several years past this part of the work has appeared more and more
important to me, on account of the fearful attempts which have been made
by the powers of darkness to rob the church of Christ of the Holy
Scriptures. I have on this account sought to embrace every opportunity
to circulate the Holy Scriptures in England, Ireland, Canada, British
Guiana, the East Indies, China, Australia, &c. Every open door which the
Lord was pleased to set before me in these or other parts of the world,
I have joyfully entered; yea, I have counted it a privilege, indeed, to
be permitted of God to send forth His Holy Word. Many servants of
Christ, in various parts of the world, have assisted me in this service,
through whose instrumentality copies of the Holy Scriptures have been
circulated. Our endeavour has been, to place the word of God in the
hands of the very poorest persons, and also, in particular, to supply
very aged persons with copies of the Scriptures, printed in large type,
as such copies still remain expensive, considering the means of the
poor. Nor have our efforts been in vain. For we had several cases of
direct conversion, simply through circulating the Holy Scriptures,
brought before us during this year. But we are fully assured, that the
fruit which we have seen, as resulting from this part of the world, is
but little in comparison with what we shall see in the day of Christ's
appearing. The disciples of the Lord Jesus should labour with all their
might in the work of God, as if everything depended upon their own
exertions; and yet, having done so, they should not in the least trust
in their labour and efforts, and in the means which they use for the
spread of the truth, but in God; and they should with all earnestness
seek the blessing of God, in persevering, patient, and believing prayer.
Here is the great secret of success, my Christian Reader. Work with all
your might; but trust not in the least in your work. Pray with all your
might for the blessing of God; but work, at the same time, with all
diligence, with all patience, with all perseverance. Pray then, and
work. Work and pray. And still again pray, and then work. And so on all
the days of your life. The result will surely be, abundant blessing.
Whether you see much fruit or little fruit; such kind of service will be
blessed. We should labour then, for instance, with all earnestness in
seeking to circulate Thousands of copies of the Holy Scriptures, and
Hundreds