Colombo Street, Christchurch, New Zealand,
August 4th, 1874.
My Dear——,—Yours of the 16th July reached me only on the 3rd August, eighteen days, so that I hope mine of the 10th July has by this time reached you, with an order for £20.
I read the MS., but, not having the book itself, felt I could not possibly form a judgment upon its value as pro bono publics.
The Lord be praised for help in the——case, and for the help (T—-says) which came through you. How like the Lord in answer to my prayers when at Geelong, and through you at G—-afterward, to have reached Mrs. D—-. He loves to link His people together, and to use now one, now another, as in Ananias and Saul.
Warnambool, if it opens, will be a praise to my soul. There are two or three nice young men thereat, and my hope is that there are souls to be gathered near it.
You will find——and wife very kind. He reminds one much of his much-loved mother. The brotherhood there want cementing, and some a little softening.
All goes on here under the Lord; a good deal of discipline in it in some cases, but that is as it should be. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up as on eagles' wings, run and not weary, walk and not faint. The cold, damp winter here seems breaking a little. The Lord has let it reach me, and produce threatening symptoms, but I accept it all from Him. I can say this, that if He should take me home out here, my having come out was rightest of the right; for He has been renewing my soul amid the conflict and trial, and opening Scripture in a most blessed way to me. What is writhing pain, if one can say, " Even so, Father; for so seems it good in Thy sight.? " and He has laid upon me " this light affliction, which is but for a moment," &c. (2 Cor. 4:17, 1817For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17‑18).)
With kind love in particular to all of the G—-'s and all of the Lord's, yours, beloved brother, always wishing to bear of you, G. V. W.