3 o DA VID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. ii. 



have survived. One of the few, dated 5th May 1839, is 

 addressed to his sister, and in it he says that there had 

 been some intention of sending him abroad at once, 

 but that he was very desirous of getting more edu- 

 cation. The letter contains very little news, but is 

 full of the most devout aspirations for himself and exhor- 

 tations to his sister. Alluding to the remark of a friend 

 that they should seek to be " uncommon Christians, that 

 is, eminently holy and devoted servants of the Most 

 High," he urges : — 



" Let us seek — and with the conviction that we cannot do without 

 it — that all selfishness be extirpated, pride banished, unbelief driven 

 from the mind, every idol dethroned, and everything hostile to holiness 

 and opposed to the divine will crucified ; that ' holiness to the Lord ' 

 may be engraven on the heart, and evermore characterise our whole 

 conduct. This is what we ought to strive after ; this is the way to be 

 happy ; this is what our Saviour loves — entire surrender of the heart. 

 May He enable us by His Spirit to persevere till we attain it ! All 

 comes from Him, the disposition to ask as well as the blessing itself. 



" I hope you improve the talents committed to you whenever there 

 is an opportunity. You have a class with whom you have some 

 influence. It requires prudence in the way of managing it ; seek 

 wisdom from above to direct you ; persevere — don't be content with 

 once or twice recommending the Saviour to them — again and again, 

 in as kind a manner as possible, familiarly, individually, and privately, 

 exhibit to them the fountain of happiness and joy, never forgetting to 

 implore divine energy to accompany your endeavours, and you need 

 not fear that your labour will be unfruitful. If you have the willing 

 mind, that is accepted ; nothing else is accepted if that be wanting. 

 God desires that. He can do all the rest. After all, He is the sole 

 agent, for ' the willing mind ' comes alone from Him. This is comfort- 

 ing, for when we think of the feebleness and littleness of all we do, 

 we might despair of having our services accepted, were we not assured 

 that it is not these God looks to, except in so far as they are indica- 

 tions of the state of the heart." 



Dr. Livingstone's sisters have a distinct recollection 

 that the field to which the Directors intended to send 

 him was the West Indies, and that he remonstrated on 

 the ground that he had spent two years in medical study, 

 but in the West Indies, where there were regular practi- 

 tioners, his medical knowledge would be of little or no 



