my text those sublime words: "For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life."

They listened with the most enrapt attention, while for four hours I
talked to them of some of the truths of this glorious verse. They had
never heard a sermon before; they were ignorant of the simplest truths
of our blessed Christianity; and so I had to make everything plain and
clear as I went along. I could not take anything for granted with that
audience. So I had to take them back to the Creation and Fall. Then I
spoke of God's love in providence and grace; and of His greatest act of
love, the gift of His only begotten beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died that we might live. I dwelt on the benefits which come to us
from the personal acceptance of this Saviour. I tried hard to show how
we, who had wandered so far away, were invited back to actual adoption
into God's great family, as a conscious reality. I spoke of the
universality and impartiality of God's love; of His willingness to
receive all, to fill our hearts with joy and peace, to comfort us all
through life, to sustain us in death, and then to take us to everlasting
life in a world of light and glory.

The ever-blessed Spirit most graciously applied the truth, as I tried,
in the simplest and plainest way, to bring it down to their
comprehension. The attention they gave showed that my words were being
understood. Their bright eyes glistened and at times were suffused with
tears, and as I closed the long-pent-up silence gave place to loud
exclamations of delight.

Then we translated into their language and sang part of the good old
hymn:--

"O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!"

Again we bowed in prayer, and, at my request, they repeated after me all
the petitions which in short easy sentences we offered up to Him Who is
the Hearer and Answerer of prayer. A spirit of awe and solemnity seemed
to rest upon us. It was the first time the great majority had ever
attempted to pray in the Name of Jesus, and I felt a sweet assurance
that those simple petitions, from the hearts and lips of those poor
Indians, were not despised by Him Whose great heart of love beats so
true to all. After prayer I requested them all to again seat themselves
on the ground, as I wished to hear from t