e is the criterion; and there, as well as in other
lands where missionaries in the midst of masses of heathenism
seem like voices crying in the wilderness--Reformers before
the Reformation, future missionaries will see conversions
follow every sermon. We prepare the way for them. May they
not forget the pioneers who worked in the thick gloom with
few rays to cheer, except such as flow from faith in God's
promises! We work for a glorious future which we are not
destined to see--the golden age which has not been, but will
yet be. We are only morning-stars shining in the dark, but
the glorious morn will break, the good time coming yet. The
present mission-stations will all be broken up. No matter how
great the outcry against the instrumentality which God
employs for his purposes, whether by French soldiery as in
Tahiti, or tawny Boers as in South Africa, our duty is
onward, onward, proclaiming God's Word whether men will hear
or whether they will forbear. A few conversions show whether
God's Spirit is in a mission or not. No mission which has his
approbation is entirely unsuccessful. His purposes have been
fulfilled, if we have been faithful. 'The nation or kingdom
that will not serve Thee shall utterly be destroyed'--this
has often been preceded by free offers of friendship and
mercy, and many missions which He has sent in the olden time
seemed bad failures. Noah's preaching was a failure, Isaiah
thought his so too. Poor Jeremiah is sitting weeping tears
over his people, everybody cursing the honest man, and he
ill-pleased with his mother for having borne him among such a
set. And Ezekiel's stiff-necked, rebellious crew were no
better. Paul said, 'All seek their own, not the things of
Jesus Christ,' and he knew that after his departure grievous
wolves would enter in, not sparing the flock. Yet the cause
of God is still carried on to more enlightened developments
of his will and character, and the dominion is being given by
the power of commerce and population unto the people of the
saints of the Most High. And this is an everlasting kingdom,
a little stone cut out of a mountain without hands which
shall cover the whole earth. For this time we work; may God
accept our imperfect service!"

At length Livingstone began to get near the coast,