Preservings $20 Issue No. 26, 2006 - Home at Plett Foundation

firmly hold fast to the love of God. Take note
of what experience will bring: namely, the more
unselfishness, submissiveness, yieldedness and
patience is pursued in a marriage, the more
precious and blessed it is for the man and wife.
Oh, what a blessing such self-denial brings for
one’s own heart and life. For exactly through
this, the image of God within us human beings
is summoned forth and born unto a new creation,
whereby the old selfish nature is weakened and
one dies [more] unto self.
But who is capable of all this? For how
quickly our own power and intentions are too
weak and our self-made plans prove insufficient.
One often finds to be true: that we humans are
so completely incapable of everything good,
and that a higher power is therefore needed for
all those entering into a Christian marriage. [It
is essential] that they take God along into their
marriage as Helper and Lord, who will supply
both the man and woman with the necessary
power and support for the fulfilment of their
obligations.
Oh, how blessed can life be for you in this
your newly-entered situation, if you have taken
God along with you and hold fast to Him until
the end. Indeed, then you have everything where
you can lament your cares and sorrows and that
which can comfort your heart and emotions and
that which can also truly safeguard you from
sin and wrongdoing. Oh, what a great privilege
for someone who can hold and complete all
his deeds and intentions with God. Therefore,
beloved children, partake fully of this inwardly
wealth. Drink daily from the God’s rich and
abundant grace. May grace, and indeed, the
God of peace and love be with you upon all
your paths, until you are parted from the other
[by death]. Amen.
Oh beloved children, do hold fast unto the
faith once received and be true workers in the
Gemeinde. Beware of all unrighteousness and
follow all good counsel. Be on guard against all
new fashions and if you see something in your
Geschwister [brethren and sisters in the Gemeinde]
that is not good, seek to speak with them
that they can make it better, and do not speak
evil of the Gemeinde. As long as I have been in
the Gemeinde I have also warned against pride.
There are the watch chains, the stiff colours, the
combing of the hair, and the repeated grooming,
indeed, everything which belongs to pride, for
James says, “...to him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth it not, to him it is sin,” James 4:17.
Oh, beloved children, battle [life] in wisdom,
appropriate in care the precious moments, build
your feelings towards each other upon truth and
virtue, taste the heavenly things and not those of
this world, zealously place your hands upon the
plow and do not look back, do not fall behind,
arise upon Mount Zion that you may see the love
of God, which is without measure. Be of good
courage. If you do not come to stand upon the
uppermost step, continue zealously forward, for
your Beloved will come to greet you - He can
carry the weak and take them by the hand. The
Lord has empathy for our illness and strengthens
those who lack possessions, so that they shall
walk and not be weary. Place your trust in this
and not on your own strength. Remain faithful
to your beloved Saviour until your death. Finally
be watchful in all things that you do not fall into
vanity and pride. Remain in humility and give
God the glory for everything you do and are, for
all goodness is from God.
But sadly this is not believed. Many flatter
themselves for their faith in Christ, but they do
not the very least to become Christlike in humility,
suffering and dying, and thereby, to inherit
the eternal life. Alas, if only our eyes might
see that the servant of Christ cannot thrive in
worldly pride, but can only blossom in humility.
Not upon the wide and easy road of the flesh,
rather upon the one and narrow way towards
the new Jerusalem; not in earthly abundance
and temporal riches, rather within the kingdom
of Christ and God which is like unto a priceless
pearl lying hidden from all the worldly-wise.
Whoever would wish to find this treasure must
search for it in lowliness of mind and dig deeply
in the Godly acre; for he [who seeks] will find
it, but one must be willing to surrender everything—to
forsake one’s all.
He who wishes to be filled with the spirit
of compassion, must cleanse his heart from all
greed and must be the enemy of pride and a
conqueror of the [attractions of the] world, and.
above all else, there are the hidden evils such
as seeking for honour, self-love, wisdom, fame
and spiritual pride, which must be expelled from
the heart. Where these all are crucified, killed
and buried with diligence, there will grow the
godly fruits such as humility, patience, love,
godly peace, compassion, and everything which
belongs to a Christlike walk.
Wherefore, beloved children, I admonish
you, petition your heavenly Father without ceasing,
that He might grant you all this and that He
might also wish to receive more and more from
you. When you have thus received Him, you
must not be idolaters nor reckless, for the Holy
Spirit which teaches correctly flees from the
idolaters and abhors the reckless. You must also
be concerned, beloved children, that you do not
sadden or slander the Holy Ghost, for all sin and
slander of mankind shall be forgiven them, but
the blasphemy of the Spirit shall no be forgiven
them. And those who speak a word against the
Son of Man, they shall be forgiven, but whoever
says something against the Holy Ghost, he shall
not be forgiven, neither in this world nor the
next. Behold, beloved children, guard yourselves
against all damaging blasphemy, withhold your
tongue from cursing, and guard yourselves with
diligence from [wrong] intentions, for thereby
you shame the spirit of Grace.
Oh beloved children, what a joy and glory
is the [reality] which has been prepared for
all pious Christians. Who, then, is so defeated
and fearful that they would not suffer a little
for such joy and glory. It is true, that the flesh
finds suffering and tribulation to be distasteful,
but one must be mindful of the words of Paul:
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to
be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward
it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby,” [Hebrews,
12:11].
Oh, the unspeakable love of the Heavenly
Father, how over abundant is Your grace, and
how limitless Your goodness, that you have
prepare such glory for those whom you have
chosen. Who can sufficiently thank you for all
the virtuous deeds which you have so richly
showered upon us, and continue to manifest
daily. Blessed be Your name into eternity.
Oh, you beloved children, walk in the fear
of the Lord, in order that at no time you would
become inclined toward sin, and forget not the
commandments of the Lord your God, rather
fear the Lord for He is truly to be feared, for
those who fear the Lord walk upon the way of
the righteous.
Wherefore, do not love the world, my children,
nor that which is therein, for everything
which is in the world, namely, the pleasures of
the eye, the lusts of the flesh and a life of pride,
cometh not from the Father but from the world.
Oh, beloved children, do not allow pride to rule
over you, neither in your words nor in your
thoughts, just as Tobias admonished his son,
who cast away those who were proud in their
hearts, but raised up the humble. For which reason
David says, “I thank the Lord that you have
humbled me, for before I was humbled, I erred.”
Therefore, my children never raise yourselves up
in your hearts; rather make yourselves equal to
the lowly, for before a man goeth to the ground,
he becomes proud and arrogant. A scornful disposition
cometh before a fall. Therefore guard
yourselves against accusations and where you
are living in a house, be quiet and still, and
gossip not outside the house about that which
occurs inside the house.
Lass mich Beten, Lass mich Wachen,
Bis mein Letzen Tag Anbricht,
Lass mich ja nicht schläfrig machen
Bleibe du, bei mir ein Licht,
Lass stets deinem Gnadenschein
Leuchten in mein Herz hinein.
Hilf mir Kämpfen.....
Noch ist meine Bitte, aller meist,
Um ein Zerkeirschtes Herz,
Und dem gewesen neuen Geist,
Bei Buss, und Sündenschmerz,
Sonst gieb mir es, wie es dir gefält,
Viel oder wenig auf der Welt,
Mir genügt wenn ich dich habe.
Now, my beloved children, I will hope that
you might find this insignificant writing of sufficient
worth that you would read it and reflect
thereon and then also to accept it from your
father out of love. For thereby it may also be of
use to you, You will also perceive here from the
love and concern which we have towards our
children, and that we are highly concerned for
their well-being in this time and for eternity.
In love, from your parents, “Heinrich and
Elisabeth Plett”. The writing finished on February
9th, 1932. Please write down all importance
events in this booklet, that your descendants
can see it.
60 - Preservings No. 26, 2006