Not according to the feeling of weal or woe, but according to the essential fruits, to judge of one's inward state.

The Hundred and Thirtieth Letter.

Not according to the feeling of weal or woe, but according to the essential fruits, to judge of one's inward state.

N. N.

I remain indeed yet more than ordinarily weakened: Nevertheless I find myself moved to write a little greeting-letter unto you, to let you see that I still remain standing in the old frame of love and concern for your souls' welfare, and that your little letters also have been agreeable unto me, (the last was of the 26th of Feb.).

In a couple of the former little letters you were anxious, burdened, darkened, &c. after your expression. In your latter you describe your mind lightened and enlarged. I have taken part both in your first woe and in the weal that followed thereon in brotherly fellowship. Only this I ask of you, never judge your state according to your feeling, whether it be so or otherwise better? All is good and love-worthy in God's will. Woe or weal is all one, when we only please God: Upon us very little depends. Sweet and sour is soon over the tongue, when it only well becomes the body. I will say: Look only principally upon the essential fruit, that is, upon the love and esteem of God, that these be increased in your hearts; as also, that you may come further in the contempt of yourselves and of all that is visible; in the heart-childlike love of the children of God; in the N.B. will-lessness; in the pliancy; in the meekness; in the simplicity in the whole walk, and toward all and every one. These thorough virtues are the fruits; feeling weal and woe are only flowers. According as a prayer or state brings such fruits; thereafter is it to be esteemed good or evil, high or low. Ah pity! that so many a fair flower falls off without bringing fruit: I will say, that we have already so much enjoyed and suffered, and possess so little thorough virtue. Now of good courage! it shall go better. Venture yourselves only thereby, dear sister! esteem all higher than yourselves.

I gladly have it that you make use of Brother N.'s counsel in the particulars; but you must not let him be called according to supposed feeling or impulse, or go to him; but according as it is needful, and so now and then. Also in intercourse with others take never your feeling for a rule, as which is deceitful. — — Otherwise make yourselves always a little occupation, when it can be, that the senses and phantasy make the spirit no hindrance and confusion.

You say in your latter: you knew not whether you should give yourselves over unto that which so often mightily and sweetly penetrates you? I answer: All that leads you into the high and extraordinary, you must avoid as the pest. The sweet and agreeable of the graces you must receive, but not desire in self-love, much less remain standing thereby, but only look upon the thorough fruits, of which I have spoken above.

I must break off, because my head can no more.

German

Der hundertunddreißigste Brief.

Nicht nach dem Gefühl von Wohl oder Weh, sondern nach den wesentlichen Früchten, von seinem inneren Zustand zu urtheilen.

N. N. Ich bleibe zwar noch mehr als gewöhnlich geschwächt: Dennoch finde mich bewogen, ein Gruß-Brieflein an euch zu schreiben, um euch sehen zu lassen, daß ich noch in der alten Fassung der Liebe und Angelegenheit an eurer Seelen Wohlseyn stehen bleibe, und mir auch eure Brieflein …

— 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).