DOORS CLOSED AND DOORS OPENED

(Acts 16:6-12)

The continuance of the war brought the studio in Fleet Street to a close, after just two years exemption from

Owing to medical rejection by the military authorities, and the warning by my doctor that:

`Working all day in a small closed room, with white lead spraying into the atmosphere, and working into the

night on The Berean Expositor and preparation for meetings, I was heading for T.B.',

we removed into the country, and I found employment in the open air, working from six a.m. to late afternoon at a

nursery in Rayleigh, Essex. The work was rigorous and the going hard, but we had a large garden, many fruit trees,

goats to supply all the milk needed, and we were sustained and kept.

There were several evident interventions of the Lord at this time that hedged my way and divided my paths.

Realizing a drastic change was indicated if I was not to become a chronic invalid, or even worse leave my wife a

widow, I early sought guidance as to the next step to take. A Gospel mission at Rayleigh, Essex was already

familiar with the teaching of The Berean Expositor and on several occasions I had travelled out there to conduct the

Sunday Services; I felt that Proverbs 3:5,6 indicated that I should combine my search for health and house, with

opportunity still to witness for the truth. The leading seemed to point to Rayleigh, so, accordingly I travelled out to

this Essex village, spent the whole day prospecting for a suitable house, but returned to the railway station at night

tired and unsuccessful.

As I sat waiting for the arrival of the train, a happy party of friends were saying their goodbyes, and an elderly,

sour looking man sitting beside me said, `some people are lucky to have such friends'. I said something in the way

of reply, and he further informed me that he was unhappy at his home, and was going to London to get away from

his housekeeper and her son, who apparently were rather a worry. He then turned and said `You don't know anyone

who wants to buy a house, do you? I want to sell mine, and I would give you £5 for finding a buyer'. I quietly

looked up to the Lord, (like Nehemiah 2:4,5) and said `where is it?' He replied, `it is called Ebenezer Cottage,

Hullbridge Road'. This cottage was immediately opposite the lane leading to the Gospel Mission, but as it was not