Encouragement unto spiritual watchfulness, and believing turning-in, to give room unto the eternal light of life.

The Hundred and Thirty-second Letter.

Encouragement unto spiritual watchfulness, and believing turning-in, to give room unto the eternal light of life.

In our dearest Savior Jesus, dearly beloved most worthy brother!

Your two agreeable little letters of the 20th of Nov. and the 26th of Dec. of the former year I have in their time rightly received. It was agreeable unto me both times to receive some reliable news both of your state and of that of the children there. Us also has the Lord helped hitherto; praised be His name!

In the world it grows ever more straitened, darker and more dangerous. Woe unto them that, with heart and love, dwell upon earth! O! how must all these present circumstances in the world (of war, earthquakes, sicknesses, sleep-sickness of both the wise and the foolish virgins) mightily awaken us, who are called out of this strange world, to examine our lamps exactly, and to hold them ready, unto the coming of the Bridegroom of our souls. How so much dirt and filth, from within and without, and how so little oil of the Spirit of love, would be found, upon quiet examination at our soul-lamps, as a cause why our light gives so weak and small a shine from itself.

Now, it is the truth; we cannot give it ourselves, but can well hinder it through filth and dirt, when we take in strange things; and do not hold ourselves withdrawn enough. Only this is our duty, that through believing turning-in into our heart we withdraw from the dark powers, and give room unto the eternal light of life, which is so unspeakably near unto us in the inward, and after it has come into this world, now so gladly will enlighten every man, transform him into itself, and make him a light in the Lord: (John 1.) And so, remaining turned in in and with this essential light, we receive the anointing-oil into our heart's lamp, find also the door open (that was shut unto the foolish virgins), and have fellowship with God and one with another: (1 John 1:7.) O! may the Lord make us still, that we may hear His inward-calling voice; but also faithful, that we may follow the same! Amen, Jesus!

— — I greet and kiss you then also once more in the tenderest wise, my dear brother! Jesus and His peace reign in our hearts!

Your obliged weak brother.

German

Der hundertundzweiunddreißigste Brief.

Aufmunterung zur geistlichen Wachsamkeit, und glaubigen Einkehr, um dem ewigen Lebens-Licht Raum zu geben.

In unserem theuresten Heilande JEsu herzlich geliebter werthester Bruder!

Deine beide angenehme Brieflein vom 20ten Novembr. und 26ten Decembr.

— 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).