Spring of Service

You will, I trust, have got my letter. I gave you some account of -. It is so far difficult that there is nothing very striking or salient, though it seems to me the Lord is evidently working. Souls have been added to the assembly; but it is not so much this as the working of truth in many, in which the Lord's hand seems to be manifest. Then, of course, too, opposition has been at work: it is all a useful experience of patience.
But our spring of labor must be in the Lord, not in effects. He has to say, "Then have I labored in vain and spent my strength for naught and in vain: yet is my judgment with the Lord and my work with my God." We are often encouraged as He never was, but we must depend on Him for energy to work. Perhaps I am wrong to say "never," for the woman at the well of Samaria evidently was sent to His soul, when driven by jealousy out of Judea, and one anxious soul showed Him the fields white for harvest, and gave Him meat to eat man knew not of. But we must be in the secret of the Lord to have this kind of encouragement. Perfect grace in Him gave Him to see the bearing and import of the working of grace in others and the immensity of such facts; so in the poor woman (Mary) who anointed His feet in Bethany. But then He is a source of strength and blessing and encouragement to us which, though perfect in communion with His Father, He had not, because He enters into all our difficulties and infirmities, and loneliness -has a word in season to speak to him that is weary, as having passed through the sorrows.
I have known much what it is to have little retirement in the villages of France and Switzerland. But where there is the earnest desire of it, and we are in the path of the Lord's will, He makes opportunities for us, and makes-when there is diligence-our opportunities profitable by His grace. We have in such cases to use diligence to seize moments, but even in going from one place to another, if alone, we find such, and richer sometimes than longer times where there is not the same diligence of heart with God. And then be sure moments of longer duration have a value which otherwise they would not, and are rescued from idle intercourse otherwise. Still it is always of the last importance to take care we have always moments of communion, as nothing can supply their place, and our work flows from God when we have; and there is the seriousness and earnestness of dealing in God's behalf with souls in their eternal interest.
I think we ought to look for fruits as a sign that God is working with us, but it should not be the spring of labor, but our intercourse with Him so as to have His mind. Peace be with you, dearest brother, and may He give you to be much with Him.
Affectionately yours in the Lord.
Hamilton.
Spring of Service
Your letter found me at Montreal, but I suppose leaving it ere long. Time runs on, and I owe something to them in England, and still I think of the West Indies for next winter if God leave me health and strength enough for it. I find that people will not get on as fast as my wishes make them - perhaps as more grace and devotedness would - and so I crowd too much work into one time. But all is well. If we work the work of Him who has sent us while it is called to-day, it is all right, only I should like to work it better. Still, the Lord has graciously blessed me here....
I know I am a poor workman, but I know the hour will come when the only thing worth remembering - save eternal grace and Him who is the source and effectuator of it - if memory it can then be called, will be service and labor for Him who has loved us. But, as I have often said, it is not the quantity but the quality of my labor which ever troubles me. I do nothing else, and labor as you know without stint, but it is inward power, abstraction of heart to Christ, so as to come from the fullness of power in Him, and have nothing there which hinders absolute association of mind with His thoughts and purposes - Himself. We, says the apostle, have the mind of Christ. It is a different thing coming in the consciousness that we come from Him, as in His confidence, and having His message. Yet, thank God, I am happy. I am conscious of having no object but Him, but this is still different from the kind of power I speak of, and this will be found again in that day. I am content to be nothing, but I want to have Christ everything in me too. However, we have our pilgrimage only here. He is able to keep that we have committed unto Him unto that day. Farewell, beloved brother, we must wait till then. Kindest remembrances to your dear host - I rejoice heartily in the blessing of all there, and in their unity of heart.
Affectionately yours in the Lord.
Montreal
1868.