prayer-meeting in her room. Repeated, Lo, what a cloud of witnesses,' and prayed very solemnly that all there might be sheltered in the Rock of Ages, as we were from the storm that raged around. She brought most vividly before the mind the state of those who, being without the Ark, were exposed to the lightning of God's displeasure. "Dec. 31st. She was much pleased with a sentiment written by Dr. Judson in a Prayer-book, in which a friend desired to have his autograph. 'Dr. Judson takes great pleasure in inscribing his name in the book of devotions used by so many of the people of God. "Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied upon all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."" 39* CHAPTER XXII. 1851. Interest in Foreign Missions - Letters on the subject to Rev. R. Smith - Mr. Smith's Devotion to the Work, and Early Death-Letter to Dr. N. Another sharp Affliction Letter of Consolation - Dr. Gordon's Life Letters: to Rev. Mr. D., on Entering the Ministry: to an Invalid Youth - Visit from an aged Christian. - THE Foreign Missionary cause had no warmer friend than Miss Allibone. Her unwearied and energetic efforts for the spiritual welfare of those immediately around her never so absorbed her love and zeal, as to render her unmindful that multitudes of those for whom Christ shed his blood were enveloped in the thickest midnight of error and sin. To her enlarged charity "the field was the world." To her faith. the final triumph of the Gospel was indubitable. "I love to meet any one," she said, "who heartily approves of Foreign Missions." A friend remarks, "How ardent was her missionary spirit! How her heart yearned with pity over the heathen world, and with what exulting joy did she look forward to the time when they shall remember themselves and turn to the Lord! From her bed of sickness, as from an eminence, she saw things in their true proportions. She viewed the missionary's trials, discouragements, separation from friends, sacrifice of health and life, in the light of the glory that should follow. She viewed the perishing state of the heathen as He viewed it who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.' And she deemed it an exceeding favor to be allowed any part in bringing them to the knowledge of their God and Saviour." The two letters following were addressed to her cousin, Robert Smith, then a student in the Theological Seminary at Alexandria, while he was meditating the deeply interesting point of his personal self-devotion to Foreign Missions. His confidential friend and adviser replies with undisguised pleasure at the suggestion, and dwells upon the exceeding privilege and happiness of the work. But the spirit which her letters breathe is nothing akin to unreflecting impulse or romantic enthusiasm. Her counsels are sober and enlightened, while her soul glows with divinely-enkindled ardor. She urges her young relative to count the cost, and satisfy himself that the call was from God. Mr. Smith was soon led to the decided conviction that it was his duty to carry the gospel message to benighted Africa. With a heart full of love for souls perishing through lack of knowledge, he threw himself into the work. But the Master whom he served accepted the desire of his heart, instead of a protracted life of labor and self-denial. After a few weeks' sojourn in Western Africa, and giving indications of the true spirit of an Evangelist, he was taken to that bright world whither his faithful spiritual counsellor had, but a few months before, preceded him. Although he fell in the prime of life, full of promise and energy, yet can it be supposed that either of the two sainted friends now regret the determination, or would wish the step recalled? Words of thankfulness and confidence were on his dying lip. His term of service, though brief, was long enough to glorify his Redee .ner, and leave an example of heroic devotedness to the great and blessed cause of evangelizing the heathen. "None of those things moved him, neither counted he his life dear unto himself, so that he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God." While these sheets were passing under the author's eye, the intelligence was received of the unexpected removal of him to whom these letters were directed, and we may be pardoned for turning aside for a moment to drop the tear of sympathy and utter the thanksgiving of faith over his early grave. "There is much in my heart, upon the subject of missions, which I have never expressed to you, my dear cousin. Your recent letters have touched a chord whose vibrations would have reached you long ere this, if I could have gratified my earnest desire. I trust I have not a friend whom I would not encourage to say among the heathen, 'The Lord reigneth,' if I were assured he would go at His bidding, and in His strength. I am glad when I learn that a missionary spirit has inspired any heart, and am rejoiced that my beloved cousin, and some of his fellow-students, are inquiring whether it may not be their privilege to be the first to proclaim to some of their fellow-sinners that Jesus has died for them. They need the Gospel so much that it should not be withheld, and it is a selfish policy which would chill the ardor of those who are willing to tell them that 'there is balm in Gilead, and a Physician there.' It should be enough for the friends of every missionary that 'the Lord hath need of him.' "I have endeavored to pray much that you and your friends may know the will of our Father in Heaven, and 'by His merciful guiding may perform the same.' If this fire be not of the Lord's kindling, it will probably be soon extinguished. And in such a case, it would be well if it were. There are stern realities in missionary life; there are high and holy duties to be performed; and he whose sufficiency is not of God will soon grow weary. Mere human energy shall fail, And youthful vigor cease, But those who wait upon the Lord, In strength shall still increase.' "I have often quoted a promise we cannot test too fully, and I will quote it again: 'In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.' I have desired that you might be a foreign missionary, that you might be endued with a spirit which would make you willing to be any thing, to labor any where. Therefore, I bid you God speed' in every prayer and every effort for the extension of our Redeemer's kingdom." * * To the same. "March 7th, 1851. "I suspect, dear Robert, that my days of letter-writing are almost over, since I am scarcely capable of the effort of even a pencilled communication; but a powerful impulse urges me to encourage you to 'press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' Earnest is my desire that, if our Father have indeed inspired you with a missionary spirit, you may confer not with flesh and blood,' but may receive a blessed answer to the continual petition, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?' I do not observe in your letters any deficiency in simplicity of heart, but am thankful that you anticipate labor and self-denial in our Redeemer's service as a privilege of which you are not worthy, and well may you employ these terms. If St. Paul was astonished at the condescension which permitted him to cast his powerful intellect and carefully accumulated stores of learning into the service of his Redeemer; if this once proud Pharisee exclaimed, 'Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,'-it does not seem too much that you, or any of your fellow-students, or indeed the most useful and able of those who have been already commissioned to proclaim the Gospel, should expend all the talent and strength God may have given you in persuading Ethiopia to 'stretch out her hands unto God.' Your companions, who have united with you in imploring direction upon this important subject, are often remembered in my prayers. "I do not believe that a true-hearted missionary ever went to heathen shores, who did not first encounter vigorous opposition from 'the world, the flesh and the devil.' This is, indeed, an offensive war upon the kingdom of darkness. Satan is not willing that his iron bands should be displaced, that our Redeemer's easy yoke may be their substitute. Society, so ready to applaud the enterprising spirit of the young man who goes to distant climes to seek wealth or learning, or to shed human blood, grieves greatly over him who wastes his energies and risks his life in pointing the poor heathen to the only true riches, the most important knowledge and the blood which was shed for him. Yes, and the heart also must surely whisper many suggestions which require the resistance of the martyr, who saw his wife and children, as he passed on to the fire which was to remove him from their sight, and exclaimed, striking his breast, 'Flesh, stay thou!' It is a glorious privilege to be a missionary, 2 E |