HIS FIRST RETURN TO ENGLAND. 83 
Mr. Comber’s old friend, Mr. John Hartland. All 
three were accepted. 
As it was in consequence of Mr. Comber’s influence 
John Hartland was led to offer himself as a mission- 
ary for the Congo, it is fitting that reference be made 
in these pages to that offer in particular. A powerful 
impression had been produced upon Mr. Hartland’s 
mind by the letters he had received from Africa ; but 
it was at a meeting of the Young Men’s Mission- 
ary Association held in the Mission House, which 
Mr. Comber addressed soon after his return, and as 
the result of his appeals on that occasion, that John 
Hartland definitely resolved, if God would open his 
way, to go to the Congo. 
“The same evening,” says his mother, “immediately 
on his return home, he wrote to Mr. Comber asking 
him if his address was specially intended for him. 
It seemed so. For years, long before they met, his 
castle in the air was to be a missionary, — it had 
always been his hope, yet it seemed too great a call- 
ing — too far off — too unattainable ever to hope for.” 
In his letter to his friend he thus expressed his 
fervent desire : — 
“ Often, very often, the voice has called from afar, 
‘ Come over and help us.’ I have longed, I have 
prayed to go, and often cried, ‘ Here am I ; send me,’ 
but I have never yet felt that He was sending me, 
and I dare not go alone. But to-night you said you 
wanted to take with you back to Africa one or two 
men at once. The preparation for mission work was 
always my obstacle, but if the men you need are 
ready to dedicate themselves as they are, and at once 
to the Lord’s service — if the only preparation needed 
is the preparation of the Holy Spirit ; if the wisdom 
needed is that wisdom promised to those who ask ; if 
the sufficiency is not a college education, but the 
sufficiency which is of God — I cannot, I dare not 
hold back. * How much owest thou my Lord ? ’ often 
rings in my ears, and my only answer is ‘ Everything.’ 
