China's Spiritual Needs and Claims.
"If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death,
"And those that are ready to be slain;
"If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not;
"Doth not He that pondereth that heart consider it?
"And He that keepth thy soul, doth not He know it?
"And shall not He render to every man according to his works?"
(Prov. xxiv., 11, 12.)
It is a solemn and most momentous truth that our every act in this present life—and our every omission too—has a direct and important bearing both on our own future welfare, and on that of others. And as believers, it behoves us to do whatsoever we do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His name, and with earnest prayer for His blessing, the following pages are written: in His name, and with earnest prayer for His blessing, let them be read. The writer feels deeply that, as a faithful steward he is bound to bring the facts contained in these pages before the hearts and consciences of the Lord's people. He believes, too, that these facts must produce some fruit in the heart of each Christian reader. The legitimate fruit will undoubtedly be—not vain words of empty sympathy, but—effectual fervent prayer, and strenuous self-denying effort for the salvation of the benighted Chinese. And if in any instance they fail to produce this fruit, the writer would urge the consideration of the solemn words at the head of this page,—"If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and
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