His Brief Career in China

44 I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Isaiah vi. 8.

More than thirty years ago (it is related by an American writer), two young gentlemen, while travelling in opposite directions, met at a brook; and as their horses were drinking, the elder addressed the younger about his soul’s eternal interests. They soon parted; but those faithful words of love were, by the blessed Spirit, made the means of leading the younger traveller to the Saviour. That young man was Champion, the idol of his family; for he was an only son, the last bearing his father’s name, and already the possessor of great wealth. No sooner was he saved, than he consecrated himself to the missionary service, and chose as his sphere Africa, as the most benighted and neglected of countries. His father opposed his son’s resolution of becoming a missionary, and proposed to support twenty missionaries out of his ample means, if only he personally would stay at home. “No,” was his calm reply;

J. BRAINERD TAYLOR.

“the Saviour left richer possessions, and sacrificed His life for me; I cannot stay.” He lived to labour five years in Africa, devoting all his property to the cause of missions. Often did he desire to know who that stranger was that had addressed him by the brook side, but could get no clue to it; till one day, in Africa, he opened the memoir of J. Brainerd Taylor, just sent out to him from home. His eye fell on the likeness prefixed to the memoir, and instantly he knew who it was that had been the means of saving his soul.

It is not unlikely that there will be some one who may thus recognise the subject of this Memoir when they look at the prefixed portrait. For, like J. Brainerd Taylor (to whose life I have heard him refer as one that had helped to stimulate him to covet earnestly the best gifts), he used to seize such casual opportunities as that related in this incident, speaking a word in season to passing travellers who knew not the man that so kindly cared for their souls. But we had another reason for mentioning the above anecdote, namely, the subject of our Memoir was, in some respects, a parallel to young Champion in self-sacrifice, and in the shortness of his ministry. If he had not so large a fortune as Champion, yet he had lately, by the death of his father, come into possession of very ample means, and might have remained at home to enjoy its comforts, while he could, at the same time, have spent his income in sending out others in his stead. Nothing, however, would satisfy his devoted, single-minded spirit, but personal consecration to the mission cause. As for worldly wealth and position in society, “none of these things moved him,” any more than Paul was moved by the opposite; and yet it is even more difficult to withstand the insidious smiles of affluence, than to resist the frowns of the bitterest adversary. When some one made reference to the delightful scenery and sweet dwelling which might have all been his, his reply was, “Can any one suppose that that could make any difference? Ah, those many mansions! that city that hath foundations; these things look solid and substantial, but they shall all pass away,”

He was generous in all his dealings and actings: the love of money seemed to have no place in his heart. Open-handed liberality was characteristic of him; but he acted on his Master’s rule, “When thou doest aims, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth,” (Matt. vi. 3). On his deathbed he confirmed the arrangement which he made before leaving home, to the effect that, of all his property, “One-eighth should he devoted to the spread of the gospel at home, and seven-eighths for the spread of the gospel in China,” He was one who, in true

PKOSPECTS IN CHINA.

Pentecostal spirit, called nothing that he had his own.

And now he has reached China, that vast empire of benighted souls, where not less than 360 millions of our fellow-men are “walking in darkness and in the shadow of death,” He is cheerful, happy, full of hope, abounding in prayer, busy in preparation for future usefulness. He has sacrificed all earthly comforts for love of Christ and of souls; he has already, by the past, gained much experience in the divine life, so that every way we would have said that here was one with a sharp sickle in his hand, fit to be sent into these fields that are so white and ready to the harvest. He has health of body, too, and is more likely than many others to bear well the burden of the climate. We might almost say (as Montgomery does of Spencer), “He carried victory in his face,” But man’s ways are not God’s ways.*

* The old complaint, that “The good die young,” is no other than that of the Greek heathen Sophocles, who brings in one of his characters (Philoctet. 450), saying that “the gods are ever sending away all that is just and good.”

“... ra

Aixcua, %at roc Xgqor airoorsXkovti’ as/.”

But Montgomery has cast over the fact the light of Christian revelation, in singing of young Spencer of Liverpool —

“The brightest star of morning’s host,
Scarce risen, in brighter beams is lost — So sprang his soul to light.”

He himself had often contemplated the possibility of an early close to his ministry, though we cannot say he had any presentiment of it. Hopefulness, and therefore, of course, happy cheerfulness lightened up his soul, so that he never dwelt on the dark side of the cloud, but fixed on the silver lining; so much so, that one of his friends used to be reminded by his character of Bunyan’s Hopeful, and used to think that he was one whom, of all others, he should like to have with him when fording the cold waters of death. His earlier journals contain references to the subject, just such as any man of God, who realised the uncertainty of life, might be led to make. At the same time, it is interesting to have the opportunity of observing how the Master did all along warn His disciple, and prepare him for whatever might be the issue. We therefore insert these references here; for putting them side by side, they are the more impressive. We find them successively in the years 1845, 1847, 1848, 1851. And to these we may append his allusions to the Lord’s Second Coming, because he sometimes passes from the one to the other. He did not, however, confound the two events, Death and the Coming of Christ the second time. He keeps them quite distinct in his view, though (it will be seen in one of the extracts) he had not come to any positive conclusion regarding

DEATH CONTEMPLATED.

the questions of time connected with that doctrine. Mr Sandeman sought to realise both the passing out of the body at death into the Lord’s presence in glory, and the resurrection of the body, when the Lord returns and we shall be made like Him, seeing Him as He is.

“18th April 1845. — The longer I am on the way to the ministry, the more happy am I that the Lord in His infinite mercy has placed me in it. A glorious work! And yet my heart often dwells on the thought, that I may be laid in the grave before ever these apostolic words are mine, ‘Necessity is laid upon me to preach the gospel, And would not that be far better? Yea, Lord; for to be absent from the body is to be present with Thee.“”

A few days after, he has again returned to the subject: —

“I don’t know how it is, but often I dwell on the thought of being taken soon to the Lord, before even I enter the ministry. It is a thought which is pleasant to my heart, and which it cannot be wrong to entertain if I use it rightly. It ought to quicken me in the discharge of present duty. It ought to gladden my heart with the hope that I may be with J esus before long. Let me then entertain it only to stir me up to more earnest discharge of my duties now,”

“9th January 1S47. — Am I prepared joyfully to quit this scene, and, passing through the valley, the dark valley it might be, of death, in order to join my King and Head ] 0 my soul, examine thyself on this. What if thou hadst been taken away last week when the ice gave way What if this day a messenger of glory were to summon thee to go and to be with Jesus? Wouldst thou far rather depart, leaving this world, and friends! Would I be willing to forego in its present form the pleasure of thinking out subjects for myself in which I have found lately so great delight? (for there, knowledge is swallowed up in love). I know not the realities of a deathbed, yet I see that Payson was ready, and more than ready, to depart; that Brainerd was, that Janeway was. that Brainerd Taylor and H. Page were. 0 may Jesus enable me, and so abide in me now, that it will be but a slight change, as it were, to go and abide in His bosom of everlasting love! I, yet not I, but the grace of God in me, can say, that I think this spirit would not be unwilling now to depart and to be with Jesus,”

c< l<otk December 184:7. — Death should take none of the Lord’s chosen by surprise, any more than the entrance into the room of a child should a mother, or the sound of the horses’ tread at the ordinary hour of her husband’s carriage, should a loving wife, on his

EARLY DEATH.

return from labouring for her welfare. The surprise should be, Why tarry the wheels of His chariot V

In November 1 848: — “‘To be with Christ, which is far better.’ Are the pinions, 0 my soul, wearying for the flight.”

“18th April 1850. — Spencer (of Liverpool) met an early grave. May his beautiful example of grace be blessed to my tardy soul, and also lead me to remember how short my time may be. Remarkable that one should be so eminently fitted by the Lord for the ministry, and then be removed to glory. Some intimations lately of the glory to be revealed.

“To depart and to be with Jesus is a blissful thought The idea of it makes the eyes of the soul sparkle, and is something like the fixing of the marriage-day.”

“When shall I be as it were cast into the shoreless ocean of Thy love? When wilt Thou shed the life-blood of all my enemies, 0 my God and my King? I know it is Thy hand that will finally do this, through the sword which proceedeth out of the mouth of my glorious Lord and Redeemer Christ Jesus. Hasten that time, O my God and Father, for the glory of Thy great name.”

“6th February 1851. — Heard of J. M’Intosh being very ill, a student like myself, and in every way one with the prospect of many days on the earth. This shews me that in such an hour as I think not the Son of Man cometh; and also says, c Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, This cannot change the necessity of preparation for the great work, and yet it is fitted to shew that time should not unnecessarily be spent in it.

“For some time back it has pleased the Lord especially to lead me, in lying down at night, to realise that I know not whether I might ever rise from my bed; and this has led me to have my various matters, even the smallest, so arranged that they might be in order should I be suddenly called away.

“I see, more than ever I did, how the great Lord has no need of me here, that He can raise up instruments where and how it pleases Him. If He has work for me, He will keep me here; if He has designed otherwise, He will take me home.

“Though I cannot know the struggle of death, and though no believer will desire to be unclothed, but clothed upon, yet, if I am not deceived, I would gladly go hence to be without sin in glory. To be absent from the body is to be present with J esus; no more besetting sins, no more grieving (a peculiarly precious thought) the Holy Spirit, the kind and loving Spirit of grace, and then to join the brethren in Jesus who have gone before — beloved Hewitson, Whitefield, Martyn, Brainerd, Boston, &c. True, I would then

EABLY DEATH.

go as one who had done nothing for his Lord. I would then have a low seat among the Redeemed, yet knowing that this would be the place my Lord had chosen, I would with joy take the lowest room. He knows which of all my desires is nearest my heart — even to serve Him in the ministry, and to bring souls to His feet. And yet, let Him do as seemeth Him good. His will shall be my sweetest joy, for time and eternity.

“The thought of leaving fellow-believers would be bitter to the flesh, and yet knowing how soon they would follow would soften the parting.

“And now, O my Lord, living or dying, let me be Thine. I do, through Thy free, infinite grace, mercy, and love, surrender my whole spirit, soul, and body into Thy hands, that Thou mayest do with me as seemeth good in Thy sight. 0 Lord, make Thou this effectual by Thy Holy Spirit. Amen,”

“16th February. — John M’Intosh dead. How has his sun gone down at noon! How beautiful and winning was he by grace, and also by gifts,”*

* This was “The Earnest Student,” as the writer of his memoir most appropria ely designates him. He cherished so high an idea of the sacred work before him, that he could scarcely satisfy himself with any amount of intellectual preparation, having “the presentiment and the desire that all might conduce to usefulness in his Lord’s vineyard,” p. 226. Mr Sandeman, on the other hand, while feeling no less the holy and awful work in view, acted as

.THE CCLMIXG OF CHRIST. u January 1847. — What henceforth can I have to do with myself — body, soul, and spirit? I am bought with a price, and what a price! Henceforth, by the grace and power of Jehovah, the great ‘I AM; by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit purchased by that price — even Jesus’s blood: that I who live should not live unto myself) but unto Him which died for me, and rose again. Henceforth may I in a way unknown before, through grace, have the glory of Jehovah, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as the one great end of my earthly sojourn, as the one great end of every hour s existence here below; of every thought, uvrd, and deed, until the glorious moment when I shall either depart and be with Christ, my Jesus, in heaven; or, He shall descend from heaven with His holy angels, and I shall rise, being changed, to meet my blessed Saviour in the air.”

rt May my God keep His own glory and my Dying Hour, and the Second Coming of Jesus to judge the world, when every man must render his account of

opportunity occurred very much on Richard Baxter’s principle, when he published his various glowing treatises. Richard Baxter once thought that “nothing should be made public but what a man had first laid out his most choice art upon,” but his conscience soon told him that he must seek to do good to his fellow-men as opportunity was given, though his literary reputation should thereby suffer.

HIS VOYAGE.

the deeds done in the body — may my God, by His blessed Holy Spirit, keep these things continually before me,”

“August 1848. — Let me wait on the blessed Spirit who is promised to lead us into all truth, for light as to the times of His appearing, that I may neither be wise above that which is written, or be lacking in the understanding of what it has pleased the Father to reveal for the good of His Church.

“November 23. 1848. — Surely the whole creation groaneth and travaileth together until now. The children groan being burdened by sin; the aliens groan, in and through their sins; the lower animals groan, and the very earth groans. - O for the day of the manifestation of the sons of God!”

- We see, then, how the Lord had prepared His servant’s soul for any event. Still it was the highest wish of his heart to live to proclaim Christ in China, and his own view of his qualifications is thus stated: — “I have often thought that the work of an evangelist is better fitted to my kind of mind than that of a pastor. But who can say that I shall live to declare the gospel of Jesus?”

His brother Frederick and Mr Gr. F. Barbour, his brother-in-law, brought him on his journey as far as Berlin; and there they parted, not to meet again till the day of “our gathering together in Him!” * He sailed, 11th October, from Marseilles. “At the instant the anchor was hove up, and the sails spread, the heavenly Pilot came on board,” Of course, Egypt and the Red Sea were full of interest, as well as all the phenomena of such a voyage. Let us hear the following extracts of a letter written at Suez: —

“On Board the Hindostan,
“21st October 1856.

“On the night of the full moon, there was a fine eclipse, all but total. It was singular to notice the effect, in the gradual darkening of the ship as it sailed on that lovely sea. The ship’s telescope was a good aid in observing the phenomenon. It was interesting to think of the shadow of the earth, travelling away through space, and lighting on the clear full surface of yon luminary. The surface continued of a dead brown colour, with all the usual volcanic marks seen through.

“At Malta, we first really felt the heat; one of the

passengers all but fainted on the street. There was

a determined dart-like strength about it, assisting

* Mr Allan, Hillhead, writes to a friend on taking leave of him at Edinburgh: “This is a sad house this week. I feel sorely the departure of that man of God. He left yesterday morning, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, just one flame of love”

CAIRO.

the idea of a sun-stroke. My white umbrella was of good service. The fortifications are considerable. One of the sentries was a Dundee man, who, with his wife, had been a hearer of Mr Burns during the revival. As soon as landed at Alexandria, we were off to the railway station for Cairo.

“We passed through a considerable part of Egypt. Everything in the external aspect reminded you of Scripture. We crossed the Nile twice — the fields only drying up by degrees from the last inundation. Men watering the smaller fields ‘with their feet, guiding the stream through their various parts. Seed that had been cast on the waters, growing up in luxuriant fruitfulness; and c ten’ or ’ twelve yoke of oxen’ at once ploughing one of the fields. The true Egyptian type of countenance you could not mistake for a moment: the very features of the men who held God’s heritage so long in thraldom.

“At Cairo, under a glorious sunset, it was precisely as if set down before a full lighted and coloured diorama. After securing (with great rushing on the passengers’ part) a room in the hotel, I walked out alone, getting rid of several dragomen and many donkeyboys, and passing through a garden which, in richness of verdure and variety of tropical trees, realised all one’s day dreams of Oriental scenery. Amidst these trees, and seen far through them, were the rich turbans and dresses of Turks and Arabians, male and female. On the outskirts, and along the roads leading to the bazaar, was a promiscuous crowd of horsemen and turbaned long-bearded Mussulmen, riding on donkeys (rather handsome animals), and all under the light of a sunset which just threw everything of the sort I have ever seen utterly into shade. As rich individual painting of clouds and pieces of sky you may see at home; but such a succession, or building up of hues of glory, both of depth and beauty of colour, was quite new to me.”

“Midst of the Red Sea,
” October 23.

“Here we are steaming on nearly opposite Mecca, having passed the line of Sinai yesterday: it is seldom visible from the sea.

“Bat perhaps you would like a notice or two of the Desert. We wore sun-hats made of the pith of a tree, helmet-shaped, with a veil fastened round the rim. Six of us started at nine A.M., in a van — first of a line of four — open before and at the side. Moving out of Cairo and along a road of hard, beaten sand, in whiteness resembling those in Italy, there was a fine view of the two principal pyramids. After a few more miles we had passed all the houses, and changed horses, or mules, at the first station of

THE DESERT.

the Desert; leaving which, you felt, as the wide waste opened in front, that you were fairly entered on what had so long hung in the imagination. One tree was perhaps visible, a few tufts near the roadway of a small shrub, or rather tall grass, and then an illimitable trackless expanse of white burning sand. The heat was not so great; a pretty strong breeze from the north made it rather agreeable for part of the road. The air, however, has a peculiar effect; not so much exhilarating as exciting, such as you could fancy would string up Arab and Bedouin to the full amount of their powers. The horses, mules, and camels seem all indefatigable on these vast plains. They are most like an endless sea-shora

“We met five or six caravans. The string of from a dozen to twenty or thirty camels went past us, each well laden, pacing steadily and so softly along; their drivers either Arabs or black Ethiopians. A dead camel lay on the road. Another, our party saw fall down under its load. The next van passed some hours after; the poor creature heard the noise and lifted its head; tried to rise but could not. The patient animal followed the van with its eyes wistfully looking after them, and, doubtless, turned its head again to die.

“The mirage we also saw, lying away towards the horizon, with its water, and headlands, and trees!

Three trees, dining an entire day’s journey, were all that met the eye. I cannot tell you of all the’ Scripture meditations which such a scene must suggest; but I thought I had then seen and felt something of the ’ waste, howling wilderness.’”

Writing to another friend, and mentioning Egypt, he says —

“My soul worshipped the young child who was carried into Egypt by night, the Governor of Israel, whose goings forth were from the days of eternity,” He carefully noted customs that might illustrate Scripture-language, among which one who so delighted in Isa. lv. 1, could not fail to observe “men with goatskins, and girls with antique-like jars, crying, Hfoi, mo i, t Water! water!’” Leaving Aden, the vessel steamed onwards toward the “land of Sinim.” On November 3d, he found an opening for preaching on board ship. “My poor imprisoned spirit” (writes he to his friend, Oswald Allen, Esq.) got a short flight yesterday in preaching the gospel to the promiscuous assemblage of passengers; and as it grew darker, various men of the crew joined. Archdeacon Pratt read prayers and I preached. My text was, ‘It is finished! The work which the Father gave J esus to do. ‘Finished’ — the sufferings of Jesus all finished; sin and Satan, to faith, finished; and lastly, the everlasting righteousness for poor sinners wholly

VOYAGE — INDIA — PENANG.

finished. From the capstan as my pulpit, with captain, officers, young cadets, and civilians around me, and dimly lighted by lamps hung up by Chinese sailors, it was blessed to tell of the glorious, completed work of Immanuel. My soul’s desire and prayer was, Glorify thyself! Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” The vessel passed, of course, near the shore of India; and, though not in view, his eye turned toward the spot where some of his college friends were now labouring for Christ among the Hindoos. Soon after reaching China, he wrote to Mr M’Callum, at Madras: “It was a considerable trial, and to this day I feel it to have been such, to pass so near to Madras, and not to have been able to see and hold fellowship in praise and prayer with you. It seems as if we had some right to claim a blessing in its stead from the hand of our gracious and loving Redeemer.”

“Point de Galle, 8tk November. — The quiet of a room to pray in, after the bustle of the steamer, was unspeakable relief.” He preached in the Reformed Dutch Chapel, and then gave a parting word to several of the passengers, just in time to get on board the Chinese steamer. Every day, something of Chinese engages his attention. Then; a no swearing on board this ship, which was a sore evil in the last.” “The crowds of ants marching along the table are a novel sight.*’ “Entered Fencing harbour in a thunder-storm — welcomed by Mr Mair — preached for him. Nearlv missed the steamer again,” 18th November, Singapore, where he notes the fearful opium-trade at work. On 30th, Sabbath, meditating on ““h capovtfa) the appearing of Christ; on Enoch, also: and on Psa. xcvi. and xcviii/3

It was on 1st December that, as soon as he awoke, he saw the Hills of China; and. kneeling down before the Lord, asked Him to lead him forth by His Spirit. He realised again the sovereignty of his Lord, who might “remove me before anything has been done, or make the language so hard that I should never acquire it. or turn me home, or throw me useless at some out-post,”

He landed in Hong Kong. The spirit bounded with delight to meet the missionaries already on the field, and soon every one of those whom he there met, and others who arrived, had a deep seat in his affections. His letters tell this affection, how real it was, whether he is speaking of Mr W. C. Burns, whose preaching in Perth during the revival in 1 84:0 he never could forget, and whose thorough devoted ness to his Lord has stirred the zeal of very many; or of other brethren from Scotland; or of the American brethren, Mr Talmage and Mr Doty, with whom he felt entirely at

one; and so, also, when he speaks of the brethren to AMOY.

the London Missionary Society, and the native missionaries. It is the testimony of some of these brethren that, young comparatively as he was, he exercised almost immediately a most healthful influence on their circle by his single-minded, decided, uncompromising, devoted conversation; for they felt he “held communion with the skies.”

On the 6th he sailed to Swatow. “Went ashore, and called on Dr De la Porte. A door opened, and out came, in full Chinese dress and tail, W. C. Burns! Taking me into his room, according to his old wont, he said, ‘Let us engage in prayer,’ in the identical old Perth tones! Accompanied him on board a ship, and preached from Gal. iii. 13.” On the 9th he reached his destination, Amoy, where he writes,” My soul would be bowed in thankfulness to God for the unbroken train of mercies all the way from home to this my destination!’

Soon after he writes home —” Were it not for the vile opium traffic, the whole society here might be called agreeable. This, however, must divide them. It is England’s clamant shame to tolerate this traffic. She is known in China as the nation that deals in it; and the missionaries are constantly met with the objection, ‘If you are Christians and good men, why do you bring that bad opium to our shores V I would ask you to pray that this sin and shame of our

MISSION BUILDINGS AT AMOY.

country may be removed It is by the acknowledging of sin that God is pleased to make way for its removal. We might specially remember it on Saturday evenings as a great barrier in the way of evangelizing this nation,”

The beginning of ] 857 found him busy with the language, day by day. In the morning of that day, the Chinese Christians, according to their custom, came in to bid the brethren a good new year. In the afternoon we find him wandering away alone, till he arrives at a rock, where he prays for that land and for all the world. He began about the same time to write out a translation for himself of the book of Job, from the Hebrew, to keep up his knowledge of that language, and got on in this self-imposed task as far as the end of the 9th chapter. Every day, also, went on cheerfully and pleasantly with Chinese roots and tones, and was able to record;” As to the language, feel that my prayer for help has not been altogether unanswered, so that I am kept from discouragement, and the study is made pleasant to me.

“Never had the sense of shame for my native country till I saw her flag hanging over a large opiumreceiving ship. Britain assuredly will have to answer to God for this traffic. It is in defiance of His laws, and of this nation itself; and she knows it all. Do they not die fast enough in their wickedness and

WATCHING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.

idolatry, without England supplying poison for mind and body? The coolie trade, likewise, is most iniquitous, ’

And now see him again in close dealing with his Lord.

u26th February, Thursday. — Day of fasting and prayer — 1 st, against sin; 2d, for help in the language; 3d, for the sins of China, and the coming of Christ’s kingdom in it; 4th, for the sin of England in directly increasing the crime of this people, by supplying them with opium; the abominable coolie trade, also!”

Week by week, at the same time, he visited the Seamen’s Hospital, and watched for opportunities of visiting British and American ships. Eager to use every acquirement for Christ as soon as possible, we find him trying to say a little about Christ to a Chinese father and three sons under a tree, as early as 11th May, though it was not till next year, 17th February, that he could record — “For the first time spoke to about a dozen Chinese in a village. Would not have stopped, but a man called to me to come and speak to him. This I could not refuse, and spoke as I was able for five or ten minutes,”

Anxious to express his own and draw forth others’ sympathy, we find him penning the following letter to the female teacher at one of the scenes of his former work at home: — Amoy, 5th May 1857.

“My Dear Miss E. — I write you as the easiest means of getting intelligence of Hillhead and of the believers there, and peradventure to hear if there are any precious souls seeking Jesus among them, as of old time. But may I first ask after the progress of your own soul? I feel it a great condemnation of myself, after having journeyed this length for the service of Christ, and having professedly no other aim but the salvation of souls and the kingdom of God, to see the power of the old man, the strength of the old sins. It is to me a terrible proof of the power of sin in our members, that is, of the whole old man. Change of scene and place, alas! do no more for this than they do for the black face of the Indian. But I trust it may have been different with you, and that your soul may have been carried on in the ways of God. Next to the joy arising from souls being gathered to Christ, is the news of believers prospering in the life of their souls. I trust and pray that the Lamb of God hath been seen more frequently sitting with you in the house, walking with you by the way and in the school, and meeting you at the seasons of secret devotion. 0 what joy and glory to Him that these blood-bought ones are to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, which again implies, that whitherso-LETTEE TO HILLHEAD.

ever they go, if their ways please Him, lo! the Lamb, as it had been slain, walks before them! And Miss W., that sister in Jesus with whom we continued in prayer and supplication that last night, how doth her soul prosper? Is she keeping sight of the Bleeding One? I feel bound to inquire. See that her soul sleepeth not, but that she is more and more a virgin awake and her lamp burning. (A dim-growing lamp how dreadful!) And how are the brethren at Hillhead? Though so far from them, they are near my heart for Jesus’s sake. Are they maintained in the love of God through trial and temptation? What supply have they had in the preaching of the word? Are they diligent in reading, and searching the Scriptures, not content with any supposed knowledge of the truth of God, but ever by prayer and industry lighting now and again upon goodly pieces of gold from the hid treasure of God? Do they go as regularly into that blessed mine of the Scriptures as they do into those mines whereby they get the bread which perisheth? Let them be stirred up by the example of Chinese believers. The boatman always takes the word with him to his boat; the servant has it lying beside him, and at intervals of work you hear him reading out of the Book of Life, and the name of J esus sounds both above and below. One day I was out in a boat, the rower was an idolater, but the Chinese Christian who was along with me began at once to speak to him of Jesus, and the folly of worshipping pieces of wood. When we came to the landing, I observed something in the Christian’s hand, and asked him what it was. He said it was the boatman9 s idol, which he had given up, not being able to withstand the words of truth. So the stock was thrown to the moles and bats. There are souls being added to the Church in these parts; are there any turning to the Lord in Hillhead or Maryhill? Are the next empty seats around the gospel table to be taken by men and women, young men and maidens, at Hillhead? or is China to have them? Lately, an old man and his wife, of seventy years, and at the same time two young men, took places, I trust, at Jesus’s table. Oh may these not rise up at the last day and double the damnation of hangers on and the between-two-opinion-holders of Hillhead! Tell me all about the blessed children of the kingdom. I cannot name them all, hut I bear them much love in Christ Jesus. Ask them to pray and plead on behalf of this vast empire, and for my soul, and for my progress in the language, that I maybe able to speak of the Saviour to perishing sinners. Let them pray also for the abolition of the abominable opium traffic, killing the bodies and souls of many, many poor Chinese. What of Mr Allan? Tell me of God’s

A YOUNG DUTCHMAN.

work in any part of my dear native land. It is the only news that is cold water to my thirsty soul in this far land. With kind remembrances to all my friends and brethren, who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity,

“Your servant,

“D. S.”

How natural is 16th May. — “Scenes of labour at home often rise before me — Westfield, Hillhead, &c.” On 9th July he writes — “Some of the older missionaries say this is the hottest day they have known during twenty years,” 27th July — “Grapes from Formosa, from the Master’s hand!” 30th July — “A day, not of fasting, as, on account of the heat, I found support necessary, but of prayer,” 3d August — “Good news from home. Pleasant letter from Frederick,”

At this time, 1st August, in a letter to his mother, he relates an interesting conversion. A young Dutchman met in with Christians at Hong-Kong. Entering the sitting-room of a friend’s house, he saw one in Chinese garb, and marvelled what Chinese could be reading “The Times.” It turned out to be the missionary, W. C. Burns. Soon after, he went to hear Mr B. preach, and never could forget the expression he used in preaching — “My dear fellow-sinners {” Other circumstances helped him on, till he joined the meetings of the missionaries. After telling this incident, Mr Sandeman adds — u You will join, I know, beloved mother, in that word, 6 It is meet that we should make merry and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found, Pray for him and for me.”

He differed from his brethren in giving his first attention to the Mandarin dialect. Without pronouncing a judgment upon the soundness of his view, we give his reasons. “1 st, It was common to the whole of China; 2d, It is the source whence the colloquial, by various digressions, has fallen off and formed itself; 3d, The help of dictionaries and colloquial manuals suffice to carry a student on in the ordinary books; 4th, If the opportunity is not embraced at the first of thus acquiring the Mandarin language, there would be very many inducements afterwards to rest content without it.” His attention to this dialect stood in the way of more immediate usefulness; but the truth is, Mr Sandeman had evidently a cherished hope of being one day able to carry the gospel before the princes of the empire. It was in perfect consistency with this hope that, along with this direct aim at high attainments in Chinese, he was at the same time cultivating his intellect in other departments.

CLIMATE.

“Amoy, 3d July 1857.

“Please (writes he to his brother F.) send the Athenceum and Evangelical Review. One finds more the need of such helps to thinking abroad than at home. One is not at all aware at home how much of real intellectual products which keep the mind alive (for ideas form the days of the mind’s life), are caught up, here and there and everywhere, in a highly cultivated reading society. When, all, or nearly all, these external sources are stopped, and you are dependent upon the internal spring alone of your own unaided mind, it is most humiliating to observe how, day after day, the longer you have been removed from these other streams, the narrower and narrower does that solitary one become....

“The trying part of the day here is between nine and eleven or twelve in the forenoon. The comparative cool of the morning passes into strong heat, with, perhaps, scarcely a breath of air, often none whatever. You feel languid, sleepy, uneasy; and how one longs for the first breath of the sea-breeze. At last it comes with a stealthy sweetness, and pours gently and softly upon you as if it fanned you,”

“After that there is generally a fine strong breeze till sun-down. Everything seems changed; the mind and body, and Chinese characters and teacher, all awake, and you trot on quite cheerily.”

On loth September he accompanied Mr Burns to Peckiiia, where the Lord so remarkably began a work of awakening in the year 1854, and where He has never ceased to work. He has described the place and the people in some of his letters. The hills and the estuary, altogether, have a great resemblance to the Firth of Clyde — the same beautiful variety of water and island, and far reaches of the sea, which you lose sight of, and then catch glimpses of again, as their winding arms enclose island and mainland, washing at times the base of considerable hills. The town stands on the bank of the river; its population is only 5000, a small population comparatively for a Chinese town; and yet here it was the Lord, in His sovereignty, chose to work so remarkably in that year. Many souls, also, in the neighbouring glens and hamlets, were led to Christ.

He wrote home the following letter, describing his visit to one of these scenes of labour: —

“Pechuia is about twenty miles from Amoy — perhaps some ten of them frith or estuary, and the remainder a fine winding river. We started (Mr Douglas and myself) on Saturday morning, about nine o’clock, in the ‘Gospel Boat,’* which is well-

* A river boat was afterwards purchased for the use of the missionaries, for occasional living in, as well as travelling by from the funds left to the mission by Mr Sandeman.

THE GOSPEL BOAT.

known to many of the Sabbath scholars whom I had the pleasure of seeing last year. By eleven o clock

THE u GOSPEL BOAT.”

we had reached the entrance to the Pechuia river, after an interesting sail.

“As our purpose on this occasion was principally to visit Ma-ping, we then took the road for that place across the hills. These are not very high, but rich in the products of Chinese industry. At every available spot of their ascent the ground is levelled, a soil prepared, and wheat, barley, rice, or the betel root, is seen growing. The valleys at that season were covered with the rich blossom of the peach tree.

u At Ma-ping a good many of the Christians were waiting to receive us: and though I could not understand their tongue, it was easy to make out the warm and village-like welcome they gave us. The whole scene reminded me much of what I had witnessed among the highlands of Scotland. At evening worship the room was full of eager and earnest faces, anxious to hear the Word of Life.

“Next morning, the Sabbath, they were early-astir, and prayer and praise were poured forth as from the heart. There was some meaning in the confession of these people, for during the previous weeks some of them had had their fields bared of their ripe produce, and were otherwise persecuted for the name of Jesus. But they stand fast, by the strength of their Lord, and, as it may be supposed, would be among those to whom Christ’s word was precious on that His holy day. The church was a large room, and the minister (Mr Douglas) was placed at the side opposite the street, so that his voice reached not only the members who were in front, but any in the street who stopped to listen. At the outside were two forms filled with Chinese women, several having

HAPPY IN HIS WORK.

children in their arms. Among them were some awakened souls seeking the salvation of Jesus. From their secluded habits, it shews there is a work going on, when such hearers are among the congregation.

“As betimes it has happened among the highland glens, so in this region; souls have been brought to the knowledge of Jesus up among these secluded Chinese valleys; one here, and another there, set as single lights in the few hamlets or small villages of dark idolatry; and all to the glory of Him who passes by the rich and the learned, and oftentimes seeks out his own in quiet places of the earth.

“They shewed much Christian affection at parting, asking us to come soon back again; and it pleases the Master still to be adding souls to the number of believers in that region,”

It was just such a visit as was fitted to brace the soul of one who could so truly say, while at home — “Nothing so draws me to ministers as their success in winning souls to Christ.”

“My life at present” (he writes to his brother F.) “is made a very happy one to me. Learning a difficult language, but with all the necessary means at hand; its antiquity, and the vast multitude who read it, and the aim ever to be had in view, to carry the message of the salvation of God to these as perishing sinners — these cause each day, with its heat, or damps, or winds, to pass cheerily over my head. As Jacob’s time seemed short because of the love he bore Rachel, my months pass sweetly and quickly over because of the love of the divine Master.”

“3d October. — Every second person of the foreign mission community laid aside with fever; myself remarkably well till this evening. Aft er finishing some letters for home, called at the hospital to see some sailors, and returned by Dr Hirschberg’s. Did not feel quite so well; and now my pulse is at ]06°. Whatever be the will of God, my soul is for Jesus only: Jehovah-Tsidkenu — Jehovah, my righteousness.

“l &th October. — On looking back to the illness from which I am emerging, I think that I was rather incautious in rowing in the morning after the sun was up. One is constantly liable to forget the differ-, ence between this climate and home; but common sense and experience, with the consideration that the work of God is interrupted by illness, should put me on my guard in future.

“Should aim at being back from morning exercise by sunrise, that is, when it has got above the hills to the east — also, always to have an umbrella in case of being overtaken, and not to row in the sun in the morning, though with a sun-hat, All kinds of over-exertion, mental or physical, it is necessary to guard against in this climate; and the least lassitude or symptom of exhaustion should not he unheeded. ‘Edgars/a* in all things seems peculiarly necessary in this climate till one is seasoned. Exposure to the sun and over-exertion are the two points to be watched. Prayer and care — let these be my motto; results are wholly with God; and my soul bows down before Him in whose hands are my life, and light, and joy, and all in all. Truly we are crushed before the moth, and vain is the help of man.

“Satan is ever on the alert; and, after the period of sickness, is already resuming the attacks incident to a time of health.

“29th October. — A day of some help from above, some glimmerings of the true light which now shineth, seemed to penetrate the darkness of the earthly and carnal nature. How different from mere natural ideas or thoughts, which may amuse or for a while distract the mind from ennui or fatigue. The latter may exhilarate the spirits, may relieve the mind by giving it some pabulum; but any of the annoyances of life, any of the crosses, any of the little smarts which must incessantly meet us, upset one very quickly; but the tranquillity which light and peace from God bring, seems to be of a kind made for pass- * Temperance — in its wide Scripture sense. ing through these little troubles or great, made to stand and overcome them. It fits of its own nature for the performance of duties that may be irksome. The former, having respect to the imagination or the mere reasoning faculty, begins and ends very much there; but this breathing from God, this true light from Jesus Christ, penetrates equally through all parts of the soul and of the entire person, illuminating, sweetening, sanctifying, tranquillising, and strengthening the whole man, and fitting it for the sober reality of things, and also for their truest enjoyment,”

Here follows a letter breathing something of home: —

c< Amoy, 9th December 1857.

“My Dear Mother — I am sorry you are to spend this winter alone. I trust that He will be with you in this as in other trials. I believe in the constancy of the love of Him, who Himself, when about to drink the cup which the Father was giving to Him, had an angel sent down to strengthen Him. He will sustain you either by some ’ messenger’ of his, some believer, or some gracious providence of His; or He will Himself draw near as the Angel of the everlasting covenant, and comfort your heart by the pure consolations of His love and peace. He will say, 4 Canst thou, a mother, not forget thy poor son, and LETTER TO HIS MOTHER.

shall I forget thee V Believing in the sweet, holy, unchangeable love of that shining heavenly One, by faith I would look and see the outspread wings of His everlasting love, and my own mother once more and nearer than ever embraced under their ample shadow.

a I have a good letter from Mr Milne of Calcutta, introducing the engineer of one of the steamers. The news you give of the birth of souls through the preaching of Mr North is very cheering. May the people of God be only stirred up by this beginning of blessing to plead the more earnestly and constantly, until the large blessing for Scotland and England come. The felt dryness and lack of spiritual blessing was one good token, and now God has given a little rain. Oh that none may stay their asking or panting ’ as the hart for the water brooks, till God be pleased to send — what 1 — floods, ‘I will pour floods upon the dry ground, How blessed a work to spend part of every day in pleading for this glorious blessing for souls in Scotland. I long to hear of souls there and in England, almost as if I were still labouring there. Tell those in Perth with whom I used to unite in prayer, that in spirit I am still amongst them pleading for souls, and that as they look for their Master’s reward, they must never cease to plead and watch for the blessing, the kind of blessing which they have known in times past,* and which their Lord hath promised still, and then I know they will not forget to pour out prayers for the vast sea of perishing souls which lies around me here.

“There were twelve baptisms in the London Missionary Society Church on Sabbath last. In one case a father and his child were baptized at the same time, first the water poured on the old father’s, then on the child’s head.

“Your affectionate son,

D. S.”

“26th December. — Took my Saturday walk to the top of Sam-Td. A day to be remembered for the rich mercy of God.”

“29th.> — By the alarum clock, enabled to rise at four o’clock, and find it as ever a great help. My inner life becomes more definite, and in some degree, through the mercy of God, I know that I live. Prayer is then indeed prayer, relaxation is true relaxation, and study true study,”

“The effect of yesterday’s fast, as usual, felt to-day, as if there was nothing between the soul and spiritual things; clearing the vision of the soul, as the glasses of a telescope, soiled and covered with dust, are cleaned, and it is again raised to the eye,” * 1840.

REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR.

“31st December. — By some false view of the gospel, I have too little of that experience, ‘Stand in awe and sin not ‘pass the time of your sojourning here in fear, I believe that through want of this I have tended to turn the liberty of the gospel into licentiousness, and have been oftentimes, and deeply, and in several respects defiled before God thereby. He has put my foot into so large and wide a room, that I have not feared in coming near to the verge of evil. I believe that very uniformly for many days this has been the tempter’s plan with my souL Deliver me, 0 God, and put in my heart the godly fear of sin; keep me clinging every moment to the Saviour J esus Christ, for Thy great name’s sake.

“What I may call my only cross since coming here is the opium trade. The extent of this trade, and my own countrymen standing as the chief agents in it, have been a heavy weight upon me during all the months of my sojourn here. The unashamed manner of it is an aggravation.

“I feel also the strong current of worldliness prevalent. Lord, keep me, enable me ever to feel the necessity of making a decided stand for God and His gospel, against the spirit of the world,”

“On the other hand, when I review the mercies of the year, I have been altogether crowned with His lovingkindness. Since the day that I stepped into the ship which was to bear me on the wayhither, even to this hour, I have only to sing of love, and tender mercy, and compassion. There has been as manifest an increase of heaven’s bliss and heavenly income as I have ever experienced. Since quitting my native land and friends, and dear believers and children in J esus, for His name’s sake, in some way He has “made all things new but in such a way that my soul thirsts still as dry land for the manifestation of His love, and truth, and power. He has borne me (but how calmly and peacefully) as on eagles’ wings. I have never had a pang, or shadow of real grief or bitterness, on account of what I have left behind; the love of Jesus, the tender mercies of God, have so calmly and continually filled my heart and soul. The divine joys and the love of God which have been poured into my needy, thirsting soul, have passed in depth and calmness, and a kind of naturalness and simplicity, all that I have ever known. Though sought for by prayer, and supplication, and fasting, yet when they have come, it has been as those showers which tarry not for man nor wait for the sons of men. Grace, the freest and the loveliest, has reigned through righteousness throughout all and every movement.

u I would have three things specially before me,” I. That there be full time each day for prayer

LETTER TO HIS MOTHER.

unto the God of my life; and for the reading and diligent searching of the Scriptures; and for this purpose, if possible, to rise at four o’clock

“II. Attainment of the language.

u III. Prayer on behalf of China and her perishing millions.

“8th March. — I am taking a brief holiday; sailed to Pagoda island; a beautiful day. Sang praise to God and my Saviour, with the concertina for a harp. Soul in exercise before the great God, and drawn out in love to Immanuel. The time on that solitary isle, in these distant seas, much to be remembered. It was a strangely sweet and heavenly season.

“My mind recurred again to the solemn scene through which I had been recently passing, and I sang over the hymns which I used to sing with the departed Mrs Doty. I seemed to rise above death and the grave, and to sing again these pilgrim songs, as if myself on the threshold of glory, yea, almost within it.

“On my way home the stars shone out beautifully,”

Here is a part of a pleasant, playful letter to his brother, in the midst of Chinese work: —

•” Amot, 8th March 1858.

“My Dear F. — You will have heard all the news from Canton. Lord Elgin passed up by Amoy to Shanghai; and with whom should he spend two hours at Swatow, but with that 1 diligent man in his business, W. C. Bums. He invited him to breakfast with him on board her Majesty’s Plenipot. ship. Thus does that man 8 stand before kings, Lord E. was present at our service on Sabbath, conducted by the missionaries, none of whom are Episcopal. He came in undress, so that scarcely any body knew him. He is little and stout, but quite like a man to carry through business. He asked the Consul a good deal about the mission affairs, and had introduced to him the senior of the missionaries. Another magnate was the Bishop of Victoria, who, the previous Sabbath, officiated and dispensed the Communion. His lawn sleeves looked rather odd in these distant parts: but Episcopacy is shorn of much that gives attraction to her at home when the State pedestal is removed, and she stands pretty much on her own merits. The real bishops are the missionaries, who could point to some three or four hundred of a gathered flock from among the heathen, and whom, we trust, a higher power than any supposed apostolical succession has made farrtxfatov$ (overseer.-”.

(i Two magnates of the lower species have lately come to Amoy, the former being a fine tiger. He had swum across from the mainland. The story is,

LETTER.

that very early one morning two fishermen had just roused themselves from sleep in their boats, when one of them saw, as he supposed, a foreigner’s dog swimming towards them. Hoping to get some reward by the stranger, he offered to help him into their boat, when a good firm bite in the shoulder told him to mind his own business! The next that was heard of the striped gentleman was his landing at Emung Hang, a suburb of Amoy, where I pass almost daily. An unwonted collection of gongs and shouting drove him into a temple; and at last, some twelve soldiers having been obtained, they succeeded, by shots from the roof, in bringing him low! I saw him afterwards. From snout to tip he measured more than seven feet; the body about five. The stripes were not so finely marked as in the ordinary Bengal tiger, but he is said to be of the same species; so that you see we are favoured with some of the Garnivora in this region. The flesh was purchased by the Chinese as an extraordinary and exquisite meat! The bones are used for medicine, it being rationally supposed that the powder made of such strong stuff must give corresponding strength to all who imbibe it! The other visitor, or rather capture, is a pelican, taken in a net at Swatow, and sent to the naturalist whom I once mentioned to you. This bird measures fourteen feet across the wings, and eats no end of pounds of fish. The albatross, of different species, is also found in these parts, though not usually so large as the famous Cape birds. I don’t know if I mentioned that hawks and kites, of all sorts and sizes, are continually hovering about the harbour and among the hills. Yesterday, I counted thirty, sailing and swimming in the 8 balmy air, at one single solitary island, where I had gone for a sail. As many as sixty have been seen at such a place in a still evening.

“Do you remember a young Episcopalian student, a clergyman, who took breakfast with us in Edinburgh, about five years ago? He was introduced by Mrs MTntosh, Geddes, He had then, as you may remember, some thoughts of China. He dropped in upon us the other day, just arrived from England, and on his way to Xing-po as a missionary. As he did not at all know that I was in China, the meeting was to both of us very unexpected and pleasant. My paper is done.

“Tour ever affectionate brother,”

He was fond of rowing in the Chinese boats; and his tall figure, as he stood erect, working with two oars, often elicited the surprise of the natives, who could not understand why a man who did not need to do it, should occupy himself in such an exercise.

WATCHING AT DEATH-BEDS.

But we are now approaching the scenes that ended his career. On 27th February, he stood by the deathbed of Mrs Doty. He writes: “The strongest of her sex in the community has been removed.” Then he speaks of “Yearnings of heart over the motherless children and adds, “Never seemed to reach farther into death and the hereafter,” It had been a night of most brilliant moonlight, while he stood with Mr Doty in that chamber of death. “There was not prayer so much, as the soul wholly God’s — burning up as a steady flame unto Him I” One of his last home letters thus refers to the sad event: —

“The death of the wife of one of the American missionaries seemed, and has been, a great loss. She met with the Chinese women for prayer and the reading of the Scriptures once a week, and was much beloved and looked up to by them. But He, in whose hands are all events for the good of His Church, knoweth how to bring spiritual blessing out of temporal trial. The large number of Chinese who followed the earthly remains to their last resting-place were deeply moved — many in tears. And since then there has been a marked quickening among the native brethren; and there may have been a looking more closely to their ’ lamps, and a firmer ‘girding up of their loins, lest the ‘Son of Man, the glorious Bridegroom, should come on them suddenly. Inquirers have been led to a deeper searching of heart, seeing that death, to all out of Christ, is but the prelude to everlasting woe, and this may arrive on them at any moment of any day.

“Among other hopeful cases, I understand that five Chinese women are applicants for baptism in Amoy at present. We may not complain when J esus removes well-established believers, even though they be missionaries or their helpmates, when He causes many to stand up in their room, new precious souls from among the heathen.

“Nor let any one remain at home merely for the sake of relations, how dear soever they may be to them. While the departed sister in Jesus lay a-dying here — having quitted a home in America, the only converted child, I believe, out of a large family — what was God doing in that house? The father, if a Christian, had been buried in, and the seed all but choked by, the cares of this life — but his soul then got a quickening; the old praying mother called it a baptism, which she believed would remain in him even to the end. The eldest brother of the family had been hopefully converted, and the youngest daughter, and many acquaintances. Faithful is he that hath promised. ...”

“SOth March. — Monday after preaching. After forenoon work, set sail in a boat, and proceeded far

MEDITATION AND COMMUNION.

on the sea. Struck the mainland, and climbed to the top of one of the high hills there. Seemed to get the good now to myself of the services of the Sabbath, as if the finest of the wheat were given. At the summit it was made as a sacramental season — my soul was filled with the truth and the love of Jesus. The 110th Psalm was given me to sing, and especially the third verse, over and over again, thinking of China.

“4 A willing people in Thy day

Of power shall come to Thee.’ &c.

Ci Realised, in some measure, Heb, i. 14 — ‘Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation/

“Saw Pagoda Island in the distance, and remembered my day spent there. The larks were singing beautifully overhead.

“6th June 1858. — Communion with the native Chinese; made a happy time at the table, and afterwards; viewing the bread and wine as tokens and sensible proofs that Jesus had died, and was to come again.

“Where is assurance or peace to be found, but in walking by faith in the altogether completed work — the entirely-filled-up righteousness of the Lord J esus Christ? The great love of Christ has been drawing somewhat nearer.”

Some of the next extracts are surely remarkable, now that we know the event.

] 8th June. — “A blink in the morning of the Song of Solomon — ‘Let him kiss me, To me to live is Christ. Sometimes my life in some of its phases seems like a romance of love and joy/1 Then he speaks of warnings from the climate. 17th June, he meditates on “Jacob’s request to his son Joseph as to his burial,” 30th — “Mr Doty s child died” and he cries for sanctification, and the preparing of himself for death. ] 8th July — “Breathe, of thy sanctifying, illumining Spirit, into my heart, and, as it were, through the outward frame of the body; for it is written — ‘Your whole spirit, soul, and body/”

“Tuesday, 20th July. — Still many said to be dying. Preserved hitherto of the mercy of God.

“Up earlier — 4.30. Row; and Scriptures and Psalms made good. Found, as usual, the good effect of an early start; and time for the thoughts to be collected before God previous to meeting with men.

“Forenoon reading and prayer with my friend, Mrs T. Evening prayer-meeting with Smith and Grant; yet soul much darkened by my sin. Though long kept off, the enemy is ready to return again. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation,”

“2tth July, Saturday. — Gracious Saviour, my Lord and sole abiding friend, be Thou near to keep

BREATHINGS — LAST SERMON.

and sanctify. Deeply hast Thou been pleased to satisfy my heart with Thine own love; nor hast Thou withheld all those human founts for which man naturally yearns. Come Thou near now on this day of preparation for preaching the holy and blessed, though searching, truth. Thy service, 0 my Saviour, is sweet beyond all thought — to preach in the name of Jesus.

“Dwelling in this large, high-roofed dwelling, with its broad verandahs, the evenings especially I much enjoy. A touch of sickness, with health restored; dwelling near kind friends, so that I have society and solitude combined; an instrument of sacred music; moonlights of surpassing yet mild brightness; with now and then a passing sail; combined with the notes of two snow-white turtle-doves, whose gentle cry, morning, noon, and night, re-echoes to my heart the sounds and scenes of my far-distant, native land” — these are some of the things which he enumerates, that awoke peculiar feelings in his soul.

And now the end was at hand. On the 25th of July he preached on 2 Cor. xiii. 5, S£ Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith,” a word in season previous to partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Then, on the 26th, he writes: — “Hundreds said to be dying daily in Amoy from cholera. ‘Be ye also ready’ — midnight — cockcrowing — or in the morning.”

Next day, 27th: —” Day somewhat darkened by

SOS

the flesh. Afternoon; reading in the Lamentations, found it good,” Then (though the connecting link is wanting) follow the words, “Love and Liberty”

These were the last words he wrote. “Love AND Liberty P Surely this is the breathing of a soul almost already free! It is like Henry Martyn’s aspirations, which were the last words that man of God ever wrote:” Thought with sweet comfort and peace of my God; in solitude, my company, my friend, and benefactor. O when shall time give place to eternity! When shall appear that new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness V

Dr Legge, missionary at Hong Kong, on speaking of his death, remarks, “When I looked at him I thought, ‘You will have the desire of your heart, in living manyyears among the Chinese to see them converted [’ But I little thought how soon that armour on him would be laid aside,” One in his native land sang of him no more than the truth in the following lines: —

China fob, Christ,
Count not the pk%ce!
‘Twas written on his brow;
Even while his hand,
Through his own land,
Lov’d still the seed to sow,
The distant prize
Would ever rise
And whisper, “Let me go.”
Did not the flash of his dark eye
Foretell of early victory?

TESTIMONY OF OTHERS.

China for Christ,
Count not the price!
‘Tis written on his tomb —

Upon the sail that bore him far,

Upon his standard in heaven’s war,

Upon the volume in his hand,

In cypher strange of Sinim’s land,

Upon his heart where like a shrine

Affection clasped the love divine,

Nor bathed in any shallower love,

Than of the Bridegroom from above,

Upon his soul that kindled high

To finish faith’s fight gloriously,

Upon his pallid, stately form

Dark pestilence has seized by storm,

“Writ with a hieroglyphic pen

In lines of love beyond our ken,
Gleams the device,
China for Christ,
Count not the price. — M. P. B.

Perhaps nothing more characteristically true could have been said of his death, than was said of him by one of his bosom friends, Mr Coventry:” Here is one man, at least, who, when he comes to die, has nothing to add to the daily, hourly, thoughts and experience of his ordinary life V

On hearing of his death (Dr James Hamilton said), that saying of John Foster was the first thought that rushed into his mind: “The grandest use of a lifetime on earth is the opportunity it gives of advancing the glory of God,”

Mr W. C. Burns wrote home: “When, little more than a year ago, I visited Amoy, 1 had much sweet intercourse with him; and as the vessel that conveyed me back to Swatow left the harbour, he stood on the balcony above and waved to me until we were out of sight. Now we may imagine him from a higher elevation beckoning us to follow on in the Christian race, laying aside every weight, and running that we may reach the prize,”

Another wrote: “Do not think his labours in China have been in vain. I believe he has been one of the greatest blessings to all the missionaries in Amoy. Through his unwearied prayerfulness, through his labours of love, through his great humility and fidelity, he contributed greatly to raise the tone of godliness in the entire missionary circle, and to effect a more distinct separation between the Church and the world.”

Mr Grant conducted the English service at the

grave, andMr Talmage and Mr J. Stronach the Chinese.

He is buried in the small island of Kolongsoo, right

opposite Amoy. The tomb-stone has on the main slab

at the top the inscription: — “e Sacred to the Memory

of the Rev. David Sandeman, Missionary to the

Chinese from the Presbyterian Church in England.

He died of cholera at Amoy, July 31. 1858, aged 32

years. From the time when he gave himself to his

Lord’s work, he entered upon a career of self-surrender HIS GRAVE,

which seemed to know no pause, and no abatement till he entered on his blessed rest, And again below are the words, ‘Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,”

On the green-coloured stones of the two sides which support the upper one, there are quotations from Scripture in English; the one is, “0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the. strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” On the opposite side are the verses on which Mr Sandeman preached on board ship at Swatow, when he arrived there on his way to Amoy on a Sabbath. The words are,” Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.3’ On the corresponding stones of the two ends of the tomb are inscriptions in Chinese, the one giving the name, country, and occupation of the deceased, with the date of his death, and the other consists of some Chinese verses on the victory of the Christian over death. The tomb may be seen from the windows of the house in Amoy where he used to study.

That grave will teach its lessons from year to year.

Two of those who most recently went forth, Mr Swanson and Mr Mackenzie, tell in their letters how on that spot they felt themselves drawn anew to devote themselves to their Lord, and to think of the reward of His servants at the Resurrection of The Just.

The letters of his friends have supplied a few interesting details of Mr Sandeman’s last moments. His illness lasted only twenty hours, and it was at the close of a busy week that he was called away. On the Thursday of that week, the child of one residing in MrTalmage’s house died of cholera. Mr Sandeman was much occupied ministering to the bereaved mother, praying often with her, and after the child’s death plaiting a wreath of flowers for the coffin to soothe and gratify maternal feeling. He did not attend the funeral on Friday, feeling unwelL The same day he met Dr Bell, who remembers that he left him saying, “We can’t tell which of us may be the next; but none of us liveth to himself, and no one diethto himself; for whether we live unto the Lord, or whether we die, we die unto the Lord,” That day, Mr Doty s little child sickened; and at midnight Mr Sandeman himself was obliged to seek medical assistance, for unmistakeable symptoms of cholera had appeared. His case soon assumed an alarming aspect.

All the missionaries successively, in true brotherly

HIS DEATH-BED.

ove, were at his bedside in the course of the morning, to whom he said, “Don’t come too near, for your own sake and for the sake of the work,” Mr Smith mentions, that the fourteenth chapter of John was among the last portions of Scripture read to him, and which he was able to follow. To a question of Mr Grant’s, as to what gave him confidence in that hour, his reply was, “From-head-to-foot, righteousness!” — a reply most characteristic of the man, his soul’s delight having ever been to proclaim Christ’s righteousness as the sinner’s robe. When Mr Talmage asked him if he had any message to leave for his friends, his reply was not less characteristic, “Tell my mother I thought of her, because she taught me the way to Jesus.” To Mr Talmage he said, “Tabernacle dissolving!” and spoke of the love of Jesus being “like a cloudless sky; the one dark spot in it has been my sins.” Mr Doty quoted the words, 1 John i. 7, “The blood of J esus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” “I know it does! I know it does!” was his prompt response.* He replied to Mr A. Stronach,

* There must have been a cloud on the mind of Bishop Wilson of Calcutta, at the time he spoke of this verse to Archdeacon Pratt. The Bishop was on his deathbed, and the Archdeacon had quoted 1 John i. 7, as a word in season, but was met by the reply — “You must take it in connection with the context; it is only for those who walk in the light.” Upon this, the Archdeacon tried to comfort him by asserting — “You have striven so to walk who asked him if the Great High Priest was precious to him in that solemn hour: “He always has been, He always has been, exceedingly precious, exceedingly precious, from the moment I knew Him till now,” Soon after, he said, “May grace be given you to pray earnestly for China and its perishing millions I”

Mr John Stronach inquired if he felt much pain?

in the light.” Did these good men mean to say that the blood of Christ is not to be used by sinners until they have first walked in the light? Is it only sinners who have made certain attainments that are warranted to use that precious blood? Must sinners begin by walking in the light, and then afterwards hope to get a right to the blood? Does holiness precede pardon? Does sanctification prepare us for justification? Surely this would be putting a price on the waters (Isai. Iv. 1); it would be exacting money ere a sinner was entitled to rest on Christ’s work. But no — there was some cloud on the mind of these two pastors in applying the truth to their own case. Bengel (the well-known author of the “Gnomon to the New Testament “) was a thoroughly accurate critic and scholar, as well as sound divine. When he was dying, a young scholar visited him, from whom he asked one word of comfort ere he left the room; and when the young man gave that text, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,” Bengel’s whole soul accepted it — “That is the very word I want! It is enough!” Yes; we come to the blood directly and immediately, and then learn to walk in the light. Nor does the context of 1 John i. 7 put anything between us sinners and the blood. On the contrary, it reminds us that if we are walking in the light, and have, therefore, fellowship with God, we owe all to the blood which cleanseth us; and so it teaches us to continue to the last making use of that which we began with — to wit, the blood that gives us boldness to enter the Holiest (Heb. x. 19).

HIS DEATH-BED.

He said he did not, and that his only pain since he had known Christ had been sin. Then he spoke again: “The love of Jesus is like the sea around you “And he sent this as his last message to his friends,” Tell them, it was only last night, when I had a little more strength, that the love of Jesus came rushing into my soul like the waves of the sea — as if it would rend me — so that I had to cry, Stop, Lord, it is enough! O the height, and depth, and length, and breadth, of the love of Jesus!” (as he said this, he waved his hand with a motion expressive of desire to see nothing else),” and I was constrained to cry out,

All too long have we been parted!
Let my spirit speed to His.”*

Kallying in the afternoon, he arranged some temporal affairs, making everything bear directly on the glory of His Lord. Once, when he had said, “I am cut off in the midst of my days — how sad!” Dr Bell asked if he wished to live for the sake of preaching the gospel to the Chinese, “Aye, that is it!” he exclaimed. He then sent discriminating messages to several individuals, whose state of mind he had been well acquainted with. To one who had long “hung about the doors of the kingdom,” he sent this warning, “There is nothing but hell for those who go no * See p. 70. farther than the door! There is no middle place,” This message he solemnly repeated a second time.

The pain increased; the want of air distressed him; but he was able audibly to join in the J 16th Psalm to some extent, giving fervent thanks to his Lord for His mercy and kindness toward him throughout all his life. After that he gradually sank, till about eight o’clock he ceased to breathe.

That was Saturday night. The funeral took place next day, at half-past five in the evening. What a Sabbath he had that day begun!

One of the brethren. Mr Carstairs Douglas, was absent that Sabbath, preaching to the members of the little church in the neighbouring village of Ma-ping. Returning next morning, he was shewn the new-made grave! and then entered the very room where his fellow-labourer used to study and pray. He found books and papers lying as they were left three days before, ready for use again, if it had been the Lord’s will. The tent was there — the soldier was gone. The Captain of salvation had called him away to stand near His person within the vail.

And now. what shall we say as to the Lord’s ways? We have not sufficient light to enable us to interpret providences aright. “Let us judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come,” (1 Cor. iv. 5). One thing,

A SCKIPTUKAL ANALOGY.

however, we may ask, Was it not thus that the Master dealt with one of His most loved apostles? James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John, was prepared (as we would say) for great services, by being shewn things which others were not, time after time. Did not the Lord select him as one who, in the house of J aims, should witness death conquered? and on the Transfiguration-hill, see the glory of the coming kingdom revealed? He was one of four who, on the Mount of Olives, sat over against the temple, and heard the Lord tell the ruin of Jerusalem, and the signs of His Coming again. And did not this man share in the precious privilege of being taken down to Gethsemane, with only two companions, there to be present when our cup of wrath was put to the lips of the Surety? And did he not receive power from the Holy Ghost as fully as any one on the day of Pentecost? Who, then, more fit than James to testify fully of Jesus the Saviour? Who better furnished? Yet, he is cut off ere ever he has been more than a few months engaged in His Master’s work. His remarkable training in the school of Christ, was proved by the event to be as much a preparation for soon leaving earth and being with Christ above, as for labour and service here. It seems to have been even thus with Mr Sandeman. And an important lesson is taught us by such cases as these. They say to us, Reckon not upon an after time for using what the Lord gives; make immediate use of all: attend much to ordinary, daily living. It may be, this is all the opportunity of serving the Lord that is to be afforded you.

The Son of Man sends forth many labourers into His fields, but He has many more whom He could send, if He chose. He employs the one, because He likes to honour His servants by using them as instruments; He sends home the other soon, because He would have us know that He does not need to use instruments any further than pleases Him. He is seen in vision coming in the white cloud, having on His head the Golden Crown, and in his hand the Sharp Sickle, (Rev. xiv. 14). The voice from heaven cries,” Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them and when He has thus called them to rest, He Himself finishes the reaping which they, by His grace, had so well begun.