The benefit of a Christian correspondence. The great harm of distraction. An encouragement to remain within.

The Eighth Letter.

The benefit of a Christian correspondence. The great harm of distraction. An encouragement to remain within.

Dearly-beloved friend and sister in Christ!

I do not know whether I am imagining it, or whether it is the truth, that you have for some time been expecting a little letter from me: at least it seemed to me that I must write — even if I had nothing else to report but my greeting. Yet I think it may well not be displeasing to the Lord, what is done thus in simplicity; for through a little letter our hearts on both sides are still reminded and awakened to remember one another before the throne of grace, and to press on, as it were hand in hand, toward the high goal and prize of our heavenly calling — namely, toward our full sanctification and reunion with God, through the unshaken cleaving of faith to the Lord, and the steady dying-off of all that is created, by His inflowing power of grace and love.

How precious it would be, beloved sister, if in this way and work, once shown us, we spent all our moments and all our powers, and pressed on incessantly toward this noble goal — drawing ever nearer as eternity steadily approaches! Surely, whoever does not, with a still mind, keep careful watch in God's presence and pray much in spirit and in truth, not only squanders many precious moments on needless things, but must also, unfailingly, be hindered, darkened, and weakened in his course. Ah, if we had a steady, living impression of the great harm that one single needless distraction — in speaking, seeing, hearing, thinking, and the like — so often causes, we would surely walk more thoughtfully before the face of the Lord.

God loves to have His children very withdrawn, gathered, and near to Himself. Oh, let us do the dear Father this pleasure, and stay near Him, at home in our hearts — and then we shall yet have many gifts and caresses to look for from Him; He has much more in store for us that we have not yet seen. Whoever stays nearest to Him receives the most.

Soon enough we shall have to close our eyes, in death, to all that is visible, and be content with Him alone: oh, why then do we not do, more fully and thoroughly, out of love, the very thing that must at last be done out of necessity? Ah, He is the All-Sufficient One; He alone can fully satisfy and make blessed all the powers of our spirit, and He does it, too, so heartily gladly, wherever He finds but empty hearts that will be content with Him alone. Now, dear sister, to such a detached, inward walk in fellowship with God, I wish that the tender Father-heart may awaken and draw us, inwardly and with power! For without Him nothing essential will happen. I greet you in the name of Jesus.

German

Der achte Brief.

Nutzen eines christlichen Briefwechsels. Großer Schade der Zerstreuung. Aufmunterung zum Innebleiben.

Liebwerthe Freundin und Schwester in Christo!

Ich weiß nicht, ob ich es mir einbilde, oder ob es die Wahrheit ist, daß du seit einiger Zeit ein Brieflein von mir erwartet hast: wenigstens däuchte mir, ich müßte schreiben, und sollt ich auch sonst nichts, als den Gruß vermelden.

— Opening lines of the original German. The complete transcription of all 605 letters appears in the forthcoming Encounter Press critical edition; Brief 1 is shown in full as a sample.

German text: public domain (1773–75 first edition / 1845 Gesammelte Schriften).