The picket line of missions; sketches of the advanced guard

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...and many of whom smoked tobacco, and that if the rain continued he would be compelled to stay for days. He remarks that while thinking in this way he was overcome by sleep, and suddenly heard a voice calling, ' Sia Sek Ong, how do you know there is such a thing as a human soul? If there is no soul then you are very foolish to trouble yourself so about going to that meeting." He turned and listened, but hearing no one he opened the door and asked the assistant preacher whether he had spoken, but the assistant was sound asleep. He could not determine whether the voice came from within or without, and said to himself, ' This voice comes near sound reason." All day long he felt that the doctrine of the soul was mere conjecture, and he began to plan for moving his family home lest he should spend his strength for naught. While such thoughts as these were still agitating his mind in the night suddenly a bright light filled the room, and the cross of Jesus shone in indescribable splendor before his eyes. He realized that he had been tempted, and said to himself, "If man has no soul, then what means the Saviour's cross?" With this peace returned to his heart, and he determined to go on with his duty as a preacher without regard to the joy or sorrow that might await him, and without inquiring whether men knew any of his trials or not. When the time of the Annual Meeting again arrived he found that all he had received in money, fuel, and food during the year was about enough to support a family of eight persons three months. But as he had then only his wife and one child they had managed to live a year on this income, although during the year he had been obliged to pawn some of his clothes. Brethren from other districts collected enough money to e...