Encouragement and instruction to a newly-awakened person. Rules of conduct regarding outward acquaintance, and also regarding church- and communion-going.

The Forty-Eighth Letter.

Encouragement and instruction to a newly-awakened person. Rules of conduct regarding outward acquaintance, and also regarding church- and communion-going.

In the grace of God, dearly beloved and worthy friend!

Your letter of the 28th of January was welcome to me; for since I have known, in my measure, both the wretched state of an unconverted man and also the blessedness of a converted one, out of divine grace, it rejoices me inwardly wherever I see that somewhere a prodigal son strikes into himself, and sets out to go to his father. I too was such a swineherd; and when, after a thousand threats and lures, I came at last, just as I was, in order to become what I was not, I had only to beg a little and wait — whereupon I was received infinitely more graciously than I could ever have hoped or thought.

Now, because I know the Father-heart, I cannot but speak courage to the penitent, coming sinners, that the issue will be glorious. This moves me, then, to answer the dear friend's letter, though otherwise I gladly remain unknown. Extraordinary secrets are not to be sought with me. My way is simple, according to the Gospel, and I can say my whole theology in a few words: God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19.

This God and Merciful One, reconciled in Christ, is unspeakably near to us; He knocks at the door of our hearts, and asks that we too — turning away from sin — should let ourselves be reconciled to Him. All the unrest over our dangerous state; all the insight into our corruption, our darkness, and our incapacity; all the woe and lament over our sins — are but workings of this intimately-near love of God in Christ Jesus. We are only to confess that we are such people as we are, before the clear face of the present God; and, without wanting to adorn ourselves or to help ourselves, only to hunger after the grace and love opened up in Christ, with humble trust. Under this labor it is just this eternal love of God that awakens, in the ground of the soul, such an inextinguishable secret hunger to turn out of creature, sin, and selfhood, back again to its Father and Source. Countless times this longing hunger is now and then beaten to the ground by unbelief — especially where it enters into anything else than pure grace, and the soul expects much of itself; but just as often the hungering faith-desire is awakened again, to hold solely to Him who is so near and so faithful.

And in this faith the Lord lets no single soul be put to shame: when His hour is come, He opens His Father-heart, and heals and renews us often, in one blessed instant, through the communication of His love and the appearing of His coming. Should we not yet experience and see it so palpably, that the Lord is good, still we are to believe it, according to the Scripture and according to the testimony of those who have seen it, and to give ourselves wholly, with entireness, to this God: He is assuredly good, and alone sufficient to content us in time and eternity. And because He is such a one, He also gladly wills that we willingly give up all other contentment, and — out of hearty love to the so-intimately-near Friend, who out of pure grace has forgiven us our sins and called us with a holy calling — venture our dearest and best, that He alone may be our treasure. All for all — that is our whole affair. And yet it is no purchase, but on both sides a free gift of love.

Do not be troubled that you have not much guidance or acquaintance with friends: what, and when, it is needful, the divine Providence will surely give. Far too much guiding-by-the-hand often causes delay. Here and there are many good people, whom one must all love; but friends who are truly furthering to us in God are not to be found in crowds; God brings us such when it pleases Him. He Himself is nearer to us than any friend is: He sees, He knows us through and through. He tells us more properly how we are to walk than any instrument can; and what He says, He also gives. Accustom yourself to the presence of this God, who will lead you rightly!

That you have renounced all open sins is good and necessary; only you feel it, that the ground will not do. God's eternal love in Christ must flow in from within, and by itself work a thorough renewal: thither turn yourself with humble trust, and learn to wait upon the Lord. Do not seek too much everywhere! Within, in your heart, is to be found what can quiet you and content you eternally.

I do not wonder that the very same light which discovers to you the misery within yourself also makes you see, at the same time, the corruption of the world and the decay of the outward church. So it is wont to go: but here caution is needful, that one not turn one's face too strongly outward, and rail against Babel outside oneself, while one is inwardly still oneself in bonds and confusion. Let us first have the fire in our own house put out; afterward we may help the neighbor — but with water. The corruption in the outward church I cannot indeed deny; but it seems to me that you have now more needful things to do than to occupy yourself with it. In, in, with God alone! To separate oneself from church and communion I also do not advise: there is nothing essential in such a separation; it has been harmful to many. Yet you must nowhere do anything against your conscience; rather, where you should be oppressed in your mind over your communion-going, you do better to stay away from it and await the time, whether perhaps the Lord may hereafter give you a nearer opening in the matter. A blasphemer, or an openly carnal preacher, I too would not gladly hear. And when the circumstances are so, one may well hold back for a time — without, on that account, taking a resolution for the future, still less judging others who do otherwise. The kingdom of God is not meat or drink (Romans 14:17) — nor the keeping or omitting of some other outward ordinances — but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Herewith I must break off, and commend the dear friend, from the heart, to the gentle love of Jesus, and remain, with hearty greeting,

Your affectionate friend and fellow-pilgrim.

Mülheim, the 12th of March 1744.

German

Der achtundvierzigste Brief.

Muthgebung und Unterricht an eine neu-erweckte Person. Verhaltungs-Reglen wegen äußerer Bekanntschaft, wie auch wegen Kirch- und Abendmahlgehen.

In der Gnade GOttes vielgeliebter und werther Freund!

Euer Zuschreiben vom 28ten Jan. ist mir angenehm gewesen; dann da ich beides den unseligen Zustand eines unbekehrten, und auch die Glückseligkeit eines bekehrten Menschen aus göttlicher Gnade in meinem Maaß erkannt habe; so erfreuet es mich innigst, wo ich sehe, daß irgendwo ein verlohrener Sohn in sich schlägt …

— 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).