South Africa.
April, 1900.
Dear Sir, I take the pleasure of sending a few lines to tell you we have arrived quite safely so far after having had a good voyage out. We are nearing the front every day; we are staying here for a few days, but we do not know but that any hour we shall be in battle. Well, dear sir, I hope you have sent a few words of comfort to my dear wife and family to cheer them up. Well, sir, we are staying at the base, where all the poor wounded come down to regain their health.
There are some very sad cases here; the poor fellows pass away at the rate of ten or twelve a day. It is very sad to see them buried, but I hope they may be better off in heaven; for I can assure you, dear sir, the Sunday evening I came and heard you speak of the Lord Jesus my whole life came before me. I never thought I was so bad; but thank God you were the means of my turning to my Father which is in heaven. I can assure you it was hard for a few days to turn to Him, but thank God I have turned from the Devil, and have taken Christ for my Saviour. I am glad to say since I left Southampton, drink―the curse of the whole world―has not passed my lips; for, as it were, the scales have been taken off my eyes and I see things anew. I shall always thank the Lord Jesus that I met you in a railway train.
Well, sir, the weather is very hot indeed, but the winter is coming on, so it will be better for us to travel; but I hope, please God, this strife will soon be over, and we shall all return. But I know full well by now that if it pleases God to call me I shall not be afraid to meet my Master in heaven, when I hope to meet my dear wife and family. I shall be very glad to hear from you again to cheer me up a bit. I often read your dear book you gave me, I have it now alongside of me, for I must not let a moment go without thinking of my Father which is in heaven.
Well, sir, I am just going on duty for the night, so God bless you, sir.
I remain,
Your affectionate friend,
Dear fellow, he came into my life, and what I might have missed by my indifference, had not God in His infinite love given me the wonderful joy of bringing him to his Saviour. It will be great gladness to see him again with the Lard Jesus, for he is blent with my life, with holiest bonds, for all eternity.
It is blessed indeed to be in the hands of God, and to know, that He has led us upon paths of service, although we were not conscious of the leading.
Twenty-four years have passed since God was teaching me His ways of dealing with this immortal soul. Have I learned the lesson yet? I shall know one day. Dear unsaved reader, if you are anxious about your soul and would like us to help you, we will write to you, or send you a Testament, if you have not one, or books to read that God may use as “Finger Posts” to point you to Christ. The burden of the word’s need of Christ is upon our souls: let us help you to the Saviour, who is saying to you this moment, as you read this, “Come unto Me all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Yours for Christ’s sake,
Heyman Wreford.
We have been wonderfully cheered day by day with the continued sympathy of the Lord’s people, and would ask their earnest prayers, that every number of “A Message from God,” should contain indeed His message and nothing else. We make it a matter of prayer as each number is issued that this should be so.