1 62 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. vm. 



nations, and is destined to overflow the world. The fact which ought 

 to stimulate us above all others is, not that we have contributed to the 

 conversion of a few souls, however valuable these may be, but that we 

 are diffusing a knowledge of Christianity throughout the world. The 

 number of conversions in India is but a poor criterion of the success 

 which has followed the missionaries there. The general knowledge 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 — Eeformers 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 

 as tawny Boers in South Africa, our duty is onward, onward, proclaim- 

 ing 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 ever- 

 lasting 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, 

 reaching the outlying Portuguese stations. He was 

 received by the Portuguese gentlemen with great kind- 

 ness, and his wants were generously provided for. One 

 of them gave him the first glass of wine he had taken in 



