This is from Jou Mow Lam, recently baptized in Bethany Church, addressed to his teacher in Stockton: “My dear teacher, Mrs. L. Langdon, I write few words to you. I think you good take care your scholar. I leave you long time. I do pray to God, hope you very well. I was very sorry, can get no work, know you help me. Pray to God to change my new heart [change my heart: make it new] no make me darkness. Soon I have baptized [shall be baptized]. I have read also in the gospels about Jesus; he rose from the grave on the third day after he was crucified, and went to heaven. I wish to be a Christian that I may go to heaven. I do not cease to pray for the pardon of my sin, and a new heart. I cannot tell you how I long to meet you my dear Christian friend.” This one is from Ny King, a beloved brother in Bethany Church, addressed to teachers who had recently removed from San Francisco to Stockton. It was written just as he was about to sail for China: “I sorry I can not write all I want, but I will try to write a few words to you. You are kind and patient to teach our Chinese, and I am very sorry you have to go to Stockton and leave us. Still we are glad, for you shall have a good chance to do much good for our Christian Chinese up there. I hope you remember me while you pray, that I may go home to China, to hold up the light of Christ, and tell the kindness of your Christian people to my own countrymen which they might receive it. One day, one of my heathen friends call up to me in a store: ‘Ny King,’ said he, ‘are you go home next steamer? I will tell you something, that you might not forget it. Now you say you are a Christian, but in about a month more, you will say you are something thing else,’ for he thought the Christian only good for here, and never can be in China. If the power of man, it might be so, but God who is the highest [is] Almighty. Now I must close my letter. I have no time to write any more. Good bye.”
Many other letters lie before me, each with its own point of interest, but I shall trespass on another’s space if I indulge in any more extracts. I will venture, however, to give without connection, the following sketch of a sermon from Wong Ack, a helper recently introduced into service, and from whom our readers have not heard before.
The text is Matt. ii., 28: “Come unto me all ye that labor,” etc.
1. The world is now already led by Satan, that who follows him, it is heavy labor he has to bear: and every grief in his heart that never feels any comfort, so that Jesus has shown His kind heart, and sound His merciful voice that whosoever will leave the devil and come to Him, they will receive His rest.
2. Jesus now on this world is like to what?—Like a gong which is sounding on the place while the thieves surround the people at night, and might wake them up, so they know the mischief was near, and try to escape out of the murderers’ hands, and hope they might save their life.
3. Our friends, this mischief nobody is able to deliver you from, but only Jesus who is our Saviour: He will preserve us, if we trust in Him. Oh! how sorry for them now which are asleep! Their hearts were full of dreams, and their eyes were closed up by Satan’s plans. Wake up, our friends, wake up! Come, come to Jesus as possible as you can [as quickly as you possibly can]. He is ready, waiting for us. * * *
4. That labor which I had spoken of is in this world. But you ought to know beforehand that labor which [is in] the world to come. Now turn to Luke, xiv chapter and 24th verse: that will tell you how that is. Therefore Jesus said, “Come unto me.” What you think of this voice? * * * Now, our friends, should we all come to Him? Should we rather love to go to heaven, than go to hell? Yes, we must all come to Him, and turn our hearts toward the way of heaven, and hope our Lord Jesus Christ lead us in to His glory forever and ever.