech. Be kind, honorable, and quiet, as behooves young girls.
Pray the Lord for wisdom, and it shall be given you. Diligently learn to read and write, and take delight therein, and you will become wise. Take pleasure and sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Learn to please the Lord from your youth, as did the holy women and virgins of old. Esther also was a virgin who feared God; she was adorned with humility, was gracious, honorable, kind, and humble of heart; hence she pleased King Ahasuerus above all the other virgins. –see Esther 2:17. But even in her high estate she was not proud. Though she shone in royal apparel, she humbled her heart with fasting and prayer to the Lord, for her brethren, that they might be delivered out of the hands of their enemies. She did not esteem herself better than one of the least of her brethren.
When you have attained the years of understanding, see that you adorn yourselves with the works of the Spirit such as goodness, gentleness, meekness, humility, obedience, long suffering, righteousness, modesty, honorableness, purity, peaceableness, steadfastness, mercifulness, wisdom, diligence in good works, faith, hope and love. Love God above all that is in the world and do to your neighbor as you would have men do unto you. –see Galatians 5:22-23 and Titus 2:3-5. Remember that Jesus said: …Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets –Matthew 22:37-40.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints –Revelation 19:7-8. My daughters, this is the adornment of the saints; labor for such a wedding garment, so that you may enter into the marriage of the Lamb, where they …the righteous, [shall] shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father… –Matthew 13:43. May the Lord lead you as He led Israel out of Egypt, and bring you to the New Jerusalem, that we may see each other with joy in the day of the resurrection. I commend you to the Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; may He keep you to the end of your lives.
In conclusion, O my dear children, I have written this in tears, admonishing you out of love. My prayer and solicitude are constantly for your salvation. I hope and pray constantly that He, in His mercy, will preserve you, just as He preserved Joseph, Moses, and Daniel in the midst of wicked men. And He will do this if you give diligence to follow the truth.
This is my last farewell, my dear lambs. always remember each other in love; diligently learn to read and write and obey everyone in that which is good. I bid you adieu, my dear children Betgen, David and Tanneken. Adieu all my dear brethren and sisters, and friends everywhere.
Written by me, Soetgen van den Houte, your mother in bonds; written in haste (while trembling with cold), out of love for you all, amen.
