To a troubled mind, how in all occurrences it must become childlike.

The Hundred and Twenty-seventh Letter.

To a troubled mind, how in all occurrences it must become childlike.

N. N.

One of your letters I received in N., the second was sent after me to S. and the third hither; though I have first been able to read them here with attention, as also those that arrived afterward.

I see in the main therefrom, that it goes with you as with all that voyage by sea, who have now storm, now fair weather: But I see also this thereby, that you are yet no little child; for the children trouble themselves neither about storm nor about fair weather; they remain only in the mother's lap; and should they indeed through a hard shock of the ship feel a momentary dismay, so it serves only thereto, that they clasp the mother so much the faster. — —

Especially is it displeasing to the dear Savior, when you so lightly think that Brother N. or other good children have something against you. Believe only childishly and of good courage the very contrary: Esteem your feeling nothing; but bear quietly your weakness, and believe that others bear you, and have compassion with your needless disturbances. O! the wretched suspicion! what strange things it brings you, and sets you in a thousand unrest and distress. Let yourselves yet be made into an innocent child! Do what you can, and commit the rest unto God. Suffer what comes, for the mother bears the child; and hold not yourselves with phantasies, as if your people in the house had it in mind to trouble and to torment you, and the like. — —

A little child must friendly accommodate itself, taking all from the Father's hand, especially when one cannot so friendly and quietly change it. Yea also your joys and sufferings of the mind must you take out of this Father's hand, for God knows what is best; and what is best, that He gives us: Therefore ought we indeed to be content, and only to love and look upon Him.

Now I write this nothing as if I had not great compassion with your sufferings, and as if I took not also heartily part in your pleasures; but I see your sufferings not as something evil, but as very lovely things. That you unite yourselves in the spirit with me, and as it were converse, unto your strengthening, such is good; only it must not hinder you in the intercourse with God; also must you not take such conversations too highly, but only as occurring good thoughts, what I would well say unto you, when I were with you.

That you have taken that anguish in sleep as proceeding from an evil spirit, is also not childishly done: Such and very many other anguishes come upon you out of the disorder of the blood; which you must bear with peaceful yieldedness, as coming from God.

Now then, become a little child, and give yourselves over thereto with full will into the forming hand of the dearest Savior, who Himself will carry it out. Yea, Amen!

German

Der hundertundsiebenundzwanzigste Brief.

An ein beunruhigt Gemüthe, wie es in allen Vorfällen müsse kindlich werden.

N. N. Einen eurer Briefe bekam in N., der Zweyte wurde mir nach S. und der Dritte hierhin nachgeschickt; wiewohl sie erst hier mit Bedacht hab können lesen, sowohl als die nachhero angekommenen.

— 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).