Letters 1317 verses
1I am in pain to see you suffer so long.
2What gives me some ease and sweetens the feelings I have for your griefs is, that they are proofs of GOD'S love towards you.
3See them in that view and you will bear them more easily.
4As your case is, it is my opinion that you should leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the providence of GOD: perhaps He stays only for that resignation and a perfect trust in Him to cure you.
5Since, notwithstanding all your cares, physic has hitherto proved unsuccessful, and your malady still increases, it will not be tempting GOD to abandon yourself in His hands, and expect all from Him.
6I told you in my last that He sometimes permits bodily diseases to cure the distempers of the soul.
7Have courage then: make a virtue of necessity.
8Ask of GOD, not deliverance from your pains, but strength to bear resolutely, for the love of Him, all that He should please, and as long as He shall please.
9Such prayers, indeed, are a little hard to nature, but most acceptable to GOD, and sweet to those that love Him.
10Love sweetens pains; and when one loves GOD, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage.
11Do you so, I beseech you: comfort yourself with Him, who is the only Physician of all our maladies.
12He is the FATHER of the afflicted, always ready to help us.
13He loves us infinitely more than we imagine.
14Love Him, then, and seek no consolation elsewhere.
15I hope you will soon receive it.
16Adieu.
17I will help you with my prayers, poor as they are, and shall always be, in our LORD Yours, &c.
