44 MISSIONARY LIFE 
language, we yet fail to give them clear concep* 
tions of it. 
It is highly important that the missionary learn 
their language, become familiar with their usages, 
manner of life, views of propriety, and their secret 
abominations, in order that he may labor among^ 
them successfully. 
On a certain occasion I preached from the para- 
ble of the vine and branches, in the 15th chapter 
of the Gospel according to John. I showed that 
as the branches are in the vine so we must be in 
Christ ; that the Christian is as dependent upon 
Christ for spiritual life as the branches are on the 
vine, -and as intimately related to him as the 
branch is to the vine. I endeavored to explain 
how we might become branches of the ^^true 
vine,” and thus be saved from sin and hell. 
Though I was as plain, as I could be, yet the 
whole sermon was lost, because, as I afterward 
learned, none of my hearers — not even my inter- 
preter — knew what the .word vine ” meant ! They 
call vines ‘‘ country ropes.” I refer to this to give 
the reader an idea of the difficulty of preaching 
intelligently to that people without a knowledge 
of their language. 
But that which should be done can be done; 
and if we resolve in God’s name that what should 
and can be done in the way of evangelizing the 
