Thank the Lord, I am very happy and encouraged. I am assured that He has taught us the right way.
I do not deny that we are very feeble in it, but I can say, "The Lord of hosts is with us" [Psalm 46: 7], and that is everything.
I have been much interested in seeing the marks of the Lord being with His people. I could hardly explain all to you now.
The first is the actual fact of His presence.
Such a respect for His presence that every association would be avoided unsuited to His presence; in a word, holiness in discipline.
Personal separation from all engagements and occupations which would unfit us for His presence.
His chief interest my chief interest. The church paramount.
A sense of the ruin around, but in the spirit and fidelity of the remnant adhering to the fundamental principles. The beginning insisted on.
Truth in all its branches, not limited and curtailed, but gradually expanding into their full dimensions.
Service according to His pleasure.
I daresay this summary will interest you, though it is very crude and undeveloped.
You ask me to tell you the effects of the glory. You are transformed there.
In Philippians 4: 6-7, you are transformed from depression of one kind or, another into the most inconceivably blessed state - you have the peace of God that passeth all understanding.
See Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, how transformed he was - taking pleasure in infirmities which had so greatly distressed him, and for the removal of which he had prayed three times!
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James Butler Stoney was born in Portland Co., Tipperary, on May 13, 1814, and – when only 15 – he entered Trinity College, Dublin to study for the Bar. He gave up the law for divinity, still at Trinity College, but – fortuitously – was too young to be ordained. It was in 1833 that Mr. Stoney first came in contact with brethren and Mr. Darby.
His service was limited to Great Britain and Ireland, but for almost 60 years, Mr. Stoney served the saints actively and faithfully. Besides his oral ministry, he contributed to most, if not all, of the periodicals of the time. For many years he edited and contributed to 'A Voice to the Faithful'.