There is a striking story of a certain missionary who was
sent for on one occasion to go to a little village in an
out-of-the-way corner of India to baptize and receive into
church fellowship sixty or seventy adult converts from Hinduism.
At the commencement of the proceedings he had noticed a boy
about fifteen years of age sitting in a back corner, looking
very anxiously and listening very wistfully. He now came
forward. “What, my boy? Do you want to join the Church?” “Yes,
sir.” “But you are very young, and if I were to receive you into
fellowship with the Church to-day, and then you were to slip
aside, it would bring discredit upon this church and do great
injury to the cause of Christ. I shall be coming this way again
in about six months. Now you be very loyal to the Lord Jesus
Christ during that time, and if when I come again at the end of
the half year I find you still stedfast and true, I will baptize
and receive you gladly.”
No sooner was this said than all the people rose to their feet,
and, some speaking for the rest, said: “Why, sir, it is he who
has taught us all that we know about Jesus Christ.”
And so it turned out to be. This was the little minister of the
little church the honored instrument in the hand of God for
saving all the rest for Jesus Christ.
(360)