To a friend; a letter of consolation on the death of a kinswoman.

What this letter is. An undated letter of 1758, from Mülheim to an unnamed sister. He learns today also of the death of her sister-in-law. They are to worship God's holy and blameless ways, and seek to unite themselves with His good pleasure, which cannot be otherwise than good. The remaining children, as orphans with bowed hearts, take refuge to the immortal Father, who will prove Himself their true Father. From so many examples of the vanity of this life they are to receive a remaining impression, deny the deceitful dream of vanity from the heart, and so live in the short time that dying they may have the hope of an eternal glory, and meet their dear parents again. Greet the sick M.; the Lord strengthen the sister also in these trials. Mülheim, 1758.

The death, the orphans, the immortal Father. With much compassionate sympathy he learns today also of the death of her sister-in-law. We should indeed in all this worship God's holy and blameless ways, and seek to unite ourselves with His good pleasure (which cannot be otherwise than good). This grace he wishes her, dear sister, as also the remaining dear children. God prove Himself toward them as their true Father, in love, care, and government: and this He will certainly do, if they only as orphans with bowed hearts take their refuge to this immortal Father, fear Him with a child's fear, love Him heartily, and are obedient to Him in all, even as His Word and the discipline of His Spirit will let each one feel it.

Vanity denied; the sick M.; the sister strengthened. O that they all, with us, by so many and important examples of the vanity of this life and of all temporal things, might receive a remaining impression and awakening, to deny from the heart all the deceitful dream of vanity, to yield themselves to God and to true godliness, and so to live in the short time, that dying they may also have the hope of an eternal glory, and may meet their dear parents again with joy at so blessed a place. He asks that they all be greeted heartily from him, especially the sick M., of whom Brother N. gives good hope of improvement: God strengthen her, and be mightily near her inward part with His grace, that she may gather much good and remaining fruit to the salvation of her soul. The Lord strengthen the sister also in these important trials and suffering-circumstances, and give wisdom and grace to make such of right use to her. Mülheim, 1758.

A few words and echoes.

• compassionate sympathy. mitleidigen Theilnehmung — he learns today also of the death of her sister-in-law.
• God's holy and blameless ways. to be worshipped in all this; His good pleasure cannot be otherwise than good. (Ps. 145:17)
• orphans with bowed hearts. Waiskinder — the remaining children take refuge to the immortal Father, who will prove Himself their true Father.
• the deceitful dream of vanity. to be denied from the heart; yield to God and to true godliness.
• so to live in the short time. that dying they may have the hope of an eternal glory.
• meet their dear parents again. at so blessed a place, with joy.
• the sick M. Brother N. gives good hope of improvement; God be mightily near her inward part.
• make such of right use. zu nuß — wisdom and grace in these trials and suffering-circumstances.
• Your / Mülheim, weak brother. — — 1758.