How we are all to look childishly upon helps in God, and to show God our love, also in the days of suffering. Of intercourse with friends.

The Hundred and Twenty-fifth Letter.

How we are all to look childishly upon helps in God, and to show God our love, also in the days of suffering. Of intercourse with friends.

N. N.

I know not, dear sister, how you come upon the thoughts, as though I were somewhere offended by you. My heart stands in ordinary love- and spirit-correspondence toward you. That I would still gladly have us all much more childlike, more hearty, more without will, and more inward, than we are, that is the truth: Only thereto will a believing, simple trust toward the Saviour be a stronger help, than all one's own working and anxious trembling. Be not so suspicious! Sink yourselves naked into Jesus, that you, like an innocent little child, may think only the good of God and of His children, and may remain in the sweet element of love. — —

I assure you then anew of my brotherly concern, and that I commonly sacrifice you most to God, when I am longest hindered from writing. But you know well that I am only a poor brother. Me and my writing, as also other care for you, must you childishly look upon and use in God. He Himself loves you, cares for you, and remains unmovedly near to your inward parts. He gives you, me and all others, sweet and bitter means of grace: but He is enough without such means. Of Him be all your expectation!

Your love to God is also still too weak and childish. God has still of late shown you so much love and good, that it should fairly remain longer than your life in unforgettable remembrance with you: And lo, scarcely does He draw the breast away, when the child already howls again, as if the mother were no longer mother. That is indeed not seemly: that is to love oneself, not to love God.

Courage, dear sister, rouse yourselves up! Lay hold of the little cross which the Crucified with His invisible hand would offer you. All gifts of the Beloved must be equally agreeable to us, when we otherwise love Him, and not the gifts. Were we free to choose, then were the adverse to be chosen. In good days He testifies unto us most clearly His love; in days of suffering can we show Him our love most properly. He knows what serves us. But He knows also that we are weak children. O! forget and venture yourselves more. Give the shameful unbelief no room. Jesus has shown us so great undeserved love, that the sin of our mistrust is no longer to be excused.

In regard of intercourse with the children there, must you go childishly, and without so many reflections, to work, as it becomes. When you have not been with them for some longer time, then can it be cordially testified that it happens not out of want of love. If you find yourselves inclined thereto, then do it without reflection, but also without eagerness. But should instead of the hoped-for refreshment only oppression follow, then make yourselves no evil conclusions therefrom, as if you had dealt against God, but take such, with humble contentment, from the hand of God, as well as your bodily discomfort, which sometimes flows in therewith. — —

German

Der hundertundfünfundzwanzigste Brief.

Wie wir alle Hülfs-Mittel kindlich in GOtt ansehen und GOtt unsere Liebe beweisen sollen, auch in den Leidens-Tagen. Vom Umgang mit Freunden.

N. N. Ich weiß nicht, liebe Schwester, wie ihr auf die Gedanken kommet, als ob ich irgendwo durch euch beleidiget wäre.

— 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).