Woman and Her Saviour in Persia: By a Returned MissionaryLaurie, Thomas
History
Woman and Her Saviour in Persia: By a Returned Missionary
Laurie, Thomas
Church of the East -- Missions; Missions -- Iran; Women missionaries
But some things rendered it apparent that the interest was not all from
above. One evening, fifteen or twenty boys were found rolling on the
floor, groaning and crying for mercy. Measures were taken at once to
prevent the repetition of such a scene, and at evening prayers Mr.
Stocking commenced his remarks by asking if any of them had ever seen
the Nazloo River, at Marbeeshoo, near its source. Startled by what
seemed a very untimely question, a few answered, "Yes." "Was there much
water in it?" Wondering what he could mean, the answer was, "No; very
little." "Did it make much noise?" "Yes; a great deal." The catechist
went on: "Have you seen the same river on the plain?" By this time,
every ear was listening, and all replied, "Yes." "Was it deep and
wide?" "Yes; it was full of water." "And was it more noisy than at
Marbeeshoo?" "No; it was very quiet and still." The parable was now
applied very faithfully. He said that he had hoped the Holy Spirit had
been teaching them the evil of their hearts; but their noise and
confusion that evening showed him that there was no depth to their
experience. The effect was wonderful; they hung their heads and quietly
dispersed, and from many a closet that night might have been heard the
petition, "Lord, make me to know my heart, and let me not be like that
noisy river." What threatened to be an uncontrollable excitement became
at once a quiet but deep sense of guilt. Their desires were not less
intense, but more spiritual; their consciences were very tender, and
their feelings contrite, but subdued and gentle.
In this revival, the converts had a great deal of feeling, but no
knowledge of the mode in which such feelings find expression in
Christian lands; and in the freshness and strength of their emotions
they yielded to every impulse with an unconscious simplicity that was
exceedingly interesting. If they were under conviction of sin, that
found immediate and unrestrained utterance. If they thought they were
forgiven, that, too, at once found expression. There was a wonderful
transparency of spirit that revealed each varying aspect of their
feelings, and withal a tendency to undue excitement that needed careful
handling. Indeed, it was found necessary to watch their social meetings
very closely, and sometimes to direct them to pray alone.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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