Chapter 7—Four Letters to a Leading Missionary
Worker in Africa
Letter A
North Fitzroy, Victoria
July, 1892
Dear Brother,
There are lessons for each child to learn in the line of firm trust,
and implicit obedience. Jesus gave His life for us, that we should not
perish, but believe in Him and have everlasting life. And shall we
distrust God for one moment, when He has given us such evidence of
His love? No, no; my soul cries out for the living water of life that I
may refresh others
As a people we must practise self-denial and economy. Every soul
should make a covenant with God by sacrifice. We should not expend
money in extra expensive clothing, and rich furniture. We are pilgrims
and strangers seeking a better country, even an heavenly. Time is short,
and every dollar not necessary to be used in supplying positive wants,
should be brought in as a thank offering to God. It is the Lord’s, and
the Lord has presented to me that houses of worship, and schoolhouses
should be erected through this country, and in the islands of the sea;
that our leading men should not build for display, or to gratify ambition
and pride. If the Lord has favoured them above their brethren in other
countries, let them in true liberality assist those who greatly need to
be helped to find a standing place, and give character to the work.
The Lord is no respecter of persons or of places. The work is
one great whole. The world is our field, and I have made decided
appeals to our brethren in America to bind about their wants, and to
devise and plan everything in a simple, modest, comfortable style, that
corresponds with our faith.
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When I consider that the Lord has placed ample means in the
hands of His servants to be used not improvidently, but wisely, not
extravagantly, but economically as the case seems to demand, there
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