Letters, 10-15 Summary and Analysis

Letter ten begins with an explanation of reluctance on Lawrence's part to write. He advises the recipient to counsel a friend who has suffered a substantial loss, the apparent death of a friend. If one maintains a proper and reverential attitude toward God, God presents himself as a new and better friend. God remains with a Christian through good times or bad, in times of devotion and recreation. Being continually aware of God's presence is the Christian's job, or "employment", as Lawrence puts it. Lawrence closes with promises to pray for his friend.

Next, Lawrence writes to an ill friend. He opens, surprisingly, by promises not to pray for the friend's healing, but that he may gain God's comfort through the pain. Lawrence promises that any amount of suffering is exactly what God thinks the person needs and can...