Seventh Letter
The sermon emphasizes the importance of living and dying with God, and finding joy and pleasure in everyday life through devotion and conversation with Him.
Brother Lawrence, at nearly eighty years old, exhorts his sixty-four-year-old correspondent to live and die with God, emphasizing the importance of constant worship and remembrance of God in all aspects of life. He encourages simple acts of adoration, prayer, offering sufferings, and giving thanks to God, highlighting the closeness of God to us at all times. Brother Lawrence urges a familiar and humble conversation with God, transforming the heart into a place of continual communion with Him, regardless of being in church. He concludes with a call to worship God gradually, with grace, love, and humility, offering his prayers and service to support his correspondent.
Text
At the age of nearly fourscore exhorts his correspondent, who is sixty-four, to live and die with God and promises and asks for prayer.
I PITY you much. It will be of great importance if you can leave the care of your affairs to, and spend the remainder of your life only in worshiping GOD. He requires no great matters of us; a little remembrance of Him from time to time, a little adoration: sometimes to pray for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, and sometimes to return Him thanks for the favours He has given you, and still gives you, in the midst of your troubles, and to console yourself with Him the oftenest you can. Lift up your heart to Him, sometimes even at your meals, and when you are in company: the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of.
It is not necessary for being with GOD to be always at church; we may make an oratory of our heart, wherein to retire from time to time, to converse with Him in meekness, humility, and love. Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with GOD, some more, some less: He knows what we can do. Let us begin then; perhaps He expects but one generous resolution on our part. Have courage. We have but little time to live; you are near sixty-four, and I am almost eighty. Let us live and die with GOD: sufferings will be sweet and pleasant to us, while we are with Him: and the greatest pleasures will be, without Him, a cruel punishment to us. May He be blessed for all. Amen.
Use yourself then by degrees thus to worship Him, to beg His grace, to offer Him your heart from time to time, in the midst of your business, even every moment if you can. Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain rules, or particular forms of devotion; but act with a general confidence in GOD, with love and humility. You may assure - of my poor prayers, and that I am their servant, and yours particularly.
Sermon Outline
- Living and Dying with God
- The Importance of Devotion
- Worshiping God in Everyday Life
- Conversing with God in Humility and Love
Key Quotes
“You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of.” — Brother Lawrence
“It is not necessary for being with GOD to be always at church;” — Brother Lawrence
“Let us live and die with GOD: sufferings will be sweet and pleasant to us, while we are with Him:” — Brother Lawrence
Application Points
- Make an effort to remember God from time to time throughout the day.
- Practice conversing with God in humility and love, even in the midst of busy schedules.
- Find joy and pleasure in suffering when it is done with God.