17. 1910 Convention - Four Souls a Day

1910 Convention - Four Souls a Day The eight hundred souls gathered in since last year’s convention did not satisfy John Hyde. God was enlarging his heart with his love. Once again he laid hold on God with holy desperation. How many weeks it was I do not remember, but he went deeper still with Christ into the shad- ows of the Garden! Praying took the form now of confessing the sins of others and taking the place of those sinners, as so many of the prophets did in old time. He was bearing the sins of others alone with his Lord and Master. "Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." According to that law we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. This, John Hyde was doing. He was "dying daily."

What was that burden referred to in Gal 6:2? The previous verse reveals it. It was bear- ing the sins of others. He at length got the assurance of four souls a day.

Yet this was the year that God used him all over India. He was called to help in revivals and conferences in Calcutta, Bombay, and many of the larger cities. Surely he was being prepared for an eternitywide mission. Yet he was never more misjudged and misunderstood. But that too was part of the fellowship of Christ’s pain. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not."

We who were so privileged saw in John Hyde’s life the deepening horror of sin during that year of 1910, though it was all but a pale reflection of the awful anguish over sin that at length broke our Saviour’s heart. Before this year’s convention he spent long nights in prayer to God. This burden had lain now for five years on his heart—each year pressing heavier and heavier. How it had eaten into his very soul! One saw the long sleepless nights and weary days of watching with prayer written on every feature of his face. Yet his figure was almost transformed as he gave forth God’s own words to his people with such fire and such force that many hardly recog- nized the changed man with the glory of God lighting up every feature. It was Jehovah’s mes- senger speaking Jehovah’s message, and we who had shared some of its burden in prayer knew that it was God’s own burden spoken to his Church in India—yes, to his Church throughout the whole world.

We were transported to Mount Sinai and to the sin of Israel in worshiping the golden calf. Up till that time Moses had not interceded for God’s people. Why? Because he had not yet entered into the sufferings of God’s heart over sin. So he is sent down among the sinners. Sin cost him the presence of God. Was he not being made a partaker of the sufferings of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world ? Then he fasts a second forty days and forty nights (Deu 9:19). "For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith Jehovah was wroth against you to destroy you. But Jehovah hearkened unto me that time also." Moses reports this in 9 125, doubly emphasized by the Holy Spirit. Surely the Great White Throne in its awful purity shone among us from that time right on through the convention—no wonder we were filled with shame and confusion of face as were so many of God’s Intercessors of old—Moses, Job, Ezra, Ne- hemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. When God said to Moses, "Let me alone," he re- vealed the power of intercession. No! Moses "stood in the breach," and the wrath of God was stayed. He gave up the honor and glory of his own name and family for the sake of God’s people. "The Church in the wilderness" was saved by one who shadowed forth our Great Divine Intercessor and partook of his Spirit. The confession of the sins of others laid hold of John Hyde’s heart. It was about that time he was taught a very solemn lesson—the sin of fault-finding even in prayer for others. He was once weighed down with the burden of prayer for a certain Indian pastor. So he retired to his "inner chamber," and thinking of the pastor’s coldness and the consequent deadness of his church, he began to pray: "O Father, thou knowest how cold"—he was going to say; but a finger seemed to be laid on his lips, so that the word was not uttered and a voice said in his ear, "He that toucheth him toucheth the apple of mine eye." Mr. Hyde cried out in sorrow: "Forgive me, Fath- er, in that I have been an accuser of the brethren before thee!" He realized that in God’s sight he must look at "Whatsoever things are lovely." Yet he wanted also to look at "Whatsoever things are true." He was shown that the "true" of this verse are limited to what are both lovely and true, that the sin of God’s children is fleeting, it is not the true nature of God’s children. For we should see them as they are in Christ Jesus—"complete,’’ what they shall be when he has finished the good work he has begun in them. "And it is right for me to be thus minded concern- ing you all, because / have you in my heart." Then John asked the Father to show him all that was to be praised ("if there be any virtue and if there be any praise take account of these things") in that pastor’s life. He was reminded of much for which he could heartily thank God, and spent his time in praise! This was the way to victory. The result ? He shortly afterwards heard that the pastor had at that very time received a great reviving and was preaching with fire. It is this way of praise which is appointed of God for preparing the Bride and the putting on her beautiful garments. In Rev 19:6-8 it is praise that leads to the glorious results.

I remember John telling me that in those days if on any day four souls were not brought into the fold, at night there would be such a weight on his heart that it was positively painful, and he could not eat nor sleep. Then in prayer he would ask his Lord to show him what was the obstacle in him to this blessing. He invariably found that it was the want of praise in his life. This command, which has been repeated in God’s Word hundreds of times—surely it is all important! He would then confess his sin, and accept the forgiveness by the Blood. Then he would ask for the spirit of praise as for any other gift of God. So he would exchange his ashes for Christ’s gar-land, his mourning for Christ’s oil of joy, his spirit of heaviness for Christ’s garment of praise (the Song of the Lamb—praising God beforehand for what he was going to do), and as he praised God souls would come to him, and the numbers lacking would be made up.

Here is a picture of his work in those days: Two evangelists went out with Mr. Hyde to a distant village; before leaving they were assured of ten souls being won for Christ. They reached the village, they preached, they sang, the day wore on, not a sign of any soul being interested. They became hungry and thirsty. No man gave unto them. The evangelists became impatient to get home for rest and food. John Hyde would not move. He was waiting for those ten souls. At last, at a common cottage they asked for a drink of water. The man offered them milk, too. They went into his humble home and were refreshed. As they talked to him, he showed a most intelli- gent knowledge of Jesus Christ. Yes, he had entertained them in his name. Would the family not become his followers? Why not now? He agreed, and called his wife and children. They cer- tainly realized what they were doing, and were determined as a family to come out on the Lord’s side. One can picture how tenderly John Hyde ushered them into the family of God. Nine in all were baptized. But it was now growing dark, and a dangerous road lay ahead of them. The evangelists made haste. The father began to urge it, too. Unwillingly John Hyde left that house. The cart was sent for by one, and the other tried to hasten John’s steps. Then they wanted to lift him into the cart. But no—his eyes rested pleadingly on one of his men: "What about that one that is wanting?" The evangelist (he told me this with a hot flush of shame) lost his temper. It is all very well for the Sahib if he broke his neck; he had no wife or family to thirik of. But it was a very different story for them both. But John stood there waiting for that one soul,—the tenth was yet wanting. He knew the Good Shepherd was himself searching for that one, and would search "until he find it." The two evangelists used almost force to get him to move. There burst one cry from his lips: "What about that one?" By and by the father of the family came up. Why was the Padre Sahib waiting? John told him of the one not yet in the fold. "Why, there he is!" cried the man. "He has just come back. My nephew, whom I have adopted." He brought the boy forward. Mr. Hyde went back to the house and asked him of his faith in Christ. He was clear and intelligent. So the tenth was gathered into the fold. He gave a sigh of heart’s ease and weary content as he climbed into the cart. Of course, they were kept and reached home safely—with a heart full of rest such as the Good Shepherd gives his faithful under-shepherds. Yes, and that is the rest of the soul they give him, for through such he shall yet see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. And now, farewell to Sialkot! As far as this sketch is concerned, we are leaving those hallowed scenes. Others there are who will assemble on those holy grounds; others care for the great company that annually assembles in those audiences; others will keep watch in the prayer- room; but as for our dear brother Hyde, 1910 was his last year at Sialkot. We may wonder why it should be so. Only forty-seven, surely his taking away seemed untimely. But God in heaven knows how wonderfully rounded out were the years of dear John Hyde. Seven Sialkot conven- tions, and seven wonderful years of prayer. Surely God saw in John Hyde a well rounded out experience and character. Surely God and the recording angel know that the fruitage will be bountiful at the ingathering at the great harvest home. "He that soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully." But before we leave Sialkot I am led to record my appreciation of our brother, McCheyne Pater- son. Paterson, I have fallen in love with you in the Lord. Because you loved Hyde I love you. Of- ten, dear brother, I have prayed for you, and shall yet pray. And will not all who read this sketch join me in praying for the convention at Sialkot, and for this precious man of God, still praying and preaching and praising there ?