the steps of our two fathers to that station, where a severe stroke of sickness was made the means of detaining Dr. Keith till they had learned that there was an open door among the Jews.  And there, accordingly it has been that the Lord has poured down his Spirit on the Jews that have come to our missionaries so remarkably, that no Jewish Mission seems ever to have been blessed with deeper conversions.  There is nothing but truth in the remark made by one of our number:  “Dr. Black’s fall from the camel was the first step towards Pesth.”  “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord,” Psalm 107:42.  Indeed, whether it was that we were prepared to expect, and therefore were peculiarly ready to observe, or whether it was really the case that the watchful eye of our Lord specially guided us, certain it is that we thought we could perceive the whole course we took signally marked by Providence.  There were many prayers in Scotland ascending up in our behalf, and the High Priest gave the answer by shining upon our path.  Mr. M’Cheyne has stated:  “For much of our safety I feel indebted to the prayers of my people, I mean the Christians among them, who do not forget us.  If the veil of the world’s machinery were lifted off, how much we would find is done in answer to the prayers of God’s children.”

Many things lost somewhat of their importance in our view, when examined amid the undistracted reflections of the long desert journey, where for many days we had quiet, like the quiet of death, around us all night long, and even during the bright day.  It is the more interesting on this very account, to know his feelings there on the subject of the ministry.  As his camel slowly bore him over the soft sandy soil, much did he ruminate on the happy days when he was permitted to use all his strength in preaching Jesus to dying men.  “Use your health while you have it, my dear friend and brother.  Do not cast away peculiar opportunities that may never come again.  You know not when your last Sabbath with your people may come.  Speak for eternity.  Above all things, cultivate your own spirit.  A word spoken by you when your conscience is clear, and your heart full of God’s Spirit, is worth ten thousand words spoken in unbelief and sin.  This was my great fault in the ministry.  Remember it is God, and not man, that must have the glory.  It is not much speaking, but much faith, that is needed.  Do not forget us.  Do not forget the Saturday night meeting, nor the Monday morning thanksgiving.”  Thus he wrote on his way to a fellow-laborer in Scotland.