To Count Zinzendorf, at Marienborn

May our gracious Lord, who counteth whatsoever is done to the least of his brethren as done to himself, return sevenfold to you and the countess, and to all the brethren, the kindnesses you did to us! It would have been a great satisfaction to me, if I could have spent more time with the Christians who love one another. But that could not be now, my Master having called me to work in another part of his vineyard. Nor did I return hither at all before the time; for thouorh a oreat door and effectual had been opened, the adversaries had laid so many stumbling-blocks before it that the weak were daily turned out of the way. Numberless misunderstandings had arisen, by means of which the way of truth was much blasphemed: and thence had sprung anger, clamour, bitterness, elnl-speaking, envyings, strifes, railings, evil surmises, whereby the enemy had gained such an advantage over the little flock that “of the rest durst no man join himself to them.”

But it has now pleased our blessed Master to remove, in great measure, these rocks of offence. The word of the Lord again runs and is glorified, and his work goes on and prospers. Great multitudes are everywhere awakened, and ciy out, “What must we do to be saved?” Many of them see that there is only one name under heaven whereby they can be saved, and more and more of those who seek it find salvation in his name, and these are of one heart and one soul. They all love one another, and are knit together in one body and one spirit, as in one faith and one hope of their calling. The love and zeal of our brethren in Holland and Germany, particularly at Hernhuth, has stirred up many among us, who will not be comforted till they also partake of the great and precious promises. I hope, if God permit, to see them at least once more, were it only to give them the fruit of my love, the speaking freely on a few things which I did not approve, perhaps because I did not understand them. May our merciful Lord give you a right judgment in all things, and make you to abound more and more in all lowliness and meekness, in all simplicity and godly sincerity, in all watchfulness and seriousness; in a word, in all faith and love, particularly to those that are without, till you are merciful, as your Father which is in heaven is merciful! I desire your constant and earnest prayers that he would vouchsafe me a portion of the same spirit.