THE MIRACLES OF THE LOAVES. Mark vi. 35-41; John vi. 5—13. ON the green grass five thousand men With women, too, and children. When Then Jesus, blessing, brake the bread, 'Tis the same Jesus, great and good, Gives home, and friends, and health, and food, Why should I feel, then, doubt and fear, Or ever troubled be; He who could feed those thousands there, THE JUVENILE REPORTER. THE Reporter has merely to say for himself and others that this month finishes up the holidays, and that in a very short time he hopes to have his friends Old Allan Gray and Grandfather Godfrey at work again. Meanwhile, he begs to call the special attention of his young friends to Mr. Douglas's letter. May it stir them up to work! Popery doing so much, and us so little! DEATH OF THE REV. DAVID WE have sad news from China this month. One of our devoted missionaries, the Rev. David Sandeman, is no more. In the following letter from his fellow-labourer, the Rev. Alexander Grant, will be found the particulars of our sad loss: "Amoy, August 3rd, 1858. "MY DEAR DR. HAMILTON,-It has seemed good to a holy God once more to visit our mission and to cover us with a dark cloud, by removing one of its members, as we may well conclude, to the presence of the Lord whom he loved. As you will have heard before this reaches you, Mr. David Sandeman was carried off by cholera on NOVEMBER, 1858. M 162 DEATH OF THE REV. DAVID SANDEMAN. Saturday, the 31st July, at eight o'clock in the evening, after about twenty hours' illness. This distemper has severely visited this town, and now several of the foreign community have fallen victims, indeed much sickness has been for some time prevailing among the foreigners. Mr. Sandeman was led to occupy the pulpit of the chapel here on Sabbath, the 25th. He preached from the words, 'Examine yourselves,' in 2 Cor. xiii. 5. On the Thursday succeeding, the daughter of an American ship captain's wife, who lived with Mr. Talmage, was taken ill of cholera, and carried off the same day. Mr. Sandeman was engaged in caring for the dying and the bereaved. On Friday afternoon he attended the funeral, but being rather unwell, and being careful of himself, he did not accompany the procession far. That same night, however, about midnight, he became so seriously affected as to send to the doctor, who ordered medicine, but this not being of any avail, Mr. Talmage found it necessary to call Dr. Bell about two hours after. This kind medical friend found him with all the symptoms of cholera, and continued his unremitting brotherly attention till all was over. The rest of us came early in the morning and found our dear brother greatly changed in body, but, as formerly, rejoicing in that righteousness which clothes the sinner, as he expressed it, from head to foot. He requested us to pray much for him; his own mind was then, however, in perfect peace stayed on God notwithstanding the sudden prospect of an immediate entrance into eternity. When Mr. Doty came, he articulated the words, Tabernacle dissolving,' and was able to speak a little, but he was much strengthened during the visit of Mr. A. Stronach so as to be able to speak pretty freely. Mr. S. asked him if Jesus was precious; he DEATH OF THE REV. DAVID SANDEMAN. 163 answered that he had always been precious ever since he knew him, more precious than life-than anything. To the inquiry whether he felt much pain? he replied, that his only pain ever since he knew Christ had been sin: that had been the only cloud on his horizon. He also spoke of the love of Christ-he said it was great like the sea around us. It was only last night, he added, when I was comparatively well, that it seemed to me so great that I felt as if it could not be endured by flesh and blood; and he expressively waved his hand as one who cannot bear to see or hear more of anything. He also said to Mr. Stronach, 'May grace be given you to pray much and earnestly for China and its perishing millions.'. On one occasion, seeing Chinese about him, he exhorted them to seek God. One of them replied, 'God takes care of his people.' This was during the forenoon; but about two o'clock a reaction took place, and he became quite different. Hope was revived that he might yet be spared to us, and occasionally a wish that it should be so seemed to enter our dear brother's breast. As his kind medical attendant hung over him, he asked how it was likely to be? Dr. Bell replied he wished he could hold out any hope. This satisfied him; but, afterwards, the doctor asked if he would wish to come back and preach to the Chinese. Ah! yes,' he said, that was it.' All his desire seemed to be for God's work. In arranging some temporal matters the sole thing to which he had regard was the ministry of the Lord Jesus-not merely things connected with religion but the work itself-the honour of Christ. He left several discriminating and awakening messages to some parties here. Of one who was spoken of, and who one of the brethren said had been long about the door of the kingdom of heaven, he said, there was 164 DEATH OF THE REV. DAVID SANDEMAN. nothing but hell for those who went no further than the door; there was no middle place. This he twice repeated, and it came with peculiar solemnity from his loving and tender heart. During the afternoon his pain became considerable, as the doctor judged; and want of air was very distressing to him. He was enabled, however, to give fervent thanks to his God for all his mercy and kindness to him. He gradually sank till eight o'clock, when he expired without a struggle-he fell sweetly asleep. Mr. Doty, Mr. De Grijs (the Dutch Vice-Consul here), and his brethren in the mission were present—the latter with the exception of Mr. Douglas, who had gone to Ma-Ping; and who, though a messenger had been despatched to him early in the morning, was unable to reach the river before the evening of Sabbath, and consequently was deprived of the privilege of being by his brother's couch, or even attending his funeral. "Next morning being Lord's day, Mr. Smith preached solemnly on the words, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.' The funeral was that evening, at half-past five o'clock, attended by many, both Chinese and foreigners. Mr. Sandeman was, of course, not understood by a party of our countrymen here, who are unhappily engaged in something widely different from seeking the glory of God among the heathen. Still it was very gratifying to his personal friends that so many paid their last tribute of honour to him. A praying, faithful standard-bearer has fallen. Surely God is speaking very loudly to us. that it would please him to raise up multitudes of praying, wrestling labourers for the work in this land. Oh 'May God bless this solemn and heavy blow to us all. "Believe me, my dear Sir, "Very truly yours, "ALEXANDER GRANT." |