Page 105 - Living Epistles

themselves the offering they will present to God and the life they will live, they
are able to bypass many of the trials of faith. Yet such a life is totally
unsatisfactory to the Father. He requires that we hate our own life that we
might follow Christ. Those who have accepted the cost can also testify that the
presence of god becomes much more dear to them than ever before. His
mercies are sought for, and encountered every morning. Sufficient unto the
day is the trouble thereof, and also the grace bestowed.

The Lord began introducing Hudson Taylor after this trial to people of some
means. Hudson Taylor never sought such relations, for his confidence was
fully in the Lord and not in the arm of flesh. Nevertheless, as God desired to
expand the work of sending forth missionaries to China, He raised up those
who would give of their substance, as well as raising up those who would lay
down their entire lives in going to the mission fields.

Hudson Taylor relates an account of one meeting where a well-to-do family
desired to contribute to the work, but they had already given to others and had
nothing on hand at the moment. This family then considered that they could
give the quarterly insurance money that was paid for the protection of their
substantial gardens and conservatories, looking to the Lord to protect their
property during that time.

So warm was the sympathy of the parents that they desired to help the
Mission financially, though no appeal had been made for money and no
collections taken. All the more, perhaps, for this reason, Mr. Taylor's host
and hostess wished to give as a matter of privilege; but their generosity in
other directions had left them little in hand for the purpose. After praying
over it, however, the thought suggested itself,

“Why not trust the Lord about the conservatories, and contribute the amount
almost due for insurance?”

Langley Park possessed extensive greenhouses, and winter storms were apt
to be serious near that east coast. But, definitely committing the matter to
Him Who controls wind and wave, the check was drawn and the premium
paid into the Mission treasury. The sequel Mr. Taylor never heard till long
after, nor indeed that the gift had been made possible in this way. But the
Lord knew; and when a few months later a storm of exceptional violence
broke over the neighborhood, He did not forget. Much glass was shattered
for miles around, but the conservatories at Langley Park entirely escaped.