CHINA

We have just received the following letter from our Brother Kautto in which he tells of greater interest in the work at Taitowying:

I am sorry to say that I have neglected my correspondence very much lately, but since our return from Peiping I have been on the go:most of the time. It is now about five weeks since I left home. Once since leaving I returned on business for a few days, and two days after coming back to Shuang-Shan-tze brother Tharp and family came through this way en route to the coast, and I accompanied them. They stayed a night at Shuang-Shan-tze, the next at Tai-towying, and the following night arrived at Chin-wang-tao. Returning from there I stayed a day at home, as I had not had much rest for four days and nights. From Shuang-Shan-tze we (Mr. Lee and I) have been following the fairs in different towns and villages. Have just returned from Kankou.

We usually begin the day with a meeting about 7 A.M. (in summer-time 5:30), then our breakfast. After breakfast we go to some village or town for markets, return about 4 or 5 P. M., have our other meal of the day, and about 7:30 is the evening meeting which seldom lasts less than two hours. It leaves very little time for letter-writing.

These past few days we have had good opportunities for preaching, selling Scripture portions and giving out tracts. Of course the fairs have not been as large this year. Although there are ho bandits there are lots of soldiers, and they do not treat the people much better than the bandits did. Some 200 of the bandits were received into the army, and are almost as bad as when they were bandits. They go to people's homes and accuse them of having bandits' arms in their possession. Then if they refuse to give them money they are beaten, and taken before the officials, who are like them. If the people do not give arms or money, they are beaten and threatened with execution. The soldiers are called "official bandits," and the others are called "self-made." Of course these "official bandits" do not harm us at all, for they also are afraid of their superiors. However, the Lord has opened to us many doors, more than we are able to fill (1 Cor. 16:9). I have only one man (Mr. Lee) with me (Phil. 2:20-22), and we cannot be in all places at the same time.

At Kan-kou, where we started the work before I went on furlough, and discontinued it for lack of interest, and where in turn the place was burned by soldiers, re-built, washed away by flood, re-built, and again washed away, the people are now humble. All those who used to carry arms and were so rough and proud have been taken and, executed by the soldiers. While we were there for -a couple of days, men from three different homes came to see tis. and asked us to open a Gospel Hall in their homes. Some of them were medicine men, and wanted in that way to get a. start in selling foreign medicine. One wanted us to start a Gospel Ball in his home because he feared the soldiers. Of course we could not arrange anything definite with them, for we cannot stay here long; have to return to-morrow to Shuang-Shan-tze, and from there next week to Tai-towying to get our tent ready for the big fair. Then we are expecting to start definitely with tent work this summer. We are glad to say there has been some encouragement lately, for which we are thankful to our blessed Lord. '

Our Brother Foggin, who is studying at the language-school in Peiping, writes of much eagerness on the part of the people there, among whom he has been working in spare time, in tract-distribution. He says, "The week before last (April 21st) we had a week's holiday from school, so each day, together with Mr. Ruck, a resident missionary here, and Dr. Shepherd, recently out from England, who is also studying the language, I went out to distribute tracts. We were greatly encouraged by the way in which they were received. Sometimes we would be thronged with people, stretching out their hands for literature. On street-cars people always readily receive tracts.

INDIAN WORK

Our brother Holcomb writes from Shiprock, New Mexico, of the difficulties of work with the Indians. Brethren in this field need much the prayers of the Lord's people,.as the following will show:

Thank you much for remembering to pray for us. We indeed feel the need. We do hope we see some movings of the Spirit among our Indians. Some years ago we thought we saw some real moving among them, but other things came in, and none came to a decision as they were not willing to make a clear break with heathenism. We have seen so many come back from schools, and tell us they had been baptized, but soon fell back into heathenism. We have felt it wise to wait until they were willing to come out decidedly, and make a clear break with the old ways. We have not baptized any so far. We wonder if we have been burdened as we should. We have also wondered if the home assemblies have been burdened for us out here.

Brother J. P. Anderson has the following to tell, showing a somewhat brighter side, but a need for prayer also.

Valentine, Arizona.

Another year has almost passed, making fifteen since we came here, but even though the gospel has gone out week after week and year after year, still there are many who are yet so indifferent to it.

One by one the older people have gone, and many, so many, of the younger Indians also. Some of these knew Him as their own Saviour, and died rejoicing in this, but many went out into the dark because they did not want the light. Oh, how sad, that they will not hear.

BAHAMAS

Brother James S. Hall writes as follows:-

The Bight, Cat Island, May 7, 1931. I arrived here on the 22nd of February, accompanied by my wife, who is still with me, and Brother Charles E. Lacey of London, Ontario, who left a month ago to visit the assemblies at The Current, Spanish Wells, and Harbour Island. My first visit to this place (not the Island) was made last May. Then some souls confessed the Lord, and since making this visit, an assembly has started with seven, two brothers and five sisters. Others seem to be exercised. A good Sunday School also has been begun, and much interest is shown. Would appreciate any gifts of Bibles or Testaments, as the people are very poor and cannot afford to buy. Our next step will be, D.V., to build a meeting-room and living quarters, and so we look to the Lord who possesses all things to provide the necessary means, and will appreciate very much the prayers of all the saints.

AFRICA

Brother Gordon Searle writes from Nyangkundi as follows:-

March 11th, 1931.

The Lord has heard prayer in turning several young men, women and children to Himself lately. In one village a young man was wounded accidentally by his brother, who speared him one night thinking he was a leopard, They brought the news to us, and after administering medicine it was felt necessary to call the doctor. They decided that they desired the services of a Christian doctor, so it was agreed for me to go by motorcycle to his station to call him at their expense. The doctor, a dear brother in Christ, willingly came, and has taken the man to his station for an operation, which we hope by the Lord's mercy may be successful. The headman of the village has always opposed us, but now has become friendly, and we trust he and his villagers may be won for the Lord.

This is locust year, and the locusts have come, billions of them invading the whole country. At Rethi crops -and grass have been destroyed, and cattle have had to be moved 50 miles for pasture. An unprecedented locust plague is sweeping over many African countries, chiefly north and east of us. They were in French Equatorial Africa during 1930, and have now entered the Congo. They are in Palestine, Trans-jordania, Iraq, and even in Austria. "Troublous times" are now here, and the "signs of the times" indeed multiply on every hand. "The night is far spent," "the Morning-Star" must be ready to appear very soon, heralding the long-waited-for Day. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" is the cry of the Spirit and the Bride.

A number of the native brethren are now preaching the gospel and teaching in out-schools. Besides these there are others similarly engaged, and some are being brought to the Lord by their word. Their names are Mikaeri, Diebo, Ngolo, Henisabo, Baseir, Chongonabo, Ypweri, Kodo, Sumbusa and Nchweke. These are all working in villages between here and Mambasa in the forest or teaching out-schools in the vicinity. We thank God for laying the work on their hearts and for the grace given unto them to go and do it, and they certainly need the prayers of their dear brethren elsewhere, who may hear of them.

MISSIONARY PRAYER MEETING

A large number gathered for the Monthly Missionary Prayer Meeting at Elizabeth, which was deferred from the first Monday of the month until the 25th, so as to have an opportunity of bidding farewell to our brother and sister, Dr. and Mrs. Woodhams, and their family, also our sisters, Miss C. Dejonge and Miss Esther Creighton, who sailed for Africa, via England, on the "Acquitania" on May 27th.

There was much prayer and a hearty spirit shown. May the Lord give us to realize both our privilege and responsibility as to this work so dear to His heart.

THAT ETERNAL HOME

God has placed a revelation of the eternal home which Christ has gone to prepare for His people almost at the end of the Bible. All through God's Book there are wonderful passages which stand out from the rest, and this part of Scripture is among them, but Rev. 21:3-5 is preeminent above all. Open your Book and read the passage, for no other words ever written carry such a message of love and comfort to the heart of the one whom Christ has saved. They are not for the heart of unbelief; no one who is deliberately rejecting Christ as the only Saviour, can get any true comfort from them. These blessed words are only for those who know that they are lost sinners saved by the precious blood of Christ. No Modernist rejecters of His blood as the only means of salvation, will be where God dwells. Those who think to save themselves in any way, those who trust in ceremonies, rites, in any thing by which man attempts to save himself from sin, will be far away from the joys and glories of that blessed eternal home.

It has been prepared for those who have received Christ as their only Deliverer from sin and all its eternal consequences; they alone will be with Him there, beholding His glory (John 17:24). No doubt among them there will be very many who have been saved like the repentant thief on the cross, at the very end of their lives here, but the great multitude of the saved will be those who have walked with Him for a longer or shorter time here, learning His ways and His power to guide and keep. Their praise is voiced in Rev. 1:5,6, "To Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and made us kings and priests to God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. "Amen."

"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes," so there will be no occasion for tears there. Then "there shall be no more death." Now while we know that Christ has vanquished death, so that "as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive," even the most wicked are to be raised; but great as this is, death has no power to harm those who are Christ's at any time, and here is the word 'that death shall be no more for them. It is here revealed that where Christ is "there shall be no more death." How great the blessedness of living where death is gone for ever, where there is no parting, but only life, eternal, life, to look forward to. From this life have also gone for ever sorrow, crying, and pain. Think what this means. While there is but one positive word as to what will be there, it is a very great joy to know that all these effects of sin will be gone for ever. How glorious the announcement, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them and be their God." That is what will be; the others are what will not be.

If it be asked what will be there in the eternal abode of the saved, this is the answer, god. How much of the description in Rev. 21:9 to 22:5 is to be eternal there is little to intimate, but where the descriptions belong to time, where "nations" and "months" are mentioned, they must belong to the Millennium and come to an end. But where we find the expression "for ever and ever," that must belong to eternity. It is limitless. We know that the whole book is a revelation, and that it is filled with symbols. The descriptions are intimations of what Christ has prepared for His people, those who are saved by grace. "I go to prepare a place for you," is the word He left.

Here there is so much to dishearten, so much sin and evil, so much to grieve and cast down, that we must have a picture of the eternal abode to cheer and comfort us. There is to be a time of earth's blessing, when Christ and His saints reign. The Old Testament has much about this time in its relation to the earth; what God is to do through Christ when the Melchisedek reign is in force, when the Priest-King sits upon the throne of the earth. That is the time of the reign of righteousness. The history of earth would be incomplete without this. The second Psalm reveals the purpose of God concerning the government of the earth by Christ. Ever since Adam fell men have been trying to govern themselves, and have terribly failed. They are no nearer obtaining a perfect human government now than they ever have been.

So while the Old Testament prophets gave the earth side of the Melchisedek reign of Christ over the earth, the last of Revelation gives the heaven side of this wonderful reign, but intermingled-as is so often the way of the Scriptures – with glimpses of the eternal state. What is insisted upon in these descriptions is that all things are, in the eternal state, to be made new. John was commanded to write the blessed message, "Behold, I make all things new." That is after Christ's personal reign; for while He reigns He rules with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:8, 9; Rev. 2:26, 27). In the eternal state the rod of iron has passed away:"For He must reign till He hath put all enemies under His feet" (1 Cor. IS:25). In eternity Christ will not be reigning over nations on earth.. The end of Christ's rule over the nations comes before the new heaven and earth come, for "the first heaven and the first earth pass away." Compare Rev. 21:1 with 1 Cor. IS:24-28.

Note how in Rev. 21:7 it is said, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." It is "he," not "they;" it is individual, not a general statement. God singles out each one of the myriads of the saved, and addresses each one. Only God could do that, and how blessed will it be. He has revealed these "things which are not seen" to His people. How good to lift our hearts and see these eternal blessings with the "eyes of our hearts." (See Eph. 1:18, reading heart instead of understanding.) Around us now there is so much to perplex, to cast down, or to draw away from Him, that we need to keep our eyes on what He has set before us, our eternal portion. J. W. Newton