Higher Service
It was the summer of 1895. In the sunny days of August, after the wheat harvest had been gathered in, Hsi called a special conference at The Middle Eden, to consider plans for strengthening and extending the Refuge work. Much was in his mind with regard to future possibilities. The Lord had wrought wondrously in the past, setting before them an open and effectual door; and he was full of hope and confidence for days to come.
From far and near the Refuge - workers came, joined by leading members of the Church, until two hundred guests overflowed the old home in the Western Chang village. Hsi was thoroughly in his element welcoming these well-loved friends and caring for their needs. But still more was he full of glad enthusiasm when the meetings began. Many matters affecting the work of the Refuges needed prayerful consideration. With growing experience it was natural that improvements should suggest themselves; and ways in which mistakes and friction could be avoided, and the spiritual usefulness of the work increased. Though Hsi was very
38s 2 c far from considering their methods perfect, he did believe in them; and felt even more than at the beginning, that they could be made increasingly effective as a soul-saving agency, by the blessing of God. One thing he clearly recognised was the need for more supervision, and that the time had come to associate with himself, experienced brethren as superintendents over various portions of the work. And with no little thankfulness he watched the development of several who seemed to be growing in fitness for such responsibility in the near future.
One is tempted to linger over the bright days of that summer gathering: the joyous faith; the love and unity; the work accomplished by the grace of God; the lessons learned; and the maturer powers. Hsi had reached his sixtieth year, and in spite of incessant and exhausting toil, was full of vitality. It was good to see him there, in his own home, surrounded by friends and fellow-workers to whom he was endeared by many a sacred tie; looking back with thankfulness, and forward with renewed devotion.
On one of the closing days of the conference, Hsi preached a sermon that will never be forgotten. Many inquirers were present and Christians from the neighbourhood, as well as the Refuge-workers. He took as his text the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: the “every day” of this life; and the “great gulf fixed” beyond. As he spoke of the eternal issues of all our living here, a light as from that other world seemed to illuminate the message. It was full of solemnity and power. If he had known that it was the last time he should speak to the Church he loved so well, he could not have pleaded with them more earnestly to turn with an undivided heart to God. And so with quickened longing to live lives that should tell for eternity, that little company dispersed to take up their work again.
A few days after the conference, Hsi went up to Hung-tung to see Mr. Hoste, in his usual health and vigour.
The day was hot and the journey tiring, but he scarcely seemed to feel it; and that evening was just himself, full of interest in all that was going on. Suddenly, however, those around him noticed a change; he fainted, and before any one could reach him, fell unconscious to the ground. After a little while he came to, but seemed strangely weak. And when a day or two went by, and he did not rally, Mr. Hoste thought it wiser to take him down to P’ing-yang to see Dr. Millar Wilson.
There in the old mission-house he was received with kindest sympathy. They put him in a quiet room, hoping that a few days’ rest would revive him again. But in spite of all that could be done, he seemed unable to recover strength.
But perhaps he would be better at home. At any rate, he felt he would like to take the journey without delay. So his own cart was sent for, and with every care they carried him back to the Western Chang village. “Whatever comes,” he said as he left the mission-house, “it is just — trust in the Lord.”
At first there seemed no reason for anxiety. He lay still and quiet in his own room, looking out on to the sunny courtyard; and things went on as usual, except that Mrs. Hsi remained at home, and was with him all the time. He did not need much nursing, for he suffered no distress or pain. But it was good to be together. And he was very weak. Mr. Hoste was often there; and though too feeble to talk much, Hsi loved to have him come. Elder Si looked after everything; and much prayer was made, throughout the district, that the beloved pastor might soon be well again.
But weeks slipped into months; autumn tints crept over the plain; and still he was no stronger. Dr. Millar Wilson and Dr. Hewett kindly came over from P’ing-yang, and did all that love and skill could do. But without avail. Medically it was a case of utter prostration, following upon years of over-strain; and there were serious heart symptoms. But it was long before they could bring themselves to believe that he would not recover.
How gladly would he have rallied if he could — to toil a little longer where the need seemed so great. Since the old dark days, in that very room, when he lived only to smoke opium, how wonderful the grace of God had been. But it had all passed so quickly. A little had been done; a few life-lessons learned; some opportunities embraced of growing in His knowledge, and His likeness, of sharing “the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death:” but oh, how much remained. Some souls had been saved, and thousands of opium-smokers rescued. But it was only a beginning; and wider opportunities seemed at hand. And so they were. But not here; not in that way.
Worn out: yes, but in the service of the Lord he loved. Broken: but on His feet. All the strength and sweetness lavished there. Oh, he was rich, and blest. Those around him might turn away and weep. But if angels can envy the bliss of human hearts, surely they must have envied that dying man — knowing the welcome, the rapture that waited, just beyond the shadows.
Before he became too weak to make the effort, Pastor Hsi gave directions for the temporary closing of some of the more distant Refuges. He knew that a time of difficulty must come after his removal, and tried to prepare for it as far as possible. He asked after matters that were causing anxiety; and showed the same deep interest in the work, and assurance that the Lord would care for and continue it, as long as it was for His glory. But the exhaustion was very great, and he was not capable of much emotion. He could no longer kneel for prayer; and even speech became impossible. There was no disease or suffering: it was just the gradual withdrawal of life, before the vital powers failed.
“The Lord is taking away my strength,” he said. “It must be because my work is done.”
For just six months he lingered; latterly in semiunconsciousness at times. The house was full, but all was very quiet. And there was much prayer. Toward the end of January, he began to suffer from sore throat, brought on by a cold, which led to great distress in breathing. Then the conviction forced itself on those around him that the end was near. Long as they had been expecting it, the blow was terrible. For to hundreds he was unspeakably dear. Strong men could not restrain their grief, and were shaken with sobs like children. But dear Mrs. Hsi was enabled to say, through her tears: “I think of Jesus — and He is enough.”
And so on the morning of February 19, 1896, he was translated to higher service.
One cannot think of him as dead. Rather incomparably more living! In that land where His servants serve Him — seeing His face. Down here amid the darkness, he gave all. Nothing was too precious, if it could be used for Jesus; no labour too toilsome, if it could save a soul for whom He died. No cross seemed heavy, if carried for the Master; no pathway difficult that His blessed feet had trod.
“If any man serve me, let him follow me; And where I am, there shall also my servant be: If any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
And so he passes from our sight, into the fuller life of perfect union with the Lord — to all eternity, on and on, expanding in rapture infinite, fulfilling His glorious purposes, sharing His victory and love, of the increase of whose government “there shall be no end.”
Dear Reader, much remains that might be said. We might tell of the brave rallying after he was
ELDER HSU. Page 391.
Hsii is the present successor of Pastor Hsi, and has received not a few of the special gifts possessed by his predecessor. This photograph was taken in Peking, when Hsu and his young companion had gone to tell of the awful persecutions of 1900, and to seek for help and advice on behalf of the destitute Chinese Christians. Among other things he took back 200 copies of the New Testament, which were distributed among the little rhurches. so that Dublic worship might be fully recommenced.
gone; and how, with thankfulness amid their desolation, they laid all that remained of their loved leader to rest on the quiet hillside, overlooking the plain and distant river, and turned once more to the work he had left them, knowing that God was with them still: of how Elder Sf was chosen to fill, as far as possible, the empty place; and dear Mrs. Hsi devoted herself anew to the care of the Women’s Refuges. We might tell how Mr. Hoste had to leave the district for much-needed furlough, and was replaced by others who in the same spirit watched over the wider development of the Hung-tung church: and then of the terrible persecutions and many martyrdoms of 1900, when in the dark days of the Boxer troubles Shan-si was baptized in blood: of the death of Elder Si, from wounds inflicted by the rioters; and the devotion of his fellow-workers who, at the risk of their own lives, made possible the escape of most of the missionaries who lived to reach the coast. And we might dwell upon the brighter picture; the return of those beloved workers, after untold sufferings, to give what remains of life to gathering in the harvest, promised from buried seed; the joy with which the Shan-si Christians again received them; and the present position of the Church, bravely facing many difficulties, and of the Refuge work, now under the guidance of Elder Hsu. But all that is another story; and our pilgrimage together is at an end.
One last fact remains concerning the life we have followed to its close, or its completion rather: one thought I fain would leave upon your heart.
In the early summer of 1896, just three months after Pastor Hsi was called home, the Rev. David
Hill of the Wesleyan Mission, Hankow, was also taken to be with the Lord. What a meeting for those friends long parted. Seventeen years before, the missionary had won that heathen Chinaman to Jesus, little thinking how many he in his turn would win. With what joy and praise to God they would go over the long story; tracing His hand in ever-widening blessing.
But was it David Hill who won Hsi to Christ? Or was it he alone? Long after both were gone, the writer received the following letter, penned by one of his colleagues at Hankow:
May I give you an unpublished incident, told me by Mr. Hill himself.
Mr. Hill had a dear friend in England, who was distinguished for her power in prayer. When she died, an unfinished letter was found upon her desk intended for Mr. Hill, and was forwarded to him by the family. In it this lady told Mr. Hill how she had recently been much drawn out in prayer on his behalf, and had specially been led to plead for an extraordinary blessing to be given to him in his work at that time. She felt distinctly that she had been heard, though she knew not what form the blessing would take. The date of this letter was found so closely to correspond with the conversion of Pastor Hsi, that Mr. Hill never doubted but that that was the extraordinary blessing given in answer to his friend’s prayers.
Dear Reader — will you pray: pray for China,for all heathen lands, as you never prayed before? Listen:
“Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker; Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.”
“If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Is your life so in touch with God that you can really pray? Are you using this mighty power? Are souls being saved in dark places, in answer to your pleadings? The deepest need of missionary work in China to-day is prayer; more prayer in the power of the Spirit; effectual, fervent prayer for all missionaries and native Christians, that they may be brought into contact with men and women everywhere, made ready by the same Holy Spirit to receive the truth; and that their lives, like that of David Hill, may win souls to the Saviour.
He went; and his friend prayed. Both were needed. Can you go? If not, then win souls in China just the same, by prayer at home and helping to send others. But if you can —
“O Lord, Here am I; send me.”