“I have to thank you very much for allowing dear — to serve with us for a little. It has been a fresh mark of the Lord’s attention, but does not make me the less indebted to you; He will not forget it to you. I have had it often on my mind to write to you, according to promise, but until today deferred to do so. In giving an account of work, it is difficult to lose sight of ‘I,’ though I know how one loves to know that one’s prayers are answered. Suffice it to say, at every place I went to the Lord permitted me to see some blessing—saints acknowledging help received, Sic. This will show you that your prayers were not in vain; and when I say ‘yours,’ I need hardly say I include those of the whole gathering. Since I came here I have had perfect rest, so far as active service has been concerned; and for this I have not been sorry, for the body a little required it. In the two days’ meetings (open) the Lord only gave me to give out one hymn, and I even then did not respond, so I have been a silent worshipper. The ministry has been most powerful and instructive. One felt how much there was of the old nature unjudged in one’s self, and how little that Christ could really tolerate. In fact, if one really judges one’s self day by day by the Word, taking Christ (now in glory), as the perfect expression of that Word, and viewing His life as a perfect example, how the remembrance of thoughts, words, and ways that were not of Him burst upon one’s mind!
“Oh! to cultivate more and more that cloudless intimacy with Himself that makes the intrusion of evil thoughts even an absolute impossibility. There will be none in heaven, —may we not anticipate to have even now the days of heaven upon earth,’ or live in heaven even though upon the earth’?”
“I trust you are, while passing through the Valley or Baca (tears), making it a well (John 4), heaven’s rain filling the pools. One should learn to take rich blessing out of all the vicissitudes of the way, remembering that the deeper the trial the deeper the blessing, because the deeper the knowledge of God. My kindest love to all the dear brethren.”
“You speak of our small numbers. They do not daunt me, for I know the Lord knows them. He has sent them, they were not of my, gathering; and He has withheld those who would only through half-heartedness have been a trouble and an anxiety to us. We have been sifted; and all I hope is we may never need another sifting, but that those who remain may continue faithful to Him. They will not do so unless everything is made subservient and secondary to His glory. The moment we put our interests first all will go wrong; but if we make our interests identical with His, all will go right. There may be trial (who so tried as Christ?), but poverty itself is a blessing when He is in the ship.
“Oh! that it were more a fixed principle amongst the saints to do nothing, to say nothing, and to think nothing that will not bear His scrutiny—His gaze. This is the only happy pathway—the conscious fear of the Lord all the day long, and the sense of His presence; in His presence is fullness of joy. As for me, my experience has been the best I ever went through, for I have learned in some little measure what it is to walk alone with God, and count on Him for everything. I have had some heart-breakings, over some who were once so promising; but with you all my intercourse has ever been of the happiest kind, and the devotedness of some of you (even of David’s mighty men, some are more conspicuous) is to me a source of constant satisfaction and joy. I have indeed been well repaid for my work of faith and labor of love.
“I rejoice to think that —, is once more with you, and am so glad you are in those beautiful Epistles of John. One has well said that Paul is heavenly, ‘but John is divine.’ I like your connection of chap. 2:12-27 with John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6), but yet I should have thought that that verse would have been the possession of the babe, Chapter 3:3 is indeed searching.
“I am very glad you are encouraged about the Sunday school, and are having happy meetings. It must be so when He Himself, and not the gift, is before the eye and heart.
“I was much encouraged by the happy little company at H—, true Philadelphians. Here there is much anxiety for the gospel, and I am pressed in spirit to spend next Sunday here, instead of in N—, as I had intended. I hope to be with you on Friday week. I like commencing with a prayer meeting.”