HUDSON TAYLOR The man who believed God by Marshall Broomhall

66 THE MAN WHO BELIEVED GOD
ing whether they might have another opportunity. But
the mad rage of their chief persecutor, who called for
manacles, at length compelled them to desist. Some
were for dragging them before the Mandarin, some were
for killing them on the spot. Although the long and
weary streets seemed to have no end, the Yamen was at
length reached, when both Hudson Taylor and his
friend were glad to lean against the wall, bathed in.
perspiration, exhausted, and with their tongues cleaving
to the roofs of their mouths.
In the good providence of God the official had once
been Taotai of Shanghai, and knew the importance of
treating foreigners with respect. Not only did he show
them deference, but he listened to their message, and
accepted a copy of the New Testament and other books.
This was a welcome opening, and they availed themselves
of it by requesting permission to see the city and
distribute their books. This was granted, and their books
were distributed unmolested, and they left the city
quite in state. Though battered and weary it was with
grateful hearts they reached their boats in safety, and
thanked God for the labours and the mercies of a trying
day.
Such journeyings as these, with their vision of the
needy multitude, turned Hudson Taylor's mind more
and more from the settled ports to the unreached
millions of the interior. He was unable to disregard the
call of those vast unevangelized regions.
"Wherever one goes," he wrote, "cities, towns, and
villages just teem with inhabitants, few of whom have ever
heard the only Name under Heaven given among m_en
whereby we must be saved. Just to visit them, give away
portions of Scripture and tracts, and after preaching a few
times, pass on to other places, seems almost like doing