benefit of
my own and that I found I had articles of clothing also which might be
put to better advantage in other directions.

It has been very helpful to me from time to time through life, as
occasion has served, to act again in a similar way; and I have never
gone through my house, from basement to attic, with this object in view,
without receiving a great accession of spiritual joy and blessing. I
believe we are all in danger of accumulating--it may be from
thoughtlessness, or from pressure of occupation--things which would be
useful to others, while not needed by ourselves, and the retention of
which entails loss of blessing. If the whole resources of the Church of
GOD were well utilised, how much more might be accomplished! How many
poor might be fed and naked clothed, and to how many of those as yet
unreached the Gospel might be carried! Let me advise this line of things
as a constant habit of mind, and a profitable course to be practically
adopted whenever circumstances permit.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER III

PREPARATION FOR SERVICE

HAVING now the twofold object in view of accustoming myself to endure
hardness, and of economising in order to be able more largely to assist
those amongst whom I spent a good deal of time labouring in the Gospel,
I soon found that I could live upon very much less than I had previously
thought possible. Butter, milk, and other such luxuries I soon ceased to
use; and I found that by living mainly on oatmeal and rice, with
occasional variations, a very small sum was sufficient for my needs. In
this way I had more than two-thirds of my income available for other
purposes; and my experience was that the less I spent on myself and the
more I gave away, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul
become. Unspeakable joy all the day long, and every day, was my happy
experience. GOD, even my GOD, was a living, bright Reality; and all I
had to do was joyful service.

It was to me a very grave matter, however, to contemplate going out to
China, far away from all human aid, there to depend upon the living GOD
alone for protection, supplies, and help of every kind. I felt that
one's spiritual muscles required strengthening for such an undertaking.
There was no doubt that if faith did not fail, GOD would not fail; but,
then, what if one's faith should prove insufficient? I had not at that
time learned that even "if we believe not, He abideth faithful, He
cannot deny Himself";