Dublin – January 1878
To Mr P
Very dear Brother,
My voyage to the West Indies, and the excess of work during my short visit in London, have interrupted our correspondence and have hindered my writing to you. You will be surprised to learn that it is only now that I only just read your letter. As it was addressed to Mr McA, I thought that it was news of New York, of which I already had enough, and it was only when I wanted to write to him on leaving London that the mistake has come to light.
For the moment, I am in Ireland, but in several days, I depart for Germany; then, God willing, for Switzerland, France, Italy, where the work extends and where several labourers have been raised up by God.
I hope to see a few of our friends in the South of France[7], but this will be a bit later, and I would very much like to recover a bit beforehand. The Lord has been with me, and the Word still has more clarity and power for my soul; not in knowing new truths, but what had been vague and beclouded has become distinct and clear; only I would like a little peace and to make acquaintance with a lot of new brethren, the number having greatly increased. There are now three hundred meetings more or less in England; more than thirty in London and in the working class outskirts, not to speak of Ireland and Scotland where the number of them has greatly increased. It is impossible to follow it in detail, this casts us more on the Lord who alone can keep them (which is always true), and this in the midst of more snares and errors than ever. What a consolation to know that He loves His own, feeds them, cherishes them, and that He takes care of them. There is my consolation. He alone can do it, and He does it with a love which greatly surpasses all our poor thoughts.
But evil rises on all sides. Popery, heresies, unbelief, all the ripples which mark the power of the enemy, arise and roar around us, only the Lord is more powerful than all. The efforts of the enemy cause despair to gain momentum. The Lord’s silence demonstrated the calm of His power. But here He speaks. As He has said to Philadelphia[8], He has the key of David. He sets before His own an opened door which no-one can shut, and one sees it, for the gospel is preached as it never has been, and the testimony to the truth spreads itself. But everything is getting ready for the end. It seems to me that the Lord allows unbelief as a counterweight to Popery, for Protestantism is no longer that at all.
In the midst of these floods, I find a very sweet peace; we have received a kingdom not to be shaken[9]. Never has there been such sobriety, or desire to hear the Word. The time is short; let us seek to wait for the Lord, and to serve Him until He come.
… (See 116A)
Salute the brethren. God knows if at my age I will be able to see them again. In the end, I seek as I have sought their good before God, and He is One who never leaves them. May He keep them in His grace near to Him. Peace be to you.
Yours ever affectionately
[1] in Illinois
[2] B F Pinkerton from Springfield, IL who went as a missionary to Syria, Egypt, and Palestine.
[3] see Note 24 to Letter No 13
[4] Le Midi – see Letter 105
[5] JND’s letter in Letters vol 3 p389 shows this to be Halifax, Nova Scotia
[6] Jude 3
[7] Le Midi – see Letter 105
[8] Rev 3: 7-8
[9] Heb 12: 28
[10] 2 Cor 4: 10
[11] 2 Cor 5: 15-17
Letter originally written in French, translated by Sosthenes, 2013
Click here for original – If you have any comments on the translation, feel free to let me know.