Letters without Date

LEAMINGTON.

You DEAR LITTLE THING, — I call your Bruey card quite touching, it’s real right-down fag, and I appreciate it ten times more than if you had got ;£5 in nothing but gold; and I have not the slightest doubt that the Master Himself takes the same view of it! The increase is delightful, and quite surprised me. I am sure you have done what you could, and I don’t expect more than that! Neither does our dear Master, who knows all the difficulties and hindrances that arise in our bits of work for Him — every one of them. Do not think I have not thought of you all this while; if I had not been so very ill, you would not have had more attempts to comfort and cheer from any one. Perhaps I have only thought all the more. I think I can realize what you have felt and gone through more than you think. And you have felt more for others than for yourself, I know. It is always a little harder lesson to entrust our dear ones entirely to His wise dealing, than ourselves. But He is doing just the very best, the absolutely right things for every single one of you, all the time. He knoweth — He careth — He loveth, all of you all the time.

I have been worse, i.e. in much greater suffering, since your Aunt M. wrote, but am much easier this week. It is nearly five months since I was taken ill! but it has been all light, no shadow in it, only a new test of His faithfulness, as I am sure every trial will prove to be, to you as well as to me.

Perhaps some day A. may be your ’ crown of rejoicing!’ Did not you like Jeremiah xxxii. 17, 27 ever so?

PYRMONT VILLA, March 3.

MY DARLING LITTLE THING, — It never dawned on me yesterday that it was going to be your birthday to-day! I’m so sorry. The twenty-first too — no longer a legal ’ infant,’ which you were yesterday! Well, darling, may you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do not be standing still, dear; He says. ‘My sheep follow Me,’ and follow means going on, not stopping. I want you to follow faithfully, fully, and fast — all three! And of course A. says, * All very well for good folks, but I’m different, /can’t.’ No, you can’t; but then Jesus is able — able to do it all for you and in you. Let Him.

I am writing now because I asked you to pray for my classes, and I have never had so much blessing before, so you must praise now. He ’ hath not left Himself without witness ’ in either of my four classes, but my Friday evening class is specially blessed. I have now 24 young women (of various grades), though in this country place I was told there was really no material at all for such a class. But many walk from long distances. Last Friday I had a most wonderful time of blessing; it was my fifth week, and I had tried to lead on and up to what I did. I threw off every attempt at more interest — broke off my lesson in the middle, and made it a heart to heart personal ‘now or perhaps never’ appeal. I never in all my life so felt Christ’s actual presence with us, nor saw such intense, perfectly breathless attention; nearly all were in tears. Then I asked all who really wanted to close with Christ’s offer of salvation then and there to stay with me. Eleven stayed. I asked them to kneel and remain kneeling, and then I prayed for and with them — not continuously, but with intervals of silence, leaving them with Jesus. Then I went softly round to every one, so softly as not to disturb even the one kneeling next, asking my Master to give me the right word for each. Reserve seemed broken; every one, even the shyest, whispered freely what they felt; four found Him then and there with perfect joy and freedom; four more seemed no less really to have come then to Him, only did not speak quite so strongly; two more who had come before were filled with quite new peace and conscious nearness, and only one of the eleven went away unsatisfied, and yet even she certainly was not ’ sent empty away,’ for her desires were greatly intensified to find Jesus. Of those whom either shyness or promise to be home prevented from remaining, I have not yet seen all; but of those whom I have seen or heard from, not one seems ‘left out.’ Two or three ‘went out and wept bitterly’ for sin; one, ’ never saw what a sinner she was before.’ Another

K has written most touchingly to me; another went home to pray for the very first time; and so great was the blessing, that I fully expect I shall find it the same with the remaining four or five, whom I have not yet been able to see.... See now how truly God does answer, and how marvellously He has answered this prayer. I have never had such full and sudden blessing before.... And now will you pray that still more may come, — that those who have not yet found may find, and that the new members of my class may not miss the blessing by their later journey? Will you pray that I may have special and clear guidance, what subject to take for next Friday? Will you pray that the two girls I mentioned may really be brought to Christ? because though all souls have equal value, I covet the influence of their position, and long to have it used for Christ. Will you pray that though there seems no one to carry it on when I leave, some way may be opened for them to keep together, and have at least a monthly meeting for reading and prayer among themselves? And will you ask your sister, and any other Y. W. C. A. members to pray fervently that the work may be increased and deepened? And that my other classes, Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Monday evening, and a large choir practice on Wednesday evening (which gives me opportunity among men and boys, whom I could not otherwise reach), may all be blessed too?

Now dear, for glorious news! Dear has indeed

given himself to Christ * in full and glad surrender! ’ outspoken, overflowing joy in the new and blessed service. It is enough only to see his face! Wish I could stay to tell you all about it. He told his father early on the morning of his birthday (told me at eleven o’clock the night before!), and when his father met me he could not speak for joy — he just said, ‘O Fanny! ’ and cried! They have all been so happy together, and we have had such sweet little times over our Bibles. It is so different when every one is entirely of one mind. Mademoiselle was, I think, a help, her influence is so decided and so spiritual; since you went she has shone.

And now, when shall it be c full and glad surrender ’ of yourself to Jesus? When shall it be, not ‘How much for Jesus?’ but ‘ALL for Jesus ‘? lRise! He calleth theeT ‘Arise, shine! ‘Dearie, when?

MY POOR DEAR LITTLE THING, — I have forgiven and will try to jvrget that letter. And He forgives and forgets too, because He loves so tenderly. Perhaps we only feel the deep tenderness of that love through the consciousness of failure and sin. I don’t think the angels can realize it as we do. Now one can only pray that it may be overruled for all of you. Do not vex about it. God can and does bring real good out of mistakes, and blessing out of suffering. I know He will so comfort and bless His own dear child E., that she will be a blessed gainer by it. But her suffering is perhaps a harder lesson of patience and trust for you, dear little thing. Pray for her and trust for her, and you will have a share of the blessing that God means for her.

I have just sent off about 380 little bouquets to the Flower Mission at Mildmay, 210 of which were gathered and made up by the servants at Oakhampton! the rest by various nieces and young friends. The servants took to the notion with regular enthusiasm — it was quite delightful! I could not do much but set the thing going, and probably got more helped than if I had been able to gather ad lib. myself! Some of the nosegays were lovely, and the ensemble when got together ready to pack, was quite a sight.

I see no scriptural ground to suppose sin can ever be 1 eradicated,5 i.e. so destroyed that it would not instantly revive if the cleansing and the keeping were withdrawn, and we ran from under the wing of Jesus, as Mr. Everard phrased it.

I had not got very much out of the Word for a few days, so I asked Him to send rne something special, and lit upon Luke v. 4-11. ‘The deep’ of His promises, and the ’ toiling all night,’ and the * at Thy word,’ — it is lovely.

My path would be a hopeless dilemma, but for trust in momentary guidance.

... This is only a scrap to wish you all good things for the New Year. For ’ all are yours,’ so how safely we may wish it to one of His dear ones. My pen has just involuntarily paused for a few moments — such a thrill came over me of thinking how He loves you — how He could not do without you — how His very glory would be incomplete not merely without you in heaven, but without the glory which you are ordained, and made on purpose to bring to Him here. And you will guess that my heart does not love you the less for this strange sudden glimpse of how He loves you!...

Very many happy returns of the day to you! I send you ‘As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.’ Will you let that as and so often come into your thoughts through this year? It will be a test and a stimulus, and perhaps a help towards my rinding much to commend and little to blame when I come again! You know how pleasant it was to me to find it so the last time! And I do not think that He who loves you and gave Himself for you can take less interest in your walk ’ than I do!

Your letter to is very nice indeed, and quite the

best tack to go upon with her. Singularly enough, some one of whom I had often heard has been staying here two days, and who at the same age was much such another. She was telling me deeply interesting accounts of how for years, she went off upon all these new doctrines, how utterly she believed them, fancying she had been led into them, after wrestling for whole nights in prayer and tears; and how earnestly she tried to persuade others. Now, after keen and deep trials she has fully come back to the old paths, and bitterly regrets these wanderings, only that she thinks they may help her to help others who are similarly restless. I wished you could have met her — it would have strengthened you, I think; and she is a person of very unusual power and knowledge, taking large Bible classes. I was so astonished at all this, having heard so much of her in her former phase, and not having heard of her return to quiet, steady Church of England doctrine. The enclosed may help you if you hear hasty things about the Church of England, and the Bennett Judgment — read it carefully to please me!

Yes, dearest, seek Jesus only, seek Him in His Word and in prayer, just Himself, and you will find it a thousand times more profitable. I was cutting out hymns the other day, and could not help cutting out this old verse with reference to all you told me of your long earnest wrestlings:

‘Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would often be,
“Hear what the Lord has done for me!” ’

Meanwhile, I do so thank God that He has kept you, for it is indeed a ’ keeping.’

I am delighted at your reading with; it will be

better for both of you, and you will find it both more interesting and easier to persevere in. Only I hope you have some other book in hand to read by yourself as well. I do not think any book will seem so difficult to you after you have mastered Butler’s Analogy.

My poor darling, do not stay away from His table, because you are feeling something of the unworthiness and sinfulness which we all have to find out in ourselves. You do want to come to Jesus, to be really His, to follow Him — I know you do. And the holy communion is just to remind us of His death, to be a pledge of His love, which is just what you do want to be reminded of, do you not? And feeling sorrowful and sinful is all the more reason why you may come. Not that I want to dissuade you from dealing very plainly with yourself: anything -is better than false peace; but the Lord Jesus has true peace for you — go to Him for it, just as if you had never gone before — lay your heart quite open before Him, ’ tell Him all you feel and all you do not feel,’ and look for the answer not in your own heart and feelings (perhaps that has been your mistake), but in His Word. See what He says, and take that as His answer, for His Word cannot change or pass away.

I have been waiting for days expecting my friend to send me mottoes for 1868; they are only just come — ‘And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in Thee, and ‘Surely I come quickly.’ Will you take them for yourself, dearie? For our hope needs to be only in Thee, and we want to learn to wait for Him and for nothing else. And ought not the remembrance of His ’ surely ’ to stir us up to watchfulness and earnestness, and to lead us on to such expectant love that we may be able to give the blessed answer, * Even so come, Lord Jesus! ’

(To M. JF.)

SHARESHILL PARSONAGE.

If I had forgotten my promise of writing to you, the ‘Cead mille failthe,’ which smiled at me on my return home would have reminded me of it. But I did not intend to forget! Your love finds indeed * Cead mille failthe ’ in my heart....

How I should like you to see my children (nieces). Both are rather pretty and very tall; Evelyn, though only twelve last birthday, is just my height. She has been very delicate for a long time, and can seldom do regular lessons. ... I do think God has begun His own work in her, though very gradually, and that He will carry it on. She feels her delicacy very much, specially as it keeps her back in her lessons, and occasions frequent disappointments as to little pleasures; but this training is evidently good for her, and I think she is beginning thus early to spell the great lesson, ‘Thy will be done.’

She is very thoughtful and active in mind, and has a curious liking for any sort of theological questions, so that often I am obliged to go into things with her, for the sake of setting her mind at rest, which I should hardly have expected to converse about with girls of eighteen or twenty. Last summer, a story book of Miss

S, of very High Church tendency, was given her,

which I was sorry for, but could not help. She knew I did not like the book, and asked why. I merely said, that if she read the book as a mere story, she might not notice the evil in it; and so I supposed and hoped it would do her no harm, but that she had better show me any passages which she felt doubtful about. Well, I don’t think there was one error but what she discovered and showed me, perceiving the tendency of many fairsounding passages with an acuteness which surprised me, remarking at the end that she thought the tendency of the whole book was to make one think that our salvation depends rather on what we can do for ourselves, or what the Church can do for us, than on what the Lord Jesus has done, which was hitting the very mark. Connie is sharp enough at lessons, but has not the same sort of development as E. She is a remarkably handy and active child, can turn her hand to anything, and has a wonderful notion of what is the right thing to do at once in any little mishap. She is very bright and merry and energetic. C. has a little class at the Sunday school, and flatters herself that she shall get the children on wonderfully, so that Minny ‘will see the difference’ when they go up into her class. She teaches them a Bible story every Sunday out of Line upon Line, and I wanted her to make a point of asking them the nice little questions upon it at the end of the book; but she soon after declined them, saying ’ she found the children understood best what she asked them out of her own head! ‘She has a strongly practical turn of mind, contradistinguished from Evelyn’s poetical one; an amusing instance thereof was at the time of the earthquake, which we felt so strongly at O. two years ago: her first remark about it was, * I wonder if it has shook any peaches down?’!

(To M. F.)

Yours is a strangely tried life, dear M.; it seems wonderful that so much should be laid upon you. Somehow I always feel it so much harder to see that trouble or suffering is right, and best for others than for one’s self. I think one sees one’s own ’ needs-be ’ better than other people’s. If yours is a pre-eminence of suffering, there must also be pre-eminence of love and care. I have thought of you lately, when our little J. was so ill, how though the others were poorly, yet a double, treble portion of thought and watchfulness was given to him, because he was more suffering than they.

And I loved to think what special love must be hovering, brooding over your many trials. Join me in thinking of i Pet. i. 5, 8 to-morrow evening at seven o’clock. Some day I will sing it you; the passage has haunted me so that I must set it to music. How I wish I knew all that you know of the ‘joy unspeakable ‘! What a marvellous bit that is — ’ the trial of your faith being much more precious,’ etc.

I am so glad your ‘joy-bells ’ of music definition reached me in time to add to the list; it is the prettiest of all. I wondered no one considered what music is to the blind, so I am going to put ‘Sunshine for the sightless.’ I am not good at definitions, but why did not some one speak of music as being the only universal language, understood by men of every tongue, and by the angels too? It is a sort of alphabet of the language of heaven too, not any more equal to it, of course, than an A B C book is to Milton, but a sort of introduction. At least it ought to be so. Trench (referring to a different subject) says something about the manifold provisions, which Infinite Love has made for the finer needs of our nature, and I think music is one of the strongest instances of that. Why should such a mysteriously subtle and unaccountable gratification have been provided for us? Verily, He is Love! Finally, I give you an analogy to think out — that — between light and music, or say rather between colour and music.

(To M. F)

Your sweet and most lovely card was one of the rays, which helped to cheer an otherwise sorrowful birthday, and came as a message from the One who cannot pass away. May it come back to your heart, dear M., with its strong consolation.

Don’t you enjoy Pleasant Fruits It is such fun, I think, as well as edification!

I am bringing out a Scotch song, ‘Scotland’s Welcome,’ anent the royal marriage, which I rejoice in — don’t you?

Now tell me whether you have seen Hints on Biblemarking, by Mrs. Stephen Menzies, because, if you have not, I will send it to you. The plan was not new to me, but I am very glad it is issued — chiefly thanks to Moody.

Does not His Word open out more and more, as the years go on? One feels greedy of every bit that one seems to get hold of for oneself. I so often look forward and wonder, * What next, Lord? * what will be the next unexpected shining upon a text, or golden thread put into one’s hand to string many upon?’

I am so glad you have our Y. W. C. A. reports. I do so enjoy our meetings. Of course when I am at home, I never write any ’ remarks,’ because I strike in with one here and there at the meetings. The outline and chief part is always by our dear little secretary, Miss M. Watson. Why don’t you put in ’ remarks ‘? I am sure He does not fail to give you ’ new thoughts of God ’ — why not contribute them? I don’t often get any now — the rush of the tide of life seems a little too strong and too noisy for me — I am not very strong yet, and can’t quite keep pace with things in general. The * calling 1 Pleasant Fniits, by M. V. G. H. Nisbet & Co.

apart ’ was an enormous blessing to me, I would not have missed it for anything.

I send Ezek. xl. 4. I have been most immensely struck with it — note the three ( thinesy and the vaguely grand ’ all that I shall show thee,’ and the significance of ’ brought hither,’ and the climax of command. It is so full of suggestion for ourselves.

OAKHAMPTON.

DEAREST MOTHER, — You must have wondered I did not write yesterday, but we went to Worcester early — such a glorious day!

So grieved to hear of your suffering so much, but, dear mother, I do pray that the peace may be proportioned to the great need of it, and then I know you will not even wish it otherwise. I have wanted to write to you every day, literally, and tell you of all the various small ongoings. Most thankful to hear

at church for the poor’s sake. Such clear, ringing

gospel, and, although he does ramble, I enjoy it greatly. But, alas! some are very naughty over his peculiarities. I especially regret incorrect reading of Holy Scripture, any alteration or omission of words I can neither defend nor excuse. I feel quite well now, with lying down all the afternoon, and doing nothing but needlework, or reading, or croquet, or playing with the dogs and doves. Thanks for your note to me, darling mother, so kind and sweet. I don’t think I quite explained, that what distresses me is not others seeing as I do, but that false statements and accusations should be so persisted in. Only let bare justice and truthfulness be kept to, and difference of opinion does not trouble me at all. ... I do not fuss about coming to you, though heart and love would bring me this moment, only I feel it is probably better for you and Miss Nott that I should wait.

I cannot help applying my verses to you, mother

dear: —

Oh that the love I bear her

Might blossom into skill
To comfort and to brighten,

And all with gladness fill!
Ah, helpess love! Yet ’tis a joy

To turn each wish to prayer,
And where that dear one dwelleth,

To know that God is there.

—Your loving child.

(To the late Julia Kirchhoffer.)

Two years ago you sent me anonymously an extract from Our Father, and some comforting words from the far sweeter Book! That nameless ministering was not in vain. I have never forgotten the singular solace it was to me, and now let me thank you for it. And if you live to pass through the same deep sorrow, may He pour His own sweet comfort and strength into your heart. May you have a very happy Easter Sunday, and feel the presence of our beloved Saviour, who is ’ risen indeed.’

OAKHAMPTON.

Thanks many, indeed, for promising to pray for one so very dear to me, that I have no greater desire than that he may be ’ partaker of the benefit.’ There is much that is hopeful, but also much that is discouraging; but the blessing can, and I trust will, overflow all hindrances.

0 do pray that all prejudices and hindrances may be swept away, and that Jesus Himself may meet him there. He would be gain to Christ’s cause, for he has considerable influence and natural gifts, and I do so long for these to be all for Jesus.

I want you also to pray for one I am not at liberty to name. I had a literary request from him two days ago, and in my reply I wrote, quite simply and without any effort, just a few lines about what Jesus has been to me in my illness, and is: his reply is almost the most touching letter I ever saw, especially coming from one who does not * wear his heart upon his sleeve; ’ it seems as if the fountains of the great deep were suddenly broken up, and he says, I would give a million-fold all

1 have to feel as you feel.’ I cannot help feeling God is doing and going to do ’ great things ’ again through these few simple words. But share my prayer, that in due time you may share my praise for him. I am better, but still very weak. What an unspeakable mercy it is to be able to trust Jesus entirely, and to leave health and everything happily in His dear hands! God has lately used the enclosed tiny hymn as the definite means of a very bright and decided conversion.

I do not indulge in writing to you as I would like, because writing tires me so much that I rather reserve my pencil for letters which may do a tiny bit of work for Jesus.

(To )

I wonder if you prayed for me last night? I had been feeling very ’ grey ’ all day, and had a cry at night, and then prayed a long time that I might be ’ satisfied with favour; ’ that I might know something of Christ’s love, and so not feel disappointed at the denial of full earthly love all my life. And after a while I think a sort of answer came, for it seemed as if a sudden flow set in of all the texts speaking of God’s love (without any effort of memory), and it was very soothing and sweet; and I went to sleep resting on it, and woke in the night praying about it. It was not exactly realization that He loves me, but a trusting Him in the dark for His word’s sake, that He does love. I should tell you that before this I had, in my tears, given up and said, * Thy will be done, and meant it, with full acquiescence in His will. Do you understand me? it is not exactly or entirely

feeling disappointed about, but more, I think, the

sense of general heart-loneliness and need of a one and special love,... and the belief that my life is to be a lonely one in that respect. ... I do so long for the love of Jesus to be poured in, as a real and satisfying compensation.... But I think I shall do better now that I have been enabled to ’ remember His love ’ for a little. I do so want Him to sanctify the whole thing, and give me spiritual blessing in and by it. ‘Who teacheth like Him?’

My heart aches for you. I can’t tell you how I shrink from writing what will add to your pain, nor how glad I should be, if I could, if I dared, write what would only please and gladden you. You know I have never treated this matter lightly. I know how deeply you feel it, and I sympathize with you in proportion. But I cannot say less than what I believe before God, viz. that * only in the Lord ’ is His will and law. It is strange, how invariably He seems to link His obvious blessing with simple, trustful obedience to it. I never yet knew a single instance in which a Christian man or woman married knowingly one who was not really ’ in Christ,’ but what unhappiness has followed. And I never yet knew one instance of this great sacrifice for the sake of obedience to His Word, but what sooner or later, the blessing was so plain and full that it was indeed the ’ hundred-fold.’ The waiting and praying is one thing, but your taking any definite step, while you have not the evidence of her true conversion to God, is quite another. Do not think I underrate the trial; so far from that, I would even rank it as the nearest thing nowadays to the trial of Abraham’s faith: — ‘Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest,’ the very wording showing that God Himself recognised the intensity of the trial. May our Lord Himself give you proportioned faith to the test He gives you, whether that faith is exercised in long waiting or in resigning. He will guide with His eye, and will help you to look up for that guidance. ‘Jesus will be more to you than any gift of His,’ and yet ’ no good thing will He withhold ’ because He loves you so; and He can work in you to WILL as well as to DO of His good pleasure, so that you may wish what He wishes, whatever that may be.

The first opportunity I had, I only approached the

subject sideways with He probably saw what I

was at, for he sheered off so very quickly and pointedly to another topic, that I thought it best not to renew the attack, but adopt different tactics next time. So then I made a full front attack, which gave no chance of evasion, telling him straight out my fears and hopes and prayers for him personally. He staid nearly an hour! arguing, cavilling, and twisting about like an eel. He manoeuvred ingeniously to get me off Bible-ground, and entangle me in metaphysical thickets, but I know one is never safe but in standing firm on the Word and declining to use Saul’s weapons — so he always found himself confronted with a smooth stone out of the brook, and thereby brought back again and again to personalities — ‘And what about his own soul and salvation? ‘But I saw no impression; so far I have only delivered my own soul. I think I was, however, enabled to speak winningly to him, and that he was a little touched by the reality of my anxiety for his salvation. He will be a real trophy for Jesus if converted, perhaps almost more

so than any one in I was so exhausted after it, that

I only had three-quarters of an hour’s sleep the whole night, having got quite overwrought.

There is infinitely more involved in this than you seem to have the least idea of. And nothing but God’s own power can teach it you. It is true my attention was called to this truth, and that set me thinking and praying (at first it was kicking!). No human word did or could open my eyes — it all came clear to me in one tremendous

flash, one Sunday at Perry, when I was quite alone. I have no doubt it was the Spirit himself revealing it, even by the effects, for it is since then that all has been so different. Now will you only let your mind be open to receive whatever teaching He may send you? (I do not mean any words of mine). I repeat, no human argument can do anything, but rather making one kick the more ‘against the pricks.’ Will you for this one week, really pray that He would guide you into His own truth whatever that may be, and that you may be made willing to give up any ’ opinion ’ which is not His truth. The importance of it lies here — as long as you do not attribute all your salvation to God, so long you are defrauding Him of the glory which is His due. Who hath made you to differ? Why do you believe and rest in Jesus when others do not? Is that difference your doing or His? Could you have come to Jesus if He had not drawn you? And if He did draw you, why you and not everybody? If you are indeed * beloved ’ now, when did He begin to love you?

One or other made the choice in the first place, either you or God. If you did, then you had a share in saving yourself, and it all hinged upon your doing or not doing. If He did, then why deny Him the praise and thanksgiving for having chosen you, even you! O give glory to the Lord your God, yes, 0//the glory. At present, though you do not know it, you are defrauding Him of praise.

Words are often terrible hindrances, ‘darkening counsel, — such is your word ’ favouritism; ’ say ’ sovereignty ’ instead — absolute, but righteous, though inscrutable — and then bow to it, and you will end by rejoicing in it. Besides you only shift the difficulty, for whose doing is it that one is born in England and another among the darkness and cruelty of Timbuctoo? God chose to give you English birth and Christian training, and has utterly denied the same great advantages to others. You must call this favouritism if anything is — I call it sovereignty. Give up that c vain word,’ and you will see clearer. I have been running through a Gospel of St. John for you, only because I could not find a Romans, Ephesians, or Thessalonians portion, which I should have taken in preference as to strength of argument. Will you accede to this most earnest request — that you will read this Gospel, i.e. the first seventeen chapters, prayerfully through — willing to receive His truth at any cost or sacrifice of ‘opinion ’ or ’ theory’ or ’ idea.’ Oh, do not glance at it lightly, I am very anxious that you should not do so. I cannot explain all you will gain by receiving His truth as a little child; but I know it because I have felt and found it so. And will you make it a great subject of REAL prayer for light and teaching? I believe that in such things, John vii. 17: ‘If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God,’ is signally fulfilled, if we are made quite willing to give up our own will about theories and ideas and to follow His teaching, even if quite contrary to what we fancied or liked; then He lets us ’ know of the doctrine whether it be of God.’ It lies at the very root of ever so many other difficulties; but once receive it, and all falls into place, while the spiritual ’ strong meat ’ does strengthen in a way I would not and could not have believed till His own Hand fed me with it. ... Have you ever noticed the preposition in Rev. v. 9? I shall never forget how breathlessly I turned to the Greek, hoping it was wrongly translated, and found it was even more emphatic in the original: * Hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.’ I most fully agree with you in all you say as to the lost. It will be their own fault, and they will own the justice, and yet the salvation of the saved will be all God’s glory and His doing from beginning to end. I do not care to reconcile the paradox — both are true and revealed — and the day shall declare it. This is one of the points I want you to be clear upon. Upon what does your actual salvation (not your possible salvation) depend? Is the hinge your faith? or is it God’s sovereign and free gift to you personally of it? i.e. of the faith as well as the grace. If the former, you must have the credit of making the difference between yourself and others, and not God. Yes, dear, — that is just what I want, not argument, but the Holy Spirit’s light and help — coming closer. Let us both seek that.

(Letter printed as a Circular.y

Dear,

Pardon me for regretfully resorting to this way of replying, as the continually increasing number of correspondents personally unknown to me, renders it simply impossible to send written answers to each. You will find a mark against the paragraph or sentence which contains a reply to your letter. — Yours faithfully, i. To those who wish permission to use or quote hymns or extracts from my writings. — It is always a pleasure to give this freely, except in cases where I am fettered by a previously given permission or arrangement, or where ‘Musical Copyright ’ should be secured by the publishers.

2. To those who wish a l candid opinion* as to MSS., or advice how to profit by them. — The only ‘candid opinion ’ of any practical value will be obtained by sending your MS. to the Editor of whatever magazine issues verses or articles of the same kind; he will judge without bias, and reply accordingly. Introductions are utterly useless; everything stands on its own practical merits in an Editor’s study. Payment for hymns or general verses is exceptional, and unless you already have ’ a name,’ you need not dream of it. As to larger MSS. consult a London publisher. If he says he will be happy to publish your MS., but at your expense, that simply means that he knows it will not command sufficient circulation to pay its expenses. Never publish anything at your own risk.

3. To those who wish a ’ candid opinion ’ or revision of Music. — I really have not time for this. If you are a beginner, send your MS. to the nearest good organist. If not, send it to any high-class publisher.

N.B. — Composition without knowledge of harmony is totally useless for publication.

4. To those who ask me to write for some Charitable or Religious Institution or object. — (i.) I never write unless I have a very strong impression on my mind. A mere string of rhymes by request or on hearsay would be worse than useless. (2.) It does not follow that, because I can or do heartily sympathize in a cause, I can forthwith write a poem about it. (3.) I never write descriptions or appeals for anything with which I am not personally familiar. (4.) Iam sorry to say that I really cannot find time to write letters or addresses to special Bible classes, Hospitals, etc., etc.

5. To those who kindly suggest subjects on which they think something in prose or verse would be desirable. — I find I have to quarry my own stones, and that it hardly ever seems possible to me to take up a line of thought suggested by another mind. At the same time, I am not ungrateful for these, as they are often interesting, though I cannot write upon them. But in several instances the result has been more surely reached by prayer that the Lord would give me the desired words, than by mentioning any subject to me at all.

6. To those who ‘feel sure ’ of my interest or. sympathy in various schemes of Christian work. — Dear friends, I can only say that sometimes I am unable for weeks, or even months together, to cut my way through to doing any of my own work, because everybody expects me to take an interest in their work or plans! It is not want of will, but an actual physical impossibility, to respond as I would to the continual stream of such letters from unknown fellow-workers.

7. To those who ask me to circulate or dispose of books, leaflets, work, etc. — I am now obliged entirely and invariably to decline to do this for any one. N.B. — I never dispose of my own publications.

8. To those who inquire about my publications. — Books, Nisbet & Co., 21 Berners Street, London, or any bookseller in the kingdom. Songs, Hatchings & Romer, 9 Conduit Street, Regent Street, London, or any musicseller. Leaflets, cards, etc.: No leaflet is issued without the name and address of the publisher, who will supply them by return of post to any address. A full list of Leaflets in Verse, seventy-five in number, will be found at the end of Royal Commandments (Parlane, Paisley; and Caswell, Birmingham).

9. To those who most kindly write, asking for no answer, only to tell me of help, stimulus, or comfort, through some message that the Lord has given me the privilege of bearing. — I thank you most heartily, and ask you to pray that He would graciously give me His own messages for the unknown needs of His children, and to join me in thanksgiving for all His wonderful goodness.