A dear brother, himself a fruit of the work, took it upon him this day to preach Christ in two several places. I bless the LORD for such zeal in men, and it rejoiceth me greatly to behold one who hath received the Word beginning himself to carry it unto others. Yet I have lived long enough not to expect more from such beginnings than is necessary. In this work the end is of greater consequence than the beginning. Many may begin with heat who afterward grow cold; and therefore, whilst I rejoice, I would rather pray than presume. Exaggerate not small beginnings, and despise not small beginnings. May it please the LORD to bless this dear brother with brokenness, with need, and with emptiness. These are good markings of vessels fit for the Master's use: men who have learned that they possess nothing in themselves, and therefore must continually go unto Christ for everything. We have more than enough supposed men of God who have words, learning, reputation, and yet are void of powe...

Isang awit ng pasasalamat. Madaling araw, nang ako'y magising sa sakit dala ng karamdaman. Pakinggan mo, langit, ang aking sasabihin, unawain mo, lupa, ang aking bibigkasin. Pumatak nawang gaya ng ulan ang aking ituturo, ang salita ko nawa'y tulad ng hamog na namumuo; upang halama'y diligan at damo'y tumubo. Sapagkat si Yahweh ay aking pupurihin, ang kanyang pangalan ay inyong dakilain. Deuteronomio 32:1-3

T he Lord's Day is the most laborious and strenuous day of all the week for me. How differently did I once spend it! When we were yet in religion, our concern after the accustomed duties were ended was where the family should spend the remainder of the day, what cinema we should attend, or at which fine restaurant we should eat. Thus I thought to render somewhat unto God, and reserve the rest unto ourselves. I saw no great contradiction in it then. Having done those things which I accounted Christian, I persuaded myself that I had done God service, and the remaining hours might therefore be disposed of according to our own pleasure. I grievously decided what portion of the day God should receive, and was altogether insensible both to the command and to the duty of the day. Religion had received its portion, and self-indulgence might have what remained. How little did I understand that I was still my own master, even whilst imagining myself to be serving God. This late evening...

T hese photographs were sent unto me by dear saints who have likewise taken up the practice of copying the Holy Scriptures with their own hands. It rejoices me much to behold them thus employed, slowly committing the Word of God unto paper, line after line and word after word. There is, I am persuaded, much sweetness and profit in the exercise. It constrains the hurried soul to become still before the sacred text. The eye reads the word, the tongue pronounces it, the ear receives it, and the hand afterward writes it down; and thus the senses are gathered, as it were, about one table, there to feast together upon that which God hath spoken. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. Proverbs 7:3 How easily do we read and yet scarcely stay long enough to consider what we have read! But here the hand travels slowly, and not so hurriedly as the wandering mind. We are made to linger over the words; and many a little thing which might otherwise have escap...

T his day hath been spent, very early, in much activity, the labor of it having begun even the night before, while the teachers prepare the materials and the food, the prizes and the place, for the children's review of those lessons which they had formerly received. Most of the little company who first began with us, and continued these three years, have now grown older and gone their several ways, leaving their places to be filled by others. It affected me somewhat to consider how quietly these years had passed. Children whom we once gathered and instructed are children no longer; and now another little company sits where they once sat. Of the nearly twenty children presently coming amongst us, three have also begun joining us in the celebration of the Lord's Day. This giveth me no small encouragement. We know not what the Lord may be pleased to do with these little ones, nor how much of what is now spoken they shall carry with them into years which we ourselves ma...