The Legacy of Pastor Hsi

Be sure to read the previous parts of this series, which give readers insight into the life and faith of this remarkable man.

Faith and Witness in Later Days

Pastor Hsi’s remarkable features were the energy and endurance he manifested under long-continued strain, both mental and physical. Hoste observed, “Hsi had a bodily strength not his own. He was a man whom God specially sustained for the work he had given him to do…and fasting entirely for two days, he was able to baptize by immersion as many as fifty men at one time.”¹ Pastor Hsi knew his strength came from prayer. He had long learned the secret of overcoming weakness and fatigue by the power of the Holy Spirit. He fasted frequently, but there was nothing ascetic about him. His self-denial and fasting were not because he wanted to abstain from desire, but because he wanted to spread the gospel. In times of danger and hardship, he fasted to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, but on ordinary days, he would also happily enjoy delicious food. The same was true of his attitude toward fine clothes and comfortable surroundings. He knew that God gave good things to people, and these good things themselves were nothing, but for him, the most important question was: “How can I maximize my time and resources to further the kingdom of God?” He surrendered everything to this great goal with uncompromising determination and perseverance, and he shaped his life and the lives of those around him with an eternal perspective. “I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:23).

“Pastor Hsi believed that the highest principles should be applied to the smallest details of everyday affairs, and the true state of the heart shows itself in just these little things.”² “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The rules in his home, “The Middle Eden,” were clearly written out, and the responsibilities of everyone in the family were also clarified. In this way, everything in the Middle Eden was in order.

David Hill and Hsi had not seen each other for 15 years. They were both in the last days of their lives, but those days were more beautiful. Both were mature and fruitful, ready to enter a higher ministry. They grew in love and humility, and the last stage of their lives was filled with fuller and richer ministry. Pastor Hsi was delighted by the spiritual growth of Hung Tung Christians. The gifts of the Holy Spirit worked in the lives of Christians and greatly built up the church. Later in the Boxer Rebellion, many Christians in Hung Tung Church held fast to their faith.

When Hsi just became a Christian, he often worked with his own passion. Whenever trouble arose or believers were persecuted, he would resort to legal action, even going to Taiyuan to appeal to the governor, because Chinese Christians at that time enjoyed the same protection brought by treaties as Westerners. But he later discovered it made Christian lives drier and was completely against the Savior’s mercy and self-denial. Every successful lawsuit made the church weaker. And Christians lost their witness.

It was not until 1887, when he was forced into darkness alone, that he realized that Satan could not harm him without the Lord’s permission. “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

When the church bore witness in the midst of suffering, the power of the gospel was revealed to the world. As Pastor Hsi knew the importance of keeping the Lord’s Day, he helped Christians see that they must live for the Lord. For their benefit, he called out like Paul: “My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).

Hoste wrote,

In conclusion, his remarkable energy and force of character, coupled with an entire devotion to his Lord and to the work which he was divinely called, were the features about him that most impressed a close and constant observer. His Christian experience was deep and was of the strenuous rather than restful type. His life was an unceasing warfare with the powers of evil. He was habitually burdened in heart about the sins and sorrows of those under his care, and his tears and fastings on their behalf were almost constant. He was a born leader; nothing escaped his keen eyes, and he was ever ready to rebuke, instruct, or succor as occasions required. And with these sterner characteristics, he possessed also a deeply affectionate heart and true humility of spirit that could only be fully recognized and appreciated by those who knew him well. As years went by, his masterful character grew more and more mellowed and softened; until, when he passed away, it is no exaggeration to say that hundreds wept for him as for a father or elder brother.³

In August 1895, after the harvest, Pastor Hsi held a large meeting in the Middle Eden. More than 200 church workers came. Pastor Hsi was over 60 years old. On the last day of the meeting, he preached a sermon about the rich man and Lazarus, talking about this life and eternity. When he talked about eternal things in this life, it was as if a light illuminated the whole message. After the meeting, people left with the hope for eternity and devotion of themselves to the future work.

A few days later, Pastor Hsi went to visit Hoste. He was in good health but suddenly collapsed that night. He was sick for half a year and passed away on February 19, 1896. Three months later, Pastor David Hill also died. The two good friends finally met.

Conclusion

In Pastor Hsi, written by Mrs. Howard Taylor, we can tell that the pastoral problems Pastor Hsi encountered when the Shanxi Church was established more than a hundred years ago are exactly the same as those we face today: there is the danger of false teachers, the pain brought by church division, and the various different voices from inside and outside the church. But will we be like Pastor Hsi to let the Lord be in control? When we sin against the Savior and bring losses to the Lord’s work, do we immediately repent and make amends for the sin? Do we believe that the Lord is still the faithful Creator who changes not yesterday, today, and forever? Do we believe that the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear? When the church faces various problems, when we are accused falsely, do we choose to be patient and wait for the Lord’s time, use the principles of the Bible to solve the problem, and allow the Lord to show right and wrong? When pastoring and helping the church, do we adopt a commercial model or a biblical model? Do we study the Bible diligently to find out how to imitate the Lord? In terms of husband-wife relationships, raising children, interpersonal relationships, and future development, do we seek the laws of the loving Savior in the Bible and obey them with fear? Do we maintain our first love and strive to set an example in following the Lord?

I would like to close with a hymn by Pastor Hsi, “A Song of Sacrifice.”

A Song of Sacrifice

1.
When Thou wouldst pour the living stream,
Then I would be the earthen cup,
Filled to the brim and sparkling clear.
The fountain Thou and living spring,
Flow Thou through me, the vessel weak,
That thirsty souls may taste Thy grace.

2.
When Thou wouldst warn the people, Lord,
Then I would be the golden bell,
Swung high athwart the lofty tower.
Morning and evening sounding loud;
That young and old may wake from sleep,
Yea, e’en the deaf hear that strong sound.

3.
When Thou wouldst slay the wolves, O Lord!
Then I would be the keen-edged sword,
Clean, free from rust, sharpened and sure,
The handle grasped, my God, by Thee—
To kill the cruel ravening foe,
And save the sheep for whom Christ died.

4.
When Thou wouldst light the darkness, Lord,
Then I would be the silver lamp,
Whose oil supply can never fail,
Placed high to shed the beams afar,
That darkness may be turned to light,
And men and women see Thy face.

5.
When Thou dost sound the battle-call,
Thy standard-bearer I would be.
With love for shield and right for spear,
I’ll sound Thy praise from East to West.
From Thy high throne speak forth the word,
And sin must yield before Thy praise.

6.
When Thou wouldst write the records, Lord,
Then I would be the ready pen,
A medium subtle for Thy thought,
Desirous to write it true.
That when the Book of Life is read,
Therein those names be found inscribed,
Which hell nor death can e’er blot out.

REFRAIN
My body’s Thine, yea wholly Thine;
My spirit owns Thee for its Lord.
Within Thy hand I lay my all,
And only ask that I may be,
Whene’er Thou art in need of me,
Alert and ready for Thy use.⁴

This concludes the series on the life and ministry of Pastor Hsi. Each part of his story offers valuable lessons and inspiration for our own spiritual journeys. Thank you for following along, and may his legacy continue to encourage and uplift the body of Christ.

References

• Mrs. Howard Taylor. Pastor Hsi: Confucian, Scholar & Christian. London: Overseas Missionary Fellowship, 1977.
  
• Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor. Huston Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009.
  
• Geraldine Taylor. One of China’s Scholars: The Culture & Conversion of a Confucianist. London: China Inland Mission, 1900.
  
• Geraldine Taylor. Pastor Hsi (of North China): One of China’s Christians. London: China Inland Mission, 1903.
  
• Alice Mildred Cable. The Fulfilment of a Dream of Pastor Hsi’s: The Story of the Work in Hwochow. London: Morgan & Scott, 1917.
  
• Open Library, accessed November 23, 2024, www.openlibrary.org.
  
• Joy Guinness. Mrs. Howard Taylor: Her Web of Time, 2nd ed. London: China Inland Mission, 1950.
  金乐婷。《大西北的呼唤：女传教士西北见闻录》。兰州：甘肃文化出版社，2015。

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on ChurchChina.org and translated by the author. ChinaSource edited it into a series of posts and published it with permission.

1. Mrs. Howard Taylor, Pastor Hsi, 240.
2. Mrs. Howard Taylor, Pastor Hsi, 261.
3. Mrs. Howard Taylor, Pastor Hsi, Introduction, xiv.
4. Translation by Miss Francesca French.

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