Dear Brother,

The good confession you have made must have rejoiced many of like precious faith; and having passed through much of the same discipline before I was begotten by the Word of Truth. I desire most earnestly through the weak effort of my pen, but in the strength of the Word of the Lord, to assist you, that with a firmer grasp you may lay hold of the hope set before you.

To know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom the Father hath sent, is indeed life eternal; but like children we must begin with the letter A, before we learn correctly to articulate the word "shibboleth." One letter wrong in the mystery of the "Name" will hinder our progress, and no doubt prevent our entrance into life; therefore let Moses and the prophets be our cloud by day, Jesus and the apostles our pillar of fire by night. Let the two lips of God speak aloud to us, for the one alone cannot make a perfect sound, and as you progress by adding to your faith, "knowledge," you will always find the beautiful shadow of the law and testimony will never fail to reflect the exact outline of the glorious substance, which Paul says is the Christ. You cannot conceive the rich mine you have found, but the treasure lies buried, wrapped together in a clean place by itself, and laid there by the Eternal Spirit's own hands, and if you say, where is it laid? Truth will whisper, Come and see; but only the Truth will reveal the hiding place, and when you have found the pearl which is hid in the gospel of the Kingdom, you will indeed sell all, that you may retain it. Wisdom has counted its cost, but tells us its value cannot be estimated. We may buy the Truth, says the Word, but never sell it; Wisdom's holy ones hold it too dear to part with it. To them it is most gloriously precious; continually they are heard to sing aloud "Thy ways are ways of pleasantness, and all thy paths are peace." For step by step, Wisdom lifts her children, and although her footprints are only here a little and there a little, still are they deepened by the first tread of the Eternal Spirit's mysterious outline, which nothing can efface. And as we follow on to know the Lord, we indeed grasp a doctrine, which Jesus said, "is not mine, but His that sent me." We must be taught of God before we can come to Christ, for the knowledge of the Father can alone draw us to Him. Therefore, let us "give attendance to reading," that we may understand what God at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, and in the last day of the Jewish dispensation He hath spoken by His Son. Let the ear of our understanding catch every sound, that we may be able to comprehend the manifold wisdom of God; the leaven of the Word must be hid, and the warm atmosphere of faith and hope must surround it, before the rising process can leaven the whole lump.

My brother, you have left the land of darkness, and have crossed the Red Sea of Baptism, and have learnt the sweet song of Moses; but a great wilderness is before you, it is called the wilderness of sin. But here the Lord our God will prove you as He did Israel of old; here He will try you as silver is tried, and refine you as gold is refined; You have to pass through the enemy's land, for the promised rest is beyond, and although you may pitch your tent a little season to rest, your march will bring the enemy near, but while our Forerunner tarries in the mountain of holiness, let us not make an image of our own imagination and worship it, but let us be satisfied with the pattern given. Let us not, when thirsty, strike the rock of Truth with the rod of error, but like little children in meekness, let us call forth its sweet waters as the Lord our God has commanded. Let us never forget to place our rod before the mercy seat at eventide, and in the morning, we shall find it has budded and borne fruit, for there the Lord our God has promised to talk with us; let us not listen to the evil report of the land, but let us be satisfied with the rich grapes of Yahweh's promises borne as they have been on the shoulders of the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles; and when our footsteps mark the promised land, Truth with her faithful finger will point out the lot of our inheritance.

I feel deeply interested in your welfare, because, as I said before, I have passed through much that you have been the subject of. In the year 1848, I sat under Baptist Noel for a short season. I was living at that time in a business house in Newgate Street, and although the distance was long, thought nothing of it, because I was deeply interested in his preaching. My marriage brought me to America, and in this land, the Truth found me. I was like yourself, a wanderer, seeking for something, but knew not the n what it was. Intense grief would come over me, when I opened the Word, because I could not understand it.¾ left off going to church, and made up my mind I would embrace nothing, until¾ I could find something like I read in the Word: not an ism, but my thirsty soul sought for a resting place, but found none until Truth put forth her hand and pulled me into the Ark. Seven years ago, I plucked her beautiful olive branch of peace; it is an evergreen which time cannot wither or decay. I rejoice every day more and more, and although I labour with my hands to support three dear children and a sick husband daily, yet I grow in knowledge, and find the Lord prospers all I do, so that I can often administer to the wants of the saints, finding it indeed far more blessed to give than to receive.¾

I wish, my brother, you could hear our beloved and faithful Dr. Thomas. It is indeed a feast of fat things; and when I visit his house, and hear the words of eternal life drop from the faithful lips of his dear wife and daughter, I tell you my cup runs over: it is indeed good to have it full, but far better when it runs over. You will, I hope, soon hear our brother's voice, for he talks of leaving us in the early part of next year to visit England, and although I would rejoice to have him remain, yet I wish that the household should also be greatly strengthened.

I have two sisters in London, to whom I often write respecting the Truth, but no answer for good is returned; they think I am entirely lost. I have desired them to hear the Dr. if he visits London. I often feel very unhappy about them, but Truth has taught me to know no person after the flesh. It has separated me, and I am content to suffer the loss of anything but the Truth. I will hold that fast until Christ comes, for I want the pleasing sound to fall on my listening ear, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord, for to him that hath it shall be given, and he shall have more abundance."

Trusting you may contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the Saints, that you may grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and that grace, mercy, and peace may continue and abide with you for ever; and with all the faithful everywhere, is the earnest prayer of

Your faithful Sister in the same blessed hope,

Author Unknown

When we are deeply and continuously engaged in an atmosphere of Divine thoughts, we have neither time nor inclination to plot mischief and play the fool. This is the vocation of vacant minds and idle hands, who know not what it is to enter within the veil.-- Bro. John Thomas

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