The Story of the China Inland Mission Author:Howard Taylor Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. THE CALL TO SERVICE. " r I ''HE first joys of conversion passed away after -- a time, and were succeeded by a period of very painful deadness of ... more »soul, with much conflict. But this also came to an end, leaving a deepened sense of personal weakness and dependence on the Lord as the only Keeper as well as Saviour of I lis people. How sweet to the soul, wearied and disappointed in its struggles with sin, is the calm repose of trust in the Shepherd of Israel. " Not many months after my conversion, having a leisure afternoon, I retired to my own chamber to spend it largely in communion with GOD. Well do I remember that occasion. How in the gladness of my heart I poured out my soul before God ; and again and again confessing my grateful love to Him who had done everything for me—who had saved me when I had given up all hope and even wish for salvation—I besought Him to give me some work to do for Him, as an outlet for love and gratitude ; some self-denying service, no matter what it might be, however trying or however trivial ; somethingwith which He would be pleased, and that I might do directly for Him who had done so much for me. Well do I remember, as in unreserved consecration I put myself, my life, my friends, my all, upon the altar, the deep solemnity that came over my soul with the assurance that my offering was accepted. The presence of Gou became unutterably real and blessed ; and though but a child of fifteen, I remember stretching myself on the ground, and lying there silent befora Him with unspeakable awe and unspeakable joy. " For what service I was accepted I knew not; but a deep consciousness that I was no longer my own took possession of me, which has never since been effaced. It became a very practical consciousness. Two or three years later propos...« less