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

me before men, him will I confess before my heavenly Father; but he who denies me before men, him will I deny before my heavenly Father; and he who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. “Oh, Jesus, arm our sinful minds That victory may be ours, And we be faithful to the end!” “Thus also the earliest Christians suffered everything for the faith, stopped the lion’s jaws, quenched the raging fire, won strength out of weakness, labored for righteousness, sacrificing life and body in the process. This is also our responsibility, but we are incapable of doing this out of our own strength. Therefore let us come before God with knees bowed in our misery, humbly going to the throne, to the mercy-seat where grace and help are ours through His Son. “God leads His dear children The way of the cross, But yet in the end We receive heaven for dross. In His Son He has set us An example so sweet Who imparts a crown of joy When suff’ring here is done.” "With a heart filled with such a hope I now take my leave of you, embracing all of you with my spiritual arms of love. May the Almighty unite you in bonds of love! It is the desire of my heart that Satan’s great power would not be able to destroy your unity. And now, good-bye, farewell. If we should not see each other again in this life, may He grant us to meet in that happy eternity, where no suffering will sadden or separate us! Full of faith I travel to that place which is our true fatherland. Follow me in this same faith; for there I hope to encounter no hardships. May God bless you and keep you in His grace and truth unto eternal life; may He hover over us with the wings of His grace in order that our witness of Jesus may not cease even in times of persecution. May His peace constantly revive us. With this we must part, comforting ourselves in our Lord Jesus Christ: 152 IN RUSSIA 1789-1860 “When the need is at its greatest, The love God bears His child, Comes from a Father’s heart so mild. In spite of the devil, in spite of the dragon, I will laugh at all their might, In spite of the heavy yoke I carry, God my Father reigns above. In spite of death’s bitter fangs approaching, In spite of the world and all who there Are my foes without a cause, God in heaven is my friend. Let them constantly avoid me, [thus in the original] Coroies And suffer me no more, Hear, I do not question that, God the judge of my cause is; Though he should send me away from here, Heaven shall remain mine still, And if only I can reach it, I have that which gives me joy. Earthly things, I sacrifice, Since they hate me without cause: They retain my earthly clay, While I go on with God. Should it seem at times as though God has left His own behind, I believe and surely know God helps and leaves me not.’’ "With sincerest greetings and best wishes that you may prosper in body and soul, I remain, united in love, your f