Most Illustrious Margrave!

I would write this with less joy at a time when the true fear of God is almost considered something that stains the purple The "purple" refers to the traditional color of royal and imperial authority., if I could not show the world an example of this rule in Your High Princely Serenity. Those who have the happiness of approaching the throne of Your High Princely Serenity admire in Your Person the image of a Lord Father who will be regarded as a model of a perfect regent as long as posterity reads the name Georg Frederick Charles in the registers of time. His life was a sketch of two perfections which join more often on the lips of orators than in the minds of men. To be great in the eyes of the world and lowly before God in the heart; to stretch one hand with blessing toward heaven and with the other to pursue the enemies who make men slaves of hell; to ask blessing from God today and to scatter it upon his land tomorrow, are qualities which were entirely unique to our Prince, whose early grave we now wet with tears, and which made the days of his reign days of joy and blessing. His end, however, was crowned with praise and honor.

It is true: Princes are men who journey toward eternity just as those who dwell in huts, and the purple is eaten by the grave as easily as a linen garment. But such regents who sanctify themselves and their counsels to the Lord, and seek to spread the kingdom of Immanuel A biblical name for Christ, meaning "God with us." among those whom God has subjected to their scepter, have a special advantage over common mortals in life and in death. Their life brings happiness even into those dwellings which usually have the greatest right to sigh over the misery of the earth; and they build a temple in the souls of their subjects, wherein one sacrifices with joy for your satisfaction before the Lord. Their death causes a common lamentation on earth and a general rejoicing in heaven. Thanks and praise are mixed with the tears scattered upon their ashes: and whoever has become subject to the scepter of Christ through their efforts will once again offer them their hands with shouting in eternity, and give thanks for such a blessed labor. No one can harvest these fruits except he who, like the most blessed Lord Father of Your High Princely Serenity, makes the fear of the Most High the first law of the state, and directs all his efforts to exalt the Savior despised by the world, and to imprint that knowledge

of God and Jesus Christ, in which eternal life consists, into the hearts of his subjects. How happy is Bayreuth that Your High Princely Serenity is not only a worthy heir of the paternal throne, but also of all the virtues which made your Lord Father great here and blessed there, and made his land into a garden of abundance.

Most Illustrious Princess!

Arndt's writings have long had the fortune, above others, of maintaining the devotion of such persons whom Providence has clothed in purple. There are few testimonies of the truth that present the narrow gate to heaven as clearly and simply as these books of True Christianity. And the Lord, whom it has pleased to save through preaching which the world calls foolish, has justified their noble simplicity in many thousands of souls. Not only those who are despised and ignoble before the world have found through them the road that leads to life: there are also many whom God has made great on earth who have been moved thereby to renounce all human advantages and eminences and to lay down their nobility before the throne of the crucified Savior. It is unnecessary to cite many examples. Brandenburg, the great House of Brandenburg, would provide me with enough testimonies to make the truth of this sentence indisputable, if it were not an error to assemble the glory of Your Royal Highness from the deeds of ancestors. And how much could I say of Your Royal Highness yourself, if it were permitted to praise a virtue that tramples all human praise underfoot, and which one offends if one wishes to depict its beauties.

Most Illustrious Lady!

The fear of God gives the purple its greatest ornament, and godliness is also useful for ruling. Blessing flourishes most where the heads of state fold their hands for their people and give their subjects rules and examples of virtue. The happy Bayreuth has experienced the truth of these principles: and whoever has the grace to consider the personal perfections of Your High Princely Serenity and Your Royal Highness expects with joy a clearer certainty under your reign. Our most blessed Georg Frederick Charles, whose name is greater than all the eulogies of orators, recognized Arndt's books on True Christianity as capable for this purpose, in that he most graciously permitted the present printing. I have not the slightest doubt remaining that you, Most Illustrious Lady, will cherish the same thoughts,