Comforting encouragement to a death-sick friend.

What this letter is. A March letter of the 23rd, 1767, from Mülheim to Irma zur Ehren at Barmen, a death-sick friend. He sends her herewith upon request a little medicine, which the only healing Saviour would have blessed to her relief, according to His good pleasure. His soul greets and blesses her in the Name of Jesus, our crucified King of glory. She belongs to the Lord with body and soul; so then let the Owner-Lord also do with body and soul what pleases Him. If it is useful to her, then she does not yet die; should it incline toward outer dying, then believe certainly it is thus the best. Give herself over, even when it were in the blind, to His faithful hand; no enemy will tear her out of it. If she should go hence before him, then go in faith, in peace, in the blessing of the Lord, to behold the God in whom she has here believed, and to love and serve and adore and enjoy Him perfectly. Sink herself naked into the arms of her all-sufficient Redeemer. He will certainly not forget her in his prayer; God has let them find one another and grow dear on the pilgrim-way. Mülheim, the 23rd of March, 1767.

You belong to the Lord. She belongs to the Lord with body and soul. So then let the Owner-Lord also do with body and soul what pleases Him. If it is useful to her, then she does not yet die. Should it however incline toward outer dying, then believe certainly it is thus the best. O! then give yourself over, even when it were in the blind, to His faithful hand. Lose yourself quietly into this faithful hand, out of which no enemy will be able to tear you. Bring yourself to nothing, He will exalt you, through death to life, out of misery to glory.

Go hence to behold God. Should it be God's will that she go hence before him, then go in faith, in peace, in the blessing of the Lord. Go hence, to behold the God in whom she has here believed: to love the blessed and saving Being perfectly, to serve Him perfectly, and to adore and enjoy it perfectly. That has God worked and given; let that also be given back to Him. Sink yourself naked, and so as you find yourself, into the arms of your all-sufficient Redeemer. Let the latter verses of the dying-hymn be read once: I lay my spirit in Your faithful hand. He will certainly not forget her in his prayer. God has, according to His good hand, let them find one another and grow dear on the pilgrim-way; even this moment he unites himself with her before His face. Eternally shall God be given the honor of it. Mülheim, the 23rd of March, 1767.

A few words and echoes.

• My dearly beloved sister!
• I send you herewith upon request a little medicine. which the only healing Saviour would have blessed to your relief.
• My soul greets and blesses you. in the Name of Jesus, our crucified King of glory. (Ps. 24:8)
• Ah Jesus! do You confirm that!
• you belong to the Lord with body and soul. (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 1)
• so then let the Owner-Lord also do. with body and soul what pleases Him.
• If it is useful to you, then you do not yet die.
• Should it incline toward outer dying. then believe certainly it is thus the best.
• give yourself over, even when it were in the blind. to His faithful hand. (2 Cor. 5:7)
• out of which no enemy will be able to tear you. (John 10:28)
• Bring yourself to nothing, He will exalt you. through death to life, out of misery to glory.
• then go hence in faith, in peace, in the blessing of the Lord.
• to behold the God in whom you have here believed. to love and serve and adore and enjoy Him perfectly.
• Sink yourself naked into the arms of your all-sufficient Redeemer.
• I lay my spirit in Your faithful hand, etc. the latter verses of the dying-hymn. (Ps. 31:5; Luke 23:46)
• I will certainly not forget you in my prayer.
• God has let us find one another and grow dear on the pilgrim-way.
• even this moment I unite myself with you before His face.
• Eternally shall God be given the honor of it.
• Your / Mülheim, obliged weak brother. the 23rd of March, 1767.