Page 6 - Good News July 2017 paper

by Jonathan Goforth (1859-1936) on. For days we hadn't been able simply can't forgive that man. I
Jonathan Goforth was a mission- to sleep and it will be just the must destroy him!”
ary of the Canadian Presbyterian same for another night if you “Then I am afraid,” I said, “that it is
Church for a number of years in don't give us a chance to get rid of clear from God's Word that He
China. He and his family our sin now.” can't forgive you.”
miraculously escaped with their He did not say anything more but
lives during the Boxer Rebellion I asked a lady missionary to take just continued on his knees,
of 1900 at which time hundreds of the women and girls over to the weeping.
missionaries and thousands of girls's school and to continue
Chinese Christians were killed. with them there until the move- Then a school boy got up and
Goforth was marvellously used of ment subsided. I did not see any said, “In 1900 the Boxers came to
God, not only as an evangelist to hope of the meeting ever ending my house and killed my father. All
the unsaved, but also in revival otherwise. As the women and along I have felt that there was no
movements which brought much girls were filing out, one of the other way open to me but that I
blessing to the Chinese Church. evangelists came and knelt down should grow up and avenge that
The following is a brief excerpt in front of the platform. He con- wrong. But during these last few
from Goforth's book, “By My fessed several sins with seeming days, the Holy Spirit has made me
Spirit”, in which he writes of genuineness, but still the burden so miserable that I haven't been
God's working in great power. which was plainly weighing upon able to eat or sleep or do anything.
him, appeared to be in no way I know He is urging me to forgive
The Christian community in removed. the murderers, for Jesus' sake. Jonathan Goforth
Shinminfu had been terribly Do pray for me!” there by the platform, weeping. At
persecuted during the Boxer I said to him, “Since you have the conclusion of the meeting, he
Uprising of 1900. Fifty-four had confessed your sins, God is Another boy told how the Boxers finally rose to his feet and faced
suffered martyrdom. The ones faithful and just to forgive you had come to his home and killed the congregation. His face was
who were left prepared a list your sins and to cleanse you from his father and mother and elder drawn and haggard.
containing 250 names of those all unrighteousness. Go in brother. In fact, as many as nine
who had taken part in the massa- peace.” boys told how their mothers and “My mind is made up!” he cried. “I
cre. It was hoped that someday fathers and brothers and sisters will never rest until I have killed
the way would be opened for them “But I haven't confessed the had been murdered before their the man who had murdered my
to wreak complete revenge upon worst sin of all!” he cried eyes and how that, ever since father!” I thought that would be
these murderers. brokenly. “I won't forgive!” then, they had lived in the hope the last I would see of him.
Then of course I replied, “God that someday they would be able
The climax of the Revival can't forgive you.” to take revenge. But they all When I entered the church the
Meetings we held in Shinminfu “But it is humanly impossible for confessed that they were utterly next morning, there he was
was reached on the afternoon of me to forgive,” he went on. “In the miserable and asked us to pray standing by the platform, his face
the fourth day. Again I had a Boxer years a man came and for them that they might have shining like the morning! He
feeling that I was a witness at the murdered my father and ever grace to forgive those who had asked for permission to say a few
scene of judgment. After the since then, I've felt that it was my wronged them. words before I began my address.
meeting had continued for about duty to avenge his death. Just the Turning to the school boys, he
three hours, I pronounced the other day, a friend of mine wrote After the women and girls had left, said, “Will the boys who con-
benediction. to me, saying, 'Where's your filial the meeting continued for 2.5 fessed last night and asked for
piety? Your father has been hours. There was just one stream grace to forgive the murderers of
Immediately cries went up from all murdered and you are living of confession to the very end and their loved ones please come up
over the audience. “Please have without avenging him. You aren't all the time, the evangelist who here to the front?” The nine
pity on us and let the meeting go worthy to be my friend!' Why, I wouldn't forgive was kneeling Continued on p. 8
Continued on p. 8