2. Why live I here? the vows of God are | on me; | and I may not stop
to play with shadows or pluck earthly flowers, | till I my work
have done, and | rendered up ac | count.
3. And I will | go! | I may no longer doubt to give up friends, and idol |
hopes, | and every tie that binds my heart to | thee, my | country.
4. Henceforth, then, it matters not, if storm or sunshine be my | earthly
lot, | bitter or sweet my | cup; | I only pray: "God make me
holy, and my spirit nerve for the stern | hour of strife!"
5. And when one for whom Satan hath struggled as he hath for | me, | has
gained at last that blessed | shore, | Oh! how this heart will glow
with | gratitude and | love.
CHAPTER XIII
MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES
IT is interesting to notice the various events which united, in the providence of God, in preventing my return to Swatow, and ultimately led to my settling in Ningpo, and making that the centre for the development of future labours.
Upon reaching Shanghai, great was my dismay to find that the premises in which my medicines and instruments had been stored were burnt down, and that all the medicines and many of the instruments were entirely destroyed. To me this appeared a great calamity, and I fear I was more disposed with faithless Jacob to say, "All these things are against me," than to recognise that "All things work together for good." I had not then learned to think of God as the One Great Circumstance "in Whom we live, and move, and have our being"; and of all lesser, external circumstances, as necessarily the kindest, wisest, best, because either ordered or permitted by Him. Hence my disappointment and trial were very great.
Medicines were expensive in Shanghai, and my means were limited. I therefore set out on an inland journey to Ningpo, hoping to obtain a supply from Dr. William Parker, a member of the same mission as myself. I took with me my few remaining possessions, the principal being my watch, a few surgical instruments, a concertina, books for the study of Chinese, which in those days were very expensive; but left behind in Shanghai a portion of my money.
The country through which I had to pass was suffering much from drought; it was the height of summer; and the water in the Grand Canal was very low, having been largely drawn upon for the neighbouring rice fields, as well as evaporated by the intense heat. I had determined to make the journey as much of a mission tour as possible, and set out well supplied with Christian tracts and books. After fourteen days spent in travelling slowly through the populous country, preaching and distributing books, etc., we reached a large town called Shih-mun-wan, and here, finding that my supply of literature was exhausted, I determined not to linger over the rest of the journey, but to reach Ningpo as speedily as possible, viâ the city of Hai-ning.