A Time of Darkness

I worship with a certain congregation. There it seemed the spiritual life or joy neither in the preaching nor in the fellowship was what I desired. I belonged to a Church, with its many members. There is so much of error or worldliness, of seeking after human wisdom and culture, or trust in ordinances and observances, that I wondered is God hiding His face, in many cases, and that there was but little power for conversion or true edification. Then there are branches of Christian work with which I were connected—Sunday school, gospel teaching, a boys/men’s ministry, a mission —in which the feebleness of the Spirit’s working appears to indicate that God was again hiding His face. I thought—I knew the reason, There was too much trust in men and money; there was too much formality and self-indulgence; there was too little faith and prayer; too little love and humility; too little of the spirit of the crucified Jesus. At times I felt as if things were hopeless; nothing will help. Then God…….