John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brotherPaton, John Gibson
Religion
John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, volume 2 (of 3) : $b An autobiography edited by his brother
Paton, John Gibson
Missionaries -- Vanuatu -- Biography; Paton, John Gibson, 1824-1907
On this turn of affairs, I managed to have my passage delayed for six
weeks, and resolved to cast myself on the Lord that He might enable
me in that time to raise at least £500, in order to furnish the
necessary outfit and equipment for three new Mission Stations, and to
pay the passage money of the Missionaries and their wives, that there
might be no difficulty on this score amongst the Foreign Missions
Committees on the other side. And then the idea came forcibly, and for
a little unmanned me, that it was wrong in me to speak of these limits
as to time and money in my prayers to God. But I reflected, again,
how it was for the Lord’s own glory alone in the salvation of the
Heathen, and for no personal aims of mine; and so I fell back on His
promise,—“Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name,”—and believingly asked it
in His Name, and for His praise and service alone. I think it due to
my Lord, and for the encouragement of all His servants, that I should
briefly outline what occurred in answer to these prayers.
Having gone to the centre of one of the great ship-building districts
of Scotland, and held a series of meetings, and raised a sum of about
£55 only after nine services and many Sabbath School collecting cards,
my heart was beginning to sink, as I did not think my health would
stand another six weeks of incessant strain; when at the close of my
last meeting in a Free Church, an Elder and his wife entered the vestry
and said,—
“We are deeply interested in you and in all your work and plans. You
say that you have asked £500 more. We gave you the first £100 at the
Dundee Conference; and it is a joy to us to give you this £100 too,
towards the making up of your final sum. We pray that you may speedily
realize your wish, and that God’s richest blessing may ever rest upon
your head.”
Glasgow readers will at once recognise the generous giver, J. Campbell
White, Esq., who rejoices, along with his dear wife, to regard himself
as a steward of the Lord Jesus. My prayer is that they, and all such,
may feel more and more “blessed in their deeds.”
Another week passed by, and at the close of it a lady called upon me,
and, after delightful conversation about the Mission, said,—
“How near are you to the sum required?” I explained to her what is
recorded above, and she continued, “I gave you one little piece of
paper, at the beginning of your efforts. I have prayed for you every
day since. God has prospered me, and this is one of the happiest
moments of my life, when I am now able to give you another little bit
of paper.”
So saying, she put into my hand £100. I protested,—“You are surely too
generous. Can you afford a second £100?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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