Instruction concerning prayer and recollection, to a person in the married state.
The Thirty-eighth Letter.
Instruction concerning prayer and recollection, to a person in the married state.
In the grace of Jesus, much-beloved friend and sister!
Upon your pleasant little letter I have not been able, because of weakness and other business, to answer sooner with the pen: In the meantime I have prayed the dear Savior, that He might quiet you, and press the needful into your heart; for He is certainly near you.
You have indeed some time for solitude and recollection of mind needful, in order to remain in order, and that the spirit may get its nourishment; therefore you must also not miss the opportunity thereto through inattention or sloth: Because however you stand as a handmaid of Christ under His obedience, and the same has entrusted house and children to you to govern, so you also cannot take the solitude and stillness according to your own choosing. You must look to the eyes of your Lord Christ; if He gives you a little bit of time, then take it with thanks; if it will not fit, and He gives you otherwise something to do in the house: then serve Him therein also with all willingness, but hold Him by the hand under the business, so as not to fall, for thereto you must also accustom yourself, and let yourself be exercised: You have in all things and everywhere only to do with Him, and He with you; as He then is also near you in all things and at all times, to care for you: Ah! believe that childlikely, and learn also to remain near Him. He, the sweet Savior, already knows means and counsel to put your natural perversity to death; only yield yourself to His hand, and care for nothing, except only how you may please Him. I greet you heartily, dear sister, and remain through grace
Your Mülheim, weak fellow-pilgrim. the 4th of February, 1759.
German
Der achtunddreißigste Brief.
Unterricht wegen des Gebäts und der Sammlung an eine Person im Ehestand.
In der Gnade JEsu vielgeliebte Freundin und Schwester!
Auf dein angenehmes Brieflein habe wegen Schwachheit und anderer Geschäfte nicht eher mit der Feder antworten können: Inzwischen habe den lieben Heiland gebäten, daß er dich beruhigen, und das Nöthige in dein Herz drücken möge; denn er ist dir gewißlich nahe.
— 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 February letter of the 4th, 1759, from Mülheim to an unknown sister in the married state. Her pleasant little letter not answered sooner with the pen, because of weakness and other business. In the meantime he has prayed the dear Savior to quiet her and press the needful into her heart: for He is certainly near her. She has some time for solitude and recollection of mind needful, and must not miss the opportunity through inattention or sloth; yet as a handmaid of Christ, with house and children entrusted to her, she cannot take solitude and stillness according to her own choosing. She must look to the eyes of her Lord Christ. If He gives a little bit of time, take it with thanks; if it will not fit, serve Him in the house, holding Him by the hand under the business so as not to fall. He already knows means and counsel to put her natural perversity to death. Care for nothing, except only how she may please Him. Mülheim, the 4th of February, 1759.
Prayer and recollection, under obedience. He has prayed the dear Savior, that He might quiet her, and press the needful into her heart; for He is certainly near her. She has indeed some time for solitude and recollection of mind needful, in order to remain in order, and that the spirit may get its nourishment; therefore she must also not miss the opportunity thereto through inattention or sloth. Because however she stands as a handmaid of Christ under His obedience, and the same has entrusted house and children to her to govern, so she also cannot take the solitude and stillness according to her own choosing.
Look to His eyes; hold Him by the hand. She must look to the eyes of her Lord Christ; if He gives her a little bit of time, then take it with thanks; if it will not fit, and He gives her otherwise something to do in the house: then serve Him therein also with all willingness, but hold Him by the hand under the business, so as not to fall, for thereto she must also accustom herself, and let herself be exercised. She has in all things and everywhere only to do with Him, and He with her; as He then is also near her in all things and at all times, to care for her. Ah! believe that childlikely, and learn also to remain near Him. He, the sweet Savior, already knows means and counsel to put her natural perversity to death; only yield yourself to His hand, and care for nothing, except only how you may please Him. Mülheim, the 4th of February, 1759.
A few words and echoes.
- prayer and recollection. Gebät and Sammlung — instruction to a married sister on how to pray and be gathered while house and children are hers to govern.
- a handmaid of Christ. Dienst-Magd Christi — she stands under His obedience; solitude cannot be taken according to her own choosing.
- look to the eyes of your Lord Christ. as a servant watching the master's eyes for the next command. (Ps. 123:2)
- a little bit of time. ein Bißgen Zeit — if He gives it, take it with thanks; if it will not fit, serve Him in the house.
- hold Him by the hand under the business. so as not to fall; accustom yourself also thereto.
- He is certainly near you. in all things and at all times, to care for you.
- believe that childlikely. and learn also to remain near Him.
- care for nothing, except only how you may please Him. the married sister's care is still this one thing. (1 Cor. 7:32)
- Your / Mülheim, weak fellow-pilgrim. the 4th of February, 1759.
trans. Jarred Fenlason · gerhardtersteegen.com/letters/bdii-thiv-038 · all rights reservedEnglish translation © Jarred Fenlason · All rights reserved · gerhardtersteegen.com.