New Work and Old. 3 SI

“ Another effect of seclusion is in keener sensibilities and
perceptions towards Nature as showing forth the glory of
our God. Long absence enhances the delights of once more
wandering among the sweet solitudes of forest, and river, and
ocean. How many voices harmonize in the concert of praise !
The birds are envied no longer, for I have wings, too, stronger
and more than they. The mountain ridges stoop down, not
only to faith, bu& te fancy and imagination to form the sub-
stratum of the mountain of the Lord’s house, with the
ensign of redemption crowning all.

‘“T must add yet another pleasure I have enjoyed, and that
is the meeting amid their work our honoured brethren who
are God’s instruments in winning souls and building up His
Church in regions where a sympathetic visitor is welcomed
as an angel of God.

“ How little does even the true Church, much less the
crowd of self-centred Christians and the world, know of the
travail and joy of the missionary? Not that he thinks of
this; his one concern is his work, a commerce directly
between him and his Master, Who makes His servant’s life
as full and complete as may be possible amid the city’s con-
course, and much more healthy. It makes him self-contained,
and this tends to make him reticent and to restrain his
pen when a full record of the common incidents of his work
would be as fuel to kindle sacrifice of praise in many a pure
and devout heart at home. Often do I wish they would
write just what they tell me, for though it is the fruit of
faithful endeavour, it has the bloom that only the sunshine
of heavenly grace can paint.

“The real romance of Missions is not yet written, and
never will be, because God’s greatest works are lke the
diamond and the dew—yperfected in the secret places of the
Most High, and await the great day to reveal them. Then
will they go to swell the praises of eternity. God is a true
economist, giving sufficient but not wasting His erace on us,
shedding gleams of His glory now to cheer, but concealing
more in order to reveal it when He shall have accomplished
the number of His elect. Hl

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