boatmen to decide: they had moved off of themselves, and we felt that whatever we might personally do, we could not constrain others to remain in a dangerous position. We told them, however, what they did, to do quickly, as the morrow was the Lord's-day, and we did not wish to travel on it: we also informed them, that wherever we were, we must fulfil our mission, and preach the gospel; it therefore was a very little matter where we stayed, because, if we passed the night unperceived, we were sure to be found out on the following day. The men consequently said, 'We might as well return to the place where we started,'—to which we replied, 'Decidedly so;' and they turned back accordingly. But, whether intentionally or accidentally I know not, they got into another stream, and rowed they knew not whither for some time, it being very dark; and at last they moored for the night. We then called all the boatmen together, with our native assistants, and read to them the ninety-first Psalm. It may be imagined how appropriate to our position and need, and how sweetly consoling was this portion of God's word:—
'He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High.
'Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
'I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:
'My God; in Him will I trust.
'Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
'And from the noisome pestilence.
'He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust:
'His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
'Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
'Nor for the arrow that flieth by day.'
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'Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him.
'I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
'He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
'I will be with him in trouble;—I will deliver him, and honour him.
'With long life will I satisfy him,— and shew him My salvation.'
"Committing ourselves in prayer to His care and keeping who had covered us with thick darkness and permitted us to escape from the hand of the violent, we retired for the night; which—thanks to the kind protection of the Watchman of Israel, who neither slumbers nor forgets His people—we passed in peace and quietness, and were enabled, in some measure, to realise the truth of that precious word, 'Thou art my Hiding place, and my Shield.'
"Sunday, January 13th.—I was awakened this morning at about 4 a.m., by a violent pain in the knee joint. I had bruised it the day before, and severe inflammation had resulted. To my great surprise, I heard the rain pouring down in torrents, the weather having previously been particularly fine. We found ourselves so near our former stopping place, that had nothing happened to prevent, we should not have felt justified in neglecting to go into the town to preach as usual. But the rain was so heavy all day that no one could leave the boats. We enjoyed, therefore, a delightful day of rest, such as I have not had for some time; and the weather, doubtless, prevented much enquiry for us; whereas, had the day been fine, we should most likely have been discovered, even if we had not left our boats. As it was, we were allowed to think in peace, with wonder and gratitude, of the gracious dealings of our God, who had thus led us 'apart into a desert place,' to 'rest awhile.'
"January 14th.—A cloudless morning. One of the native assistants went this morning before day-break to get some clothes which had been put out to wash. He came back with the tidings, that notwithstanding the drenching rain of yesterday, men had been seeking us in all directions. We, however, had been kept in safety 'under the shadow of the Almighty.' The boatmen were now so frightened that they would remain no longer, and moved off at dawn. I was confined to my boat by lameness, and had no alternative but to go with them. In the afternoon we reached Ping-wang."
