Des Moines, Iowa, October 18, 1898.
... The weakness of which you speak is, I believe, very general; at least it is so in this country. And in going about among gatherings, we find our work is largely seeking to “strengthen the things that remain.” It is very different now from what it was 30, 40, and 50 years ago, or even when I first came among those gathered to the Lord’s name, 25 years ago. God had raised up a special testimony in the early part and middle of the present century; and He wrought in and through vessels which He had specially fitted for the work, keeping them in touch with Himself, and opening up to them from the Scriptures, by the Spirit, a vast range of precious truth which had long been practically lost. And He did this in such a way as to bring before the whole Church this precious truth. In this testimony, the Spirit of God wrought powerfully in restoring to us what we had so long been without.
This work has been done; the testimony has been given; the truth has been clearly placed before the people of God, and many have received it. This testimony, as it seems to me, has been finished. It is no longer a question of a powerful and energetic work to put the people of God in possession of what they had lost, but a question of holding fast what we have. The special danger is in letting it slip; and we know we have an ever watchful foe, who never wearies in his efforts to rob the people of God, and dishonor Christ; so that we need to be specially watchful on this point.
Of course, our responsibility is to go on with the truth, witnessing to it as we have opportunity, and in this sense the testimony still goes on; but this is a very different thing from the special testimony from God, which puts us in possession of the truth, so that we might hold it fast and live in the power of it. Now that God has wrought and put the truth in our hands, there is a special responsibility to hold it fast and to make a right use of it, and here is where we see failure coming in. We have not valued the truth according to its real worth, and so have not walked in it as we ought. The result is decline in the soul of one and another, and general declension sets in, and the masses go with the current. This is what makes it so difficult at the present moment. Attacks are made upon the truth, and souls are not in a state to resist these with energy; and thus the enemy gains ground, and souls become powerless, except as God comes in in sovereign mercy to deliver them.
Well, how much we need to seek God’s face in such a day! Thank God, the conflict will soon be over. The Lord is coming quickly, and we are thus encouraged to “hold fast.” But one does not expect it to become easier as the end draws near. The efforts of Satan are more desperate to swamp the truth as the end of his career approaches, and God permits this for the testing of His people. We need to be cast upon God, who is our resource at all times, and who will not fail those who with integrity of heart seek His face.
There is nothing very special to mention in connection with the work in these parts, just now. The meetings are generally going on quietly — perhaps too much so — too little of that special energy, which arouses the opposition of the enemy. We had a nice conference, somewhat local in character, at Armington, Illinois, from the first to the fifth of September. A number spoke of help received through the ministry of the Word, and the fellowship was very real and refreshing. After that, I made visits at Springfield, Greenville, St. Louis, Victoria, and Pella. In all these places, real interest in the Word was apparent, and I trust it was not without blessing. In the last mentioned place (Pella), I fear they are yet to be tested on the question of doctrine; for, except where God keeps souls, they are more ready to go wrong than right. What is needed is the fear of God in a conscience tender and sensitive when the truth of God is in question.
I have in mind, if the Lord will, to get to some points in Nebraska and Kansas, as soon as I can get matters arranged for the winter at home, going as far west as Denver, where the gathering is going through a good deal of trial just now. These out of the way gatherings are not visited much, and there is a good deal of need among them. The laborers are few, and there is much weakness; but it is an encouragement to think that the twos and threes are enabled to go on at all, even if it be in much weakness. If we give the Lord His place, our weakness only gives the occasion for the gracious operation of His power. How good to lean only on Him!
Now with much love in the Lord to yourself, dear brother, and all the brethren, I am, your affectionate brother in Him,