After the death of John Calvin's wife, he wrote to William Farel: "Intelligence of my wife's death has perhaps reached you before now. I do what I can to keep myself from being overwhelmed with grief." He described her faith and peace as death drew near and continued: "I at present control my sorrow so that my duties may not be interfered with.... May He [the Lord Jesus] support me also under the heavy affliction, which would certainly have overcome me, had not He, who raises up the prostrate, strengthens the weak, and refreshes the weary, stretched forth His hand from heaven to me" [John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor, W. Robert Godfrey, p. 47]