Support for the Ningpo Hospital

In the autumn of the same year. Dr. Parker was suddenly compelled to return to Glasgow, with his motherless children, Mrs. Parker having died of cholera. He requested the writer to take charge of the missionary hospital at Ningpo, which must otherwise be closed.

After a few days of earnest prayer for Divine guidance, the writer felt constrained to undertake it, relying on a prayer-answering God to furnish the means requisite for its support. The funds for its maintenance had been hitherto supplied by the proceeds of the doctor’s foreign medical practice: with his departure these ceased. But had not God said, that whatever we ask in the name of the Lord Jesus shall be done unto us? and are we not told to seek first the kingdom of God — not means to advance it — and all these things shall be added to us? Such promises were surely sufficient.

Eight days previous to entering upon this responsibility, the writer had ,not the most remote idea of doing so. Still less could friends at home have anticipated it. But the Lord had foreseen the need, and already funds were on their way to supply it. At times there were not less than fifty in-patients in the hospital, besides a large number who daily attended as out-patients. Thirty beds were ordinarily allotted to free patients and their attendants, and about as many to opium smokers, who paid for their board while being cured of their habit. As all the wants of the sick in the hospital were supplied gratuitously, as were likewise the remedial appliances needed by the out-patients, the daily expense was considerable; besides which a number of native attendants were required, involving their support. But from the very first the Lord provided all that was requisite for the support of the institution, in addition to what was needed for the maintenance of the writer and his

54 Passage Money in answer to Prayer.

family, and the carrying on of the other branches of missionary work under his superintendence. And when, nine months later, he was compelled through failure of health to relinquish this charge, he was able to leave more funds for the support of the sick than were placed in his hands at the time he undertook it.

But not only were pecuniary supplies vouchsafed in answer to prayer. Many lives were spared; persons apparently in hopeless stages of disease were restored; and success was given in cases of serious and dangerous operations. In the case of one poor man, both of whose legs were amputated under veryunfavourable circumstances, healthy action took place with such rapidity, that both wounds were healed in less than two weeks. And more permanent benefits than these were conferred. Many were convinced of the truth of Christianity; not a few sought the Lord by prayer, and experienced the power of the Good Physician to cure the sin-sick soul. During the nine months above alluded to, sixteen patients from the hospital were baptized, and more than thirty others became candidates for admission into one or other of the mission churches in Ningpo.

FUNDS FOR RETURN TO ENGLAND.

The incessant physical and mental labour inseparable from the sole charge of such an institution, in addition to the other missionary duties still devolving on the writer, produced an effect which, though anticipated, could not in the absence of additional labourers be avoided; but which afforded another occasion for the manifestation of the faithfulness and loving care of Him, who works all things after the counsel of His own will. Completely prostrated by repeated attacks of illness, the only hope of restoration to health seerhed to be in a voyage to England, and a temporary residence in his native land. As heretofore, God was present with His aid. The means for return were supplied; and that so liberally, that we were able to bring with us a native Christian to assist in translations or revisions, and to instruct in the language such helpers as the Lord might raise up for the carrying on and extension of the work. That He would do this we had no doubt, as we had been enabled to seek it from Him in earnest, believing prayer for many months previously. Under date of January 1 6th, 1860, we had written to a Christian friend in England as follows: —

“Do you know of any earnest, devoted Oh, for /o«;’ or Tfj;* such helpers! They would

young men, desirous of serving God in China; probably preach in Chinese in six months. In

who, not wishing- for more than their expenses answer to prayer the means would be found.” would be willing to come out and labour here?

The day before leaving China, we wrote as follows to our friend, W. T.

Our First Five Workers. 55

Berger, Esq., whom we had known before leaving- England, and who had ever strengthened our hands in the Lord while in that distant land: —

“We are bringing a young Chinese brother assist in teaching the dialect to fellow-labourers, with us to assist in translating, and, I hope, to if the Lord induce any to return with us.”

And throughout our voyage our earnest prayer to God was that He would overrule our return for good to China, and make it instrumental in raising up at least five helpers to labour in Ningpo and the province of Cheh-kiang.