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Johann Philip, who was then studying philosophy at
Göttingen, as follows :—
“Dear Son,—Your last letter is diffuse, but it has in
so far been pleasant to me, as I could learn from it your
state of mind and your opinions more clearly than before.
My clerical duties prevent me to-day from answering all your
points with this mail; at the same time I should not like
to leave you without an answer at all. I am satisfied that
you should remain at Göttingen, since I see that you have
not lost your credit there, as people wished me to believe,
but rather gained many friends and patrons, besides being
already in a position with God’s help, not only to gain
your living—provided you do show good management—
but also to expect still greater advantages from the future.
I wish you to acknowledge this good fortune in all humility,
and not to ascribe it to your own powers, but to the
unmerited goodness of God. Above all, I pray that you
may sanctify your gifts, eradicate all vain worldliness, and
implant in your heart the humility of Christ, without which
one cannot please God. Ah, may the merciful Father, to
whom I did consecrate you, hear me, so that I may find in
you not a proud philosopher and worldly orator, but an
honest and true theologian who seeks the glory of Christ
only and the benefit of the orthodox Church, and may
hereafter embrace my firstborn in heaven with gladness.
When I read of your intended method of preaching,
of which you boast, I sorrowfully called to mind the
words of St Paul: c My word and my preaching
consisted not of the reasonable speech of human wisdom, but
of the demonstration of the Spirit and the Power, so that
your faith might be grounded not on the wisdom of men
but on the Power of God.’ Either you must say that
God’s word is useless and the power of the Divine Spirit
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