Some fundamental truths to a suffering mind.
The Ninth Letter.
Some fundamental truths to a suffering mind.
In the sweet love of Jesus, dearly beloved brother!
If you were not well convinced of my heart's disposition toward you, then my so long silence would be able to awaken suspicion in you, and I would now have something to do, to excuse myself to you: But you know my brother-heart, and also in some measure my circumstances and weakness; this latter, after the completed Dutch journey, still hardly allows that a little letter can be written.
Your little letter, received in A., was agreeable to me; my hostess also found your greeting agreeable, which I had to leave for her there; she greets you heartily again. I still see with pleasure that the Master has you in the work: Yes, I see it, both that He still has His work inwardly, and also that outwardly the dispensations of providence must second the same. The Lord will also strengthen you under it, that you may conduct yourself in all points as passively, yielding, and childlike as possible.
The following truths must at all times remain truth with you. You have only to do with God. You have given yourself wholly to God. He is well-disposed toward you (that is, toward your spirit) out of grace. If He is to lead you to the goal of union with Him, you must leave yourself, leave yourself, leave yourself. Let us then also, with courage, second God in His holy purposes over us, or yet yield; so He will bring us to Himself, and take us into His peace; a peace in which nature, selfhood, and reason have no part.
Jesus visit you, in my stead, in your sickness, of which I now compassionately receive news. Farewell, my brother, in God, and love Him who infinitely deserves all our love.
Mülheim, Wholly Yours in the 12th of August, 1754. Jesus.
German
Der neunte Brief.
Einige Grund-Wahrheiten an ein leidend Gemüthe.
In der süßen Liebe JEsu herzlich geliebter Bruder!
Wann du nicht wohl von meiner Herzens-Fassung gegen dich überzeugt wärest, dann würde mein so langes Stillschweigen Argwohn bei dir erwecken können, und ich nun was zu thun haben, mich bei dir zu excusiren: Aber du kennest mein Bruder-Herz, und auch in etwa meine Umstände und Schwachheit …
— 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 short August letter of the 12th, 1754, from Mülheim to Johann Engelbert Evertsen in Barmen. A long silence after the Dutch journey; the brother knows the heart, and the weakness. The little letter received in A. was agreeable; the hostess greets him again. The Master has him in the work, inward and outward. Some truths that must remain truth: you have only to do with God; you have given yourself wholly to Him; leave yourself. Second His purposes with courage, or yet yield. Jesus visit you in your sickness. Mülheim, the 12th of August, 1754.
Long silence, and a little letter. If the brother were not well convinced of the heart's disposition toward him, so long a silence might awaken suspicion, and there would be something to excuse. He knows the brother-heart, and in some measure the circumstances and the weakness. After the Dutch journey that weakness still hardly allows a little letter. The brother's letter, received in A., was agreeable; the greeting had to be left for the hostess there, and she greets him heartily again. The Master has him in the work: the work still inward, and outwardly the dispensations of providence must second it. The Lord will strengthen him under it, that he may conduct himself as passively, yielding, and childlike as possible.
Some truths that must remain. You have only to do with God. You have given yourself wholly to God. He is well-disposed toward you — that is, toward your spirit — out of grace. If He is to lead you to the goal of union with Him, you must leave yourself, leave yourself, leave yourself. Let us then also, with courage, second God in His holy purposes over us, or yet yield; so He will bring us to Himself, and take us into His peace — a peace in which nature, selfhood, and reason have no part. Jesus visit you, in my stead, in your sickness. Farewell, my brother, in God; love Him who infinitely deserves all our love. Mülheim, the 12th of August, 1754.
A few words and echoes.
- my heart's disposition toward you. Herzens-Fassung — if you were not well convinced of it, so long a silence might awaken suspicion.
- after the completed Dutch journey. the weakness still hardly allows a little letter.
- received in A. Amsterdam; the hostess greets him again.
- the Master has you in the work. inward still, and outwardly the dispensations of providence must second it.
- you have only to do with God. you have given yourself wholly to Him; He is well-disposed toward your spirit, out of grace.
- leave yourself, leave yourself, leave yourself. if He is to lead you to the goal of union with Him. (Matt. 16:24)
- with courage, second God. in His holy purposes over us, or yet yield.
- a peace in which nature, selfhood, and reason have no part. He will take us into His peace. (John 14:27; Phil. 4:7)
- Jesus visit you, in my stead, in your sickness. of which news is now compassionately received. (Matt. 25:36)
- Wholly Yours in Jesus. the short close; Ganz der Deine in JEsu.
trans. Jarred Fenlason · gerhardtersteegen.com/letters/bdii-thiv-009 · all rights reservedEnglish translation © Jarred Fenlason · All rights reserved · gerhardtersteegen.com.