Preaching

A PIOUS young man, who was desirous 
of devoting himself to the work of the 
ministry among the heathen, and had 
been recommended with that view to the 
Committee of the London Missionary 
Society, on undergoing the usual exami- 
nation, stated that he had one difficulty: 
he had an aged mother entirely dependent 
upon an elder brother and himself for 
maintenance ; and, in case of that bro- 
ther's death, he should wish to be at 
liberty to return to this country, if his 
mother were still living, to contribute to 
her support. Scarcely had he made this 
ingenuous statement, when a harsh voice 
exclaimed, " If you love your mother 
more than the Lord Jesus Christ, you 
will not do for us." Abashed and con- 
founded, the young man was silent. 
Some murmurs escaped the committee ; 
and he was directed to retire while his 
proposal was taken into consideration. 
On his being again sent for, the venera- 
ble chairman, (Dr. Waugh,) in tones of 
unaffected kindness, and with a patri- 
archal benignity of mien, acquainted him 
that the committee did not feel them- 
selves authorized to accept of his ser- 
vices on a condition involving uncertainty 
as to the term; but immediately added, 
" We think none the worse of you, my 
good lad, for your dutiful regard to your 
aged parent. You are but acting in con- 
formity to the example of Him whose 
gospel you wish to proclaim among the 
heathen ; who, as he hung upon the cross 
in dying agonies, beholding his mother 
and the beloved disciple standing by, 
said to the one, ' Woman, behold thy son ;' 
and to John, ' Behold thy mother.' My 
good lad, we think none the worse of 
you."