20 The Fundamentals which God so singularly smiled. Pilkington said in London that he had never known three converts who had not been Bible readers. LESSONS ■ Thus, as v/e take the whole experience of tne century to- gether, we find the following, emphatic lessons taught us: 1. God has set special honor upon His own Gospel. Where it has been most simply and purely preached the larg- est fruits have ultimately followed. 2. The translation, publication, and public and private reading of the Scriptures have been particularly owned by the Spirit. 3. Schools, distinctively Christian, and consecrated to the purposes of education of a thoroughly Christian type, have been schools of the Spirit of God. 4. The organization of native churches, on a self-sup- porting basis with native pastors, and sending out their own members as lay evangelists, has been sealed with blessing. 5. The crisis has always been turned by prayer. At the most disheartening periods, when all seemed hopeless, patient waiting on God in faith has brought sudden and abundant floods of blessing. 6. The more complete self-surrender of missionaries themselves, and their new equipment by the Holy Spirit, has often been the opening of a new era to the native church and the whole work. These are lessons worth learning. The secrets of suc- cess are no different from what they were in apostolic days. “ t h e f i n g e r o f g o d ” Our God is the same God, and His methods do not es- sentially change. He has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the good tidings to the whole creation; and the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway,” is inseparable from
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker