Marvelous Workings in Pakhoi
By Mrs. A. H. Bach
Since Brother Harlow left us, we have had some experiences which I think beautiful and wonderful marks of the Lord’s tender care over His sheep. Se-go is a fisherman of Tegat, where my husband took Brother Harlow, to show him the family who threw away their idols on account of the plague. This man was heavily in debt, so that no one would lend him anything, not even our Bible woman, who is a near relative. He came with a heavy heart to Pakhoi sometimes, to keep Sabbath, and would often think he ought to go fishing instead; but the only son, who was saved from the plague after he began keeping the Sabbath, kept him from going. Some weeks ago, returning home from Pakhoi, and in the evening starting out fishing, he went in a direction opposite to his fellow fishermen. He himself was aware that it was not a good place, and also the others told him not to go on that route. But he heeded no one, and went, following some inward guidance. Erelong he had a full load of fish of a very large size—$100 worth. Some weeks after, again going out in the evening after the Sabbath, he made a draft of $300 worth, and all the rest of the men caught nothing, and were greatly astonished. He paid all his debts, and bought new shoes and clothes for his boy, who is learning weaving with us. His joy, as well as ours, is great. One woman, whom Tai-su, the Bible woman, visited, had lost six members of the family through the plague. She is a good Chinese scholar, knowing about five hundred characters. Tai-su showed her many texts in which the plague was mentioned as the result of disobedience to the commandments, but she would not believe it or take much notice of it. At last Tai-su said to her that her case itself, of unbelief, was stated too, in the Bible; that is, that in spite of the plagues, they would not believe and be converted. When she showed her this text in Revelation, her heart was melted, and she was persuaded, and now is coming and keeping the Sabbath of the Lord. Lately we had Lu, the evangelist, down from Limchow. He saw opposite our house a man, sitting near the altar dedicated to the snake idol. Often I had thought of means to destroy this idol. This man was looking very sad. Lu asked him why he was so sad, and said that he had come purposely to speak to him. This man told him that he had lost a dearly beloved girl, and that he had done all that the priests told him to do. The whole night we heard the noise going on, and he was lying prostrate before the idol all night. Lu, the evangelist, began to read to him the texts about the plague, and told him how to serve God and keep His commandments, and this man is a new convert. So we plainly see the good the plague is doing. In spite of the 2,300 who have died, a few have accepted the gospel who otherwise would never have turned to the Lord. All praise and honor to His name!