The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-03-28

light OF the G0spel from penetrating
the thick darkness of his soul.
A Presbyterian missionary was once
convcrsing with a native chief, and told
him that without christianity his peo-
lple were lost, famishing. naked. The
chief replied: "lf one of my children
were lost in the forest and | should "a
to seek him with torch in my hand,
would he not come to the light? II he
were furnishing and | should ofie. him
bread, would lie not take it? If he
were naked and should give him cloth.
ing, would he not put il on Come,
then, and teach my people the truth"
That part Of the western coast which
mas been visited by missionaries, extends
from Senegal, 150 North lat. to Ben
guela, s. South lat. Forty years ago
this whole coast was desolated by the
slave trade; there was not a single
church throughout its length and
breadth ; the white man was known
only as the inhuman monster who 70.
lnented strife among the native tribes
to prosper his own accursed traffic.
Now there are seventy christian church.
es on this coast, in which there assem-
BILE fifteen thousand native converts who
have thrown their idols TO the moles
and the bats. There are twelve thou
sand children in the mission schools.
The Scriptures have been translated
into about forty native dialects.
But Christianity is not without OPP
position. Her greatest enemy is Ma
homedanism. The warlike tribes Of
the interior have espouscd the religion
Of the False Prophet, aud are ever
ready to propagate it with fire and
sword.
Another deadly enemy is Popery.
wherever the Gospel banner is unfurled
the standard of the "man of sin" is
set up by its side. Wherever the tree
of life spreads its branches for the heal
ing of the nations, this deadly Upas
springs up to counteract its influence.
But this opposition only creates
more pressing demand for laborers.
Who then will 60? Many excuse
themselves by saying that they have
neither the mental nor physical qua
liications requisite for such task.
Let them remember that this is an al
tar which sanctifies the humblest gift.
The feeble efforts of him who clears
away the briars and rubbish. are as cs-
sential to cultivation as those Of the
strong man who turns up the soil or
gathers in the golden harvest.
Others object that they have no call
to such work. And where do they
expect to hear this call In the whirI-
wind, the tempest, or the arthquake
Or are they waiting for vision like
that Of the man Of Macelonias Would
they but listen carefully and PRAYER.
fully to the still small voice Of con-
science, they would hear the Spirit of
God saying in clearest accents, I" What
doest thou here, Eliiahs" What can
be louder call than the voice Of six
hundred millions of the human race pc.
rishing in their sins:
Individuals are very ready to ack-
nowledge the duty Of the Church with
regard to missions, and to contribute
for their support; but farther than this
they deem il matter in which they
have no personal concern. We have
no fellowship with his sentimental pie,
tism that says its prayers, goes to
church, and even contributes regularly
TO benevolent purposes, but feels no
anxiety for the spread Of the Gospel,
no concern for the salvation Of souls.
Not long ago, an adventurous young
man attempted to cross the Niagara
above the Falls in boat. lie succeed
ed very we'll for little way. but the
current soon caught his skiif and de-.
spite his strenuous efforts was bearing
him steadily downward. A crowd nf
anxious spectators was assembled on
the shore. Al last one Of the bystand-
ers cried out, 4 will give any man
thousand dollars that will throw him
rope!'
A boat was Immediately launched,
and a rope thrown; but ere il reached
the struggling victim he had plunged
into the fearful abyss Now current
deeper, darker, broader than Niagara
is hurrying millions down to the faith.
omless abyss Of eternal ruin We eare
the anxious spectators upon its banks.
Who then will man the boat:
but we are told the climate &c Afri-
ca is deadly one. But its ,leadliness
has never checked lawful commerce, or
been the least restraint upon the inhu-
man slave trade.
We must not, however, be deferred
by dangers and difficulties. A chap
lain in the English army, one Of thuse
laint.lcarted believers who are prone
TO louk TO results rather than obvious
duty, once asked the Duke OF Welling.
ton il the results Of missionary labor
justified 50 great an expenditure Of life
and treasure. "Look,n said the old
hero, "toyour marching orders! "Go
We into all the earth and preach the
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