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Hervorde [Herwerden , Germany] the 6th September 1676
My dearest friend,
I received your letter with great joy and read it with much satisfaction and consolation; it gave me further proof of the Christian charity you have for my soul, which reciprocates your own; the Lord having touched my soul with feelings of love towards you the last hour that I had the good fortune of seeing you: what Love is born in that love Divine for principle, could not end as in Him; as the object of esteem is Eternal, I hope that what proceeds from it will last as eternally; without changing except in purity and strength. I hope you ask for grace from the Lord for her who desires only to belong to Him, to know His light, and to follow it with simplicity and faithfulness; I am truly obliged that you ask the Almighty hand for the grace to carry me through all difficulties: for I have found much to bear on the path I have to travel, both inwardly and outwardly, and I am sometimes afraid that I will not be able to overcome it; at other times, it seems to me that Divine Mercy would end such great desires and see the anguish of my poor soul, which asks only to be clothed in the Lord Jesus in faith (not imaginary) but real, without coming to its aid and granting victory over the enemies who try to prevent the release of their snares. I adore and bless the Lord for having led you here by His providence, for He has shown me many things that I did not see before; Oh, how good and merciful He is!
I was very well able to read and understand your pleasant letter, as you neglect the eloquence of the world, it could not please me any more, the simplicity of the Gospel far surpassing it, it is up to God to make me enter into it! And that I cannot only truly say that I am your most affectionate friend, but also your sister in the patience and tribulation of Jesus
M. De Hornes |