Lady Elizabeth de Grave left church one Sunday despondent over the state of her soul. After listening to the preacher pronounce God’s judgment for those who transgress the law, doubts about her salvation kicked into high gear. Maybe she was kidding herself and wasn’t saved after all. She wrote to Peter Datheen (who also went by his Latin name Petrus Dathenus 1531-1588), who had been a monk in his early years and later pastored Protestant churches in Netherlands and Germany. Peter and Elizabeth engaged in a lively correspondence on the relationship between law and gospel for the better part of 1584. Their letters were later collected and published under the title The Pearl of Christian Conduct in 1624. When Elizabeth despaired over her failure to keep God’s laws, Peter directed her to John 3.17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.” He then asked, “Is Christ your accuser or your Redeemer? Has He only partly forgiven your sins, or has he totally and completely forgiven you? Is He a complete or only a half Savior?” His rhetorical questions found their mark as Elizabeth learned to rest in Christ and trust God’s promises. Just the same, she kept Peter’s letters in reserve whenever she needed assurance. Augustine of Hippo said it well, “To be assured of our salvation is not arrogant stoutness. It is faith. It is devotion. It is not presumptuous. It is God’s promise.
Peter also compiled a hymnbook for Dutch Christians in 1566, coupled with suggested prayers for morning and evening use. The following is one of his morning prayers: