The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-08
THE RUTLAND DAILY MORNING OCTOBER 1874

cative articles on modern missions appear
ed few months since In the London
7imes-a tact significant as marking most
important change In the public opinion Of
England.
But the vital interest for us is rather in
the change of individual character affected
by the gospel. 1t Is through individual
souls, iegenerated by the Holy Spirit
through the word Of truth, that the Divine
life-force finds its way into the heart of
communities, with It's quickening and ele-
waiting power. 1t is in such Individual
souls, born amid all the corrupting, debas-
ing influences of heathenism and false re-
lig,ons, that the glory of the gospel is made
most fully manifest. The blind are made
to see, the lepers cleaDsed, the vilest wash
ed and made to sit humbly at the feet of
Christ, and exhibit the graces of the Chris
tian life, love, the self-denying faith,
the self-sacrilice, the conservation, the Joy
Gus Christian hope of the life TO come.
The vigorou, efforts put FORTH the pracli-
cal methods adopted by some Of the mis-
sion churches to bring the gospel home to
the hearts of their neiphbors and friends,
may well furnish valuable lessons on the
subject of moral evangelization in this
country. These illustrations of the ripe
fruits of the gospel, without the accessory
influence of civilization aud public scnti-
mcnt, are the fresh Evidences given TO the
lone churches from the foreign field, that
the gospel is, indeed, the power of God
unto salvation to every one that bcIeveth
weatevcr the race or cline
4. This brings US to the Indebtedness Of
the home churches, to the foreign mission
AIRY enterprise, for illustrations of the
special agency of the Holy Spirit in the
conversion of men.
The missionary, as he observes the re-
suits just referred To, stands sometimes
amazed AT the power of God. 1t is no hui
man agency, no educational process, no
contact with the civilized world, that has
changed the savage Africaner, the Caffrc
chief. once the terror of South Africa, into
the loving disciple of Christ, or filed the
mouth Of the vile Hawaiian Bartimcus
with words Of love and praise. These
changes at individual character stand out
the more clearly on the dark background
OF heathcnism. They are the unanswerabe
arguments to all opposers aud gainsayers;
they aic The manifestation of the Divine
help that sustain and cheer the missionary
III his labOrs; the evidence that the Master
accepts him rs II co-laborer with the king
dom Of God.
What shall we say of such scenes as have
been witnessed in the islands of the Pacific.
where whole multiudes have been moved
by the Spirit of God To the confession of
Christ, Till single missionary has received
to church fellow ship over twelve thousand
souls; whai OF those precious and repeated
scenes Oh grace among the HISTORIANS. set
ting the seal of Gods favor on the lnbors
of Perkins, Wright. Rhca. and many
others; what of the marvellous work at
Tavancore the past winter, reminding ris
of the days of Tenant and Whteield.
the Holy Spirit seeming to come down sud-
denly upon men, with and without prepar-
alton, rs il 10 remind us of the one essen
tial agency ere long to he displayed in
bringing the millions of India to the cross
of Christ? Time would tan us to speak
OF the many examples oi the special
agency Of the Holy Spirit in modern mis-
slons. The entire enterprise IS one grand
illustration. On any other tncory there is
nothing more absurd than the idea OF send.
ing out n handful of men and women, to at
tempt TO change the thoughts. sentiments.
the life and character of millions of men.
in a foreign land OF strange speech.
wedded To their own national customs
and religious rites, stepped in all the cor
ruptiUns of heathenism, or intoxicated
with the vanity and self-concct of a high
but goddess civilization. Yet this is lust
Wha' we are d"ihS' ana what ny the bless
ins "i ""u we expect TO no. tiii Christian
INSTITUTIONS snail cover the Garth. Not by
mign'' nor ny power, hut my spirit, saith
'ie L,iu.
D. We notice in the last place, the in
debtedness of the home churches to foreign
missions for illustrations of unselfsh de-
Vo,,on 10 we cause OF chrlst.
rmr oe J.. i,oii US 10 ignore me examples
" " s s ue.o,ioi III .'ie various departments
", n"''a' e,rln seii -uenylns ltoors OF
from,o 1 H. ~ , 'nI ',,''I'','.''ies o .no
t'aI'' VI w. ,'''ii"' pcacnciS '''h"''e me
',.s,''non' anu ~ "''"y h''iio'e pi,'ce III
w. G.a WIZ us anu ,''cs, shown only 10 'le
".e'V '.ua.' y! ,''c O'l''Icn pu. Tue eNah-
~ W ,'on anu Mo',icl' Oh culture ana re,
,i, SNlns up nome anu iIlehus' ana
u',,i, ,o,;,' i ,h "uu enJ'ylrn,s Oh
~, i'''a''o .t"u VI 'iici' lc"'ihS nolore"
thN ShN''sCihl lbtStol dNSs vi Nttilnlln IlD-