25. CHAPTER VI - A SECOND CAUSE OF HIS SUCCESS

CHAPTER VI A SECOND CAUSE OF HIS SUCCESS HIS LOVE FOR SOULS

We are fools for Christ’s sake . . even unto this present
hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are
buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place. . . being
defamed, we entreat : we are made as the filth of the
world, and are the offscouring of all things uuto this day.
—I Corinthians iv. 10-13. And thus I spent the evening praying incessantly for divine assistance, and that I might not be self-dependent, but still have my whole dependence upon God. What I passed through was remarkable and indeed inexpressible. All things here below vanished ; and there appeared to be nothing of any considerable importance to me, but holi­ness of heart and life, and the conversion of the heathen o God. . . I exceedingly longed that God would get o Himself a name among the heathen, and 1 appealed o Him with the greatest freedom, that He knew I ’Preferred Him above my chief joy.’ Indeed I had no notion of joy Isom this world cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls to Christ. I continued in this frame all the evening and night. While I was asleep, I dreamed of these things; and when I waked (as I frequently did) the first thing I thought of was this great work of Pleading for God against Satan.

—DAVID BRAINARD.

Tilts was his wonderful love for souls. It overpowered all else, making him forget every­thing but that soul with whom God had brought him into contact. He would go on past his railway station as far as the man with whom he was in touch who was travelling in order to talk to him the Words of Life.’ This was irritating at times, especially once when he was almost ordered to attend an important business meeting of his Mission. He met an Indian in the train (when travelling to that same meeting), fell into conversation with him about Christ, and continued the train journey with him that he might tell him more of the Saviour of the World. This made him late for that meeting, no doubt to the annoyance of even his best friends, but John Hyde’s mind was at peace. He had bought up his oppor­tunity, Eph. vi. 16, paying a heavy price for it, perhaps, and had faithfully held Christ up to a soul that had need of Him. That was sufficient motive and reward for John Hyde. It must be said his mission at last saw his gifts, and this special work to which he seemed more and more drawn as he grew older, and set him free for it. One of his old evangelists, who shared his village mud house with John Hyde for some time, once told me with tears of regret in his eyes of his great love for souls. He said Mr. Hyde was always giving away his clothes, anything he had, to those who came to see him about the things of God. ’ If by any means I may win some ’ seems to have been his life’s aim.

One cold winter night Mr. Hyde tapped at the door of this evangelist’s room. It was late and he did not want to open. So Mr. Hyde called out his name and said, ’ Can you lend me a sheet for the night ? " Where are your own blankets ? was the angry retort through the stilled closed door. ’ Oh yes I that drunken sot that was with you has gone off with them. He will sell them, get drink and make a beast of himself. Do you know that you put us all about by doing things like this and then shivering yourself in the cold ? ’ He owned with remorse how impertinent he had been and the tears came to his big black eyes as he asked me if I could imagine all the answer Mr. Hyde gave him. He called him by his name and said, ’Ah J-1 J—I I If the prodigal had come hack to you, you would have taken a stick to him ! This same evangelist told of another ex­perience. It was in the days when souls were being gathered in. They were at times assured how many would be granted them. That morn­ing after prayer it was ten souls. They then set out away among the Punjab villages in a country cart, the road lay along a river-bank, dangerous at night. They reached that village. They sang, they preached, then sang again and preached. The day wore on. Not a sign even of one soul being interested. They became hungry and thirsty. No man gave unto them. Then the two Indian evangelists became im­patient to get home to food and rest. But John Hyde would not move. He was waiting for those ten ! At last near a common cottage they asked for a drink. The man offered them milk and water. They went into his humble house and were refreshed. Then as they talked he showed most intelligent knowledge of Jesus Christ. Yes he had entertained them in His name. Would the family not allow Jesus to enter and take possession of their home ? The father replied they had been thinking of this. Then why not now ? He agreed and called his wife and children. They certainly realized what they were doing, and there and then made up their minds to take their stand at once on the Lord’s side. One can picture how tenderly John Hyde received them into God’s family in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Yes, all were baptized, nine altogether. It was now getting dark, the short cold-weather day was wearing to an end rapidly. Now at any rate they could depart, so thought the two evangelists, before the darkness made their return journey dangerous. The father began to urge it too. Unwillingly John Hyde left that home. The cart was sent for by one, the other hastened John Hyde’s steps towards it. When it came they tried to get him to climb in. But no, his eyes were fixed plead­ingly on this evangelist:—’ What about that one ? ’ he asked longingly. Surely that cry from a true shepherd’s heart found a response He hardened his face and said something about their wives and children being anxious for them at home. But John Hyde stood there waiting, waiting for that tenth soul. He knew that the good Shepherd was Himself searching for that one still outside the Fold. The two evangelists told me afterwards with shame how they urged John Hyde to come away from that village, and how the same cry always broke from his lips. ’ What about that one?’ By and by the father of the family came up wondering about this delay—why had the Padri Sahib waited so long? John Hyde told him about the one sheep still wanting. Why there he is,’ cried the father, my nephew whom I have adopted. He has been living with the rest of us : but has been out playing.’ He brought the lad forward, a bright intelligent boy. Mr. Hyde asked him of his faith. The boy answered very clearly and intelligently. There could be no doubt about him. So he too was brought into the fold. That is the ten,’ said John Hyde with a weary sigh of heart’s ease as he climbed up to his seat. They were kept safe along that danger. ous road in the darkness and arrived home tired but content. That is the rest of soul ’ our Lord Jesus gives to His faithful earnest under-shepherds. Yes, and that is the rest of soul they give Him too, for in their passion and longing for the lost He sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied.

Lord teach us at whatever cost to satisfy Thy great heart of love, broken over wandering sheep. So shall we apply balm and healing to that Heart. So shall we bind up Thy rounds and give Thee the joy that was set before Thee. May we realize that the angels envy us such service I They cannot render it unto Thee. Only pardoned sinners can, by bringing other sinners into the circle of Thy pardoning Love.

Lord show us too that this passion for souls cannot be worked up by any efforts of our own. It comes forth from Thy bleeding heart, O Thou Lamb upon the Throne, Who art still giving forth Thy glorified Life for us. ’ He ever liveth to make intercession for us.’ We praise Thee 0 Lamb of God that Thou madest known Thy Father’s name and wilt make it known, That the love, wherewith Thou, 0 Father, lovedst me may be in them and Tin them.’

If ye abide in Me, and My Words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love ; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoevcr I command you.

—John xv. 7, 10, 14.

It was because Christ humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, yea, the death of the Cross, that God so highly exalted Him. And Paul, in this connec­tion, exhorts us ; ’ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.’ We see, above everything else, that the obedience of Christ, which was so pleasing to God, mast become really the characteristic of our disposi­tion and of our entire walk. Just as a servant knows that he must first obey his master in all things, so the surrender of an implicit and unquestioning obedience must become the essential characteristic of our lives. Christ hotels Himself responsible to work this out in me every moment if I only trust Him for it. ’ (Into Him that is able to keep you from falling . . . he glory and majesty. —Jude 1:24-25.

—REV. ANDREW MURRAY.