(not original copy)

Thank you for your very good letter. It was a joy for me and for all of us to hear from you and see that you are making progress in the acknowledgment of Christ. By God’s grace, may we always abide and grow in Him.

Yesterday we had a Bible study and spoke about Christ’s return and how we will be gathered with Him, etc. 1 Cor. 15:21 to the end of the chapter.

Since God has given you the grace to devote yourself to His work, I believe it will be profitable, both for yourself and others, to diligently search out the inner ways of life by the Spirit of revelation in the knowledge of God—the word of God. Most people who have gone out as servants of Christ live before men, which is why there is a great need to have people who can attend to the things that God wants to be attended to in the sanctuary. Read Ezekiel 44, from verse 15.

This inner ministry is no doubt invisible to the eyes of men, but it is nevertheless esteemed by God before whose judgment seat we shall receive our reward. All outward progress works inwardly, so why not remain there and be content in this work. Our goal, after all, is not to have an outer glory, but to remain without honor in Christ Jesus. There is a covering over everything that is glorious, and the greater the hidden glory is, the more unappealing the covering becomes. But the carnal eye only sees what is on the surface and by no means recognizes the hidden treasures behind it. You find one here and one there who take the kingdom of heaven by force, but there are not many such people.

Thank you for your comforting words—full of knowledge and understanding. May God reward you more than I can express. True understanding is the reward of love, and it expresses itself as words that are spoken in season. May God find us faithful in our task, so that we gladly lay every misunderstanding and evil report upon the altar of the sufferings of Christ; because if we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified with Him.

You probably don’t have that long left at the school in England. Don’t allow any professor of theology to rob you of the simplicity which is in Christ, for in this simplicity lies the power to overthrow those who are wise, and their wisdom. The least thing we receive from God is stronger than the might of man. Let us be on guard against all defilement of the flesh and spirit so that we are not overcome by anyone except by the truth itself.

Loving greetings from all of us here.

Your brother, always devoted in Christ,