LIFE AND LABOURS ON THE UPPER CONGO. 1 35 
will help thee, saith the Lord and thy Redeemer. 
Fear not, thou worm Jacob. I will make thee a new 
sharp threshing instrument, having teeth ; thou shalt 
thresh the mountains and beat them small, and shalt 
make the hills as chaff. ... I will make the wilder- 
ness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of 
water.’ 
“ Often, too, has my pulse been quickened and my 
heart thrilled, as was the case in my boyhood when I 
sat in my pew at Denmark Place, as I have read an 
address or sermon of yours, and I have almost heard 
again the same earnest tones and the helpful words, 
which have refreshed and revived not only me, your 
old boy and the member of your church, but also my 
brethren with me. 
‘‘The gracious Lord be doubly gracious to you, 
dear Dr. Stanford, in these your later days, and give 
you calm joy and holy peace in the afternoon and 
evening of your life, blessing your words and prayers 
much to others, to their salvation and sanctification. 
How often, on the Sundays I have spent in Africa, 
far from the congregation, from the choir of praise, 
from the kneeling band of worshippers, in the midst of 
heathendom, indifferent heathendom often, wretched 
heathendom always, in loneliness of spirit and 
solitude of heart, have I wished myself among 
you at Denmark Place, and have tried to live over 
again in spirit the old Sundays of my youth! I 
am almost homeward-bound now, and about the end 
of February hope once more to see you all. Till 
then, farewell ! 
Before Mr. Comber left Africa he had the satisfac- 
tion of knowing that the Mission staff was strength- 
ened by the addition of Messrs. Darling, Cruikshank, 
Cameron, and M‘Millan. He was accompanied on 
the voyage by his native boys Mantu and Lutunu, 
and also had under his care Mr. Grenfell’s little girl 
Patty. 
