210 THE HEARTS-EASE 



deep and truly humbling penitence for the wanton 

 neglect of many an appointed means, the careless 

 disregard of many precious opportunities which, 

 if rightly used by us, might materially have help- 

 ed forward the work. Such remorseful regret, 

 however vain in the particular case which is for 

 ever beyond our reach, will lead, if it be indeed 

 a godly sorrow, to the diligent use of similar ad- 

 vantages, in regard to those who remain. This 

 was a favourite topic with D., whose office it ap- 

 peared to be to extract wisdom and instruction 

 from every past occurrence, as a guide in present 

 difficulty and a valuable store laid up for time to come. 

 Never did I behold a more consistent? steady 

 zeal, than he displayed for the extension of Christ's 

 kingdom — first, in his own heart ;. then in his own 

 family, among his immediate associates, and the 

 poor who were brought within his reach. It seem- 

 ed to be his maxim, that our missionary efforts, like 

 the widening circles of disturbed waters, should 

 extend with gradual evenness, not only of purpose, 

 but of operation. 'Let us,' he would say, 'evan- 

 gelize, as far as we can, the space immediately 

 surrounding us ; and there will be no lack of mis 

 sionaries to work in foreign lands.' No one lis 

 tened with smiles of brighter joy than D. to the 

 recital of achievements abroad, where the banner 

 of the cross was born into the dominions of Pa 

 ganism, and souls were won to his beloved Master 



