Page 19 - incense-bearers of han

enough, were tossed on the discard pile.

But Mr. Lee did not falter. Before the whole group of spectators he set fire to the
pile of books that represented practically the whole of his meager capital and they
were consumed in the flames. “From this time on” he loudly announced, “I shall

devote myself to selling the portions of God‟s Word and telling men of His Saving
Grace.”

This demonstration of abandoned sacrifice created a profound impression and

silenced even his erstwhile critics and accusers.
* * * * *
It was a couple of weeks later and we were preaching in another village in the
same section of the country, about 20 miles distant from the Eighth Village. Looking

down in the audience one morning we saw the shining face of Mr.
Lee-Hope-to-get-Rich, as he had previously been known.

After the service he came back to the little thatched hut that served as my living

apartment, in which porcelain wash-bowls, running water and electric lights were
conspicuous for their absence.

“I want to give you my card,” he began. I assured him that I knew exactly who he

was and did not need any identification. “Oh, but you must have my new card! I have
a new name. Formerly I was known as Lee-Hope-to-get-Rich. Now,” he said handing
me his card with a flourish, “this is my name.” We glanced at the card and read the
characters Lee-Ling-Sen, which by interpretation is Lee-Born-of-the-Spirit.

“Nine years,” he explained, “I was conceived in Christ! Not until the day you
preached on the cross of Christ was I really born of God. From henceforth I have no
desire to get rich, so I have given up the old name; I am now a new creature—Born of

the Spirit of the Living God! From henceforth I live to tell others of Him.”

Two years passed. The Lord led our steps into various parts of China, and we
returned from time to time to our home in the lower Yangtze Valley. On returning

home on one occasion we found a great fat letter addressed in Chinese. Breaking the
seal I found a sheaf of pages, neatly inscribed in the Mandarin style. I wondered who
could be my voluminous correspondent, so I turned immediately to the last page
where, under the benediction “The peace of the Gospel unto thee,” appeared in bold

characters the name Lee-Born-of-the-Spirit.

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