December 3, 1879.
My dear
... Well, the Lord is full of mercy and He means blessing, though He leads through a great and terrible wilderness. We have not reached the rest of God yet. And it is labor and toil till then. There is refreshing by the way but it is for the way, and we cannot stop. And if there is weariness we are sustained by the manna and refreshed by water from the smitten rock. God is doing the very best for us He can. And that is an immense comfort. The Lord make you courageous, my dear, for the rough and thorny way! However feeble my sympathy, His is perfect. “Cast thy burden on the Lord and He will sustain thee.”
I wrote you a hurried note yesterday, which would not give you much comfort. I think I never had such a day of inward groaning as yesterday. And the people of God here have been groaning. The conduct of Mr. S. is oppressing them like a nightmare. It has been and is a persistent course of railing against the brethren to an almost inconceivable extent. They are “all against” him and he is “the scapegoat,” he says.
I told the brethren I could not go on with meetings in such a state of things. And they thought I was right. They have called a meeting of the brethren for tonight to look into the case.... I don’t know how it will end, but I have confidence in God. My soul has been bowed down within me and I have cried to the Lord to have mercy upon His people and deliver them for His great name’s sake. And I believe He will do it. I have a lighter heart today than yesterday, but it is unspeakably painful. And it is just at a time, too, when a good many are anxious to hear the Word. Last night I did not know whether I would be able to preach or not, but the Lord helped me much when the hour came. There were a good many strangers present. And it was an impressive meeting. But oh! how painful, when it is not happy inside. May the Lord have mercy upon us and deliver us for His name’s sake.
Tell brother L. that I am very thankful that you have been praying for me. I knew it was so, and that God has been hearing, too. Give him my love, please....