Letter from Dina (Van Bergh) Frelinghuysen to Hendricus Frelinghuysen
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This document is cited as a source in 1 related event in the database, listed at the bottom of this page.
- Identifier
- NJS-SRC-01341
- Source Type
- Letter
- Recipient
- Hendricus Frelinghuysen (1735-1757)
- Location Created
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Old Dutch Parsonage, Somerville (originally in Finderne aka Raritan)
- Destination
- Ulster County, NY
- Date
- November 29, 1754
- Description
- The letter was written in Dutch and has been translated by the Rev. Gerard Van Dyke. The translation was printed in the book titled The Diary of Dina Van Bergh. The book indicates that the original letter is housed at Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.
- Transcript
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Dearly beloved Brother:
Your letter sent by Hardenberg came to hand, but the preceding letter which he said you had written I did not receive. Hardenberg said that you had been made a candidate and that you had received permission from the church to go to Holland; in so far the Lord has opened the way for me and will henceforth remove all difficulties. I am glad also, dear brother, that you have been thrust out into the harvest; may you, as a voluntary Amaziah, surrender yourself to the Lord and commence the work at the expense of the Lord Jesus. It is true, as you write, that your shoulders are too frail for the work, but through Christ one can do everything; make the most of his hidden teachings and let your highest aim be to preach Christ; all other knowledge, however useful, must be subordinate. Do not seek the favor of men. O, that your feet may be preserved from being caught, my brother; watch, there are so many snares! Try to be true to your Light. May the Lord make things clear to yourself; do your work in truth and force yourself to understand the truth which is in Jesus and which sets free. You are our Benjamin; may you fulfill God’s holy word (Deuteronomy 33:12). O, that a portion of the spirit of your late blessed brother, my dear husband, might rest upon you and that you may begin the work in full faith in the powers of the Lord and sustain yourself by faith. Now, my brother, may the Lord hallow and fit you for the work and cause you yet to be a blessing to the church. To remember you in my prayers to God remains my privilege.
As far as I am concerned, I have been much distressed since you left here. My body began to give way under the sorrow, but my merciful Father has somewhat lightened the burden. I have more strength to trust in the Lord. He is my rock. I am in God’s way. He will sustain me to the end. Should I not drink, then, this bitter cup which the Father has put into my hands? It is a holy bitter draft which he has prepared for me. The Lord will attain his glory and therein lies my salvation. I say with Lodenstein:
If I am lonely, it is my joy, That the Lord rejoices in his row of Cherubims. What if the world makes me drink gall, The bitterness will seem sweet to me; Drink, oh drink, the heavenly draft!
Meanwhile, the loss remains heavy for me and the church; my life has been taken away. We are longing greatly for news from our brother at Albany. May the Lord through the medium of His Reverence still heal the breach to some extent.
As to what you write about the books, I have already done this by selling now and then some to good friends. I have little to do with the matter which will doubtless be arranged. It troubles me that there are so many voices here that seem to say, “Stay with us, the Lord will lead in his way.” I shall try to arrange everything so that I may go to Holland with you. May the Lord direct our steps. As to the blacks, they are submissive to me, but I should like to be rid of them. I am waiting for an answer from brother Theodorus. If you find an opportunity, please write me again.
The Lord is often good to me among the faithful. I receive much kindness from the friends and the children are well and grow rapidly. May the Lord fulfill the longing that is in them. They are a comfort to me in my sorrow. Miss Nelson sends greetings to you; so do Lysbeth Hoogland and Hardenberg, Jacobus, uncle Jeronimus and also nephew Jannie, who only just now has returned. Now, my brother, the Lord be with you and bless the work of your hands. Remember me to those who inquire about me.
I remain, dearly beloved brother,
Your loving sister,
Dina Frielinghuysen
Raritan, 29 November 1754 - Language
- Dutch
- Reproduced In
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Muyskens, J. David, ed. The Diary of Dina Van Bergh. Translated by Gerard Van Dyke. New Brunswick, NJ: Historical Society of the Reformed Church in America, 1993. Pages 116-117. http://www.hardenbergh.org/people/DinaVanBergh.pdf
- Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
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