BROOKLYN, N.Y., DECEMBER 6TH, 1924
BROOKLYN, N.Y., DECEMBER 6TH, 1924
Mr. E. Hansen.
Beloved Brother, — Since hearing of the death of your dear brother Samuel I have been wishing to write to you all. My wife and I feel keen sympathy with you and Mrs. Hansen, but especially with dear bereaved Mrs. Lindberg and her children and we will be obliged if you will kindly tell her so. You may be assured that our prayers go up for your sister and the children. We feel sure she will be comforted in the knowledge that her dear one is with Christ, which, as Scripture says, “is far better”. Then she will also be comforted by the love and care which we are sure will be shown her by you all.
My wife and I had great fears about Samuel’s health and so we were not surprised to hear that he had fallen asleep. Sometimes the Lord is pleased to intervene and restore one of His own to health, but generally the course of God’s government proceeds with us as with the rest of men; faith accepts this in the light of resurrection and everlasting life — indeed falling asleep, or dying, is but going to be with Christ, which love desires. Thus death is ours. But nevertheless it is right that God’s hand should be recognised — that there is discipline in our loved ones being taken from us. It is right also to have the sense of bereavement, for to be without natural affection is apostasy (2 Timothy 3). But the Lord comes in to fill the void created, and I trust dear Mrs. Lindberg will make up her mind that no one else really can fill it. She will find thus that in drinking the bitter waters (Exodus 15) the knowledge of the [p. 204] love of Christ, who tasted death for us, will make them sweet.
We often revert to the happy season we spent with your dear brother, and the great kindness shown us by dear Mrs. Hansen and yourself, and we thank God for the grace given you both to thus identify yourselves with His interests. We trust you are sustained in this, so that you make the valley of Baca (Psalm 70: 14) a well-spring, the rain filling the pools. Thus you go from strength to strength and appear before God in Zion.
In this country the Lord encourages us all much, especially in special meetings held in different places. There have been such meetings lately in Toronto, Detroit, Council Bluffs, Winnipeg, Plainfield and Montreal. Besides, a good few have been restored from ‘Glanton’ during the past few months. You will know that P.L. is in South Africa. My wife and I hope to go to Australia in March, please God, I am sure we may reckon on your prayers.
Our united love to you both and your dear father and mother and Mrs. Lindberg and all the dear brethren.
Affectionately in Christ,
James Taylor.