THE KING’S BUSINESS
207
who will help to Teal this open sore o f the world.” So I prayed for the great Ameri can Church in its relation to the evangeli zation in Mohammedan lands. “ Shall we, whose souls are lighted With wisdom from on high— Shall we, to men benighted, The lamp o f life deny?” “I know o f a land that is sunk in shame. O f hearts that faint and tire; And I know o f a name, a name, a name That can set that land on fire.: Its sound is a brand, its letters flame, I know o f a naipe, a name, a name A PITIFUL PLEA I once heard a member o f a Missionary Commission o f one o f the large denomina tions, who had been sent to India to over-' look the missionary work in general and seek out new and needy fields, telUof a Hin du father who had run thirty-three miles in order to have an interview with the Com mission and to beg them to send a mis- -sionary to .his village. He spoke o f the need o f his father and mother, his children, his friends—how they all needed the mis sionary., The Commission promised to send them a missionary. . The last words this member o f the Commission heard, and which he said were still ringing in his ears, were : “ Thank you ; then if I live till the missionary comes I will know more about Jesus and heaven, and my father and mother and my children too will learn about Him. I hope I live till the missionary comes.” A soldier lay wounded on a hard-fought field. The roar o f the battle had died away, and Tie rested in a' deathly stillness o f its aftermath. Off over thé field flick ered the lanterns ,o f the survivors, search ing for wounded ones who might be car ried away and saved. This poor soldier watched, unable to turn or to speak, as the lanterns drew near. Then a light flashed in his face and the surgeon bent That will set this land afire— The precious name o f Jesus.”
over him, .shook his head, and was gone. By and by the party came back, and again the kindly surgeon bent over him. *T believe if this poor fellow lives till sun down tomorrow, he will get well.” In a moment the surgeon was gone, but he had put a great hope in the soldier’s heart. All night the words kept repeating them selves—“ I f I live till sundown I shall get well.” He turned his head to the east to watch for the dawn. At last the stars went out, the east quivered with radiance, and the sun arose. Intently his eye fol lowed the orb o f day. He was growing weaker—could he live till sundown? He thought o f his home. - “ If I live till sun down I shall see it again, I will walk down the shady lane, I will drink again at the old mossy spring.” He thought o f his wife who had put her hand shyly in his, and had brought sweetness to his life. “ If I live"till sun down, I Shall look- once more into her deep loving eyes.” He thought o f the lit tle children that clambered on his knees and tangled their little hands in his heart strings.. “If I live till sundown they will again find my parched lips with their warm kisses, and their fingers shall run once more over my face.” Then he thought o f the old mother who gathered these.. children ab,out her, and breathed her old heart afresh in their brightness,, that she might live till her big boy came home. “If I live till sundown I shall see her again, and I will rest my Head at its old place on her knee, and weep away the memory o f this desolate night.” And the Son. o f God who had died for men, bending down from the stars, put the band that had been nailed to the cross. on the ebbing life, and held on the staunch until the sun went down and the stars came opt, and shone down into the brave man s heart, and blurred in his glistening eyes. And the surgeon came again and he was taken from death to life. Take time to think? Surely; take leis ure for the Holy .Spirit. Think o f what the great commission means; think o f what
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker