IT is with God we have to do when we meet in the name of Jesus, and in dependence on His blessed Spirit as present among us. We may meet on this or that principle, seen as a principle, embraced as a principle, sought to be acted on as a principle, without seeing or having to do with God in it at all. This I fear has too often been done, and thus when trouble has arisen, principle has been no defense, security, or comfort; discouragement has ensued, and by- and-by a return to former things has taken place. On the other hand, where it has been done in faith to God-where it has really been the meeting Him, and leaning upon Him-He has kept down the forwardness of the flesh, or if it has appeared, saints have not been dismayed, but have the more cried to Him, who is in the midst of every two or three gathered in His name, and have had their faith in Him strengthened, by seeing His hand correct the evil, instead of seeking to correct it themselves by plans and arrangements of their own.
My own experience and observations have been very limited; but within that sphere I have never known any abuse of the open door for ministry amongst us, except in two or three instances, in which a little patient waiting on God soon brought the remedy, through God's marvelous grace. W. T.