JANUARY 9TH, 1919
JANUARY 9TH, 1919
MY DEAR BROTHER, — It was very good of you to let me know of your present very serious exercises, for I truly value the privilege of taking them up with you sympathetically and in prayer. I mentioned it also to the brothers after the reading last night, and they were all in much brotherly interest, and all will, I am sure, be remembering you in the place where remembrance is most availing. I hope also to mention it on Monday to all present so that there may be united prayer, so that you may count upon it that your visits to Teignmouth have secured the affectionate interest in you of a few who love God. And we shall earnestly seek mercy for you and your dear wife in this time of trial. One could say, “The Lord had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow”. The Lord often considers, not only for the service which He may wish to retain us for, but for the affections and sensibilities of His saints. It is pleasing to Him that we should wish to retain here those whose hearts are engaged with Him and His interests, and He is observant of every such movement of affection. In the meantime may He greatly comfort your heart, and give you peaceful confidence in Himself as to all things! We have been much struck in 2 Corinthians 6: 2 how the saints are put in the place of Christ to be acceptable so as to be heard in all their petitions as He was. So that divine help comes freely to them, and they prove that it is a day of salvation. The result comes out in the next few verses where a man is seen who can go through every kind of circumstance, and every possible contrast of reception, in the power of God’s salvation. He is like Hannah; he has a rejoicing heart, an opened mouth, an exalted horn. Christ is practically continued here in him.
I am sure this is the line your heart is set for, and there is absolutely no limit to the free-giving of God in answer to the prayer of such. The principle goes on all through — “If thou knewest ... thou wouldest have asked ... He would have given”. In some feeble sense of this my heart is comforted in turning to God for you and Mrs. — at this time of special need....
With much love in the Lord,
Yours very affectionately,
January 9th, 1919.