DELFT
February 1955
My dear friend,
How glad I was to get your letter of 17th Jan. It will not be so cold in Holland as with you. We have some snow and frost. We are both in good health. I am very busy at school, an extension of 4 classrooms gives much work and trouble.
Of late I have been reading Robert Bruce’s sermons on the Sacraments — very solemn and searching. I liked the part in Bruce’s sermon on No man can come to Me except the Father which hath sent Me draw him. Draw him — except we be drawn — except we be compelled (a godly man in Holland an experienced Christian spoke on his deathbed about “Compel them to come in”). Wonderful how Bruce describes how the Spirit banishes darkness, chases out vanity and blindness and places light in the mind and breaks and mollifies the heart, changes the affections and will, banishes the idols, erects a throne for Jesus. Oh! before obtaining this light how our minds lie drowned in blindness and darkness and our hearts so hard. Heart and mind conspire together to set up an idol instead of God, some worldly, fleshly or even “religious” affection.
Mrs Docter is sending her kindest regards.
Your friend, A. DOCTER.