Making many glad - Baker - XXIV - Chapter 13 (Third and fourth tours as agent of Austin College) commenced

Required reading
Making many glad: The life and labours of Daniel Baker by William M. Baker (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence Chapter 13 (Third and fourth tours as agent of Austin College) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'Others may be better able than the compiler of this volume, to estimate to what degree young men entering the church, and, afterward, the ministry, under such auspices as these, would form their idea and fix their standard of preaching thereby ; to what degree the preacher would reproduce himself in ministers whom he was made the means of leading to Christ.'

My summary
This week Baker continues his tours to raise funds for Austin college.  Thus we begin to hear about his third tour.

Primarily from his own letters, we hear about his:
(i) preaching efforts;
(ii) conversion results;
(iii) funds raised;
(iv) health;
(v) humility as people praise him;
(vi) interaction with Christians converted many years earlier under his preaching;
(vii) the results of his printed sermons.

What grabbed me
Today we were also shown Baker's ability to comfort the grieving. 

In a letter to his daughter, who had lost her husband and son, we read: 'My daughter, you should think of your mercies, as well as your afflictions. So did Job — so should you. You recollect his language, how beautiful and how appropriate! 'Have we received good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil? The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.' Here we have the language and the very spirit of true piety. Let it be your own. Cheer up, my daughter, your heavenly Father is upon the throne, and he does all things well. He has seen your tears. He has heard your sighs. He knows, full well, all the sorrows of your heart, and God, even your own God and heavenly Father cares for you! Your sighs are recorded, your tears are in 'his bottle,' and, rest assured, all things have been ordered in wisdom and in love. Yes, my child, He who notices the falling sparrow, certainly could not have permitted your loved husband, and your dear little boy to sink into the grave without his notice and kind regard. Hark ! He speaks to thee ! 'Be still, and know that I am God:' and again, methinks, He speaks to you, my daughter, in the softened, sweet tones of compassion and love, and says, ' Silence, my child, what I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.' Therefore, cheer up, my beloved T., kiss the rod that smites you, and say, even in the language of the blessed Saviour himself, 'the cup which my Father giveth me, shall I not drink of it?' Do this, say this from your heart, and all will be well! for, is it not written, ' all things work together for good to them that love God'? And what says the same apostle again? 'I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.' Yes, after sorrow, comes joy! After gloom comes glory! After the conflict of battle, the repose of victory ! In short, after earth comes heaven, sweet heaven! Even the visions of God, and the joys of a life which shall never end!'

Notice how much Scripture is packed into his brief letter of comfort!

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 13 (Third and fourth tours as agent of Austin College) by reading up to the paragraph commencing 'Resuming the autobiography, we find that the results of this, his third tour for the college are thus summed up.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.