BROOKLYN, N.Y., MAY 5TH, 1918

BROOKLYN, N.Y., MAY 5TH, 1918

Mr. J. McKay.

My Dear Brother, — I have to thank you for your letter of April 1st. I was glad to get it. Letters from our dear brethren situated as you are occasion much interest here and our prayers go up for you all.

^[p. 156] The consequences of the war have come home to us here now as several of our young brothers are being taken into military service, and some have already gone to your side. I cannot however give you any addresses as I have not got any yet. I have a son in France, too, in the 16th Irish Rifles. Our dear brother Hemmings, who is stationed at Havre, met him and wrote me very cheerfully of him.

It is a time of great pressure and sorrow for all mankind, and it is not for us, who have the light of the “habitable world to come” to complain, but rather to accept the will of God which is ever good, acceptable and perfect. Righteousness is suffering now, presently it shall be reigning, in the new heavens and new earth it shall dwell.

But even now sufferings are limited, they are turned into discipline in view of gain for us. “The God of all grace ... when ye have suffered for a little while, himself shall make perfect, stablish, strengthen, ground” (1 Peter 5: 10; see also 2 Corinthians 4: 17, 18). Here we find much encouragement.

There has been help in reading through Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. The last book is most interesting as showing that God’s eye is never withdrawn from His people, and that He protects them although their circumstances may be such as to forbid His openly identifying Himself with them.

With love in Christ to you and the dear brethren with you, I am,

Affectionately in Him,

James Taylor.