The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-01-08
FoR THE CErNRAL PKEssYrERlAN.
The Great Commission.


We are enabled to present an accurate re-
port of the remarks made by the Rev. j. G.
Shepperson, at the meeting held in behalf Of
Foreign Missions, during the late meeting of our
General Assembly, As they embody truths Of
perpetual Importance and obligation, they are as
timely at this date as any Other.-ED. c. PREs.)
MODERATOR,-In considering ques
ton like this, it is of great Importance to
keep first principles constantly and prom
inently in view. Permit me, then, to re-
call your attention to passage of Scrip
ture already quoted by the excellent
brother who prece led me. l mean the
great commission, $50 We into all the
world, and preach the Gospel to every
creature; or, as it is more largely re-
corded by Matthew, $50 We, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever have commanded
you; and 10, | am with you always, even
unto the end of the world"
The very terms of this commission
show that it is to continue in force till
the end of the world. 1t is, indeed, the
only source fr5m which any man derives
authority to preach the Gospel at the
present day. Now find here three par
ticulars pertaining to the question under
discussion.
The first is. that it extends to all ma
tions, and to every creature. Itrequires
that the Gospel be proclaimed to every
human being who is capable of being in
structed in its principles. The language
is clear, precise, unequivocal. 1t recog-
nizes no distinctions. It leaves room for
no exceptions. You have no authority
to teach any nation except the command
to teach all nations-nOne to preach the
Gospel to any creature, except the COM
mand to preach it to every creature
You, Moderator, have no right to preach
the Gospel in Richmond, and DR.. Bunt-
ing has no right to preach it in Nash
vile, except in obedience to command
which requires it to be preached in Afri-
ca, Just as unequivocally and just as au-
thoritatively as it requires it to be
preached in either Richmond or Nash
vile. Why, sir, do you make Richmond,
rather than some place in distant and
heather land, the field of your stated la
bors in the ministry? Is itfor your own
pleasure, or personal qualification, or per-
sonal convenience? | am sure it is not.
If that were the case, the curse of God
would rest upon you, both in your per-
son and in your ministry. No doubt, the
true reason is a conscientious conviction
that, by preaching the Gospel statedly in
Richmond, you are, at present cOntribut-
ing, in the most efectual way in your
power, to the ful6lment of the command
which requires thas it be preached to all
nations and to every creature. No true
minister of Christ breaches any where
with any other view.
The second particular arises out of the
word go, in this commission. The exalted
Redeemer could easily raise up preachers
everywhere without the instrumentality
of mortals. Thus he could cause his Cos
pei to be preached Gin all the world,
without requiring any man to leave hi
own country, or his own neighborhOod
for the purpose. But this is not his plan
His words are, Go We into all the world
and preach" To neglect the command
to 90, would be disobedience just as direc
as to neglect the command to preach
You have no more right to abandon tn,
work of Foreign Missions, than to abol
ish the Gospel ministry altogether.
This is not az. The command was evi
IDENTIFY intended to include every depart
ment of ministerial labor; but one de
partment is made to represent all tn,
rest. Pastoral labor, for example, i
clearly implied; but missionary labor i
expressly mentioned. Why? The ques
ton admits of but one answer. Becaus
this Is the department to which our Re
deemer intended to draw our especial at
tentiOn. To neglect Foreign Mission