O my dear and much beloved sister, that we had put off this body of our earthly house in Christ Jesus, and were thus at home with him, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body; for here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come, as the apostle says. Philip. 3:21; Heb. 13:14.
O that we were there in the beautiful and delightful city, which is full of all good things, where they will need neither sun nor moon, nor the light of a candle, to give them light, for the glory of God shall lighten them, and they shall reign for ever and ever. Rev. 21:23; 22:5. But we must here first go the narrow way, as Christ himself said (Matthew 7:13,14), before we can enter there; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; but strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it; and still fewer, alas! who desire to walk it, since sometimes it is so hard for the flesh. For here in this wicked world not much besides tribulation and suffering is promised to those who desire to walk the narrow way, to follow Christ, and to live godly, in this vale of tears, according to their weak ability, for, in the first place Paul expressly says: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. 3:12. “For truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter; yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.” Is. 59:14,15.
O my chosen sister, whom I love in God since the Lord has given us so much grace that we have found the way of peace, this is the true grace of God wherein you stand, says Peter. O let us always walk faithfully therein unto the end, according to our feeble ability, though we must here for a short time have tribulation and suffering for the name of Christ; for we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22. And also Christ himself says: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. He also says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” Verses 20–22. Thus are also we with child, and in travail, so that we can scarcely draw our breath, as is also written in the prophet Isaiah (Is. 26:18);[292] but when we too have here brought forth all tribulation and sorrow, and have put off our body in the Lord, we also shall hereafter rejoice with tongues unspeakable, though we are now here in the pangs of delivery, my dear and much beloved sister, for the name of Christ, namely, in tribulation and suffering for a short time, and hated of all men; for Christ himself says; “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matt. 10:22. And Paul, also, says: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Philip. 1:29.
But, my very dear and chosen sister in the Lord, whom I love from true, unfeigned, godly and brotherly love, it will hereafter not be to our detriment, all that we have suffered here for the name of Christ; for he will reward us for it with joy most abundantly; for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 2 Cor. 1:5. For it is a faithful saying, Paul also says, if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. 2 Tim. 2:11,12. And Christ himself says, if we confess him before men, he will also confess us before his Father, which is in heaven.
Hence, my dear lamb, let us always give diligent heed, that we here, in no wise forsake Christ our bridegroom, on account of the sufferings which men may inflict upon us; for the time that we have to spend here is very short, compared with eternity. Though we should be compelled all the days of our life to lie in a dark dungeon for the name of the Lord, it could not yet be compared to eternity, and to the glory which shall be revealed in us; for Paul says: “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17,18.
Therefore, O my most beloved sister, let us not look at that which is temporal and perishable; but let us always wholly renounce ourselves, and daily take our cross upon us, to follow Christ faithfully and willingly in all that may come upon us for his holy and glorious name’s sake; and think and look on the reward and the beautiful promises, which will endure forever. Let us herewith always comfort ourselves with the beautiful promises of the Lord, which he has given his own who fear and love him, and obey him in everything unto the end.
Thus, my dear and much beloved sister Susannah, let us constantly obey him in all things, to do his divine will unto the end, according to our weak ability, and always wait with great patience for his beautiful promises, as did all the pious, holy men who died according to faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth, and were obedient to their God. For by faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. And by faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Heb. 11.
Thus, my affectionately and much beloved chosen sister, let us too always be obedient to God our heavenly Father, even unto death, and also rather choose, as did Moses, to suffer affliction with the people of God for a little season, here in this vale of tears, and to look at the beautiful promise which is to be realized hereafter; for eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2:9.
O see, my dear sister, how richly those are rewarded who love and fear God. O why should we not fear and love the Lord with all our hearts, who will so richly reward us for it, since not a single word of his promises shall fail, for he is so faithful that promised it; though we must suffer tribulation and persecution here for a little while, for the name of Christ our Lord. For if the holy men and prophets, and the apostles, had to suffer, yea, Christ himself, who is one Head and Master, how much more ought we, who are poor, sinful and frail men to suffer, if we want to be found little members of his body; for the members are surely not better than the head, nor the servant greater than his lord, says Christ himself. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:20,18,19. And John, also, says in his epistle: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life.” 1 John 3:13,14.
See, my dear lamb, how it has been told us before that we must be hated and reviled of the world. Hence, let us not be surprised, though this comes upon us in this evil, wicked, perverse, and blind world for the name of Christ; but let us rejoice therein, that we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, we may be glad also with exceeding joy, as the apostle Peter says: “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.” 1 Pet. 4:13,14. And Christ says: “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.” Matt. 5:11,12. He also says: Blessed are they that weep now: for they shall laugh. Luke 9:21. O see, my dearly beloved chosen sister, what consoling words, again, these are, for those who are here reviled and persecuted for the name of Christ, and have tribulation and suffering. O how can we grieve on this account, or become weary or faint, when this comes upon us for the name of Christ; seeing so great comfort and reward are promised hereafter to those who are faithful to him unto death, as is written. Rev. 2:10: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” O my dear lamb, console and rejoice yourself with the comforting Scriptures left us for the refreshing and strengthening of our mind and faith, when you are persecuted and driven from city to city, and they inflict tribulation and suffering upon you for the name of Christ, as may easily happen yet, since I hear that the cruel and abominable beast begins to exalt itself greatly again over the little flock of the Lord. But they have no more power than the Lord permits them to have, though they greatly exalt themselves, and rage, as though they were determined utterly to annihilate the little flock, as is evidently their purpose. But the Lord holds everything in his hand; he that can bring to naught the counsel of the ungodly, will, I trust, order it all well, according to his divine will. Let us always firmly trust and hope in him, and cast all our care upon him; for it is he that careth for us, says the apostle Peter. 1 Pet. 5:7. For, whom did the Lord ever forsake, of those who firmly trusted in him? and did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called on him? Sir. 2:10. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, says the Lord through the prophet. Is. 49:15. And Christ says: I will not leave you comfortless. John 14:18.