Spur to cheerful progress on the pilgrim-way.

The Hundred and Fiftieth Letter.

Spur to cheerful progress on the pilgrim-way.

In the grace of our dearest Redeemer, dearly beloved sister!

Because for some time past, and still also in my latest illness, you have so often come into my mind, I find myself inclined to greet you heartily by this opportunity, although otherwise I know nothing special to write.

God has so ordered it by his providence that we have met one another in this foreign land and grown dear. Ah, my dear God! what else has been Thy divine purpose thereunder, than that we should keep company with one another on the way to Thee, to mutual refreshment, strengthening and furtherance, that here and eternally we might have joy in one another in Thee, our blessed God?

My dear sister N., it seems to me our wandering with one another in this world hastens much toward the end, and the Lord has also herein still so poorly reached his end-purpose. If my heart does not deceive me, then I would yet so gladly fulfill my duty therein in some measure. Yes, it is the truth, my heart often wishes you much grace and good. Ah! how I hunger after it, that the Lord may rightly awaken you, with me, to honest progress, strengthen and keep you under all sufferings and burdens of this life, and show you the near little footpath, and lead you in there, to find in Jesus what nature and one's own powers can never give you.

Ah! learn then, with me, from the heart to believe that everything needful for life and a godly walk is so truly near and given to you, that yet in all miseries and infirmities you may not become dismayed nor peevish, but only dig, seek and pray for the opening of the fountain of life and of love in your inward part. God does give us indeed an honest pure sense, that we recognize all that, assent and also desire it: But this pure sense can often as it were fall asleep, and not come to power; therefore God's Spirit so gladly will awaken this pure sense again out of sleep, 2 Pet. 3:1, and we are to let ourselves be awakened. Now, may that then also come to pass with you and with me! Let us yet renew ourselves aright, especially at this time, when we are soon to have a new Christmas day! Is it not so? Will not God also thereby ever again renew his great love in Christ, in that he gives us every year again a new Christmas day. Now, may everything become to us unto eternal salvation! I greet you heartily, etc.

German

Der hundertundfünfzigste Brief.

Anspornung zum muntern Fortgang auf dem Pilger-Weg.

In der Gnade unsers theuresten Erlösers herzlich geliebte Schwester!

Weil du mir eine Zeit her, und auch noch in meiner letzteren Krankheit so oft ins Gemüth gekommen bist, so finde mich geneigt, dich mit dieser Gelegenheit herzlich zu grüßen, obgleich sonst nichts Besonders zu schreiben weiß.

— 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).