To be wholly God's, and to see Him in all things, is the only way to lasting peace. The writer would have people directed not to himself, but to the dear Saviour.

The Twenty-ninth Letter.

To be wholly God's, and to see Him in all things, is the only way to lasting peace. The writer would have people directed not to himself, but to the dear Saviour.

N. N.

Although the news of your happy arrival was a joy to me and to us all to hear, I am nevertheless sorry that, in the late traveling through the storm and in the strange lodging, you met with so much hardship. Meanwhile, thanks be to the Lord that He kept your minds in the wilderness through it all, and let this journey end for you happily and with gladness!

All passing hardship and trials belong to the way, and are dealt out for our good according to the wise dispensation of the heavenly Father. I say, they belong to the way: when we come home, the rest and the sure gladness are so much the greater. Only a little more courage! Soon it is done. To be wholly God's, and to see Him in all things, is the only way to lasting peace: think of no other, dear sister! We have been all too long our own, and in the strait. The friendly voice of our sweet Saviour invites us to go forth with our spirit into the divine breadth and freedom of His children, by the said way of peace. He wills that we should be His yet more unconditionally. O great happiness! O sweet gospel! Let us then most solemnly make over to Him all the unlawful right that we have until now held over ourselves, and, in an inward-turned mind, leave His divine Spirit a free hand in us and over us, that Jesus may take possession of His kingdom, and lay everything that still rebels against Him as a footstool at His feet.

But give the Lord, dear sister, not only a free hand in His inward leading — to be able to form you after His heart, as a potter his own clay — but give Him also unrestricted authority over you in respect of all outward occurrences and dispensations of His providence, that He may do with you, as with a thing that belongs to Him, whatever pleases Him. You will find your rest and gladness not in the fulfilling of your own will, but in the fulfilling of the will of God, which is in all things wherein you yourself do not sin. Truly, in the smallest things there is often the greatest blessing. On no single thing are we to insist stiffly, but only on this: that we will to be God's, and to please Him in all. Jesus Himself will lead us into His truth, and make you, with me, a true child of the heart — which will gladden me more than I can express.

Let this be written also for your traveling-companions, to whom I too heartily wish the blessing of God. I thank the Lord, too, that we saw one another once more; may it be for an abiding blessing! Greet these, as all the dear fellow-travelers at N., all of them, as occasion allows. Greet heartily from me, too, your worthy husband, and, though unknown to me, your brother: point this last one, for God's sake, to the dear Saviour, and not with so much weight to me! It displeases me in the highest degree, what you have written on my account to him, however good your intention may be. One must not use such expressions of a wretched man; and if I count for anything with you, then I forbid you herewith, as before God, ever to do the like again. I am a pardoned poor sinner — that is honor enough; otherwise I will gladly help to offer up his soul to the Lord in my frail prayer.

All the children and fellow-called-ones here greet you and those yonder, all of them, most heartily. Finally I greet you, dearly-beloved sister, most heartily, and wish that the dearest Saviour, in the power of His name, may bring my greeting and blessing-wish to your heart; by His grace I remain.

German

Der 29te Brief.

Ganz GOttes zu seyn, und Ihn in allen Dingen zu sehen, ist der einzige Weg zum beständigen Frieden. Der Schreiber will die Menschen nicht zu ihm, sondern zum lieben Heiland gewiesen haben.

N. N. Obgleich mir und uns allen die Nachricht von eurer glücklichen Ueberkunft erfreulich zu vernehmen war; so bedaure doch, daß ihr bei dem späten Reisen durch das Gewitter und in dem fremden Logement so viel Ungemach angetroffen.

— 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).