The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-06-16

Under the Mosaic dispensation, the com
mand seems to have been, teach your chaI-
dren all these things And almost the
only recorded case of anything like foreign
missionary work by the Jews was the mes
sage sent by Jehoshaphat to the ten tribes
upon the repairing of the temple, inviting
them to the renewed Passover. Yet, even
this, was not mission outside of Israel
The same conservative temper was illustrated
in the command of Christ to the twelve dis
ciples, land this command-before the death
of Christ-belongs to the Mosaic era. y
&c Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and
into any city of the Samaritans enter ye
not but 90 rather to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel.
In harmony with this is the organization
of the Church at that time with local cen
tire, at the temple in Jerusalem; and re-
quirement for all the males yearly to visit
the temple-looking to local increase of
the Church rather than its worldwide extern
sion. Even the preaching of Jonah does
not seem to have been entirely evangelistic
Gin the sense of an extension of the Church.
for his message was: "Yet forty days and
Nineveh shall be destroyed" The mission
of the Mosaic Church seems to have been
to maintain the Church at home. And even
such additions as should be made, were to
be made by individual proselytes to syna'
gogues already existing, rather than by the
planting of synagogues in cities where there
was not a single resident Jew.
The Christian dispensation OF the gospel
has new commission, superadded to the old
Jerusalem; the Church is not to be neglect
ed, but repentance and remission of sins is
to be preached among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. This new commission has
two phases-frst that the national limitation
of the Church to Israel is broken down
and, second, that the Church is no longer to
wait for disciples to come to it, but to 60
forth and find disciples. The old command,
in Deuteronomy, to instruct your children
those whom God has given you as disciples,
is now changed to read, ego ye into all the
world and make disciples of all nations, bap-
tizing them, x and teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever l have COM
manded you
To this change Paul testi6es in the epistle
to the Ephesians (chap. iii: 49, God has
"made known unto me the mystery which
in other ages was not made known unto the
sous of men as it is now revealed, x
that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and
of the same body, and partakers of his prom
Use in Christ by the gospel" Let this be
supplemented from the tenth chapter of Ro-
mans, GLOW shall they believe in Him of
whom they have not heard, and how shall
they hear without a preacher" We then
have the argument complete that the gospel
is to be sent beyond the bounds of the or
ganized church, in sense in which it was
not, during the old economy.
OF this change in Gods plan of preach
ing, we have several illustrations in the Acts
of the Apostles, which, when interpreted in
the light of the command just quoted, appear
instructive.
The first of these lessons seems to be to
the effect that the gospel is to be pressed
upon these nations, as well as upon the Jews.
Peter was upon the house-top praying, and
had a vision of ga certain vessel descending
unto him wherein were all manner of four
footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts,
and creeping things, and fowls of the air, y
and by this vision Peter was taught that the
former distinctions of nations are over
thrown, and that God will have the Gospel
pressed upon those who are outside of the
Church as then existing. Peter learned the
lesson and preached the Gospel to the fami-
| ly and friends of Roman centurion. And
the other Apostles joined with him in say
ing: "Then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life
The second lesson is to the effect that the
gospel is to be preached to those beyond the
limits of the church, not by incidental, oc-
casional, spasmodic efforts merely, but by
the systematic labors of particular men
devoting themselves to the work. Paul
learned this, when some time probably three
years. after his conversion he was praying
in the temple. 1t is recorded in the 22d
chapter of Acts. He fell into trance and
saw the Lord Jesus saying unto him, "Make
haste and get thee quickly out of Jerusa-
lem" Paul makes some objections, that
he is specially fitted to preach to the Jews.
But Christ interrupts him, "Depart, for l
will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. 4"
While the lesson is undoubtedly personal
instruction to Paul, it also conveys to us the
lesson that this work is to be managed by
the concentrated effort of individuals.
The third lesson is that these laborers are
to be commissioned and sent forth by the
Church. 1t implied in the command given
to the Presbytery at Antioch to Separate
me Barnabas and Saul for the work where
unto l have called them" The Church
tasted and prayed, laid their hands on them,
and sent them away. While this is record
of an individual case, it is in that book which
was given us, as containing examples for our
guidance in all ages. The Church now, as
then, is bound to take charge of this work,
and provide for those whom God has called
to this work, whatever they may need and
to look. for men who may be thus commits
stoned.
We have thus far looked at the question
as one of Christian duty. But our PROPOSE
ton was that it is the special privilege of the
Church since the Christian era to take part
in this work. 1t is privilege, for it is means
of increased glory to our Savior.
When we wish to glorify man we do so
by publishing to the world all his noble acts.
We may do this by the voice or by the print
ed page, or by engraving it in the solid mar
bic of memorial tablet. In either way we
make known to others what he has DONE
and thus add glory and renown to his name.
Now, we who love Christ will surely count
it privilege to see His name made glori-
Gus. Angels contribute to His glory by
telling one another of what He has done,
but they can only increase the knowledge
of those who already know much Of this, and