“I enclose a few extracts (translations) from letters received from Upper Egypt and Mesopotamia. There is just one thought that I would venture to express.....For my own part, I always read such notes with interest, and find that my heart is enlarged and led out in prayer for all saints, and I suppose many others feel the same way.”
“Thank God for help, in every way, to disseminate the truth in a printed form. During the last month and a half I have, through His help, put about fifty pages of exposition of Matthew in print. I think I will send you a few leaves of it.”
I send some by post to subscribers, in monthly parts of sixteen pages. They greatly desire this. And then I keep a large edition for being bound. But the labor involved in writing and printing Arabic, one who has never experienced it can form but little idea of.
“One of the extracts from Upper Egypt is from a brother A. Kundeluft, from this country..... He is a brother of a good deal of gift, and I have thought for a good while the Lord would lead him out. Hence his visit is a very interesting event. He has been filled with wonder and joy by what he has seen of the Lord’s work up there. He has never before witnessed the like. So far as I can judge, he was just the right one to visit them at this time, and can give them help, such as neither S. nor I could give them.
“The coming out of our brother H. at this time was remarkable. There was a need, and the Lord brought him, I doubt not. All you have written in your recent letters about the Lord’s work in different parts has filled me with thanksgiving and encouragement. I was struck with the fact that you make a remark about the near coming of the Lord being indicated by His work of awakening and ingathering, exactly similar to a remark of our brother, A. K., writing from Upper Egypt, at the same date.
The extracts from Mesopotamia are from one there, who, I think, is quite true.....I have not yet heard what they think about that brother who was found dead, whether any of the caravan had played false with him, or not.
“B. F. Pinkerton.”
Translated Extracts.
“Mellawa, April 31St, 1884.” “I have come to these parts to make a visit. Truly the hand of the Lord is evident here, and I am exceedingly happy. The more I see of the brethren here, the more I rejoice. God is causing His voice to be heard, and is waking up His sleeping children. It appears that the coming of the Lord is near. What I am seeing here is wonderful, and I cannot describe it. I hope to see most of the brethren in these parts. Pray for me, for I need your prayers, along with all the brethren; for the field is large here, and I see that the Lord is here raising up faithful servants, truly devoted to His work.”
“A. Kundeluft.”
“Mellawa, April 31St, 1884.” Our dear brother, A. K., of Horns, Syria, is now making us a visit, and we all have joy. He has helped the brethren, and they have been comforted through him. We have asked him to visit the brethren in places higher up, and he purposes to do so. For a few days he has, in company with brother S., been visiting places near here, remaining three days in a place.
“Concerning the state of things in this place, I have to say that the disaffected evangelicals, who had hitherto been meeting with us, withdrew, as they desired to remain identified with the system. The brethren thought it best for us to give them the old room; so we have left it to them, and now we meet in a private house; and, since doing so, our thoughts are quite at rest. The brethren at some other places have done the same. The work is still going on, and the truth spreads in proportion to the efforts made to quench it. We have heard of some persons in the province of F. who have been awakened; and also some in M. who have been awakened, and desire our brother, S. R., to visit them. A few days ago, brother S. felt led to take some books, and go to the last place to distribute them.....But time would fail to give the details. “S. M.”
From Mesopotamia. “The books you sent are desired by many, and there are those who study them; and the hearts of the elect are touched by them. There are some who desire a visit from you. Our souls are weary of human arrangements in the church of God, which are all characterized by the spirit of the world.”
Also:— “What you remark about the parable of the sower—only one part in four bringing forth fruit—is true. Ah, how powerful is the spirit of this world, and how effectually it works in our days. Human arrangements are multiplied, and relied upon, and the results turn out contrary to expectations, because Christians do not surrender themselves to the work and guidance of God’s Spirit. Ah, my brother, what is man, and what are man’s arrangements in these things? And what are the schools and wisdom of this world, all which are to come to naught?.... As for myself, I am happy, and rejoice with joy unspeakable, for I am saved by grace, through faith, and by faith I can soar above, and sing the song of victory, in spite of the flesh and the world.”
Your brother,—