Part 15 (2/2)

”Now I shall return hoed, ”with a happy heart, inasmuch as you have promised to read the Scriptures daily O Robert, my son, read much in the New Testament! Read much in the Gospels--the blessed Gospels! Then you cannot well go astray If you pray, the Lord Hi on his life's journey with her earnest pleadings ringing in his ears

Travelling in those days (1813) was so slow that it took hih in Cheshi+re; and on the way he narrowly escaped being captured by the pressgang and made to serve on a British man-of-hich was short of hands The vessel in which he was going south was indeed boarded, and one man seized; but Robert says, ”I happened to be in bed, and keep it there as long as they were on deck”

He keptthe difficulty he experienced in his busy life of setting aside the necessary ti two chapters a day from his Bible, he nevertheless faithfully did it

At first this practice see hiet grace he knew not

Ere long, however, his fears rolled away He perceived that being justified by faith he had peace with Christ, and rejoiced in the grace and power of the Lord

Soardener, and he attended their s, which he found very helpful

When a little later on he was offered a ave up Methodis, as he says, ”his God to white and yellow ore”

One day he went to Warrington, and whilst there saw a placard announcing a , at which the Rev Williaht of this reminded him of the descriptions his mother used to read of mission work in Greenland, and the subject became fixed in hisMr Roby, and determined to call upon hireat was his dread ofthis call that he asked a companion to accompany him, and be present at the interview, but could only induce his friend to wait for hie failed hian to retreat However, his conscience would not allow hiain he went to the house, but still feared to knock

At length after walking up and down the street in a state of painful indecision he returned and ventured to knock A terribleto run away, and hoped with all his heart Mr Roby would be out

This, however, was not the case; and, brought face to face with the mission preacher, he told his story simply and effectively, and Mr

Roby promised to write to the Missionary Society about him

At first the offer of his services was declined, but later on it was accepted; and on 30th Septest others set apart at the saa

It was at first proposed that Williah reether,” so they were separated

At the age of twenty-one Moffat sailed for South Africa The shi+p reached Cape Town, after a voyage of eighty-six days, on 13th January, 1817; and forthwith he started on his career in receipt of a salary of twenty-five pounds per year

On his journey into the interior he stopped one evening at a Dutch farmer's, where he armly welcomed, and was requested to conduct fa he asked for the servants The farnation by such a request, said he would call in the dogs and baboons if Moffat wanted a congregation of that sort!

But thethe Bible he selected the story of the Syrophoenician woman Beforehe would have the servants in

When the service was over the old man said to Moffat, ”My friend, you took a hard hammer, and you have broken a hard head”

[Illustration: MOFFAT PREACHING TO THE BOERS]

His early missionary efforts were croith success He visited the renowned chief Afrikaner in Naiven much trouble to the Government, and 100 had been offered for his head He became, however, sincerely attached to Moffat, and after a time he went to Cape Toith him The authorities could hardly believe that this notorious robber had becoe, and, when Afrikaner returned home, he took with him numerous presents from the Government

In Decee's Church, Cape Town She had been engaged to hiiven up hoo out to Africa and become a missionary's wife No truer helper could Moffat have found, for she loved the work, and experienced great happiness in her life, notwithstanding all its toils and danger

Shortly after, Mr and Mrs Moffat started for Bechuanaland They went through er and thirst; but the Gospel was preached to the tribes Moffat in those days was not only teacher and preacher, but carpenter, sardener!

For so much result One day he said to his wife, ”This is hard work, Mary” ”It _is_ hard work” she replied; ”but you must remember the Gospel has never yet been preached to theue_”