CHAPTER XXXIV 505
" God will protect you; for you have undertaken His work," I answered.
" Yes," said he, " there is my glory and joy. I am the servant of an infallible Master. I am not going out under human guidance, subject to the defective laws and erring control of my feeble fellow-worms: my king, my lawgiver, my captain, is the All-perfect. It seems strange to me that all round me do not burn to enlist under the same banner,-- to join in the same enterprise."
" All have not your powers, and it would be folly for the feeble to wish to march with the strong."
" I do not speak to the feeble, or think of them: I address only such as are worthy of the work, and competent to accomplish it."
" Those are few in number, and difficult to discover."
" You say truly; but when found, it is right to stir them up-- to urge and exhort them to the effort-- to show them what their gifts are, and why they were given-- to speak Heaven ' s message in their ear,-- to offer them, direct from God, a place in the ranks of His chosen."
" If they are really qualified for the task, will not their own hearts be the first to inform them of it?"
I felt as if an awful charm was framing round and gathering over me: I trembled to hear some fatal word spoken which would at once declare and rivet the spell.
" And what does YOUR heart say?" demanded St. John. " My heart is mute,-- my heart is mute," I answered, struck and thrilled.
" Then I must speak for it," continued the deep, relentless voice. " Jane, come with me to India: come as my helpmeet and fellow-labourer."