"We cannot stay to discuss that now! Come, or it will be too late. I will give you five dollars" (then worth about thirty shillings in English money).
"We won't do it for that," replied the men. "Give us twenty dollars, and we will drag."
"I do not possess so much: do come quickly, and I will give you all I have!"
"How much may that be?"
"I don't know exactly, about fourteen dollars."
At last, but even then slowly enough, the boat was paddled over, and the net let down. Less than a minute sufficed to bring up the body of the missing man. The fishermen were clamorous and indignant because their exorbitant demand was delayed while efforts at resuscitation were being made. But all was in vain--life was extinct.
To myself this incident was profoundly sad and full of significance, suggesting a far more mournful reality. Were not those fishermen actually guilty of this poor Chinaman's death, in that they had the means of saving him at hand, if they would but have used them? Assuredly they were guilty. And yet, let us pause ere we pronounce judgment against them, lest a greater than Nathan answer, "_Thou art the man_." Is it so hard-hearted, so wicked a thing to neglect to save the body? Of how much sorer punishment, then, is he worthy who leaves the soul to perish, and Cain-like says, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD JESUS commands, commands _me_, commands _you_, my brother, and _you_, my sister. "Go," says He, "go ye into _all_ the world, and preach the Gospel to _every_ creature." Shall we say to _Him_, "No, it is not convenient"? shall we tell _Him_ that we are busy fishing and cannot go? that we have bought a piece of ground and cannot go? that we have purchased five yoke of oxen, or have married, or are engaged in other and more interesting pursuits, and cannot go? Ere long "we must all appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST; that every one may receive the things done in his body." Let us remember, let us pray for, let us labour for the unevangelised Chinese; _or we shall sin against our own souls_. Let us consider _Who_ it is that has said, "If thou _forbear_ to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth _thy_ soul, doth not he know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his works?"
Through midnight gloom from Macedon, The cry of myriads as of one; The voiceful silence of despair Is eloquent in awful prayer: The soul's exceeding bitter cry, "Come o'er and help us, or we die."
How mournfully it echoes on, For half the earth is Macedon; These brethren to their brethren call, And by the Love which loves them all, And by the whole world's Life they cry, "O ye that live, behold we die!"
By other sounds the world is won Than that which wails from Macedon; The roar of gain is round it rolled, Or men unto themselves are sold, And cannot list the alien cry, "O hear and help us, lest we die!"
Yet with that cry from Macedon The very car of CHRIST rolls on: "_I come; who would abide My day,_ _In yonder wilds prepare My way;_ _My voice is crying in their cry,_ _Help ye the dying, lest ye die_."
JESU, for men of Man the SON, Yea, THINE the cry from Macedon; Oh, by the kingdom and the power And glory of Thine advent hour, Wake heart and will to hear their cry: Help us to help them, lest we die.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]