There they found comfort from a sermon on the text, "Through
much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God." About
twenty men returned with them to the house. Then one bearing the
little coffin went before; the rest followed, singing the forty-sixth
Psalm. Even Moslems gazed with wonder, as they passed close by the
door of the patriarch, and went out of the city gate. The engraving
(page 154) gives a very good representation of this gate. On the
green hill-side at Seir the little one was laid to rest, and the father,
thanking the company for their kindness, hastened them back, to be
in time for the afternoon service.
In the mean time, Mar Shimon sent far and near, forbidding all
intercourse with the missionaries. At Geog Tapa, in the absence of
the Malis, he ordered an old man, who formerly held that office, to
summon the people before him. Only a few vagrants obeyed, and these
he commanded to break up the schools, and prevent preaching in the
church. So, that evening, when John commenced preaching, they
proceeded to execute their orders; but, afraid to face the
determined people, they deferred the attack till the hearers passed
out; and then, like stanch old Puritans, hardly noticing them, the
congregation wended their way homewards, singing psalms as they
went.
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