(which is very rare in this part of China), they are imposed to secure merit, not to atone for sin.  I do not remember ever to have met with an individual among the Chinese who had any sense of sinfulness of heart, or even any remorse for sinfulness of conduct except he was first taught it by the Gospel.  It is one of the most difficult truths to convey to their minds that they are sinners against God.  We have had a few inquirers who have expressed a deep sense of sinfulness.  But this sense of sinfulness has come from hearing the Gospel.  The way the most of those, whom we doubt not are true Christians, have been led on seems to be as follows:  They hear the Gospel, presently they become convinced of its truth.  Their first impulses then seem to be those of joy and gratitude.  They are like men who were born blind, and had never mourned over their blindness, because they had no notion of the blessing of sight.  Presently their eyes begin to be opened and they begin to see.  They only think of the new blessings which they are receiving, not of the imperfections which still remain in their vision.  A sense of these comes afterwards.  Was not this sometimes the case in the days of the apostles?  It was not so on the day of Pentecost.  The multitude were ‘pricked in their hearts’ because the moment they were convinced that Jesus was the Christ they were filled with a sense of their wickedness in crucifying Him.  So it is with persons in Christian lands when their minds become interested in the truth; they are made to feel their wickedness in so long resisting its influences.  But the case seems to have been different when Philip first carried the Gospel to Samaria.  The first effect there seems to have been that of ‘great joy.’

“It seems to be thus in Amoy.  The conviction of deep sinfulness comes by meditating on the Gospel, the work of Christ, etc.

“It is the doctrine of the cross of Christ, after all, which should be the theme of our discourses.”

March 18, 1851.  To his brother, Goyn.

“They say in regard to preaching, that when a man has nothing more to say he had better stop.  If this rule were carried out in conversation and letter-writing, there would be much less said and written in the world, than is now the case.

“You seem to think that we missionaries can sit down at any time and write letters, always having enough matter that will be interesting to you at home.  This is a good theory enough, but facts do not always bear it out.

“Our missionary work moves on usually in the same steady manner without many ups and downs or interesting episodes (rather a mixture of figures you will say), which we think worthy of note.  I wish you folks at home could send us more men to drive on the work a little faster.  The door of access at Amoy still continues as wide open as ever, and now seems to be the time for the Church to send her men and occupy the post, which the Master offers to her.  But the Church at home cannot, it seems, look at this matter as we who are on the ground....