You can defy presiding elders and bishops and con-
ferences to keep you down. O that we had more of
that sanctified heroism that inspired our fathers in
this respect! My venerable and departed friend,
Adam Poe, known to you all by reputation, when
once asked by his bishop if he would go to such a
place, replied : ' Bishop, if you appoint me to the moon



AS A BISHOP. 207

I will go, if I can get there by land or water!'
Another minister of my acquaintance resented as an
imputation upon his honor a report that he was un-
willing to go to a certain place, and said to his bishop:
^I want it understood that if you appoint me to
preach the Gospel in the mouth of hell, I 'II go, if
you can tell me how. to get there 1'

"And don't overlook the children. An old
physician of my acquaintance said to me, ^ When I
want to estimate the amount of a man's practice, I
ask him how many children he attends. If he gets
the children he gets the parents.' Go from house
to house. You have a great calling, the greatest on
earth. Angels in heaven envy you your places to
work on this planet I You are called to dispense
God's greatest benefaction to mortals ! You are his
ambassadors to this earth 1 If I were a young man
to-day, and felt no call to this work, I would kneel
down this moment and ask God to give me some little
spot on this globe where I might preach his Gospel."



208 LIFE OF BISHOP THOMSON.
CHAirrE^R XV.
HIS ORIENTAL TOUR.
