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p391 [G J Stewart] MY DEAR BROTHER, - I was most glad to hear of the dear saints in Australia. Ere this you will have had the arrival of -, who has been blessed in England, and I trust may be out there also. I am thankful to see the spiritual energy which has at heart to go forth and serve the Lord in what is not nature and habit's home. I am, though still hard at it, getting too old for it, but happy in the thought of drawing near home. "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed," a happy thought! You will be glad to hear the Lord is working here, too. At Halifax, which I visited lately, weekly, while I was there, souls were added to the assembly, and others found peace; and the doors are opening there and in New Brunswick.

There is a fresh stir among different denominations. Presbyterians, Methodists, and now Baptists, have consulted at their conventions how to hinder the progress of Plymouthism, and we have of course therewith writings against us. One cannot say the word grows mightily, but it grows. The testimony is before men's consciences, and they take notice of it. The Lord's coming also is much more before people's minds; the testimony as to it spreads considerably. What I long for, and some little pray for, is that the brethren may be devoted, and a real testimony, as men that wait for their Lord when he shall return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh they may open to him immediately." How all will appear vanity then that is not Himself and His glory! We ought to realise this more now.

I am not surprised at - . There is really no common or middle ground between faithfulness and loose brethren. They go with the camp when they know it is all wrong. When once there is compromise all is given up: compromise with evil is admitting evil. Truth and truthfulness is always itself, and ceases to be itself when it is not that; though it should be in no haughty spirit, but in lowliness and obedience. It seems to me that, though here or there it may flourish through an individual, its day as such is over. Conversions may take place by individual action, but the testimony is gone, that is, it is getting its true place. It suffices to hinder those who are of a like spirit and are glad of a hindrance. But the testimony of God is with faithfulness. May we only be faithful! . . .

Infidelity has broken out in the Free Kirk of Scotland; the foundations of human systems are breaking down everywhere: the word of God abides for ever. What a thought that when the Saviour comes, He will make us sit down to meat, and gird Himself in those heavenly places, and come forth and serve us! But to be with Him and like Him too is our everlasting joy. My spirit has been wearied lately with reading these infidel papers, which they had asked me to answer; but it has only made the word, and the truth that God and the living word has given to us, more precious to me. The poverty and one-sidedness of these poor but evil reasoners is striking. But faith is of God.

Ever yours affectionately in the Lord, and always glad to hear of the work.

[52258E]

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