August, 1905.
My dear Brother:
... I have read your father’s letter with interest. It seems to me the only thing you can do is to leave him with the Lord. I rather think it is not best to write him on what he refuses to hear from you. But you have a resource in God just the same. Your father cannot hinder your carrying him to God in prayer, and if God in sovereign grace takes him in hand, he will not be able to resist His almighty power and grace. Nor need he know of a puny mortal besieging the throne of grace in the simple faith of a child. God is above all our weakness and helplessness, and He is better than all our thoughts of Him, so that we cannot ask Him for too much.
Witness Rahab, and the four who brought the palsied man to Jesus, and the Syrophenician woman who counted that God was too good to refuse a crumb to a dog. In these cases it was simple, child-like faith that counted on the goodness of God, who is above all our evil and unbelief and hardness of heart. And He is the same God still, full of mercy and compassion.
It will be no surprise to me to hear of your father being brought to God through the workings of His almighty power and grace. But I think I would simply cry to God for Him to bring him in His own way. He can use what instrumentality He pleases. And I think I would write to him as a son to a father, kindly and affectionately, but without referring to these matters, save to say to him something like this: Since you do not wish to be written to on the subject of the soul’s future welfare, nor to be “bombarded” with leaflets, I will leave this matter entirely between you and God. It was only affectionate desire for your blessing that led me to speak of it at all.
With some such word as this, I think it would be well to drop the matter, unless he himself brought it up.
I am glad, dear brother, that you and your wife enjoyed the little visit at P. C. We were glad to meet you there, and to have some intercourse in connection with divine things.
Happy are we if these things are ever uppermost in our minds. The Apostle said: “One thing I do.” He had one object — one purpose, and never swerved from it. The heavenly things filled his spiritual vision, and formed his life and course here below. His treasure was above, and his heart was there too.
We had a very happy visit at St. Paul, with some opportunity for ministry of the Word. The four sisters there continue faithful, and God is owning their testimony. Another sister seems about ready to separate from the Presbyterian body. Her husband, too, is exercised by the worldliness in the church, but not as to the church position. He came to the preaching Sunday afternoon, and seemed to enjoy it. The sisters meet on Lord’s day and Thursday afternoons for prayer and reading the Word, and several other sisters meet with them on Thursdays. We hope that some of the men may also be reached, and the table spread regularly.
.. I hope you may be guided of the Lord in your movements.
... We do not forget your kindness to us, and think of it with thankfulness to God.
Yours affectionately in the Lord,