Then she adds, lower down:–
’Oh, if you come to London, let us be determined to reap a blessed harvest. Let our fellowship be sanctified to our souls’ everlasting good. My mind is made up to do my part towards it. I hope to be firm as a rock on some points. The Lord help me. We must aim to improve each other’s mind and character. Let us pray for grace to do it in the best way and to the fullest extent possible.’
‘Anyway,’ she says, a day or two later–and ever remember her words when outside things try and distress you–’don’t let the controversy hurt your soul. Live near to God by prayer.... You believe He answers prayer. Then take courage. Just fall down at His feet, and open your very soul before Him, and throw yourself right into His arms. Tell Him that if you are wrong you only wait to be set right, and, be the path rough or smooth, you will walk in it.
’Oh, you must live close to God! If you are a greater distance from Him than you were, just stop the whirl of outward things, or rather leave it, and shut yourself up with Him till all is clear and bright upwards. Do, there’s a dear. Oh, how much we lose by not coming to the point. Now, at once, realize your union with Christ, and trust Him to lead you through this perplexity. Bless you. Excuse this advice. I am anxious for your soul. Look up. If God hears my prayers, He must guide you–He will guide you.’
In these early days our General was tempted, as some of us are tempted to-day, to feel nervous and shy when talking before large crowds, and where the people were better dressed and better off than usual. He wrote his feelings to Catherine, and she sends him back her wise advice and help. ‘I am sorry for this,’ she says, ’and am persuaded it is the fear of man which shackles you. Do not give place to this feeling. Remember you are the Lord’s servant, and if you are a faithful one it will be a small matter with you to be judged of man’s judgment. Let nothing be wanting beforehand to make what you say helpful, but when you are before the people try to think only of your own responsibility to Him who hath sent you.’
Again, later, she writes:–
’Try and cast off the fear of man. Fix your eyes simply on the glory of God, and care not for frown or praise of man. Rest not till your soul is fully alive to God.’ How truly she herself carried this out in her own Meetings you will hear later on.
Miss Mumford was very anxious that The General should improve himself with plenty of hard work. She saw what he might become, and she also knew that unless he did his part all those wonderful powers which God had lent to him would be thrown away.
‘Do assure me,’ she writes, ’my own dear William, that no want of energy or effort on your part shall hinder the improvement of those talents God has given you.’
So that, with his constant travelling and preaching, he might get time to read and think and learn, she suggested a little plan to him in his billets.