Page:Siam and Laos, as seen by our American missionaries (1884).pdf/110

 The pulpit was a kind of high, armed chair, coarsely decorated. In this the yellow-robed priests sit cross-legged and preach in a sing-song tone. Seeing two images of Buddha there, we told those assembled of the sin and folly of trusting in them. A young man replied at once, "How should we know better, when there is no one to tell us? I beg to listen while you tell us;" and he did listen very attentively. His question touchingly reminded us of the words of Paul: "How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent?" (Rom. 10:14).

One day we visited an image-house, and found one idol that had fallen over backward, another without a head, another without arms. When we came out an old priest asked us if we had been in to worship. We replied, "No, indeed! What we saw there were objects of pity rather than of adoration. They cannot take care of themselves, cannot hold themselves up; what can they do for you or for us?"

Thus we went from one village to another, conversing with hundreds of the people and giving away our books until they were gone.