119 GROVE ST., PLAINFIELD, N. J., July 12th, 1900.

BELOVED BROTHER,-I trust that this may be a first instalment, so far as correspondence goes, of a large indebtedness.

I am, through mercy, daily and uninterruptedly going on towards recovery. It has been that all round, and with a steadiness which surprises the doctor, who while not professing Christianity for himself, says that the prayers of Christians, and not his medicines, have brought about my recovery. May the after-fruit manifest still more that it is indeed the work of Him who delights to answer His people's prayers ; and whose every thought is blessing for them.

"Afterward, the peaceable fruits of righteousness" should now apply, although one feels the dreadful shallowness of our deepest convictions. The negative side of the world's worthlessness I can realize in good measure, but the touch of death naturally dispels illusion here. The positive enjoyment of our own things is where one's weakness shows itself, and in the dulness that thus creeps over the soul. The medicinal effect of evangelistic activity is I think of the highest use self-ward here, which no constancy of occupation with the Word even can replace; and the lack of general activity amongst us in this respect seems to lose for us often the brightness which many have with so much less light. I long for that combined evangelistic effort among us I have often advocated and yet, alas, let drop through lack of spiritual energy to persevere in face of the indifference which seemed to greet it. However, I am not upon this theme now, though I trust the future may have something for us in this. I am only, as it were, just lifting my head to look around, and my first duty to the Lord and to my brethren is to own with a thankful heart how He has been repeating to us in living example the first lessons of Paul as to ministry in the epistle of ministry (2 Cor. i), and how God has joined the body together so as to make this a necessary consequence of membership in it. My sickness has in this way gained me much by showing me what was indeed mine already but had not had the same opportunity of displaying itself. I thank the brethren heartily for the expression of a love which is rooted and grounded in that which is beyond knowledge. May we keep ourselves in the love of God, as the apostle enjoins,-in the enjoyment of the fulness which necessitates the outflow again of what we have received from Him. Let it only be remembered that now I need prayer for the fruitfulness of the life restored, and that the hand of God may manifestly not have wrought in vain.

We were glad to hear of the many at the T– meeting, trust for permanent blessing. There has been plenty of plowing of the soil there; may the time have come for the quiet growth of that which has been sown there, which has not been a little. It was my first place of meeting with J. N. D.;-of those who gathered round then how few remain. That, in the natural way, is not to be wondered at; but the spiritual history of many, alas, what has it been? A startling warning, surely, of the need we have of Philadelphia's exhortation. God is the God of resurrection, and the old fields can blossom afresh. This lesson well learnt, the discouragement becomes encouragement. We need not, because amid the fruits of a long history of failure, dwell under the shadow of this, but under His shadow, and still " with great delight."

I have really no news, arid can only cover paper with repetition of familiar things. Yet they are not things of which we weary. Please give my love and thanks to all, and let them give me large credit for what I do not say.

Very affectionately ever in Christ. F. W. G.