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A LETTER

FROM YOURS AND OURS TO HIS AND OURS

“Unto you who are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ and called; mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. I thank my God, making mention of Thee always in my prayers, hearing (knowing) of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all Saints: That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

I am happy to say to the “little flock,” that I am rejoicing in “present truth,” believing that I have received it in answer to prayer. About four years ago I forsook the paths of sin, and gave up all for Jesus; since then I have been striving to follow Him. I studied His word faithfully in order to know my duty, and can say, to the praise of our Heavenly Father, that He permitted me to see many precious promises, and faith claimed them mine.

Within the last year, however, I became convinced that there was greater light to be obtained from our “lamp” if it could be properly trimmed. I remembered the promises: “Ask and ye shall receive.” “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,” etc. My daily prayer was for wisdom, and an understanding of His Word. I believed my prayer would be answered; but, by what means, or instrument I knew not. Father uses a variety of means to bless His children; and has given those precious things to His stewards “to do good and to communicate” them to others. Accordingly, in February, 1881, He sent one of His messengers (Brother Paton,) who, by the grace of God, “opened our eyes

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to behold wondrous things out of His law.” To-day we can truly say, as did David: “The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” As Jesus said to the disciples, (John 4:32) so we can say to the nominal church, “we have meat to eat that ye know not of.”

During the month of May, I had the pleasure of a visit to Pittsburgh, Pa., where I was privileged to meet and hold sweet converse on these precious and exhaustless themes with our beloved brothers—Sunderlin, Mann, Jones, Adamson and the editor of the “TOWER.” It is needless for me to tell you that it was a delightful and profitable season.

These precious truths thrill my whole being. I am willing to spend and be spent, in telling the “story of Jesus and His Love.” Pray for me, that I may have wisdom to “rightly divide the word of truth,” and grace to enable me to suffer with Christ, and with you share the glories of the world to come. “Now may the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

ROBERT BAILEY,
Howardsville, Mich.

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— July And August, 1881 —