kly whatever
they intended to do, as the morrow was the LORD'S DAY, when we should
not wish to travel. We also informed them that wherever we were we must
fulfil our mission, and preach the Gospel; it therefore made but little
difference where we might stay, for even if we passed the night
unperceived, we were sure to be found out on the following morning. The
men consequently concluded that we might as well return to the place
from which we had started; to this we fully agreed, and they turned back
accordingly. But--whether by accident or no we could not tell--they got
into another stream, and rowed for some time they knew not whither. At
last, as it was very dark, they moored for the night.

We then called all the boatmen together, with our native assistants, and
read to them the ninety-first Psalm. It may be imagined how appropriate
to our position and need and how sweetly consoling was this portion of
GOD'S Word:--

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the MOST HIGH
Shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY.
I will say of the LORD, _He_ is my refuge and my fortress:
My GOD; in Him will I trust.

"Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
And from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings
shalt thou trust:
His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
Nor for the arrow that flieth by day.

"Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;--I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him,--and show him My salvation."

Committing ourselves in prayer to His care and keeping Who had covered
us with thick darkness and permitted us to escape from the hand of the
violent, we retired for the night; which--thanks to the kind protection
of the WATCHMAN OF ISRAEL, who neither slumbers nor forgets His
people--we passed in peace and quietness, and were enabled, in some
measure, to realise the truth of that precious word, "_Thou_ art my
_Hiding-place_, and my _Shield_."

_Sunday, January 13th._

This morning I was awakened about 4 A.M. by violent pain in the
knee-joint. I had bruised it the day before, and severe inflammation was
the result.