Letter 11

I do not pray that you may be delivered from your pains, but I pray GOD earnestly that He would give you strength and patience to bear them as long as He pleases. Comfort yourself with Him who holds you fastened to the cross. He will loose you when He thinks fit. Happy those who suffer with Him: accustom yourself to suffer in that manner, and seek from Him the strength to endure as much, and as long, as He shall judge to be necessary for you. The men of the world do not comprehend these truths, nor is it to be wondered at, since they suffer like what they are, and not like Christians. They consider sickness as a pain to nature, and not as a favor from GOD; and seeing it only in that light, they find nothing in it but grief and distress. But those who consider sickness as coming from the hand of GOD, as the effect of His mercy, and the means which He employs for their salvation—such, commonly find in it great sweetness and sensible consolation.

I do not pray that you will be freed from your pain. But I earnestly pray that God will give you strength and patience to bear it as long as he pleases. Take comfort in him who holds you fastened to the cross. He will release you when he sees fit. Happy are those who suffer with him. Learn to suffer in that way, and ask him for strength to endure as much as he judges necessary for you, and for as long as he judges necessary. People of the world do not understand these truths. This is not surprising, since they suffer as worldly people, not as Christians. They see sickness as pain inflicted on the body, not as a favor from God. Seeing it only that way, they find nothing in it but grief and distress. But others see sickness as coming from God’s hand, as an expression of his mercy and a means he uses for their salvation. Such people commonly find great sweetness and real comfort in it.

I wish you could convince yourself that GOD is often (in some sense) nearer to us, and more effectually present with us, in sickness than in health. Rely upon no other Physician; for, according to my apprehension, He reserves your cure to Himself. Put, then, all your trust in Him, and you will soon find the effects of it in your recovery, which we often retard by putting greater confidence in physic than in GOD.

I wish you could believe that God is often, in some sense, nearer to us and more fully present with us in sickness than in health. Rely on no other physician. I believe he has reserved your cure for himself. So put all your trust in him, and you will soon see the effects in your recovery. We often delay our recovery by placing more confidence in medicine than in God.

Whatever remedies you make use of, they will succeed only so far as He permits. When pains come from GOD, He only can cure them. He often sends diseases of the body to cure those of the soul. Comfort yourself with the sovereign Physician both of the soul and body.

Whatever remedies you use, they will work only as far as God permits. When pain comes from God, only he can cure it. He often sends diseases of the body to cure diseases of the soul. Take comfort in the supreme physician of both soul and body.

Be satisfied with the condition in which GOD places you: however happy you may think me, I envy you. Pains and sufferings would be a paradise to me while I should suffer with my GOD; and the greatest pleasures would be hell to me if I could relish them without Him. All my consolation would be to suffer something for His sake.

Be content with the situation in which God places you. However happy you may think I am, I envy you. Pain and suffering would be paradise to me as long as I suffered with my God. The greatest pleasures would be hell to me if I could enjoy them without him. My only comfort would be to suffer something for his sake.

I must, in a little time, go to GOD. What comforts me in this life is, that I now see Him by faith; and I see Him in such a manner as might make me say sometimes, I believe no more, but I see. I feel what faith teaches us, and in that assurance and that practice of faith, I will live and die with Him.

Soon I must go to God. What comforts me in this life is that I now see him by faith. I see him so clearly that I can sometimes say, I no longer believe, but see. I feel what faith teaches us. With that assurance, and practicing that faith, I will live and die with him.

Continue then always with GOD: it is the only support and comfort for your affliction. I shall beseech Him to be with you. I present my service.

So always stay close to God. It is your only support and comfort in your suffering. I will ask him to be with you. I am at your service.

Yours, &c.

Yours, etc.