THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

through the indwelling grace and strengthened by constant prayer to concentrate all our desires and actions to the f ulfilling of God’s holy and loving will, then the very narrow path despised by our flesh begins to please us exceedingly well. For a conscience cleansed by 126 IN RUSSIA 1789-1860 the blood of Christ, which the world cannot give us, can only be achieved in this way. . . . But do not understand this to mean that one can immediately live without wounding his conscience; man still stumbles daily. However, the evil which still clings to us and hinders our progress cannot be excused because of this. We must daily flee to Jesus, the open fountain against all sin and uncleanness (Zech. 13:1), not only that our sins be forgiven but that through Him we may become strong to avoid evil and be able to say with Paul: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me, Phil. 4:13. Jakob Dyk, Neu-Osterwick, June 16, 1847.” 5. Fifth letter. “Dear friend in Christ! I have received your letter of September 23; the most pleasing thing it contains is your determination to follow Jesus to the end and to renounce all that which is contrary to His holy will. This is also the inevitable outcome of a thorough and honest repentance. It is my heartfelt wish that our Savior Jesus Christ would daily strengthen all of us in this resolve and anoint us with the spirit of grace and prayer in order that this good Holy Spirit might daily move us more and more to prayer, convincing us of its necessity. For we are plagued by a physical body inclined toward wickedness, whose will has been perverted through the fall of Adam and whose mind has been poisoned with worldly desires by the Devil. In spite of the fact that the lusts of the flesh and its cravings, as well as honor, reputation, magnificence and glory cannot in truth quiet, satiate or refresh our soul, it must live in this prison; for even though it may take pleasure in some things for a few moments, it soon becomes restless again since it comes from God and can find no rest outside of Him and His love either in time or eternity. Yet, nearly everyone continues to try to satisfy his noble soul by throwing the husks of this world, which we mentioned above— as well as others, its way; and the person who will not seek to satiate his lusts, inclinations and desires, honor and reputation, at this hog’s trough with them, is hated and envied. Nevertheless it is he who is blessed; for he can the more easily free himself and arise, like the prodigal son, to return to the father than the person who is still flirting with the idea, or is still being coaxed and tempted to return to the trough, where quarreling over the husks continues and the weaker are crowded out by the stronger. What wretchedness, what misery, what blindness the poor man betrayed by the Devil is enmeshed in. And what is even worse is that he feels quite comfortable in this condition of spiritual death, a c