How one must conduct oneself under sorrowful circumstances and storms of this life.

What this letter is. A letter of the Visitation of Mary, 1766, from Mülheim to Anna Maria Rittershaus. He would gladly answer her always-pleasant with this opportunity with a short, yet hearty counter-greeting and wish; could they only greet one another so powerfully as Mary greeted Elizabeth, whose greeting is remembered this day. The peace of God, higher than all understanding and deeper than nature and sensuality, take the inmost and keep hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus unmoved — and therewith he has already said everything he finds to say. That her mind after the Mülheim journey has been quieted he learns with pleasure and thanks. That the present sorrowful circumstances move them both cannot be otherwise, yet it would be a pity if the inner peace of God in the ground should thereby be befogged. One must not take such incidents too much to heart, but even then so much the more exercise oneself in forgetting, sinking-in, or looking, that heart and thoughts may be kept as unconcerned as possible. This is not the first storm on the voyage through the tempestuous sea of this life, nor presumably the last; only take courage — our Friend sits at the helm. Greet the dear brother N. and her dear mother. Under the over-heaped visits he is too much worn. Pray for him; he gladly does the like. Mülheim, on the day of the Visitation of Mary, 1766.

The peace of God, and the inner ground. The peace of God, which is higher than all understanding, and deeper than nature and sensuality, take our inmost, and keep our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus unmoved. And therewith he has already said everything that he finds to say. That the mind after the Mülheim journey has been quieted he learns with pleasure. That the present sorrowful circumstances move them both, and deeply sadden, cannot be otherwise; yet it would be a pity if the inner peace of God in the ground should thereby be befogged, not to say displaced. One has certainly to take care not to take such and other incidents of things too much to heart; but even then so much the more exercise oneself in forgetting, sinking-in, or looking, that heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus may be kept as unconcerned as possible, though one also therein, unto becoming small and not faint-hearted, must experience one's weakness in many ways.

The Friend at the helm. This is not the first storm on the voyage through the tempestuous sea of this life, nor presumably the last. Only take courage! Our Friend sits at the helm: He will steer everything to the best. Though the waves disguise themselves, when you only are with Jesus. See and sing one with me this hymn. The reproach of them that reproach You, O God, falls upon me, said Christ. In another sense we also must make ourselves ready thereto. God helps often just when we give it up, that to Him alone of all the honor may remain. All defects and wretchednesses in anyone do not strike him so easily, since he himself is so wretched. Greet the dear brother N. as also the dear mother. He did not think he should be able to write so much; now he can also no more. Under the over-heaped visits he is too much worn. Pray for me, dear sister; I gladly do the like. Be yet once more brotherly greeted. Mülheim, on the day of the Visitation of Mary, 1766.

A few words and echoes.

• Your always-pleasant. I would gladly answer it with this opportunity with a short, yet hearty counter-greeting and wish.
• Could we only greet one another so powerfully. as there Mary greeted Elizabeth. (Luke 1:40)
• this day the remembrance is celebrated. the Visitation of Mary.
• The peace of God, which is higher than all understanding. and deeper than nature and sensuality. (Phil. 4:7)
• take our inmost. and keep our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus unmoved.
• therewith I have already said everything. that I find to say to you.
• your mind after the Mülheim journey. has been quieted; I learn it with pleasure and thanks.
• the present sorrowful circumstances. move you, as also me, and deeply sadden.
• that can well not be otherwise. yet it would be a pity if the inner peace of God in the ground should thereby be befogged.
• not to take such incidents too much to heart. but even then so much the more exercise oneself.
• forgetting, sinking-in, or looking. that heart and thoughts may be kept as unconcerned as possible.
• unto becoming small and not faint-hearted. one must experience one's weakness in many ways.
• not the first storm. on our voyage through the tempestuous sea of this life, nor presumably the last. (Matt. 8:24, 26)
• Only take courage! our Friend sits at the helm: He will steer everything to the best.
• Though the waves disguise themselves. when you only are with Jesus.
• See and sing one with me this hymn. N. 448. (Herrnschmidt, "Gott wills machen, daß die Sachen")
• The reproach of them that reproach You, O God! falls upon me, said Christ. (Ps. 69:9 / print 69, 10)
• In another sense we also must make ourselves ready thereto. God helps often just when we give it up.
• that to Him alone of all the honor may remain. all defects and wretchednesses in anyone do not strike me so easily.
• Greet the dear brother N. as also your dear mother heartily from me.
• I did not think I should be able to write so much. now however I can also no more.
• Under the over-heaped visits I am too much worn. Pray for me, dear sister; I gladly do the like.
• Be yet once more brotherly greeted. I remain Your obliged weak brother.
• on the day of the Visitation of Mary, 1766. Mülheim.