1877

Letters — The mystery of pain — The Lord’s graving tool — Loyal letters — ‘‘ Won’t you decide to-night?’? — Manhood for ‘Christ’s service — Splendid promises — ‘‘ My silver and my gold” — Mildmay; its intercessions, greetings, hushing power — A crumb from the King’s table — The Christian Progress Union.

UR only available sources, for a record of
many months in 1877, are my dear sister’s
letters.

(Zo Elizabeth Clay.)

. «. Shall we not find that all parts of our lives will prove to have been training for whatever is our truest work even on earth, and also for the heavenly service to which one, more and more, looks forward? But the bits of wayside work are very sweet. Perhaps the odd bits, when all is done, will really come to more than the seemingly greater pieces! the chance conversations with rich or poor, the seed sown in odd five minutes, even the tables-d’-héte for me, and the rides and friends’ tables for you. It is nice to know that the King’s servants are always really on duty, even while some can only stand and wait. Your going to India seems a very special “boring of the ear.” How curiously your path and mine have diverged; your going to do great things for God, f NAT WEI 227

and I able for less and less. My hope that, at last this winter, I might be allowed one Bible class at home is uncertain; ditto my choir practice, as I am to avoid cold and fatigue. Everybody is so sorry for me except myself! For the same peace which will be yours in work will be mine in waiting; and the very fact of having a busy and active nature, with no proclivity for dolce far niente, seems to make the rest under God’s felt vestraznts so much the more really His doing.

(Zo the same.)
1877.

Best wishes for your first birthday in India, and 1 Chronicles iv. 23, “there they dwelt with the King for His work,” “¢here” is Amritsur for you. How specially it is for His work that you are there! I send you a lovely little book by Miss Elliott.... I feel how very precious your time will be in acquiring the language; and, if you spent an hour writing to me, I should feel like David did about the water of the well at Bethlehem. I have but little physical strength; perhaps He withholds the active service; and also I see His wisdom in, all along, having held me back from any chance of Conferences, or hearing any speakers of any sort for several years past (with the sole exception of the Mildmay Conference in 1874). For, if I had, I should have learnt from man, and should almost necessarily have echoed what I heard from others, in what I write.

(Zo -)

I think that, during certain stages of Christian life and experience, pain is always a mystery. And so dong it is a grand trial of trust in God’s gerfect wisdom and love and rightness. “His work is perfect”: Deut. xxxii. 4. (But wait patiently till you have had, first, some years of pastoral work, and, second, some personal experience of great pain; and then you will see.) To myself the whole thing is clear as sunshine, but tenfold clearer since the intense pain through which He has led me of late. I would not have foregone ¢ha¢ teaching for anything!

I. Pain, as to outsiders, is no mystery when looked at in the light of God’s holiness, and in the light of Ca/- vary. The deeper our views of and hatred of sin (as the Holy Spirit’s teaching in our hearts progresses), the more clear will all that is connected with sin become; and as, had there been no sin there would have been no pain, it is all, and more than all, deserved. I can say for myself that I feel I have deserved the very suffering of hell for my transgression of the first great commandment of the law, (“thou shalt love the Lord thy God,” etc.,) and for my sin of unbelief.

‘It is, further, a real proof of God’s love. He cannot (being Love) evjoy the sight of suffering, 1r MusT be as much worse to Him than to you, as He is infinitely greater and more loving than you! And yet He inflicts or permits it, that He may rouse, and warn, and check, and save. What thousands have blessed Him for the pain that came like a rough hand catching them as they fell over a precipice, hurting and pinching their very flesh, but saving their lives! In how many ways a skilful doctor gives pain, that he may prevent much greater and worse suffering! At the same time, Iam guwéfe sure that with very, very ‘Yare exceptions bodily pain, though far more trying to witness, is not anything to compare with mental pain, and it leaves no sting or scar, as almost every other form of real trial must do. (I am perhaps in a specially good position to judge of this point, because all my doctors agree in saying that, from my unusually finely strung nerves, I am and always shall be peculiarly sensitive to physical pain, and feel it far more keenly than ordinary people.)

II. Pain, as to God’s own children, is, truly and really, only blessing in disguise. It is but His chiselling, one of His graving tools, producing the likeness to Jesus for which we long. I never yet came across a suffering (7za/) Christian who could not ¢tank Him for pain! Is not this a strong and comforting fact? I do not say that they always do so during the very moments of keenest pain, though much more often than not I think they are able to do this; but, certainly, they do deliberately praise Him for it afterwards. I think one must pass through it for oneself before one can fully realize the actual dlessedness of suffering; meanwhile, you may well take the testimony of those who have. Its conscious effects are to give one ‘deeper feeling of one’s entire weakness and helplessness, (a lesson which we are all slow to learn in health,) and of the real zothingness of earthly aims and comforts, and the fleetingness and unsatisfactoriness of everything except Christ. Then, it drives one to Him each moment, one cannot bear it even one minute alone, one mus¢ lean and cling (and anything is blessed which does this!). And then, one finds that He zs tender and gracious, that His promises ave precious, that His presence Is a REALITY even if unrealized / (a true paradox!) Then, one has opportunities which one could not otherwise have of learning trust, and patience, and meekness; it is a time of growing up into Him in these things. Then, one realizes more what it must have been to Jesus to endure real, actual, bodily pain for ws. I never saw such tremendous force in 1 Peter ii. 24 (“in His own Jody”) as when suffering great pain myself; it seemed a new page of His love unfolded to me. I could write sheets more on the blessed teachings of pain, but if I did I should perhaps bring it on! So far, the whole question of pain is rather one of sight than of faith to me now; it has become so clear to me, as a part of God’s great plan which could not be done without. But I find yet scope for faith beyond. I believe there is a mysterious connection between suffering here and actual capabilities of enjoyment hereafter, and that suffering here is training (I cannot tell how) for that glorious service above, to which I delight to look forward. But now look for yourself at what God’s word says about it, and dwell on //a¢ instead of on your own thoughts about it, for His thoughts are not as your thoughts; see Isaiah lv. 8, 9. Look at 2 Corinthians iv. 17, 18; and then see how much more you can find in His word which bears on the subject...

Trust Jesus in and for everything. When a trial is past, one does so bitterly regret not having trusted Him entirely in it; and one sees that we might as well have had all the joy and rest of perfect trust all along.

(Zo -)

- + I know that nothing short of the Holy Spirit’s power can enable any one to accept God’s way of salvation as a little child.... I will tell you the two passages which have been the greatest help to me, two great anchors which have stood many a strain of personal conflict and doubt: John v. 24 and 1 John v.10, 11. It does not matter what we suppose God might propose or declare; it all hangs upon what Aas God said about it? And can words be plainer than these two passages? “He that believeth hath everlasting life.” Only think deliberately out that those words must mean everlasting life, for it would be a mockery and a lie to call it so if it might last only a day or a year. If the life which Jesus imparts (His own life by His Spirit) caz come to an end to-morrow, zt ts not, cannot be, and never was, everlasting life at all! Our natural life is even as a vapour, but ¢4zs would be a poorer thing still, if it might be lost even sooner. “« Everlasting” either means that which shall really last for ever, or it is a meaningless delusion and not worth the paper it is printed on. “Hath:” it is never said shall have, but always the actual present possession by every one who believes, not always consciously but certainly, If you believe in Jesus as your only and all-sufficient Saviour, either you have at this moment everlasting life, a life which shall and can never perish; or God is a liar. Don’t you see the inevitable force of “everlasting”? It must be everything or nothing. How can it be everlasting life, if it can be quenched in eternal death? The two passages you mention present no difficulty at all. Philippians 11. 12, 13 seems to me clearly to imply that those to whom St. Paul wrote had got salvation as an actual possession, ‘“‘ your own”; and, having got it, they are now to “work it out,” ze. to carry out all the details and consequences of it, act up to it. Give a man a great gold mine; it zs his, he has not got to work for it (it is all there, his very own), but only to work it

- out, draw upon it, and enjoy it. I think the figure holds good, for enjoyment seems to hold an almost invariable proportion to work for Christ. I never knew any idle Christian really a rejoicing one (I do not of course speak of invalids); and, conversely, if you see a man or woman, whatever their position, doing all they can for the cause of Christ, giving up time to work for Him, and trying, hard to win others, either rich or poor, for Him, you may be almost certain that they are happy in Christ. (Mark, I do not say those who merely ride religious or benevolent hobbies, or who work for ex¢ernals of religion, these are often as miserable as any; but those who are working for Christ) Further, just look at the “for” in verse 13, and take the two verses together and you will see that it is all of God and not of us. As to r Corinthians ix. 27, why did you not see that the Greek addxmos is literally and clearly “‘not approved,” being simply the negative of ddxyuos. You cannot read the Greek word otherwise; and how it came to be translated “castaway” I can’t imagine. I can wish you no greater blessing than that salvation may be no longer a “theory” but a glorious yea/ty to you, constraining you henceforth to live unto Him entirely and joyfully. If you once get hold of this, everything will seem different; the false lights of the world will no longer throw their flickering, deceiving lights around you, but you will view and estimate all in the true light, the glorious light which makes the earthly delusions altogether unattractive, and the grand eternal realities appear what they are, just realities. But, whatever you do, don’t delay; go fully and most earnestly into the question at once; a magnificent treasure is within your reach, don’t drift away from it. If any other passage, or set of passages, present any difficulty to your mind, I wish you would let me know. Just one thing: this matter is not merely the intellectual acceptance of a theory; but also the acceptance, by the Aeazt, of God’s loving and free offer and plan. It is a personal transaction between Christ and the soul, to be carried out alone with Him.

(Zo a young friend.)

You will not mind my writing to you; you needn’t feel obliged to answer. I hear you go back to school on Thursday; are you to go back doubtful, uneasy, fearful, dissatisfied, alone? or, is it to be going back wth Jesus, safe in, Him, afpy in Him? When the Holy Spirit stirs up a heart to feel uneasy, it is very solemn, because it is His doing; Satan will do his best to say ‘peace, peace, when there is no peace.” It is very solemn, because it results either in grieving that loving Spirit by stifling His secret call, ov in passing from death unto life: the one or the other, I know of no other alter- ‘ native. Which shall it be? Don’t linger just outside the gate of the city of refuge; 7wst outside is danger, perhaps destruction; you are not safe for one instant till you are inside. And oh, have you ever thought that it is not merely negative, not merely zor safe, but that unless your sins now are on Jesus they are xow on you, and God’s wrath is upon them and so upon you? It is a tremendous question, “where are your sins?” I do not stay to prove that they are somewhere, you have learnt that; but now where are they? On you, or on Jesus? Oh, that He may now send His own faithful word about it Ss

with power to your soul, “the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all!” Accept that, believe His word, venture your soul upon it, and “he that believeth Aath everlasting life.” I won’t write more to-day; all hinges on this question, “zw/ere are your sins?” If on you, you are not safe one instant, there is but a step between you and hell, “the wrath of God abideth on him”; it is awfully true, don’t dare to sleep another night with condemnation upon you. But if ov Jesus (and He only asks you to believe that He has borne them, in His own body, on the tree, and that Jehovah hath laid them oz ffim,) then you are free, gloriously free! They can’t be on both! If on Jesus, you are saved and fave ever- ‘lasting life, and you will prove it by ‘“henceforth” being His entirely and living to Him. I desire and pray that the great question of your life, of your whole eternity, may be decided before you go back. It will be easier now than it ever can be again, 7 He ever gives you another call.

(Zo the same.)

.-.. Let me say just this; when one is really and utterly “all for Jesus,” then and not till then we find Jesus is al for us, and all in all #o us. Now I want you to be “ad, for Jesus.” I can’t describe the happiness He puts into any heart that will only give itself up altogether to Him, not wishing to keep one single bit back. And I want you to have this, and to have it mow; not to wait till illness or great trouble come, and you feel driven at last to Him. No! that is simply “too bad!” Jesus says, “Come zow/” not, “come when everything else has turned bitter.” And if you come now, and surwr

render to Him now, you will have the peace now and the gladness now; and I can tell you it is worth having, because I Aave it, and so I now it is. It is a grand thing to start out early, and be on the Lord’s side all along. Oh, what an amount of sorrow it will save you if He gives you grace to doit! But come zow, for Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, and many are getting His blessing. Don’t wait, either to get better or to feel worse /

(Zo the same.)

I know you must have thought me very hard upon you on Friday morning: but what could I do? I see you, a young, fresh life, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, believing and owning what He has done for you, with grand possibilities of power in As cause, and I think endowed with special gifts of influence .and attraction, one who might be, and do so much, for Jesus; and, yet, Jesus does not come first! And you know it might be otherwise and ought to be otherwise., You are “entangled” when you might be “free” in His “glorious liberty”; you are unsatisfied, yes, and dissatisfied, and you might be “abundantly satisfied.” He has dealt bountifully with you, and now what shall you render to Him? Has not the practical answer been: “Just as much as I can conveniently spare, after I have rendered all that society asks, and that self or personal enjoyment claims! just as much asI can spare Him with risk of the least awkwardness, or remark, or self denial? Of course, one must give up the bulk of one’s time, and talents, and influence, and thoughts, and desires, and efforts, to other things; but He shall have just the chips and shavings, the odds and ends, of whatever I don’t particularly want for myself or for anybody else!” Does it not, practically, amount to this? And shall it continue to do so? Oh, be ‘“‘true-hearted, whol/e-hearted.” Be really His faithful soldier and servant. Throw overboard for ever the divided allegiance, which is valueless. Be “only for Jesus,” and you will start out on a new life of blessedness, beyond anything you can imagine; and you will never, ever, NEVER have a regret that you listened to, and obeyed, His own ‘ Follow Me,” even if it involves (as it will) taking up a cross, for there is no true following exempt from it, only the very cross will be gz/ded with glory. Do not be surprised if Z never say another word again about it. I feel that I have said my say to you, and that I can say no more. The Master will send me to others, but I think not again to you. I can now only leave you, with one more cry for blessing, at As feet. Oh that He would say to you “Arise and shine!”

(Zo — — .)

To-morrow your manhood begins. Whose shall it be? How much of it shall be for Him? Shall it be, still, “some for self, and some for Thee”? What if He had not made a whole offering? what if He had not given His whole self for you? Answer the question, face it to-night, ‘“‘ How much owest ¢#ow unto my Lord?” Think of that, and you will be glad that there is anything to give up for Him. And, as for “giving up,” there is not a true servant of Christ who does not know that the Master’s words come true, “he shall receive an hundredfold xow in this time.” I know it for myself. Can’t you take your Lord’s own word for it, and trustfully say, “Yea, let Him take a/7”? Can you deliberately say, ‘‘ Well, Jesus shall have fart; I’ll see what I can spare for Him AFTER my boating friends, and all the things that ‘a man must do, you know,’ have had their due share.” That is what it comes to. But you cannot serve two, much less several, masters. For, if you are serving self, and pleasure, and the world, even a little, you are serving Christ’s enemy, and not serving Him really at all, because He accepts no divided service. It is very solemn; but won’t you, on this solemn, great, dividing time of your life, look steadily at the reality of the case, and decide, once for all, whose your real service shall be? Oh, if it might but be that the great, joyful transaction might be done this very night, before the clock strikes twelve, so that not even one hour of your manhood should be “for another,” but only and all for Jesus! Oh, don’t be afraid of taking the plunge; give yourself over into His hands, and then it will be His part to keep you, and you may trust Him for the keeping; you will not find Him fail you. Yield yourself unto God (Rom. vi. 13) altogether, body, soul, and spirit, all your powers and all your members. And then see if He won’t use you! He always does! Dear, I wish I had an angel’s tongue to persuade you to believe what blessedness you are on the edge of, if you would only give yourself “in FULL and glad surrender” to Jesus, and be “true-hearted, who/e-hearted.” But I want you for my Master’s sake, far more than for your own! I can’t bear those who might be even officers, let alone recruits, in His army to be contented to stay at home as it were, and only fight their own little private battles for their own ends, and the cause of the Redeemer left to take its chance! Oh, if we might be able to say to-morrow the verses I have stuck on this letter! I am so happy whenever there is ‘‘another voice’to tell it out”; won’t you be “another”? I must not stay up writing, but I don’t think I shall soon sleep. God helping me, I will not let Him go except He bless you.

Once more, How much for Jesus?

(Zo — — .)

I am so glad and thankful you have been to the Mildmay Conference. People don’t go, because they don’t know, till they have been, what it really is. Your description is one of the best I ever heard. “To him that hath shall be given” is always coming true; it is the folks who already have grace enough, who make the effort to put themselves in the way of having more.

I could not, do what I would, manage to get up any very strong emotion at hearing of your being laid up again! It did seem so very like as if the Lord were determined you should not drift away, at once, into a different atmosphere, where all the “other things entering in” should choke the word you have heard. And, suppose you have to stay and get mixed up with the tent work, it will be worth more to you as a sworn soldier of Jesus Christ than all the honours Cambridge has to bestow.

. + Iam most anxious that you should be a true Christian friend to — — — —. Don’t, oh don’t help to introduce him to any men, or anything, which would be hindrance and wot fe/p either in seeking or following Jesus. Don’t, merely because it might be pleasant to him, have the responsibility of bringing him into any path which you have’ found does not lead nearer to Jesus. And do take him to hear Mr. Aitken when he comes to — —. Forgive me, but souls are souls, and it does not do to play with them, and seniors have serious responsibilities.

I think you would find it very useful to take in Zhe Clergyman’s Magazine for yourself now, without waiting till you are ordained. I sent you a prospectus of it. There were capital articles all last year.

(Zo Miss Shekleton.)

LEAMINGTON.

.. + My experience is, that it is nearly always just in proportion to my sense of personal insufficiency in writing anything, that God sends His blessing and power with it; so I don’t wonder that your papers are so sweet and helpful! I think He must give us that total dependence on Him for every word, which can only come by feeling one’s own helplessness and incapacity, before He can very much use us. And soI think this very sense of not having gifts is the best and most useful gift of them all. It is so much sweeter to have to look up to Him for every word one writes. I often smile when people call me “gifted,” and think how little they know the real state of the case, which is that I not only feel that I can’t, but veally can’t, write a single verse unless I go to Him for it and get it from Him.

But, in this sweet access and supply, you and I have a “better thing” than the grandest natural gifts; and as for being slow or quick in production, it may be some tiny sentence written in five seconds, and never thought of before, which may do the widest “and truest work for Jesus. Yours, in our dear Master.

-.. I suppose it was the “silver and gold” line that was objected to; and I do think that couplet, “Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold,” is peculiarly liable to be objected to by those who do not really understand the sferzt of it, don’t you? So-I am not a bit surprised! Yes, “not a mite would I withhold”; but that does not mean that,- because we have ten shillings in our purse, we are pledged to put it all into the next collecting plate, else we should have none for the next call! But it does mean that every shilling is to be, and I think I may say zs, held at my Lord’s disposal, and is distinctly not my own; but, as He has entrusted to me a body for my special charge, I am bound to clothe that body with His silver and gold, so that it shall neither suffer from cold, nor bring discredit upon His cause! I still forget sometimes, but as a rule I never spend a sixpence without the distinct feeling that it is His, and must be spent for Him only, even if indirectly.

With the same common sense, she explains her
reasons for dressing very nicely.

The outer should be the expression of the inner, not an ugly mask or disguise. If the King’s daughter is to be “all glorious within,” she must not be outwardly a fright! I must dress both as a lady and a Christian. The question of cost I see very strongly, and do not consider myself at liberty to spend on dress that which might be spared for God’s work; but it costs no more to have a thing well and prettily made, and I should only feel justified in getting a costly dress if it would last proportionately longer. When working among strangers, if I dressed below par, it would attract attention and might excite opposition; by dressing unremarkably, and yet with a generally pleasing effect, no attention is distracted. Also, what is suitable in one house is not so in another, and it would be almost an insult to appear at dinner among some of my relatives and friends in what I could wear without apology at home; it would be an actual breach of the rule “Be courteous”; also, I should not think it right to appear among wedding guests in a dress which would be perfectly suitable for wearing to the Infirmary. But I shall always ask for guidance in all things!

The year 1877 was passed uneventfully at her home, or in visits to her brother or sisters, to Ashley Moor, and to London. The distressing illness of our dear mother was a source of deep anxiety; Frances writes to her:

More pain, dearest mother? May it be more support, more grace, more tenderness, from the God of all comfort, more and more! May we not expect the

R “mores” always to be in tender proportion to each other? Your loving child.

A few characteristic extracts from some of her letters at this time may here be given.

Instead of printing E. L. Goreh’s verses to me (“Sweet Singer”), which can do no good at all, persuade her to print and sell her splendid little appeal, ‘Listen, Christian sisters”; there would be some use in that, and I would much rather zo¢ those to myself.

Do get instantly “Our Coffee Room,” by Miss Cotton. It is so racily graphic and natural, so telling, and so hard to put down, that you had better not begin it late at night!

I have been immensely struck with the passages in which our Master, our Axample, uses the word “must,” and the great contrast with our use of it. Only compare when any one says “but I must do so and so,” with Christ’s ‘I mus?’s.” It is a really helpful bit of Bible search, for we must follow Him in this or we are “not worthy of Him.”

Do not hesitate to smite me. I dread nothing so much as smooth things. I would rather have “faithful wounds.” I do not see how I can like doing and yet I am in honour bound to carry it through. I was absolutely content and happy in it as being His doing, but subsequent delays and mistakes seemed altogether human and not His doing at all.

God has been leading me for some time by a way which I knew not, both outwardly and inwardly. I want closer contact with Jesus, more constant communion, more patience, more everything; sometimes I seem to have zofhing, only that I know Jesus will not fail, will not loose me. He is very wisely giving me a much longer learning time, before letting me do any more

teaching.

I do indeed need grace and tact and patience and comfort very much just now. It’s just a case of ‘“‘ Nobody knows but Jesus”; and I feel it is good for me. I am thrown the more on His own strength and sympathy, in what is to me “under the surface” trial; but I know the Lord is right.

I am to be godmother to dear little H — — -; will it not be a peculiarly solemn trust! Do pray that he may be Christ’s faithful soldier and servant, not only unto the end, but from the degénning / I do so want him to be a doy-witness for Christ. I long, more and more, for people to be not just “‘saved so as by fire,” but to be right-down thorough-going witnesses for Christ.

(Zo D. S.)

What shall I do? Your letter would take two hours to answer, and I have not ten minutes; fifteen to twenty letters to write every morning, proofs to correct, editors waiting for articles, poems and music I cannot touch, American publishers clamouring for poems or azy manuscripts, four Bible readings or classes weekly, many anxious ones waiting for help, a mission week coming, and other work after that. And my doctor says my physique is too weak to balance the nerves and brain, and that I ought not to touch a pen. If you could see the pressure on me, you would not think me wet-blanketing if I do not answer all your queries. ‘‘ Mission Week!” if that sort of thing won’t do in, It is the very reason why it is wanted; no agency seems to me more blessed than that.

“Bride of Christ?” Study (I don’t mean read through) the Canticles, and look at the practical sweetness, comfort, and beauty of the type; also look at Ezekiel xvi. and Hosea i. Your own Bible will be your best answerer.

Work out this glorious subject: 1 Samuel xii. 24, “Consider,” Psalm cxxvi. 3 “hath done,” Joel i. 21 “will do”; and then (practical) Luke viii. 39, “show,” not merely “ell,” what great things He has done. What “‘oreat things” does your Bible tell He azh done and will do? You will find it inexhaustible!

Yours in affectionate haste.

(Zo — .)

Don’t you see He Aas broken the yoke (Isa. x. 27), only you keep rubbing the place where it pressed, and are feeling s¢z#// When splints are taken off a broken leg, you feel as if they were still on. ‘‘ Believe, and ye shall be free indeed.” Will you set yourself to search out what He says about it? Put all the texts down, and be prepared to write under them either, “I believe what God says,” or “I’believe what I /ee/, and not what He says.” Try it! Now I must dash off to another topic, because

I must hand to you what flashed out splendidly to me last night: ‘ Beloved of God, called to be saints!” That for you and me. Only think! It seems to include everything. Will you let ¢Za¢t be your pillow to-morrow night P

(Zo Miss Williams.)

Thanks for your sweet benediction. If you remember me in prayer, wil you ask that I may be kept always and only at Jesus’ feet, never anywhere else. It is the only place safe from vain glory. Thank you for your valuable gift of the “History of Wales.” I do so like your book, ‘Literary Women.” The sad sketch of L. E. L.’s life and character struck me very much, What a contrast to Hannah More!

It seems as if more waiting than working were to be )my lot; but it is such rest to be quite satisfied with is ‘choice for me.

(Zo Mrs. R — — .)

68, MitpMay Park, October 1877.

Would Lizzie like to send her baby-house with its twenty dolls to the Mildmay Orphanage? I see it would be most gratefully received as a gift to the Mildmay work. Mrs. Pennefather invited me here. I was going away on Saturday, but caught cold at the quarterly meeting of the Association of Female Workers. I sat ina draught. I knew I was in for a proper cold, so implored them to let me go across to their Home for Invalids (which I had taken a great fancy to), and lie there a few days. But they would zof let me get into a cold cabasa specimen of Mildmay nursing, so thereupon I resigned myself to an extra week here. And, verily, they do know how to nurse, avd, what’s more (!), how to keep you quiet. Also they do know how to pray!. I have learnt a little, I hope, on ¢hat subject this last week. What I hear and see here is quite a new light on intercessory prayer. I thought I knew something of its power and reality, but I see I did not know much.

Mrs. Pennefather took me (before my cold) to Clapton House. I only wish every girl I care for was there; such a beautiful, Christian school. I got any amount of bright looks (as it seems they knew my books), and I wanted exceedingly to go among them. Hearing the Principal say she would be prevented taking their Bible class, I ventured the proposal to take it. Afterwards, I had about a dozen all to myself in the drawing-room, for a talk with any that wanted special help. They were told to get chairs. “Oh,” I said, ‘don’t sit all in a row a long way off; come up close and cosy; we can talk ever so much better then, can’t we?” You should have seen how charmed they were, and clustered niece-fashion all round me. We did have such a sweet hour; it was rather after the “question-drawer” manner; but all their little ‘questions or difficulties seemed summed up by one of them, ‘‘We do so want to come closer to Jesus.”

I was very sorry not to hear one of Mrs. Pennefather’s beautiful addresses, but she could not move her head from the pillow. Mrs. Charlesworth took the subject. I was so cosily out of the way in the back seat, revelling in being quite incog., when it was announced, “Miss F. R. H. is here, and we hope she will say a few words.” Is at quiet. ‘She is here,” said Miss S — —, so that

J was obliged to startle my neighbours by rising, but I simply said I came there to learn, not to teach. Then Annie Macpherson made a bright little speech on encouragements to prayer. Then followed such greetings ‘from her and from Misses De Broen and Blundell, Mrs. Hudson Taylor, just come from China, and Miss Maclean, who has been working twelve years all alone, and both the latter told me how the Lord had sent them the same blessing He had tous. Mrs. Bayly, of “Ragged Homes,” Miss Bayly, just back from Australia, and many more spoke to me. It zs such a privilege to be one of such an Association: And you don’t see a dismal face among them! And they are so affectionate, the Sun is so bright that there’s no ice left to be broken. But oh, Mrs. R, what shall Z render to the Lord for His immense mercies to me? for there was not one that spoke to me but wanted to tell me of some blessing through my books or leaflets.

Everything is so well ordered at Mildmay, and Mrs. P. is so very calm and calming; she comes and gives me a text at night with a sort of hushing power.

(Zo S. B. P)

I want to hand over to you my own last crumb from the King’s table, — only it is more than a crumb. “Beloved of God, called to be saints.” All that for you and me! “Greatly beloved,” for of course God cannot love just a little! And what a calling! “high,” “holy,” heavenly! Does not this seem a little lovely epitome of our position?

The following lines were written impromptu in S. B. P.’s album.

‘“ENocH WALKED WITH God.”
(Gen, v. 22.)

So may’st thou walk! from hour to hour

Of every brightening year;

Keeping so very near To Him, whose power is love, whose love is power. So may’st thou walk! in His clear light,

Leaning on Him alone,

Thy life His very own, Until He takes thee up to walk with Him in white.

FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL.
March 31st, 1877.

Though no reference has been made to the “Christian Progress Scripture Reading Union,” my dear sister was a most active member, and the means of enrolling hundreds of others. The number on her card of membership is 1667. She often wrote for the magazine, and at one time (to relieve her friend, Mr. Boys) undertook his work as editor for three months. One sentence from a letter, and her explanatory paper on the object of the Union, will suffice to show her practical interest.

(Zo S. G. P.)

Do you know the “Christian Progress Union”? I find it is the most valuable adjunct to work, ze. work with souls, that I ever had. It puts people on the rails of regular reading, and a double line is worth more than twice as much as a single one. Hence I value its arrangement for two chapters to be read daily. I enjoy it immensely for myself, but value it for others. Do join!

For further explanation as to the Union and its benefits, the reader is referred to the Appendix, where F. R. H.’s paper on the subject is given in full.