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grace, and a cause for most jubilant praise. The wilderness and the solitary place is made glad, and the desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose.' 'Truly, this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.'

"But you will be anxious to know what is the result of this work of grace at the present time, and, without any circumlocution, I am inclined to tell you. It is this. Mr. Hall and I baptized on one day forty-five persons-twenty-eight men and seventeen women; and many others whom we examined and saw are in a hopeful condition, and may soon be admitted to the fellowship of the Church. Those whom we baptized had been previously submitted to a personal and careful examination respecting their knowledge of, and faith in, the one God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Most of the time we spent there was given to this most important and interesting work, and out of a large number in whose hearts the Lord is evidently working, we decided on these forty-five as the first-fruits for an offering to the Lord. And oh, that he who has called them may 'preserve them all by his power, through faith unto eternal salvation.' What a blessed

day was that 23rd of September, when these souls were admitted to the Church militant! What a glorious and exciting scene to see them all gathered in their newly-arranged sanctuary, eagerly offering themselves a living sacrifice unto God, holy and acceptable; while with devout mien and earnest voice they declared their faith in the great verities of our holy Christianity, and solemnly pledged themselves to a consecration to the service of the blessed Redeemer. It was a scene on which angels in heaven looked down with joy, and on which devils even gazed with envious rage. A scene which will produce a thrill of joyous praise throughout the universal Church of Christ. But that scene is a pledge as well as a triumph; it speaks of what will yet be done, as well as of what has been done. The power which saved these is at work yet more mightily, and will save thousands more. This is but the earnest of a glorious harvest yet to be gathered. To God be all the praise.

"In tracing the origin and progress of this work, we are forcibly impressed with the fact, that it is a practical illustration of the words of Holy Writ, 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.' From the beginning down to the present hour the agency of man is scarcely seen, so marvellously has the arm of the Lord been made bare. By a very singular dream, the old man, Chu Tien-Chuen, was led earnestly to inquire atter saving truth, first from the Roman Catholics in his own neighbourhood; but failing to obtain from them the information he needed, he was prompted to visit Tien-tsin, under the impression that he would there meet with more intelligent and consistent teachers. Arrived at Tien-tsin, he inquired for the Romish priests (for he knew nothing of Protestant missionaries), but was directed, in mistake, to our little chapel.. There he heard for the first time those Divine truths which arrested his devout attention, and satisfied him that he had found the object of his search. For days he sat in our chapel listening to the message of life, then with a cheerful heart he returned to his native village, and told the people the good news he had heard. His imperfect descriptions of what he had heard, backed by the Christian

books he carried with him, made a deep impression on his simpleminded neighbours, and a few of them deputed him to re-visit Tien-tsin, and ask for a teacher to be sent to instruct them in the doctrines of the Gospel. His request was complied with, and a faithful Christian was sent with him to spy out the land, sow a little seed of the Gospel, and bring us a report. That report was most encouraging, showing that there were people whose hearts God had touched. Other two messengers were sent, and they saw even greater things; the people flocked in numbers every day to hear them, and to inquire after the Way of life. They found that a house of prayer had been prepared, and men were meeting daily to read the Word of God and to pray. On their return, they presented the urgent wish of the people for a preacher to be sent to remain with them. We could no longer hesitate; and at once arranged to send our native preacher, Hu Hsien Leng, accompanied by his devoted and heroic wife. In this course we were manifestly directed by God, for their holy, zealous labours have been most signally blest, and their name 'is as ointment poured forth' amongst the people. They have been most faithful and untiring in their labours, each of them conducting two meetings every day for religious instruction and prayer, Mr. Hu taking the men, and Mrs. Hu the women. During the interval of these meetings most of their time is occupied in receiving visitors and inquirers, many of them from a considerable distance. A singing class also is conducted, in which Christian hymns are sung to foreign tunes. Occasionally, Mr. Hu visits a neighbouring village to speak with the people about the things of Christ. Some of the poor women stop with Mrs. Hu all day long, while she is always cheerful and ever ready to speak about Jesus and his salvation. It is impossible to exaggerate the influence she exerts. To say the women love her, is not enough; they are devoted to her-they almost worship her. She is truly a shepherdess. It is most singular and interesting to see them go to the chapel in their shy, awkward manner; she leads the way, and they all follow her like a flock of sheep, pulling at her dress, like children, running, pushing, and scrambling as though they were frightened lest they should lose sight of her. They have full confidence in her, and are perfectly docile in her hands. She is bold as a lion in pleading for their right to hear the Gospel, and nobly has she succeeded in gaining their liberty-a liberty which under other circumstances could not have been tolerated, so much is it at variance with Chinese customs. But we have reason to believe that many of them have obtained a liberty more blessed than this, even the 'glorious liberty of the children of God.' Under God, Mrs. Hu has truly led them from the land of Egypt and the house of bondage.' With a cheerful patience which never fails, she moves among them like a ministering angel, teaching, as far as her limited knowledge enables her, the fundamental truths of Christianity with pertinence and fervour. Strongly repudiating the silly idolatries and superstitions in vogue, she, with a devout reverence and simple faith, leads them to the throne of grace; and, by her example and teaching, shows them how to pray to the one God and Father of all through Jesus Christ his Son. There is not a more pleasing spectacle under heaven than to see Mrs. Hu and her little band of followers singing, if not

with one voice yet with one heart, their simple hymn of praise, and then kneeling to pour out their souls in prayer to God. And such prayers-short, pointed, simple; sometimes very disjointed, but all fervent; one, and then another voice is heard, until some seven or eight have prayed, with scarcely a perceptible interval, except the general utterance of 'Amen' at the end of each. Whatever there may be to offend the ear of taste is overlooked by the conviction that these souls are in great earnest. After prayer, this 'mother in Israel' speaks a few words of exhortation, or addresses some strange woman who may be present in the meeting for the first time, exhorting her to embrace at once the salvation of the Gospel.

"The labours of Hu Hsien Leng are distinguished by equal zeal and irresistible power among the men; though, of course, with greater intelligence and a wider range of instruction. Men come from many miles to hear him, as well as from the village in which he chiefly labours. To all he preaches Christ crucified, which is indeed 'the power of God and the wisdom of God.' Every night the preaching-room is crowded by those who come from far and near to hear him discourse on the wonderful works of God. Most wonderful and blessed is the change produced in the neighbourhood by the labours of these servants of the Lord. During two months, which is the period they have been on the station, about 140 persons have recorded their names as being wishful to renounce idolatry and embrace the Christian faith, and forty-five of these have been already admitted to the Church by baptism. After harvest it is expected great numbers more will be brought under the sound of the Gospel who are now prevented by stress of labour from coming to hear.

"The place is in many respects eminently suited for evangelical labour. Far removed from any city or great highway of traffic, it is a secluded farmstead, or hamlet, of about 100 families. Every family has its little farm and fields. The country is beautifully wooded, and well supplied with orchards of date-trees. If from the centre of this village you draw a circle of two miles diameter, its circumference would include a large number of similar villages, separated by regular intervals; and so again by widening the circle to three miles, and even as far as ten miles. There is constant communication between these farming villages, and great hospitality; so that what transpires in one village is soon known in another. The Chinese have a special notoriety for finding time to go and see for themselves any new thing if within a reasonable distance. They have developed this tendency in regard to hearing the Gospel at Chu-chia-Tsai, and every day brings some stranger to the place to inquire for himself about the new doctrine. Such a locality has two advantages to a preacher of the Gospel; it affords a centre which can easily be reached from any given point around, and it contains places all around which are easily accessible from the centre. There is every prospect that in a short time there will be germs of small Christian societies in many villages around Chuchia-Tsai, for which the Church will have to make provision. Those who live at greater distances must, for a time, be satisfied with occasional visits.

"From the aspect of the country, and the willingness of the people

to receive the truth, I believe that, if we had the means, we could establish twenty different preaching stations in as many weeks with every prospect of success. What we want is men. Thank God,

we have a few who have been under our instruction whom we are able to place in the new field. But, alas! we have not sufficient to supply the large demand. Then, each new man becomes a fresh claimant on the funds of the society, so that we also want money. We believe the Lord will give us the men here, but we must look to our friends in England to give us the money; at least, for the present. By-and-by the Chinese will learn to give of their substance.

"While speaking of the place and its surroundings, I may mention that among those who have come from a distance are ten respectable men from a village called Han-chia-Tswang. This place is ten miles from Chu-chia-Tsai; yet every Sabbath have our friends been found at the chapel to hear the Word of God. During the week, one of them, a rich and intelligent farmer, opened his house twice a day, and held a meeting for reading the Scriptures and for prayer. Seven of these men are among the baptized. Mr. Hall and I visited the place, and thought it would be well to form a distinct society there, and to locate a preacher amongst them. Our rich friend, who is really the squire of the village, at once offered us a house rent-free as a chapel and preacher's residence, which we accepted. We have to put it in repair, and supply it with furniture. We have sent a preacher to reside on the spot, and are hopeful of favourable and blessed results. This same friend has a large house in the city of Laou-Ling, and he is anxious that we should take it on the same terms as the other, and open a preaching station there. Should a missionary settle in that district, it would be most important to accept his offer; but, for the present, we have declined. This man's conversion is one of the most remarkable in the whole number. It rejoices our hearts to see his earnest, simple faith, and undaunted courage for the truth. He is already, and will in future be, a most valuable helper to the cause of Christ. May the Lord preserve him! "Tien-tsin, October 9, 1866."

The following resolutions adopted by the missionaries indicate their joint opinion of the gracious movement, and inform us of the provisions they have made to sustain and guide it :

MINUTES OF A MEETING HELD AT CHU-CHIA-TSAI,
SEPTEMBER 22, 1866.

Present-REVS. J. INNOCENT AND W. N. HALL.

The following resolutions, bearing on the work of God in Chu-chiaTsai, a village in the district of Laou-Ling, Shantung Province, were passed, after a residence of fourteen days on the part of one missionary, and of seven days by the other, during which time the work was carefully watched, and daily meetings attended. The native preacher was duly consulted as to his opinion of the people who were candidates for baptism, and other inquiries made, both by private visitation and personal inspection, so as to secure the most reliable information as to the basis of our proceedings.

I. That we recognize with devout thankfulness to Almighty God

the wonderful work of grace which has commenced in this village and neighbourhood, in which upwards of a hundred people have professedly become interested in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and many of them already give evidence of a sincere faith in Christianity, and a desire for personal salvation, by their daily attendance on the means of grace, their abandonment of idolatry, their observance of the Lord's day, their devout study of the Holy Scriptures, their increasing prayer to God, and by their anxiety to learn and practise all the duties of Christian discipleship.

II. In view of this surprising and glorious work, and in compliance with the expressed wishes of the people, we feel ourselves called upon to take immediate steps to organize a Christian church in this place, and to adopt other measures for consolidating and extending the cause of God.

III. Conformably with the foregoing resolutions, it is further resolved that the accompanying list of persons, numbering forty-five, all of whom have passed a satisfactory examination by us respecting their faith in Christ, shall be admitted as members of the church, and receive Christian baptism forthwith. And while we adore the grace of God displayed in the conversion of this people to the worship and service of the living and true God, we fervently pray that the same grace may establish them fully in the faith, and make them heirs of eternal life; and also that the other applicants for baptism, whose names are not on the said list, shall be regarded as members on trial.

IV. That the room which has been fitted up by the friends at Chu-chia-Tsai, and hitherto used as a chapel, being placed at our disposal, we agree to rent the same for one year, at the rate of 25,000 large cash per annum; and that this rent, with the cost of repairs and fittings now presented, amounting to about 21,500, shall be advanced out of the funds of the Mission, in the hope that the people themselves may offer hereafter to contribute towards the

same.

V. That steps be taken for securing a house for the residence of a native preacher, and with capabilities for accommodating the missionaries when they visit the station.

VI. That, seeing many of the most interesting candidates for church membership come from the village of Hau-chia, or its immediate vicinity, being ten miles distant from Chu-chia-Tsai, and that it is impossible for them regularly to attend services held at the latter place, we think it desirable to make early arrangements for supplying Hau-chia with a preacher, and forming there a separate society, especially as one of them has generously offered us a house, rent free, with convenience, both for public worship and a native preacher's residence.

VII. That we gratefully accept the house at Hau-chia so kindly offered to us by Mr. Lieu-Shang-Chi; and resolve that it be immediately repaired and put in order for our use. And earnestly do we pray that the Lord may richly bless his Word preached in that place to the salvation of many precious souls.

1,000 cash may be taken at 6s. 6d. sterling.

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