第82部分(第2/7 页)

ntinued　the　deep；　relentless　voice。　“Jane；　e　with　me　to　India：　e　as　my　helpmeet　and　fellow…　labourer。”

The　glen　and　sky　spun　round：　the　hills　heaved！　It　was　as　if　I　had　heard　a　summons　from　Heaven—as　if　a　visionary　messenger；　like　him　of　Macedonia；　had　enounced；　“e　over　and　help　us！”　But　I　was　no　apostle；—I　could　not　behold　the　herald；—I　could　not　receive　his　call。

“Oh；　St。　John！”　I　cried；　“have　some　mercy！”

I　appealed　to　one　who；　in　the　discharge　of　what　he　believed　his　duty；　knew　neither　mercy　nor　remorse。　He　continued—

“God　and　nature　intended　you　for　a　missionary’s　wife。　It　is　not　personal；　but　mental　endowments　they　have　given　you：　you　are　formed　for　labour；　not　for　love。　A　missionary’s　wife　you　must—shall　be。　You　shall　be　mine：　I　claim　you—not　for　my　pleasure；　but　for　my　Sovereign’s　service。”

“I　am　not　fit　for　it：　I　have　no　vocation；”　I　said。

He　had　calculated　on　these　first　objections：　he　was　not　irritated　by　them。　Indeed；　as　he　leaned　back　against　the　crag　behind　him；　folded　his　arms　on　his　chest；　and　fixed　his　countenance；　I　saw　he　was　prepared　for　a　long　and　trying　opposition；　and　had　taken　in　a　stock　of　patience　to　last　him　to　its　close—resolved；　however；　that　that　close　should　be　conquest　for　him。

“Humility；　Jane；”　said　he；　“is　the　groundwork　of　Christian　virtues：　you　say　right　that　you　are　not　fit　for　the　work。　Who　is　fit　for　it？　Or　who；　that　ever　was　truly　called；　believed　himself　worthy　of　the　summons？　I；　for　instance；　am　but　dust　and　ashes。　With　St。　Paul；　I　acknowledge　myself　the　chiefest　of　sinners；　but　I　do　not　suffer　this　sense　of　my　personal　vileness　to　daunt　me。　I　know　my　Leader：　that　He　is　just　as　well　as　mighty；　and　while　He　has　chosen　a　feeble　instrument　to　perform　a　great　task；　He　will；　from　the　b