Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-09-18

dealings Of Gods wise providence, that Of all our
present company but one has been three, and all
the others less Than Two years in China. In this
Tune the language Of China is not ordinarily ac.
qulrcd, and ill this is done lille can be accom-
pllshed in the way Of direct missionary labOr.-
Three native Chinese have been baptized on
credible profession Of faith. two Of whom sill a.
dorm their profession, though one il is 10 bo fear
cd, has fallen away. A liule church has been
organized in Ningpo. Three boarding schools
are now in operation, containing about sixty schO
ars. a printing press is in operation, able to
throw OIL as many tracts as VIC feel disposed to
circulate, and we are endeavoring bytheinnucnce
OF example, (whichinlhc whole Of missonary's
life IS one Of chief means Of doing good BY the
distribution Of religious books, and BY conycrsa-
"wlthslammerng lip5, and inanothertongue," in
with those around us, 10 recommend the gOs-
pei We profess, and TO hold it up "ior witness"
TO the nation.
10 some extent we have experienced the truth
Of the warning that we must "hayc tribulation,"
and "sow in tears" Death early entered and
removed pioneer of the mission. In two fam
lilies the first born infant was called away: sick.
ness, III some cases acute and prolonged; has
been among us. Some Of US have been called to
buffet the stormy wave, to fear or experience the
tcrors of shipwreck, and Others have been Gin
perils of robbers" We have seen cherished
hopes disappointed, and the seed that seemed 10
be growing, npped and blasted in the bud; and
we have parted with three ofou fellow laborers,
whom i'll health, (aiter many months of suffer
ing) has been forced 10 seek the kindlier innu-
ences of their native land. In each of these
cases, ii was not from any desire to leave their
work and "go home," thai they went, for it cost
them harder struggle and more sorrow to leave
their native land at first, and only the conviction
that Gods Providence rendered their return ne.
cessary, reconciled them to 60.
We do not speak ofthese things in complaints
we have suffered nothing that is unusual or ex.
traordinary in the history of missions. God.
ordinary procedure, is to prove the faith of hi,
missionary servants and the churches that senC
them out, and to humble them in the dust, before
he grants them any remarkable success. "ThC
husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the
earth, and hath long patience for it," James 5
7. "To the upright, there ariseth lght'-bu
it arises Sin The ddrkaeSS," Ps. 1O2: 4. SO ial
| from considering the trials and disappointment,
that have attended this mission TO be extraordina.
| ry, 1t is probable that greater sufierings than
these are in store, and that the faith of the church.
es who support us, will be yet more severely
tried.
hesethlngs are not written despondngy, no
is 1t asserted that it must be thus for the God VT
serve, is Sovereign God, and speaks as hc
pleases, in the tempest or the still small voice.
ltis well TO remember that ''IIe hath his way il
the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds arr
the dust Of his feet" but we may not limit Him
nor pry into the things not revealed. "Secre
things belong unto the Lord our God, but those
things that are revealed belong unto us, and tc
our children, that we may do them; and among
the things that are revealed, are these-that it is
the duty of Missionaries to labor faithfully and
perseverngly-the duty of Christian churches
to encourage and strengthen those thus aboring
and the privilege of all to believe that in due
season we shall reap five faint not.
''lle that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing pre-.
cious seed shall doubtless come again with re.
loicing bringing his sheayes with him, Ps. 1876
Is.
| fThe DorSonS IN whose nomoc n ctor 10 af;vaC