"
Mrs. Birtwell leaned toward Mr. Elliott as he read, the light of a
new hope irradiating her countenance.
"Is not this a Church in the highest and best sense?" asked Mr.
Elliott, with a glow of enthusiasm in his voice.
"It is; and if the membership is not full, I am going to join it,"
replied Mrs. Birtwell, "and do what I can to bring at least one
straying sheep out of the wilderness and into its fold."
"And I pray God that your work be not in vain," said the clergyman.
"It is that I might lead you to this work that I am now here. Some
of the Christian men and women whose names I find here"--Mr. Elliott
referred to the paper in his hand--"are well known to me personally,
and others by reputation."
He read them over.
"Such names," he added, "give confidence and assurance. In the hands
of these men and women, the best that can be done will be done. And
what is to hinder if the presence and the power of God be in their
work? Whenever two or three meet together in his name, have they not
his promise to be with them? and when he is, present, are not all
saving influences most active? Present we know him to be everywhere,
but his presence and power have a different effect according to the
kind and degree of reception. He is present with the evil as well as
the good, but he can manifest his love and work of saving far more
effectually through the good than he can through the evil.
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