Letter 170

Peter I., on faith in nature

You would like a "new faith" and offer faith in nature and its laws. If your knowledge of the history of our people and other Christian nations had not been impoverished, it would have been obvious to you how unfounded your proposal is. There is nothing new or unusual in what you are proposing. For this was the faith of our pagan ancestors before the adoption of Christianity. And the Christian faith, which we hold onto, is a new faith in comparison with that ancient, pagan faith. Therefore, if you want a new faith, you have it. If you want faith in nature and in its elements, then you want not a new, but a revival of an old, old faith. See how accurately the Apostle Paul speaks about this in his Epistle to the Galatians: "So we, too, while we were children, were enslaved to the material principles of the world; but when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son (the Only-begotten), Who was born of a woman, and was subject to the law... But now, having come to know God, or, better, having received knowledge from God, why do you return again to the weak and poor material principles and want to enslave yourself to them again? (Gal. 4:3-4, 9). Do you see where you are going?

For thousands of years, our gloomy ancestors lived in the darkness of paganism, in slavery to the material principles of nature. Scarcely have we escaped from the jaws of matter to the heights of spiritual Deity and to the freedom of the children of the one God of life, you now wish to go back and again push us back into darkness and slavery! What is nature if not God's creation? What is it if not a fragile reed next to the almighty God? And you want to tear your life away from Him and bind it to a weak reed! Which is bigger: a pot or a potter? You value the pot more than the potter! This comes from shortsightedness and fear.

You are afraid of the dust of the universe and the wind that carries it, and in fear you want to worship it, following the example of your ancient pagan ancestors. Do you not see that even the human spirit has shown itself to be stronger than the elements of nature, and how much stronger is the Spirit of God? Why, then, do you want to throw the human spirit under the feet of matter? Can a master be a servant's slave?

Abandon the unworthy and petty thoughts of the pagan Slavs. With such thoughts they were savages and would remain savages for thousands of years. Just as a butterfly will not become a caterpillar again and will not return to the shell from which it flew out, so we will not return to the decayed shell of the ancient pagan faith.

May Christ enlighten and sanctify you.

Letter 171

doctor T., about the action of Providence

You write that you have long noticed the action of God's Providence in your life. You see it not only in significant or difficult events in your life, but also in very small and, at first glance, insignificant ones. You give an example, which I will present here, with your permission. They wanted to remove you from the position you held for many years, but you prayed with all your heart, and it all ended with the fact that you were given a higher appointment. You give another example that may be useful to all readers of this book.

You and your little son were going on a trip. A neighbor persuaded you to take a winter coat with you to give it to your son. Against your will and not wishing to argue with her, you reluctantly took upon yourself this postal duty. After a few hours of driving, the weather changed and it got colder sharply. Your boy is very cold. You remembered the coat that your neighbor gave you, unfolded it and covered your boy with it. "Merciful Lord," you exclaimed then, "how far-sighted is Thy eye and how great is Thy mercy to us, the unworthy!" – and with a feeling of gratitude to God and inner shame before that mother, you and the child safely arrived at the place of your journey.

Professor Mihajlo Pupin, our glorious countryman and scientist, when he found himself in America, told a lot about how everywhere in his life he saw the finger of the Almighty. The great poet and bishop Petar Njegoš constantly felt himself "under the influence of a secret Providence". And the Psalmist, enumerating all God's blessings to his people, exclaims: "Come, hear, and we will sing unto you, all ye that fear God, for thou hast created my soul" (Psalm 65:16).

Peace to you and your home.