HUDSON TAYLOR The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall

II4
THE MAN WHO BELIEVED GOD
the urgency and magnitude of the need dominated his
mind.
Day by day it became increasingly clear that God
was speaking. The Revival, then in progress, was a revelation
in the home-land of God's power to bless, while
a million a month dying in China without God was its
appalling contrast. The larger missionary societies,
which had been approached, had professed themselves
unable to undertake greater responsibilities, and the unsuccessful
efforts made in this direction gave rise to a
deep conviction that a special agency was needed for
the evangelization of inland China. He felt assured that,
in answer to prayer, workers would be given, and their
support provided, for he knew that nothing was too hard
for God. But he shrank from the conclusion, which was
being forced upon him, that God wanted him to ask for
these workers, and to go forth with them as their leader.
Thus was he brought into the Valley of Decision.
Vision and decision are never far apart, as all God's
prophets have experienced. And all pleaded their insufficiency,
for obedience to the heavenly vision was
never lightly undertaken. This was not rebellion, but
the soul staggered by a new and great responsibility,
befqre it had grasped afresh the truth that God was
greater still. It was the swift and overwhelming appreciation
of the magnitude of the command, and the more
tardy recovery of faith recognizing that "the King's
word bath power". 1
1 Compare the experience and testimony of Martin Luther:
"From the bottom of my soul, I call God to witness, that I should
have continued in my fear, should have hesitated and hesitated up to
the present day, and onward, had not my conscience, had not the
force of truth compelled me to speak. I fought with myself, till Jesus
Christ, by His own infallible Word, fortified my heart against these
doubts, till it became as a coast of rocks, defying the waves which
impotently dash against it."