There is a question more diiWcult than this to decide. It presents
a serious problem. Many of our volunteers have faced it, and some
have fallen before it. It is a delicate subject, but in dealing with our
perils I must deal with this. If the first commandment means any-
thing it means that God and His service must be dearer to us than the
dearest earthly tie. So firm was William Carey on this point that
when his wife refused to accompany him the answer came, " Go I must
or guilt will rest upon my soul." Many sad complications would be
avoided did volunteers live up to their pledge. One said to me not
long since that his fiancee refused to accompany him. With my whole
Boul do I pity that man ; but the fault is largely his own. Had he.
168

from the first, made it evident to her and her friends that it was his
unflinching purpose to go, he would have avoided this complication.
The out and out volunteers run but little risk in this direction. Dr.
