TIMELY SUPPLIES
NOT infrequently our GOD brings His people into difficulties on purpose
that they may come to know Him as they could not otherwise do. Then He
reveals Himself as "a very present help in trouble," and makes the heart
glad indeed at each fresh revelation of a FATHER'S faithfulness. We who
only see so small a part of the sweet issues of trial often feel that we
would not for anything have missed them; how much more shall we bless
and magnify His Name when all the hidden things are brought to light!
In the autumn of 1857, just one year after I came to settle in Ningpo, a
little incident occurred that did much to strengthen our faith in the
loving-kindness and ever-watchful care of GOD.
A brother in the LORD, the Rev. John Quarterman, of the American
Presbyterian Mission North, was taken with virulent small-pox, and it
was my mournful privilege to nurse him through his suffering illness to
its fatal close. When all was over, it became necessary to lay aside the
garments worn while nursing, for fear of conveying the infection to
others. Not having sufficient money in hand to purchase what was needful
in order to make this change, prayer was the only resource. The LORD
answered it by the unexpected arrival of a long-lost box of clothing
from Swatow, that had remained in the care of the Rev. William Burns
when I left him for Shanghai, in the early summer of the previous year.
The arrival of the things just at this juncture was as appropriate as it
was remarkable, and brought a sweet sense of the FATHER'S own providing.
About two months later the following was penned:----
_November 18th, 1857._
Many seem to think that I am very poor. This certainly is true enough in
one sense, but I thank GOD it is "as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, yet possessing all things." And my GOD shall supply
_all_ my need; to Him be all the glory. I would not, if I could, be
otherwise than I am--entirely dependent myself upon the LORD, and used
as a channel of help to others.
On Saturday, the 4th inst., our regular home mail arrived. That morning
we supplied, as usual, a breakfast to the destitute poor, who came to
the number of seventy. Sometimes they do not reach forty, at others
again exceeding eighty. They come to us every day, LORD'S Day excepted,
for then we cannot manage to attend to them and get through all our
other duties too. Well, on that Saturday morning we paid all expenses,
and provided ourselves for the morrow, after which we had not a single
dollar left between us. How the LORD was going to provide for Monday we
knew not; but over our mantelpiece hung two scrolls in the Chinese
character--_Ebenezer_, "Hitherto hath the LORD helped us"; and
_Jehovah-Jireh_, "The LORD will provide"--and He kept us from doubting
for a moment. That very day the mail came in, _a week sooner than was
expected_, and Mr. Jones received a bill for two hundred and fourteen
dollars. We thanked GOD and took courage. The bill was taken to a
merchant, and although there is usually a delay of several days in
getting the change, this time he said, "Send down on Monday." We sent,
and though he had not been able to buy all the dollars, he let us have
seventy on account; so all was well. Oh, it is sweet to live thus
directly dependent upon the LORD, who never fails us!
On Monday the poor had their breakfast as usual, for we had not told
them not to come, being assured that it was the LORD'S work, and that
the LORD would provide. We could not help our eyes filling with tears of
gratitude when we saw not only our own needs supplied, but the widow and
the orphan, the blind and the lame, the friendless and the destitute,
together provided for by the bounty of Him who feeds the ravens. "O
magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His Name together. . . . Taste
and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear
Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the
LORD shall not want any good thing"--and if not good, why want it?
But even two hundred dollars cannot last for ever, and by New Year's Day
supplies were again getting low. At last, on January 6th, 1858, only one
solitary cash remained--the twentieth part of a penny--in the joint
possession of Mr. Jones and myself; but though tried we looked to GOD
once again to manifest His gracious care. Enough provision was found in
the house to supply a meagre breakfast; after which, having neither food
for the rest of the day, nor money to buy any, we could only betake
ourselves to Him who was able to supply all our need with the petition,
"Give us this day our daily bread."
After prayer and deliberation we thought that perhaps we ought to
dispose of something we possessed in order to meet our immediate
requirements. But on looking round we saw nothing that we could well
spare, and little that the Chinese would purchase for ready money.
Credit to any extent we might have had, could we conscientiously have
availed ourselves of it, but this we felt to be unscriptural in itself,
as well as inconsistent with the position we were in. We had, indeed,
one article--an iron stove--which we knew the Chinese would readily
purchase; but we much regretted the necessity of parting with it. At
length, however, we set out to the founder's, and after a walk of some
distance came to the river, which we had intended to cross by a floating
bridge of boats; but here the LORD shut up our path. The bridge had been
carried away during the preceding night, and the river was only passable
by means of a ferry, the fare for which was two cash each person. As we
only possessed one cash, our course clearly was to return and await
GOD'S own interposition on our behalf.
Upon reaching home, we found that Mrs. Jones had gone with the children
to dine at a friend's house, in accordance with an invitation accepted
some days previously. Mr. Jones, though himself included in the
invitation, refused now to go and leave me to fast alone. So we set to
work and carefully searched the cupboards; and though there was nothing
to eat, we found a small packet of cocoa, which, with a little hot
water, somewhat revived us. After this we again cried to the LORD in our
trouble, and the LORD heard and saved us out of all our distresses. For
while we were still upon our knees a letter arrived from England
containing a remittance.
This timely supply not only met the immediate and urgent need of the
day; for in the assured confidence that GOD, whose we were and whom we
served, would not put to shame those whose whole and only trust was in
Himself. My marriage had been previously arranged to take place just
fourteen days after this date. And this expectation was not
disappointed; for "the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed,
but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant
of My peace be removed." And although during subsequent years our faith
was often exercised, and sometimes severely, He ever proved faithful to
His promise, and never suffered us to lack any good thing.
Never, perhaps, was there a union that more fully realised the blessed
truth, "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour
of the LORD." My dear wife was not only a precious gift to me; GOD
blessed her to many others during the twelve eventful years through
which she was spared to those that loved her and to China.
Hers had been a life connection with missionary work in that great
empire; for her father, the loved and devoted Samuel Dyer, was amongst
the very earliest representatives of the London Mission in the East. He
reached the Straits as early as 1827, and for sixteen years laboured
assiduously amongst the Chinese in Penang and Singapore, completing at
the same time a valuable fount of Chinese metallic type, the first of
the kind that had then been attempted. Dying in 1843, it was never Mr.
Dyers privilege to realise his hopes of ultimately being able to settle
on Chinese soil; but his children lived to see the country opened to the
Gospel, and to take their share in the great work that had been so dear
to his heart. At the time of her marriage, my dear wife had been already
living for several years in Ningpo with her friend, Miss Aldersey, in
whose varied missionary operations she was well qualified to render
valuable assistance.
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