HUDSON TAYLOR The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall

A MAN SENT FROM GOD 23
In the following year he obtained a post in a Barnsley
bank, but in consequence of serious eye trouble, caused
by much writing by gas-light, this position was relinquished
after being held for only nine months. None the
less, this brief banking experience proved highly useful
in his future career. ·
But the worldly associates, and especially the influence
of one man in the bank, made him for a time set his
heart on wealth and worldly pleasures, and predisposed
him towards their sceptical and infidel teaching. Strange
as it may seem, in after life he wrote, "I have often been
thankful for this time of scepticism", and the reason for
this is best given in his own words:
"The inconsistencies of Christian people, who, while professing
to believe their Bibles, were yet content to live just
as they would if there were no such Book, had been one of
the strongest arguments of my sceptical companions; and
I frequently felt at that time, and said, that if I pretended
to believe the Bible I would at any rate attempt to live by
it, putting it fairly to the test, and if it failed to prove true'
and reliable, would throw it overboard altogether. These
views I retained when the Lord was pleased to bring me
to Himself; and I think I may say that since then I have
put God's Word to the test. Certainly it has never failed
me."
But doubts are sometimes faith's shadow. With him /
they were the searching of his soul for solid rock upon
which to place his feet, and while it is not always true
that "He who never doubted never half-believed", he
was unquestionably allowed to pass through those deep
waters to find God's resting-place. The stery of how God
did bring him to Himself is best given in his own words:
"Let me tell you how God answered the prayers of my
dear mother, and of my beloved sister, now Mrs. Broomhall,