’This is what the world wants: men of one idea–that of getting people saved. There are plenty of men of one idea–that of gold-getting. They make no secret of it; they are of a worldly spirit. Now we want men who are set on soul-saving, who are not ashamed to let everybody know it–men of a Christ-like spirit. There need be no mistake or mystery about it. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Paul and every other man of like spirit has had his fruits, and will have to the end of time. It is “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts."’
With one of her daughters she reasons and pleads:–
’Oh, it seems to me that if I were in your place–young, no cares or anxieties, with such a start, such influence, and such a prospect–I should not be able to contain myself for joy! I should, indeed, aspire to be the “bride of the Lamb,” and to follow Him in conflict for the Salvation of poor, lost, miserable man. I pray the Lord to show it to you, and so to enamour you of Himself, that you may see and feel it to be your chief joy to win them for Him. I say I pray for this–yes, I groan for it, with groanings that cannot be uttered; and if ever you tell me it is so, I shall be overjoyed.
’I don’t want you to make any vows (unless, indeed, the Spirit leads you to do so); but I want you to set your mind and heart on winning souls, and to leave everything else with the Lord. When you do this you will be happy–Oh, so happy! Your soul will then find perfect rest. The Lord grant it to you, my dear child.’
She made all her children feel that the only reward they could give her for her ceaseless toil and labour on their behalf was that they should give themselves to the War:–
’I hope, my dear boy, that, whatever sense of obligation or gratitude you have towards me, you will try to return it by resolutely resisting all temptation to evil, and by fitting yourself to your utmost to be useful to your fellow-men. I ask from you, as I asked from God, no other reward. If I know my own heart, I would rather that you should work for the Salvation of souls, making bad hearts good, and miserable homes happy, and preparing joy and gladness for men at the Judgment bar, if you only get bread and cheese all your life, than that you should fill any other capacity with £10,000 per year.’
To one of her children, when tempted to be over-anxious, she writes:–
’Keep your mind quiet. Lean back on God, and don’t worry. It is His affair, and if you have done what you could, that is enough. Alas! how little we have of the faith that can “stand still, and see the Salvation of God.” What would you do if you were put in custody for two years, like Paul was? And yet that imprisonment at Rome sent the Gospel far and wide! God’s ways are not our ways. He takes in the whole field at once, and does the best He can for the entire world. Human wisdom never has been able at the time to comprehend His plans, but years after it has often seen their wisdom. Let us learn to trust in the dark–to stand still.’
To another, tried and discouraged at the start of his public life:–
’I have only a minute or two; but, lest you should think I don’t sympathize with you, I send you a line. You ask, did I ever feel so? Yes, I think just as bad as any mortal could feel–empty, inside and out, as though I had nothing human or Divine to aid me, as if all Hell were let loose upon me.