18
Letter from B. J. Bellelheim.
JAN.
observing that the dark of the evening gave the spies less play-ground, I chose this time to go out into the byways and hedges, where tawny children presently hopped to and fro me in considerable numbers, of course with the natural desire of getting a cake or some cash, but now and then they got something better, a grain of sweet heavenly manna, or a shekel out of the sanctuary; no wonder a stop should be put to such delightful rambles. These were children who I hope felt attached to me, and I am sure I patted and fondled them with paternal affection. Even long after our intercourse must have been betrayed and declared illicit, as I easily inferred from stones pelting me occasionally in the dark, I saw them still sneaking and slinking around till they could safely ap- proach, and get their sweet trifles; but this likewise had to be given up. Shut out entirely from street labor, nothing remained but boldly to venture into people's houses. To confine myself to the huts where my guards were quartered would have been too easy a triumph for the evil one, and the surest way to concentrate all opposition there, and eventually to lose even that last anchor-ground in the impending storm. To secure the little one has, it is necessary to strive for more; a rule that holds good in any kind of gain, commercial as well as spiritual, for he that has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has. This great principle, in my humble judgment, it is a pity to see so little acted upon by the church; otherwise her missionary efforts would far surpass her pastoral ones. For though in this dispensation, the world is not to become the church, yet the latter loses ground, even what she has, when she gains none. The command to go to all nations plainly indicates we are not to wait; and it would moreover, practically be in vain to wait till any one of them be entirely converted. What mission- ary settled in a town, would not simultaneously with his city mission, take a range in the villages around? Has not Seroor in India its voluntary troubles at Wadagaon, and does not Mr. French rightly say, "I am more and more convinced of the importance of this (the village preaching) department of labor." Christ, our Savior, who left heaven for his mission upon earth, by precept and example inculcated mis- sionary pilgrimage on the church: why is it neglected? Capernaum, doomed to be brought down hell, and offering therefore, as may be supposed, a lasting station for his divine missionary sympathy, once in a lucid moment of grace, begged that he should not depart from them. Did he settle down with them? No; he said unto them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee." Such was the practice of Christ, such his command.