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our brother has been through with us, and he came through in
faithfulness. His life is an example to each one of us; a life of
service, but clothed with humility, which went in power along
with what he said. So he bore evils. The time we are in,
beloved, I need not tell you; is one of great reproach; all
around is heartlessness as to Christ.
If we are to be reproached on account of that glorious One, let
it be so, and let us bear evils and “do the work of an
evangelist”. How many, times our beloved brother preached
the gospel I know not, but the gospel was in his heart for the
shining forth of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
God had shone into our beloved brother’s heart, as He has
into nearly all the hearts here this day, if there are any that
need the gospel, you are sitting in the company of those who
would esteem it a favour from God to help you—“do the work
of an evangelist, fill up the full measure of thy ministry”. I think
of our beloved brother going on for so long, to the end, and the
Lord was in that filling up.
I hope that our hearts will be filled up with Christ, and nothing
but Christ, as a result of the departure of our beloved brother. I
believe that in some degree there was a pouring out with him.
That is a reference to Paul’s lovely word to the Philippians
(Philippians 2: 17), relating to the first time the gospel came
into Europe, and if you need the gospel you ought to get the
gain of it today, because God brought it into Europe and He
has never withdrawn the shining of the gospel. Paul said to the
Philippians that he was being poured out on the sacrifice and
ministration of their faith. Let it be so, beloved, that more
sacrifice enters into our pathways, and that thus there may be,
in view of our beloved brother’s ministry in the past, something
of the pouring out even today for the heart of Christ.
Then Paul speaks of the time of his release. I suppose Paul
and Peter are the two greatest servants the Lord had
according to the record of the Scriptures. What men they