Of various hindrances to explaining oneself upon one's inward. Encouragement to the faithful following of the voice of Jesus.
The Hundred-and-twenty-ninth Letter.
Of various hindrances to explaining oneself upon one's inward. Encouragement to the faithful following of the voice of Jesus.
In the grace of Jesus, dearly beloved sister!
Your pleasant letter of the 21st of November I have not answered because of bodily weakness, and then, because the remaining time was quite taken from me. In the spirit have I visited you (though frail) so much the oftener, and offered up your soul to the Author and Finisher of our faith: For I wish nothing more heartily, than that you become wholly dedicated to the Lord, right familiar with Him, but to yourself, and to that which falls into the senses, ever more a stranger.
That you, at your last being-here, in respect of your inward, do not mean to have explained yourself to satisfaction, thereof I know no more. One must explain oneself simply and right, as one can, and so receive it from God, on whom we depend; and not from men. And when we then cannot explain ourselves, then the Lord still arranges it well, that we must be told or not told what is serviceable to us. Sometimes we are not at home; sometimes one will just say something fine, which God then does not permit; sometimes the states are so constituted, that one finds nothing particular to say thereof; sometimes one seeks through the saying a support, which the Lord will not give for the time. One must only at all times in the present go simply to work, as well as one knows and can, for the rest take all from God, and not hold oneself up with thinking-back.
It has rejoiced me to see that the voice of the Friend renews His inward call in you, and will deepen it. Now then! follow blindly the Lamb, whithersoever He goeth with you. Let it go henceforth more into the full and the whole, wherein alone peace and freedom and true communion with Jesus is found! To the natural part that shuns the cross and denial, that seeks itself, let us become right strange, in order in the spirit to be able to perceive the tender voice of love, and to enjoy His familiarity, which infinitely outweigh the little nature-suffering: But for self-love this table is not spread. The inward love-draw makes the eye close before the self, inclines to going-out from oneself, and lets one experience, that there, where one loses oneself, God is truly found. Ourselves we must mistrust everywhere, and therefore cleave so much the more to the divine Leader, with whom alone we can expect light, strength, and good, for He is faithful.
I greet heartily from us all you and your whole house, also N. and N. —— I remain through grace
Your and all of theirs
Mülheim, weak fellow-brother. the 27th of December, 1749.
German
Der hundertundneunundzwanzigste Brief.
Von verschiedenen Hindernissen, sich über sein Inwendiges zu erklären. Aufmunterung zur treuen Folge der Stimme JEsus.
In der Gnade JEsu herzlich geliebte Schwester!
Dein Angenehmes vom 21ten Novembr. habe wegen leiblicher Schwachheit nicht beantwortet, und dann, weil mir die übrige Zeit gar abgenommen wurde.
— 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).
Translator’s notes
What this letter is. Of various hindrances to explaining oneself upon one's inward — to Elisabeth Schröters of Krefeld, Mülheim, the 27th of December, 1749. Encouragement to the faithful following of the voice of Jesus.
Your pleasant letter of the 21st. He has not answered her kind letter of the 21st of November, because of bodily weakness, and then because the remaining time was taken from him. In the spirit he has visited her so much the oftener, and offered up her soul to the Author and Finisher of our faith. He wishes nothing more heartily than that she become wholly dedicated to the Lord, right familiar with Him, but to herself and to that which falls into the senses ever more a stranger.
Hindrances to explaining. That she, at her last being-here, does not mean to have explained herself upon her inward to satisfaction — thereof he knows no more. One must explain oneself simply and right, as one can, and receive it from God, not from men. When we then cannot, the Lord still arranges what must be said or not said. Sometimes we are not at home; sometimes one will just say something fine, which God then does not permit; sometimes there is nothing particular to say; sometimes one seeks a support through the saying, which the Lord will not give for the time. Go simply to work in the present; do not hold oneself up with thinking-back.
The voice of the Friend. It has rejoiced him that the voice of the Friend renews His inward call in her, and will deepen it. Now then: follow blindly the Lamb, whithersoever He goeth with you. Let it go more into the full and the whole, wherein alone peace and freedom and true communion with Jesus is found. Become strange to the natural part that shuns the cross. The inward love-draw closes the eye before the self; there, where one loses oneself, God is truly found. Mistrust ourselves; cleave to the divine Leader, with whom alone we can expect light, strength, and good, for He is faithful. He greets her and her whole house. Mülheim, the 27th of December, 1749.
A few words and echoes.
- the Author and Finisher of our faith. He has offered her soul up to Him — that she become wholly dedicated, familiar with the Lord, and ever more a stranger to herself. (Hebrews 12:2)
- various hindrances. Sometimes not at home; sometimes one will just say something fine, which God does not permit; sometimes the states yield nothing particular; sometimes one seeks through the saying a support the Lord will not give for the time.
- explaining oneself upon one's inward. Do it simply, as one can; when one cannot, the Lord still arranges what is serviceable; do not hold oneself up with thinking-back.
- the voice of the Friend. The inward call renews and deepens. (Song of Solomon 2:8 — "The voice of my beloved!")
- follow blindly the Lamb, whithersoever He goeth. Into the full and the whole, wherein alone peace and freedom and true communion with Jesus is found. (Revelation 14:4)
- this table is not spread for self-love. The tender voice of love and His familiarity infinitely outweigh the little nature-suffering.
- the inward love-draw. Liebes-Zug — it closes the eye before the self, and lets one experience that there, where one loses oneself, God is truly found.
- He is faithful. Ourselves we must mistrust; cleave so much the more to the divine Leader, with whom alone light, strength, and good. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
trans. Jarred Fenlason · gerhardtersteegen.com/letters/bdii-thiii-129 · all rights reservedEnglish translation © Jarred Fenlason · All rights reserved · gerhardtersteegen.com.