In what way we love all the pious, and toward whom we must be open-hearted.
The Sixty-fourth Letter.
In what way we love all the pious, and toward whom we must be open-hearted.
My in Jesus, dearly beloved sister!
Your little letters, heartily pleasant to me, of the 17th, 25th and 28th of November I would indeed have gladly answered forthwith; but I could not, because of the much load and trouble which, this time over, since brother N. lay sick, I have had to take upon me: Whereby then I have also had my other business, with my own sickliness. Hitherto the Lord has helped; His name be praised! — —
As concerns your remarkable dreams, thereof I have known not the least. That both righteousness, and also the grace of God, have been shown you, for that you have cause to thank the Lord, for the matter has in itself its great truth. But as concerns the application, such I leave over to the Lord, and do you that also: The time will make it clearer.
We must indeed love all, and love equally through; that is to say: We must love and regard the work of God in all and each, without partiality; also show love and service to the very least who belong to Christ, according to our circumstances and ability, as to Christ Himself: But we cannot deal equally much with all; that is impossible. We must not open our whole heart and state to all; that would be dangerous. Our Savior distinguished three of His disciples especially; and that He yet more nearly loved John among these three is known. Timothy was more after Paul's mind than others. Phil. 2:21. and yet neither Christ nor Paul was partial.
Those whom the divine providence has joined to us for instruction, use and help, we may, yea we must, especially prize in love, be open toward them, and be obedient to them in the Lord; that is no partiality. But others we should also love heartily, and where we harmonize more nearly with this one or that, keep such secret as much as possible, for the sake of the offense of the weak. As therefore concerns you in particular, dear sister, so is my counsel this: Because you have hitherto, so far as I know, opened yourself toward the dear brother N., and have also remained not without strengthening and blessing in his company, so hold yourself thereto, so long as he lives, even when you cannot come to him so often because of his weakness; if he dies, then God still lives, who will then further say. Toward others remain in love. I hope you will well understand my mind and meaning.
I write very hastily because of the circumstances; I would yet gladly send it with this opportunity, because I am not certain whether the letters come over well, when I write directly to you. Jesus be with your spirit! In the same my soul greets and blesses you. Fare well and love much, my worthy sister.
Your Mülheim, obliged weak the 12th of December, 1762. brother.
German
Der vierundsechzigste Brief.
Auf welche Weise wir alle Frommen lieben, und gegen welche wir offenherzig seyn müssen.
Meine in JEsu herzlich geliebte Schwester!
Deine mir herzlich-angenehme Brieflein vom 17ten, 25ten und 28ten Novembr. hätte ich wohl gerne also fort beantwortet; aber ich konnte nicht, der vielen Last und Bemühung wegen, so diese Zeit über, da Bruder N. krank gelegen, auf mich nehmen müssen: Wobei dann auch meine sonstige Geschäfte …
— 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 December letter of the 12th, 1762, from Mülheim to Anna Maria Rittershaus at Barmen-Gemarke. Her pleasant little letters of the 17th, 25th and 28th of November he would gladly have answered forthwith, but could not, because of the load and trouble while brother N. lay sick, and his own business and sickliness. Hitherto the Lord has helped; His name be praised. As for her remarkable dreams, he had known nothing; that both righteousness and the grace of God have been shown her, she has cause to thank the Lord — the application he leaves over to the Lord; the time will make it clearer. We must love all, and love equally through, without partiality; yet not open the whole heart to all. Those whom providence has joined for instruction, use and help we may, yea must, especially prize; others love heartily, and keep the nearer harmony secret for the offense of the weak. Hold herself to brother N. so long as he lives; if he dies, then God still lives, who will then further say. He writes very hastily. Jesus be with her spirit. Mülheim, the 12th of December, 1762.
Love all, without opening the whole heart to all. We must indeed love all, and love equally through: love and regard the work of God in all and each, without partiality; also show love and service to the very least who belong to Christ, according to our circumstances and ability, as to Christ Himself. But we cannot deal equally much with all; that is impossible. We must not open our whole heart and state to all; that would be dangerous. Our Savior distinguished three of His disciples especially; and that He yet more nearly loved John among these three is known. Timothy was more after Paul's mind than others; and yet neither Christ nor Paul was partial.
Those joined by providence; hold to brother N. Those whom the divine providence has joined for instruction, use and help, we may, yea we must, especially prize in love, be open toward them, and be obedient to them in the Lord; that is no partiality. Others we should also love heartily, and where we harmonize more nearly with this one or that, keep such secret as much as possible, for the sake of the offense of the weak. Because she has hitherto opened herself toward the dear brother N., and has remained not without strengthening and blessing in his company, so hold herself thereto, so long as he lives, even when she cannot come to him so often because of his weakness; if he dies, then God still lives, who will then further say. Toward others remain in love. He writes very hastily, because he is not certain whether the letters come over well when he writes directly to her. Jesus be with her spirit. Fare well and love much. Mülheim, the 12th of December, 1762.
A few words and echoes.
- your pleasant little letters. of the 17th, 25th and 28th of November.
- I could not answer forthwith. the load and trouble, while brother N. lay sick.
- hitherto the Lord has helped. His name be praised. (1 Sam. 7:12)
- your remarkable dreams. both righteousness and the grace of God shown you.
- leave the application to the Lord. the time will make it clearer.
- love all, and love equally through. the work of God in all and each, without partiality.
- the very least who belong to Christ. love and service, as to Christ Himself. (Matt. 25:40)
- not our whole heart to all. that would be dangerous.
- three of His disciples. John more nearly loved; Timothy after Paul's mind. (Phil. 2:21)
- those joined by providence. for instruction, use and help; open and obedient in the Lord.
- keep the nearer harmony secret. for the offense of the weak.
- hold yourself to brother N. so long as he lives.
- if he dies, then God still lives. who will then further say.
- toward others remain in love. my mind and meaning.
- very hastily. whether the letters come over well.
- Jesus be with your spirit. fare well and love much.
- Your / Mülheim, obliged weak brother. the 12th of December, 1762.
trans. Jarred Fenlason · gerhardtersteegen.com/letters/bdii-thiv-064 · all rights reservedEnglish translation © Jarred Fenlason · All rights reserved · gerhardtersteegen.com.