We then called all the boatmen together, with our native assistants, and read to them the ninety-first Psalm. It may be imagined how appropriate to our position and need and how sweetly consoling was this portion of GOD'S Word:--
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the MOST HIGH Shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY. I will say of the LORD, _He_ is my refuge and my fortress: My GOD; in Him will I trust.
"Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day.
"Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him. I will set him on high, because he hath known My Name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;--I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him,--and show him My salvation."
Committing ourselves in prayer to His care and keeping Who had covered us with thick darkness and permitted us to escape from the hand of the violent, we retired for the night; which--thanks to the kind protection of the WATCHMAN OF ISRAEL, who neither slumbers nor forgets His people--we passed in peace and quietness, and were enabled, in some measure, to realise the truth of that precious word, "_Thou_ art my _Hiding-place_, and my _Shield_."
_Sunday, January 13th._
This morning I was awakened about 4 A.M. by violent pain in the knee-joint. I had bruised it the day before, and severe inflammation was the result. To my great surprise I heard the rain pouring down in torrents, the weather having previously been particularly fine. On looking out, we found ourselves so near our former stopping-place, that, had nothing happened to prevent it, we should not have felt justified in neglecting to go into the town to preach as usual; but the rain was so heavy all day that no one could leave the boats. Thus we enjoyed a delightful day of rest, such as we had not had for some time; and the weather prevented much inquiry being made for us. Had the day been fine we should most likely have been discovered, even if we had not left the boats. As it was, we were allowed to think in peace, with wonder and gratitude, of the gracious dealings of our GOD, who had thus led us apart into "a desert place" to rest awhile.
_Monday, January 14th._
A cloudless morning. One of the native assistants went before daybreak to get some clothes which had been given out for washing. He came back with the tidings that, notwithstanding the drenching rain of yesterday, men had been seeking us in all directions. We had been kept, however, in peace and safety "under the shadow of the Almighty."
The boatmen were now so thoroughly alarmed that they would stay no longer, and moved off at dawn. I was confined to my quarters by lameness, and had no alternative but to go with them. In the afternoon we reached Ping-wang, on the way to Shanghai.
"Ill that GOD blesses is our good, And unblest good is ill; And all is right that seems most wrong, If it be His sweet will."
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