and to rest more implicitly, on the strength, the riches, the fulness of Christ. "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in Me ye shall have peace," we knew would be the experience of those engaged in the work. If times of the greatest trial and danger would be for God's glory, for the benefit of His cause, and for the true interest of those labouring, at such times either His delivering power would be shewn forth most conspicuously, or else His sustaining grace would prove sufficient for the weakest servant in the conflict. And what shall we say now, after an experience of eighteen or nineteen years in this work? Have we been disappointed in the confident expectation of God's help with which we set out? Far from it! We can only say, in the words of Joshua of old, "Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord our God spake concerning us; all are come to pass unto us, and not one thing hath failed thereof."
Expecting this little work to fall into the hands of some who might be led to think of personally engaging in the work, the writer referred in the earlier editions to the following incidents in his own experience, in which God's providential interposition on behalf of His servants was very manifest. For the same reason he still retains them.
In April, 1855, the writer (in company with the Rev. J. S. Burdon of the Church Missionary Society[1]), visited the island of Tsung-ming and the north bank of the Yang-tse-kiang, for the purpose of preaching the gospel and of distributing copies of the New Testament. The following extracts are taken from the writer's journal at the time:—
"Thursday, April 26th.—Having started at daybreak, about breakfast-time we arrived at Jen-how-kiang. After breakfast, we commended ourselves to the care of our heavenly Father, and sought His blessing before proceeding to this great city. The day was the very opposite of yesterday, being as dull and wet as that was fine and clear. We both felt persuaded that Satan would not let us assail his kingdom as we had done, without raising up opposition or persecution; but we also felt fully assured that it was the will of Gon that we should preach Christ here, and distribute the Word of Truth to this people. We were sorry that we had so few books left for so important a place, but the result proved that this also was providential.
"Our teachers endeavoured to persuade us not to go; but we determined, by God's help, that nothing should hinder us. We directed them, however, to remain in one of the boats; and, if we did not return, to learn all that they could respecting our fete, and make all possible haste to Shanghai, and give information to our friends. We also left orders that the other boat should remain a little outside, if we did not return that night; so that if we did afterwards get back, we might not be detained for want of a boat. We then put all our books, except some dozen or less, into two bags, and with one servant, who always accompanied us on these occasions, set off for the city, some twenty li, or seven miles, distant. Walking was out of the question, both from the state of the roads, and from the distance; so we availed ourselves of the wheel-barrow, here the
- ↑ New the esteemed Bishop of Victoria, Hong-kong.
