is guidance, or to go forward
if in due time He should open the way to missionary service. The
importance of this advice I have often since had occasion to prove. I
began to take more exercise in the open air to strengthen my physique.
My feather bed I had taken away, and sought to dispense with as many
other home comforts as I could, in order to prepare myself for rougher
lines of life. I began also to do what Christian work was in my power,
in the way of tract distribution, Sunday-school teaching, and visiting
the poor and sick, as opportunity afforded.

After a time of preparatory study at home, I went to Hull for medical
and surgical training. There I became assistant to a doctor who was
connected with the Hull school of medicine, and was surgeon also to a
number of factories, which brought many accident cases to our
dispensary, and gave me the opportunity of seeing and practising the
minor operations of surgery.

And here an event took place that I must not omit to mention. Before
leaving home my attention was drawn to the subject of setting apart the
firstfruits of all one's increase and a proportionate part of one's
possessions to the LORD'S service. I thought it well to study the
question with my Bible in hand before I went away from home, and was
placed in circumstances which might bias my conclusions by the pressure
of surrounding wants and cares. I was thus led to the determination to
set apart not less than one-tenth of whatever moneys I might earn or
become possessed of for the LORD'S service. The salary I received as
medical assistant in Hull at the time now referred to would have allowed
me with ease to do this. But owing to changes in the family of my kind
friend and employer, it was necessary for me to reside out of doors.
Comfortable quarters were secured with a relative, and in addition to
the sum determined on as remuneration for my services I received the
exact amount I had to pay for board and lodging.

Now arose in my mind the question, Ought not this sum also to be tithed?
It was surely a part of my income, and I felt that if it had been a
question of Government income tax it certainly would not have been
excluded. On the other hand, to take a tithe from the whole would not
leave me sufficient for other purposes; and for some little time I was
much embarrassed to know what to do. After much thought and prayer I was
led to leave the comfortable quarters and happy circle in which I was
now resid