In the study of that Divine Word I learned that, to obtain successful labourers, not elaborate appeals for help, but, _first_, earnest _prayer to GOD to thrust forth labourers_, and, _second_, the deepening of the spiritual life of the church, so that _men should be unable to stay at home_, were what was needed. I saw that the Apostolic plan was not to raise ways and means, but _to go and do the work_, trusting in His sure Word who has said, "Seek ye _first_ the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." In the meantime the prayer for workers for CHEH-KIANG was being answered. The first, Mr. Meadows, sailed for China with his young wife in January 1862, through the kind co-operation and aid of our friend Mr. Berger. The second left England in 1864, having her passage provided by the Foreign Evangelisation Society. The third and fourth reached Ningpo on July 24th, 1865. A fifth soon followed them, reaching Ningpo in September 1865. Thus the prayer for the five workers was fully answered; and we were encouraged to look to GOD for still greater things. Months of earnest prayer and not a few abortive efforts had resulted in a deep conviction that _a special agency was essential_ for the evangelisation of Inland China. At this time I had not only the daily help of prayer and conference with my beloved friend and fellow-worker the late Rev. F. F. Gough, but also invaluable aid and counsel from Mr. and Mrs. Berger, with whom I and my dear wife (whose judgment and piety were of priceless value at this juncture) spent many days in prayerful deliberation. The grave difficulty of possibly interfering with existing missionary operations at home was foreseen; but it was concluded that, by simple trust in GOD, suitable agency might be raised up and sustained without interfering injuriously with any existing work. I had also a growing conviction that GOD would have _me_ to seek from Him the needed workers, and to go forth with them. But for a long time unbelief hindered my taking the first step. How inconsistent unbelief always is! I had no doubt that, if I prayed for workers, "_in_ the Name" of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, they would be given me. I had no doubt that, in answer to such prayer, the means for our going forth would be provided, and that doors would be opened before us in unreached parts of the Empire. But I had not then learned to trust GOD for _keeping_ power and grace for myself, so no wonder that I could not trust Him to keep others who might be prepared to go with me. I feared that in the midst of the dangers, difficulties, and trials which would necessarily be connected with such a work, some who were comparatively inexperienced Christians might break down, and bitterly reproach me for having encouraged them to undertake an enterprise for which they were unequal.