HUDSON TAYLOR The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall

GOD, THE ONE GREAT CIRCUMSTANCE 91
made their home in a country district some ten miles
from the city. But typhoid fever, which both contracted,
drove them back to the city. Therefore, the Chinese
house on Bridge Street, Ningpo, was remodelled and
made a centre for settled work. And here the joys and
anxieties of soul winning were experienced for the next
eighteen months.
By day and by night these two were "in labours more
abundant", dispensing to the sick, preaching to all who
would listen, and teaching such as were interested.
They had no efficient Chinese helpers, no attractive or
expensive plant, only the devotion which was willing to
spend and be spent for others. There was no withholding,
no standing aloof from the people, always ready access
and abounding sympathy, and that subtle power which
touches souls and wins confidence. And the seed sown
was well watered with their tears. There was a great
expenditure of soul.
"Perhaps", wrote Hudson Taylor, "if there were more of
that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should ,
more frequently see the results we desire." And again-and
the following words throw light upon his methods-"How
much of the precious time and strength of our Lord was
spent in conferring temporal blessings on the poor, the
afflicted and the needy. Such ministrations, proceeding from
right motives, cannot be lost. They are Godlike, they are
Christlike."
So by word, and by deed, they followed in the footsteps
of Him who went about doing good. And the standard
of discipleship was high. The keeping of the Sabbath,
exacting as that was in China, was urged upon the
little band of inquirers; and, that they might become a
well-instructed company, a night school for learning to
read the New Testament was instituted. For this work