The Test of Faith by Mrs. R. F. Cottrell.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C.

FromReview and Herald, Harvest Ingathering Number

The Test of Faith

By Mrs. R. F. Cottrell.

“THAT ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” This is a blessed word in these lands of heathen hopelessness.

In a small city of Hunan where we have an outstation, a young married woman had been groping her way from heathenism into Christianity. Mrs. Li, our Bible woman, had been teaching her to read the Gospels, that she might more perfectly understand the way of life. For some time she had been looking forward with joy to the time when the “foreign pastor” would come to their town, so that she might follow her Lord in baptism.

But now her one child, a little son, fell ill. The mother, in her new-found trust in our Heavenly Father, prayed for the little one’s restoration, and her prayer was answered. This greatly increased her faith.

At last the long-expected day came when the foreign pastor visited the city, and it was announced that the next morning opportunity would be given for those who were prepared, to take part in the baptismal rite. But this mother’s little one was again violently ill; so she brought him to the mission for special prayer, trusting that it would please God to raise him as before. However, the child died that same night.

Here came the great test for the mother and relatives. Ordinarily, the mother would have given herself up to loud mourning and wailing, refusing to be comforted for days. Many times, we have seen Chinese women throw themselves down, tearing themselves away from the friends who were trying to support and comfort them in their grief, wailing in a most distressing manner. What would the religion of Jesus Christ do for this poor woman who had all her days been surrounded by heathenism and its customs? Would her experience stand the test?

The child was buried before nine o’clock the next morning, and this sad young mother soon after presented herself silently among the candidates for baptism. The test had been a severe one, but Jesus had been sufficient, and had comforted her heart. Her calm, peaceful demeanor as she entered the baptismal waters was regarded by all her friends as a miracle of the Lord’s grace, and testified more loudly than could many sermons to the peace and comfort found in Christ, and to the power of his grace, even amid heathen surroundings, to transform the life.

MRS. R. F. COTTRELL.

Hunan.