by A. Docter
Delft
April 1950
My dear friend,
It is more than a month since I received your welcome letter. We are both in good health. My wife is home again after six weeks. I myself felt lonely, and was very low in a spiritual way. I often said with John the Baptist “Art Thou He that should come or do we look for another?” And yet the passage gave me some relief. Oh to think of that great man in the kingdom of heaven, the prophet who had spoken this truth — “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” And now in prison and in such a low state that he sent two of his disciples to Christ with this message “Art Thou he that should come, or do we look for another”. But what a precious message Christ sent back! The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear and the dead are raised up . . .”
I think, my friend that it does not matter so much what we are telling the Lord; it is of much greater importance what the Lord is saying to us poor souls. Did not John know himself as blind, lame, unclean, deaf and dead. But listen to what follows in Christ’s message — “and the poor have the gospel preached to them”. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Christ’s message always has effect, because it changes everything inside. Oh to have a drop of love in our souls. It will break our hard hearts and fill us with such a glory and sweetness which cannot be expressed. Christ’s message will certainly have changed John’s prison into a palace! That’s what I want to hear — His voice.
How often did I think of you when I attended the London communion. Yes, I had been to England for a few days. I wrote to my wife on Wednesday 5th April “When this letter will reach you, I shall be in London d.v. And I was, and heard a few good sermons from Rev. Macfarlane and Rev. A. Beaton, and was much strengthened at the prayer meetings. I stayed at the manse for the week-end and shared a room with Duncan Fraser, Gairloch — a nice old man!
I wonder how you are at present. Sorry to hear that so many of your people passed away especially if they were pillars in the church. How lonely must my old friend feel now and then when he thinks of all those who went before him to their eternal rest.
Kindly remember me to all the friends. Our love to both of you.
Your friend,
A. DOCTER
Delft
1st August 1950
My dear friends,
I am so sorry I have not written to you for such a long time. Believe me it is not because I have not thought of you. My work at school occupies a good deal of time, more than ever in these days. But now I enjoy my holidays, and I long to go to your beloved country and to your people.
Tomorrow, we hope to go by car through Belgium to Brittany and to cross from Calais to Dover; afterwards to spend two or three days at Church Farm, near Tonbridge.
Last week I had a nice evening at my school, and I had invited the schoolboard, the parents, the staff and of course my pupils — nice children and I was much attached to them. I got some liberty in speaking from “If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink.” After that, our minister addressed them.
My dear friends we are living in evil times. A godless nation calls for His judgements. Oh to become more and more godless in ourselves and to hate godlessness at the same time. When thinking about communism and Russia, I sometimes feel much afraid. Those words from Ps. 140 often come before my mind.
Oh God the Lord who art the strength
Of my salvation
A covering in the day of war
My head Thou hast put on.
I do wish both of you to experience the truth which struck me very much last year when I was at Allington, where Philpot used to preach so often. I read it on Joseph Parry’s tombstone. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”
Remember us to all the friends. Kindest regards from both of us.
Your poor friend
A. DOCTER