iv.] RELIGIOUS STATE. 140 



thief would just put his head within the door, discover who 

 was in the pulpit, and, knowing he could not leave his 

 rostrum before a certain time had elapsed, would go to his 

 house and take what he could lay his hands upon." 



Still with all these discouraging traits of character, 

 and the necessary self-denial, sufferings and labours of the 

 missionaries, these tribes in general shew more or less 

 preparedness of heart and soul for the reception of the 

 Gospel, in the respect that they feel a need of and desire 

 for something, although they know not what. That " the 

 natural mind receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, 

 because they are spiritually discerned," is a well -proved 

 truth. Still this natural mind can conjecture and feel its 

 immense distance from a just and holy God, with whom it 

 may grope for communion and a closer walk, to be found 

 only by the appointed means, and in the appointed way. 



These very Bechuanas have a proneness for worship, as 

 also have the Balonda. The marauding life of the Makololo 

 makes them sigh for ' sleep' or peace. On many occasions 

 the women gave our traveller a triumphal entry into their 

 villages, lullilooing, and crying "we want peace, give us 

 sleep my lord, &c." The tribes farther east have a similar 

 desire. Surely among such a people the Prince of Peace 

 would be a welcome harbinger of His own heavenly rest 

 assured by His Gospel, if He should make them His willing 

 people in the day of His almighty power. 



Missionary retrospect with regard to South Africa. 



"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." — i Sam. vii. 12. 



"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and 

 returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth 

 and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater : so 

 shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth : it shall not return 

 unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall 

 prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." — Isaiah lv. 10, 11. 



An attentive perusal and consideration of the facts con- 

 centrated in the foregoing pages are far more calculated to 



18—2 



