, and searching the Scriptures, and a holy life,
to obtain more knowledge of divine things. Further, as to my impatience in
wishing the matter settled, how could I have been fit to endure in that
state the hardships and trials of a missionary life, in which my patience,
no doubt, would have been much more severely tried? I therefore ought to
have said to myself, if I cannot wait quietly, though it be many months
longer, before the Lord shows me clearly His will concerning the matter,
how then can I be fit for missionary work? Instead of thus comparing my
state of heart and knowledge, with what is required in the Scriptures from
him who is to be a teacher, I ran hastily to the lot, and thought I had
done it prayerfully. And how did it end? According to my prayers the lot
decided I should be a missionary among the heathen (and my mind, at that
time, especially inclined to the East Indies). But the way in which the
Lord has led me since has been very different. And it ought not to be said
in defense of the practice of deciding by lot--Perhaps the Lord meant you
to be a missionary among the heathen, but you did not give yourself to the
work? for I actually offered myself to a society, but was not accepted.
Moreover, since 1826 I have repeatedly offered myself most solemnly to the
Lord for this work, and am as sure that it is not His will that I should
go out a missionary for the present, as I am sure of any thing. Nor could
it be said, that perhaps the Lord yet may call me for this work. For if He
should be pleased to do so tomorrow, yet that would prove nothing
concerning the above point. For I did not use the lot to ascertain whether
at any period of my life I should be engaged in missionary work, but
whether I should then set about it. And to put such an explanation on the
matter, would be acting as false prophets, who, when their prophecies
fail, try to find out some way or other, whereby they may show that their
prophecies were true.

About two years after I used the lot in another instance. I went one day
to a village about fifteen miles from Halle, to see the few believers
there. When I was about three miles from the place, it began to get dark;
and finding myself in a spot where the road divided, and not knowing which
way I should choose, I was greatly perplexed. I stood a moment, and then
prayed to God to show me by the lot, which was the right way. Now, truly
one may say, if the use of the lot in our day is accordin