D. E. Hoste was one of the Cambridge Seven who left England as a young man to win souls to Christ in inland China. Later, Hudson Taylor appointed him to the position of Acting General Director of the China Inland Mission, thus becoming his successor.
The following wise words are an extract from one of his letters that is included in the biography by Phyllis Thompson, D. E. Hoste: "A Prince With God.".
"How important it is, when some 'brook' (natural comfort, friendship, prosperity, health) in our lives is drying up, not to murmur, or if it is brought about by the misdoings of fellow-men not to let our minds dwell over much on it, lest we become full of bitterness; in which case these things will not work for our good but will work harm.
"We are told in Rom. viii that 'all things work together for good to them that love God.' Not to those that God loves, for He loves all.
"It is necessary to love God practically, in the experience, to maintain a right attitude towards Him of quiet confidence in Him and faithfulness to Him.
"When your 'brook' is drying up--that is the time to love. Then all things will work together for good, and truly the words of the prophet will be fulfilled in our lives that for iron there shall be silver and for brass there shall be gold.
"God never takes away without wanting to give something better. He takes brass away to give gold--not necessarily earthly but heavenly.
"We think of Joseph. All that goes for happiness and satisfaction seems to have been taken out of his life. His elder brothers sold him into Egypt; he begins to prosper, and his reputation is ruined by a wicked woman. Surely the 'brook' of his life dried up. But we are told that God was with him and God was doing it. Joseph recognized that, and he said to his brethren, 'It was not you, but God.' He did not look at the immediate agencies at work. He looked up to God and accepted these things as from Him."
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