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:
Peter Datheen
O merciful Father, we thank Thee that Thou kept watch over us this past night in Thy great faithfulness. We pray that Thou may strengthen and guide us henceforth by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may put this day as well as all the days of our life to the service of holiness and righteousness. Grant that in all our undertakings may have an eye single to Thy glory. May we ever labor in the consciousness of our dependence upon Thy beneficence for the success of our work. We beseech Thee to forgive all our sins according to Thy promise, for the sake of the passion and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we are truly sorry for all our transgressions. Illumine our hearts that we may lay aside all works of darkness and, as children of light, lead new lives in all godliness. May it please Thee to bless us as we engage in the proclamation of the divine Word. Frustrate all the works of the devil…May grace be given us to order our lives according to Thy will.
Petrus Dathenus, The Pearl of Christian Conduct.
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.