FRUIT MORE ABUNDANT
In a former chapter Mrs. Lü's brother was mentioned. Although he came
off and on to the meetings, and gave up idol worship, he did not take
his stand for Christ for a long time. Mr. Lü had tried earnestly to
lead him into the way of salvation; and after Mrs. Lü had yielded to
the Lord, she joined her husband in his efforts, and they soon had the
joy of seeing him on the Lord's side.
A few months later he was married to a young woman who professed to be
an earnest enquirer. That was the beginning of trial for him, for the
woman had only been pretending to seek after God, as she knew he would
not marry her unless she professed to be a Christian. She would have
ruined him perhaps spiritually and financially, had not the Lord taken
him to Himself. The year before he married he had been seriously ill,
but had been healed in answer to prayer. Now the malady returned with
redoubled force. It was a great trial to Mrs. Lü to see his suffering,
for she loved her brother. Her heart was sad when he poured into her
sympathetic ear the sorrow he felt in not being able to hinder his wife
and her relatives having idolatrous performances for his recovery. He
knew he was not going to recover; he longed to go home to the land
beyond the shadows. From his wife he received no kind treatment. When
almost at death's door he asked in the night for a cup of tea, but she
refused to move from her bed. At last some neighbours, who heard his
pitiful moan, got up and brought him the desired drink. He prayed that
God might call him speedily, and his prayer was answered. Mr. and Mrs.
Lü mourned for their brother, but could only thank God that He had been
merciful enough to take him to Himself, for his sufferings in this
world would have been prolonged.
Another one to whom Mrs. Lü was a great help was an old lady of eighty
years, her father's step-mother. The old lady had been coming to the
meetings since the first night we arrived at Kucheng, and was very
intelligent and quick of understanding. There had not been much love
lost between her and her grand-daughter, but when her heart was
touched, and the light of God began to shine in, things began to
improve. Mrs. Lü had hitherto been patient with her, but out of duty
only. But when she herself learned something of the compassionate love
of Christ, there was an added tenderness in all her dealings with her
grandmother. Her kind words and loving deeds did much toward hastening
the day when the old lady stepped out into the light of God, and began
to shine for Him. For several years she bore a bright testimony to His
redeeming grace, and each Sunday was a real feast day to her. Even
when on her sick-bed, her heart was with the loved ones gathered around
the Word of God, and she prayed for His blessing upon them. On her
last Sunday morning on earth she asked, "Who is coming to preach
to-day?" They told her, and she nodded, satisfied. That day she was
gathered to the multitude of worshippers around the Throne in Heaven.
What a trophy of God's grace! Her life had been a hard one. For many
years she had toiled and laboured; sorrow had not been lacking, and all
those weary years she had served and feared the powers of darkness.
But Christ had set her free, and at eventide there was light and peace.
Soon after their conversion Mrs. Lü and her husband were much concerned
about the parents of their little daughter-in-law. The latter came
into their home the day we opened the chapel at Kucheng, and was from
that day brought under the influence of the Gospel, as she was allowed
to come and go as she liked. She was bright and affectionate, and soon
learned to read. Unlike many girls who come to their mother-in-law's
home while they are still children, she was treated with great
tenderness and consideration, and her heart soon warmed towards Mr. and
Mrs. Lü. But although she was won, that was only a small step, and
greater difficulties had to be overcome. The girl's parents were
entirely heathen, and clung to their beliefs and customs with great
zeal. They had no interest whatever in the Gospel, nor had they any
sympathy with those who believed it.
The first difficulty started when the girl became ill, soon after Mr.
Lü had decided for Christ. His wife was not yet converted. The
parents came, and demanded that the Taoist priests should be called in
to perform their rites for the recovery of the girl. Mr. Lü told them
he was now a believer in God, and could not allow anything idolatrous
in his house. He would spend all the money that was needed in doctors
and medicine, but could not sin against God. The parents of the girl
were angry, but it was of no use--Mr. Lü remained firm. After a long
time of argument on both sides, the parents said they would take their
daughter home with them and do all they could for her, but Mr. Lü
refused to have anything to do with their practices, and would not bear
the expenses either. The girl did not want the Taoists. She had lost
all faith in the idols, and was learning to pray to the living God and
to trust Christ; but she was still a child, and too young to stand out
against her parents. Her illness was not serious, and she soon
recovered.
But when Mr. and Mrs. Lü were both on the Lord's side, they were very
much exercised in their minds about the future arrangements concerning
this girl. She was ailing again, and the parents began afresh to
trouble them. Mr. and Mrs. Lü felt that, according to the law of the
land, she now belonged to them, and they had the responsibility for
her. The girl, too, loved the Lord, and objected to have anything
idolatrous done for her. Yet, what were they to do? It was not a
cheery outlook to think that every time the young girl was not well
they should have to quarrel with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wen. They
were peace-loving, and dreaded any disagreement and strife between
themselves and their relations; and yet such seemed unavoidable.
It was at this point that the Lord showed them a way out of the
difficulty, and reminded Mrs. Lü of the power of prayer. So she turned
to her husband and said, "We cannot sin against God by calling in the
Taoist priest; we cannot allow anything in our house which would be
dishonouring to the name of our Lord and Master; but He has showed me
that there is one thing we can do--we can pray; and we will pray, that
the Lord may open the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Wen, and lead them to
Himself. If they are led to repentance--and why should they not
be?--all the difficulties will be at an end."
With a steadfast purpose, therefore, these two servants of God set
themselves to pray for those who were on their hearts. And the God of
Israel heard the cry of His chosen ones, and soon His Spirit was at
work in the heart of the mother of the girl. Sooner than they had
dared to hope, Mr. and Mrs. Lü rejoiced in the answer to their prayers,
and could praise God for His wonder-working power. Mrs. Wen opened her
heart to the call of the Spirit; she began to enquire after God, and
very quickly, through the instrumentality of Mrs. Lü, she was brought
into the light.
From the first it was evident that the Lord Himself had touched her
heart. She sought salvation most earnestly, and her former
indifference gave place to an intense longing after God. When once she
had started out, there was no turning back, and nothing was allowed to
hinder her in the race. She seemed to have imbibed something of Mrs.
Lü's earnestness, and was altogether changed under the new influence
that had come into her life. She became bright and energetic, and with
a will set herself to learn as much as possible. She bought a
hymn-book and catechism, and began to read, Mrs. Lü being her teacher.
Through storm or rain, cold or heat she would tramp to the services;
nothing could keep her at home. It did one good to see her appear with
her bright smile, which had almost become part of her since she had
learned where true happiness was to be found. Now and again her family
would say, "We are so busy, you might stay at home for once." "No,"
she answered, "I will not stay at home, but I will get up early in the
morning and prepare all I can for you before I leave." And she had her
way.
In the beginning her husband laughed her to scorn, sometimes he scolded
her and called her a fool. But very soon he had to acknowledge that
Christianity was no mere fancy, but a reality, and he could not but
admire his wife's earnestness. So he left her in peace, and did not
allow the sons to trouble her. After a while he began to take an
interest in the daily prayers to God, and would try to help her, in
securing for her all the quietness and comfort possible. That made
home life pleasanter and easier for her, and she praised God for this
token of His grace and favour.
How Mrs. Lü rejoiced, and what a bond there was between the two
relatives! They were one in the Saviour whom they loved, and both were
filled with the one desire to please Him. Mrs. Lü had to share in the
new-found joy of the one she had been leading to Christ, and every one
who has been used in winning souls for the Master knows the blessedness
of such hours; an abundant reward indeed for prayers and labours.
Advice and teaching had still to be given, and Mrs. Lü not only began a
good work, but tried to carry it on to the best of her ability--to help
the new believers by counsel and intercession, and to strengthen their
hands in the Lord. And the one who had so recently passed from death
unto life was not idle either. Especially in her own home she began to
witness for Christ, and found a willing listener in the wife of her
second son. This young woman gladly accompanied her mother-in-law to
the meetings and heard the Word with joy. Her father, who heard of her
attending Christian services, was furious, and declared he would disown
her and bring severe punishment upon her and her home if she continued
to go to the meetings. He insisted on her husband forbidding her to
go. So with a heavy heart the young woman had to stay at home. She
knew how hard and cruel and unforgiving her father was, and she dared
not disobey him. But she determined to continue in the worship of God,
for even her father could not hinder her in that. She asked her
mother-in-law to buy her a book so that she might go on learning at
home. She never dared to brave her father's anger, and step right out
for Christ, but she never worshipped idols again, and when she had a
very serious illness, she trusted the Lord for healing instead of
turning to the Taoist priest. She only lived for a few years, but her
mother-in-law had the full assurance that she died trusting in Christ
Jesus and His redeeming Love.
After a while old Mr. Wen started coming to the meeting, and his wife
was full of joy. But trouble arose in the home, and their eldest son
had to suffer through an unrighteous law case. He wanted us to
interfere on his behalf, which we could not do, so Mr. Wen and his sons
turned away from us in anger for a time, and Mrs. Wen had a hard test
in her home. But she and Mrs. Lü, and some of us, prayed through, and
Mr. Wen soon saw that he had been too hasty in his judgment, and came
back. From that time he went steadily on, and husband and wife were
once more walking together on the same road, but this time it was
leading them upward into light and glory.
For Mr. Wen the journey was soon ended. Even before he had been
baptized and had his name put on the Church roll, he heard the
roll-call from above, and gladly answered. Mrs. Wen pursued her lonely
way, faithful to the last. She, too, has left for the Home with the
many mansions. A short serious illness brought her suddenly to the
brink of the river, but there was no fear in her heart as she had to
ford that stream. She gave her last bright testimony to the saving
power of Christ, and told her loved ones that she was going to be with
Him, and they were not to be anxious about her future after death, for
she was going to the home of eternal blessedness. For the last day or
two she was more or less unconscious, but always at peace. She had
lived and walked with Christ, and He carried her gently through the
chilling waters to the other shore.
Mrs. Wen will be one of the jewels that will shine brightly in Mrs.
Lü's crown, when she receives her reward from the hand of her Master.
May none who read this be found starless or empty-handed in that day!