But, my dear brother, think not that something new has happened to me, just as though it had not always been thus.
Read of righteous Abel, and you will understand the word of Christ, that the servant is not better than his lord. Matt. 10:24; John 13:16. Dear brother, the head, which is Christ, suffered himself; the members must follow; and it is a special sign of love, that he sends me this chastening, to prove me, whether I indeed fear, love, and trust him from the heart. In short, I deem it to be for my salvation; his holy will be done to my salvation. Amen.
Hence I now declare to you, my dearest brother, that this is and shall ever remain the only right truth, for which I now suffer for a little while. Thus, my dearest brother, diligently read the word of the Lord with devotion, and meditate well upon it, and always pray the Lord in every concern, with prayer and supplication in the Spirit, with perseverance; for if you live according to the word of the Lord, you shall prosper, and never fall (2 Pet. 1:10), for in the word of the Lord is our light, which is Christ Jesus. Let us follow him, and we shall get to him where he is; by our High Priest Christ Jesus, there I will await you, my dear wife, my daughter, our father, and mother, and sisters, if you all die in the Lord, namely, if you adhere to the truth unto the end, and follow the Lord, as I hope that you with all the saints of God will do, I will go before, and herewith write to all of you in this short time. Adieu; the almighty God grant you all his grace, that you may always have good courage to obtain your salvation through Christ Jesus; and be diligent in love, and be a pattern to one another in every good work unto life eternal.
Thus, my only, dear brother, I have now written you a little, for your remembrance, and to stir up your minds (2 Pet. 3:1), and for your consolation, that you fear not men, but only the almighty God, who is eternal. As for man, his days are as grass: As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone. Ps. 103:15,16; Is. 40:6. Men are perishable; they cannot harm a hair of our head, unless the Lord permit them. And he will not permit them more than we are able to bear and keep the faith.
O it affords such peace, when one by the help of the Lord has kept his lips. Praise ye, all my friends, our strong and faithful God, who kept my lips in the first torturing. I hope and trust that he who helped me first is able to help me again, for he has promised it to us unworthy creatures (his words are yea in him; he is a faithful helper in distress, as David says): With the Lord help is found, he is our shield, our fortress, and the strength of the poor. But we must also trust him; who was ever confounded, that trusted in the Lord? Hence cease not to seek your salvation, and be not slothful in your business, but be fervent in spirit, patient in tribulation, and continuing instant in prayer. Rom. 12:11,12. But if you feel no fervor in you, pray the Lord for it, and he will give it you, if you only sincerely seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, as I trust you do. But beware of trusting in the world; possess your souls in patience; the Lord can easily in due time give you a godfearing person for a companion; but first diligently pray the Lord, to so order it that you will first unite with the godfearing. Write my brother-in-law a letter some time, and he may be prompted to write you also, and to advise you wherein you may need advice. I thank you for the friendship which you have hitherto shown me.