Encouragement to willingness in suffering. The sweet union with God's will works much good.
The Hundred-and-fiftieth Letter.
Encouragement to willingness in suffering. The sweet union with God's will works much good.
Dearly beloved brother!
Both your agreeable of the 23rd pass. and also brother A.'s little letter of the 31st ditto I have received rightly in its time. You will accommodate yourselves with patience to my circumstances, that I answer somewhat slowly, since I myself must exercise patience. I love you (without compliment) tenderly, and visit you much in the spirit.
That the dear cross visits you also from time to time does me indeed in one part grief, yet I cannot look upon it as a misfortune. The little crosses that come in such connexion are marks of the divine favor and election; make them then yet no so sad a mien. Seek to forget yourself a little more, and your sufferings, and the sensitiveness of your nature, to venture yourself thereby, and to look upon the suffering without a mask. You are exceedingly sociable, therefore have I always advised, not to leave the devout solitude even in the dry time, that the spirit might be accustomed to its right object, which richly replaces all company: Now the Lord has also not left you unattested and unvisited. But the simple pure faith shall let itself be contented and rejoice no less in His company, when He sits behind the veil and is silent, than when He speaks and lets Himself be seen. The yielding-over and sweet union with God's will (which is infinitely to be preferred to all self-seeking) brings us at such a time nearer to God than we think, and disposes us to the happy going-out from ourselves. God never hides Himself from us in a way, or it happens, that we may find Him in a nobler way. But ah! where do we not stand in the Lord's way? Therefore we should yield, go out, let go without end. Where we are no more, there is God. Only be of good courage! We are and will be the Lord's. This one thought can drive away a thousand sad thoughts in a sincere lover of God.
— — Jesus live and glorify Himself ever more fully in our hearts! I remain through grace.
Mülheim, the 9th of September, 1751.
German
Der hundertfünfzigste Brief.
Aufmunterung zur Willigkeit im Leiden. Die süße Vereinigung mit GOttes Willen wirket viel Gutes.
Herzlich geliebter Bruder!
Sowohl dein Angenehmes vom 23ten pass. als auch Bruder A. sein Brieflein vom 31ten ditto habe seiner Zeit richtig erhalten.
— 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. A September letter of the 9th, 1751, from Mülheim to Johann Engelbert Evertsen of Barmen — answering his of the 23rd pass. and Abraham's little letter of the 31st ditto. Encouragement to willingness in suffering. The sweet union with God's will works much good. Herzlich geliebter Bruder! — Rule B, dearly beloved.
Patience, and the little crosses. Both letters received in their time. Accommodate yourselves: he answers slowly, because he himself must exercise patience. He loves you without compliment, and visits you much in the spirit. The dear cross that visits from time to time is not a misfortune. The little crosses in such connexion are marks of divine favor and election — make them no sad mien. Forget yourself a little more, and the sufferings, and nature's sensitiveness; venture yourself; look on the suffering without a mask. You are exceedingly sociable: do not leave the devout solitude even in the dry time, that the spirit be accustomed to its right object, which richly replaces all company. The Lord has not left you unattested. Simple pure faith is as content when He sits behind the veil and is silent as when He speaks. Yielding-over and sweet union with His will brings us nearer to God than we think, and disposes us to go out of ourselves. He never hides but that we should find Him more nobly. Ah! where do we not stand in His way? Yield, go out, let go without end. Where we are no more, there is God. One thought can drive away a thousand sad ones. Jesus live and glorify Himself ever more fully in our hearts! I remain through grace. Mülheim, the 9th of September, 1751.
A few words and echoes.
- the little crosses. Kreuzgens — they come in such connexion as marks of divine favor and election; make them then no so sad a mien.
- without a mask. ohne Larve — look upon the suffering so: forget yourself a little more, and nature's sensitiveness, and venture yourself.
- devout solitude even in the dry time. Counsel to the exceedingly sociable: the spirit must be accustomed to its right object, which richly replaces all company.
- behind the veil. Simple pure faith is as content when He sits there and is silent as when He speaks and lets Himself be seen.
- yielding-over and sweet union with God's will. Infinitely to be preferred to all self-seeking; it brings us nearer to God than we think, and disposes us to the happy going-out from ourselves.
- Where we are no more, there is God. Because we stand in His way; therefore yield, go out, let go without end.
- We are and will be the Lord's. Romans 14:8 — "whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." One thought that can drive away a thousand sad ones.
- Jesus live and glorify Himself ever more fully in our hearts. The closing wish.
trans. Jarred Fenlason · gerhardtersteegen.com/letters/bdii-thiii-150 · all rights reservedEnglish translation © Jarred Fenlason · All rights reserved · gerhardtersteegen.com.