“When clouds o'erspread
When dark night comes on;
When the stars withhold their beams,
And the cold chill of loneliness
Steals over me;
Not alone I I'll say, for
Father, Thou art with me still.”
ALTHOUGH not of a penurious nature, yet an economical turn of mind was one of the characteristics that marked the life of Paton, even in those early days to which we have already referred. Whilst assisting his father at the stocking weaving, he was enabled to save sufficient to enable him to spend six weeks at the Dumfries Academy. This six weeks' insight into the intellectual world awoke in his breast a stronger desire than ever to know more of the things which hitherto had lain beyond his grasp. As the years passed on this desire grew more and more. How was this noble ambition to be gratified? Not by sitting down in listless apathy and brooding over his disappointment. Oh, no! Such a nature was altogether foreign to the youth that was in the future to make his mark in the missionary history of the New Hebrides. Taking Nil desperandum for his motto, and asking the blessing of God on his new departure, be resolves upon giving up his trade. This resolution is no sooner taken than a door is opened for him as assistant in connection with the Ordnance survey of Scotland. Still residing with his parents, his spare time, which was now considerably augmented, was spent in study. Here we get an insight into the character that was to make his future so successful. His one aim—his sole object—was the improvement of his mind; with this commendable determination that it, with all other gifts entrusted to his keeping, should be consecrated to the service of his Redeemer. Deep down in that heart there lay a loving loyalty for his Lord. When offered a very tempting offer to remain in the service of the Ordnance Company if he would sign an agreement to bind himself to serve them for seven years (with an assurance of speedy promotion), his ready answer was typical of his after life, "My life is given to another Master, so I cannot engage for seven years.”
“To whom?" was the sharp interrogation.
“To the Lord Jesus; and I want to prepare as soon as possible for His service in the proclaiming of the gospel," was the terse and pointed reply. This course of conduct was not viewed in at all a favorable light by his superiors, the result being the engagement was terminated. At this critical juncture an offer was made him by the kindly Rector of Dumfries, Mr. Maxwell, to allow him to attend all the classes of his academy free of charge. This generous offer was reluctantly declined, on account of the lack of means to support himself meanwhile.
Believing that "nothing succeeds like success," and nothing daunted by the position in which he found himself placed, Paton, like a second Sisyphus, having let slip the great stone of success, when he had pushed it up to the mountain top, had to go down to the deep valley of perseverance and begin all over again. In his dilemma he turns his attention to the harvest field, and although a raw recruit at this kind of service, he soon by his ready tact and willing service won the respect and esteem of his employer and fellow-workmen. Although at the time this incident might have been looked upon as a rebuff to his enterprising spirit, yet long years after he found the lessons learned in his first harvest field was indeed a valuable experience. It is true to-day that
“God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.”
Although unseen and unknown to its recipient, his father's God had not forgotten His promise to be gracious to His believing child. At the expiration of his harvest service a letter came from the West Campbell Street Reformed Presbyterian Church, Glasgow, requesting his appearance for examination as a district visitor, etc., with the privilege of attending student classes, free of cost, for one year.
Only two days elapsed after the receipt of the letter, and Paton had to say farewell to his beloved mother and to leave his father's house for his new sphere of labor. Obeying almost literally (from sheer necessity) the divine injunction to the early pioneers of Christianity, "to take neither scrip nor purse," he starts upon the road to walk the forty long miles to Glasgow. A Bible and a few other necessaries were the extent of his worldly possession. Yet, although in such deep monetary straits, Paton graphically describes his position and feelings by saying: "I thought on One who says, ' I know thy poverty, but thou art rich.”
For the first six miles of his toilsome journey his father bore him company, cheering and uplifting the heart of the son by his rich counsel and varied experience in the deep things of God. And yet the natural love of the father made itself observant and keenly felt as the hour for parting drew near. The silence of the latter part of that never-to-be-forgotten six miles' companionship was almost unbroken, save for the sobs which ever and anon broke in upon the stillness of their meditation. At last the parting place was reached. Both knew it might possibly be their last meeting and their last parting this side the grave. There they stood, making one of the most striking pictures that an artist could portray on canvas—the old man, with his long hair flowing down his shoulders, stirred ever and anon by the gentle ripple of the autumnal breeze. Silently those lips moved in prayer, swiftly the tears rolled down those furrowed cheeks. The young man stood there, with heaving breast and tear-stained countenance, awaiting the benediction of the patriarch—last words, perhaps, for many years to come. At last the painful silence is broken. Listen well to the rich heritage that the father bequeathed to the son in his farewell utterance. "God bless you my son; your father's God prosper you and keep you from evil!" That was all. But, oh, what a multum in paruo of grace, love, and trust is contained in that farewell utterance!
If you have read (and who has not) "Tom Brown's School Days." you have doubtless noticed the advice given to Tom by his father on the morning of his leaving home. Standing at the cross roads, waiting the coming of the stage coach, the father taking the boy by the hand says: "Tom, never say anything that you would be afraid for your mother to hear you utter; never do anything that would cause your sisters to blush for you." We hear a great deal to-day of purity, but we should have no fear for the future of Britain's men and women if they were sent forth to fight the battle of life with the prayers of parents like James and Janet Paton, or aided by the advice of such honest, out-spoken, God-fearing men as Tom Brown's father.
Paton's stay at Glasgow was of short duration, he being obliged to return home before the close of the first year on account of a breakdown in his health. After a beneficial rest he was enabled to return to Glasgow, when he succeeded in obtaining a position as teacher in the Maryhill Free Church School. Here the patience of the embryo missionary was severely taxed. But being a firm believer in the beneficial effect of moral suasion, he succeeded in not only winning the respect but even the esteem and love of his most boisterous and unruly scholars. Although perhaps not altogether disregarding the maxim of sparing the rod and so spoiling the child, yet Paton had so much faith in ruling by love and gentleness that he declared, "Using the rod shall be my last resource.”
In a very short time the attendance grew to such an extent that the School Committee, by what seems a mean-spirited action, decided to dispense with the services of one who had not only been used of God in raising the school numerically, but had also infused into its attendants a moral tone to which they had hitherto been strangers. That his labor of love had been greatly appreciated was evidenced by the testimonial presented to him on leaving by those who at one time were his greatest opponents.
Once again, humanly speaking, is the door closed against his progress, and the future had a dreary outlook indeed. Paton's experience did not differ materially from that of God's children generally in finding that it was sometimes "darkest before the dawn." He that shutteth up one door, openeth another. In these early struggles, again and again did Paton realize the blessedness of the fact that "Man proposes, God disposes." So it was here. Scarcely had the door of the Maryhill School closed against him before a letter was received from the superintendent of the Glasgow City Mission requesting him to appear before the directors for examination as to his qualifications as a City Missionary. Being accepted by the directors, he was appointed to one of the most degraded districts in the city. In this school of sin and suffering, wretchedness, pauperism, crime, and drunkenness, he learned lessons, and gained an insight into the worst phases of human nature that proved immensely helpful to him in the future. During his nine years' ministry in this modern Babylon, Paton was enabled to see most clearly the gracious Hand that had hitherto led him, and how the various trials through which he had been called to pass had all tended to befit him for this particular sphere of service.
In this work he took the most indefatigable interest. He was often tired and weary in pursuing his labors, but never tired of the blessed and glorious work to which he felt he had been called. Instant in season and out of season, he was ready at all times by any means to
“Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
And snatch them in pity from sin and the grave,
To weep o'er the erring ones, care for the fallen,
And tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.”
The infidel, drunkard, and the wife-beater, were each in their turn won from the error of their ways by this faithful and zealous worker for the Master. He had an intense sympathy for souls. Of him it might be truly said:
“Some are never strangers,
But as soon as seen, the soul, as if by instinct
Springs towards them with resistless force, and owns
Congenial sympathy.”
Although at times hatred and persecution were his lot, yet he pursued the even tenor of his way. Like the noble Apostle of old he could say, "None of these things move me." Faithfully "he labored on at His command, and offered his works to Him." And he met with his reward in the conversion of many precious souls. Many years after, on re-visiting the scene of his early labors, he was met by many a prodigal and redeemed Magdalene, who ascribed their conversion to God to his instrumentality. When through the grace of God he was thus used to the salvation of men and women, a beginning was made, and a foundation laid, from which should spring forth a power that should be felt, a sympathy that should be appreciated a love that should carry with it a mighty influence, long, long after the workman should have passed to other scenes of labor. Viewing this nine years' ministry to the outcast of Glasgow, surely we are right in saying that, after the lapse of years, there comes a voice to us from the New Hebrides mission field, "Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not." "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
During these nine years of City Mission life, the one aim, the one object, the one goal he wished to reach, the prize he was most anxious to obtain, had not been lost sight of by Paton. Far from it. Ever and anon there came to that anxious, throbbing heart, the yearning desire to lay himself upon the missionary altar. He had been oft-times taunted with being "a man of one idea." Well he seems to have earned this appellation. Not in scorn or derision should it be applied, but rather as a tribute of righteous praise to a life sacrificed for the sake of those who knew not Christ. Who shall say it was not a sacrifice to give up position, kindred, home, friends, all, to carry the tidings of the Gospel of Peace to that far-off land? With this end in view, in addition to his mission labors, Paton was carrying on, at a painful sacrifice, his theological and medical studies in the Glasgow University, preparing himself in all respects for his work, so that he might labor as "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”