The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-11-17
MISSIONS AS EDUCATORS.

ary. 1t could not be otherwise, and main
tain its existence. The privilege accorded t
it of carrying the bread of life to the heathe
world, is the privilege of living. In the mer
ciful economy of our Heavenly Father W
derive q three-fold benefit from doing Hi
will in this life We have first, the rewar'
of an approving conscience; secondly, tn
blessing of God in doing; and thirdly, tn
mental, moral, and spiritual developmen
that inevitably follows as the result of ou
exercise. This last is, in the highest an(
best sense, educatory. It leads out all th'
best powers of our being. Every require
ment of God is calculated to benefit, no
God himself, not those alone for whom We
labor, but principally as. He adapts every
requirement Of His Word to the interest and
best good Of him Of whom the requirement is
made. Duty is the device of God for bene
fitting the doer. God commands US to give
Of our strength, and time, and substance tc
His cause, because He intends TO save our
souls thereby.
Now it is in this light that we are to re-
gard the great mission work Of the Church,
as sweet and blessed privilege accorded to
US BY our Heavenly Father. We ought to
esteem It as special mercy that God has in
these times opened up so many opportunities
to carry the Gospel to the heather world. 1t
is because we are in special danger that He
gives US special means of grace. God pro-
poses to save us from ourselves and our Gins
by giving US something to do. The only
way He lifts souls up out of their selfshness
is by giving the opportunities Of sacrificing
for some noble end. No man ever yet de-
veloped a noble, generous, Christian man.
hood, that did not in some way bend over
the weak and helpless.
1t may, therefore, be serious question as
to whether the Church does not stand as
much in need of the heather world, as the
heather world stands in need of the Church.
They will be lost without our help, to be
sure, but is it not equally true that We will
be lost if we do not put forth the effort and
help them? Selfshness is corroding the
very vitals of the Church, paralyzing her
energy and rustiug her harp strings until
they give forth no praises to God. She
must have some enterprise adequate to her
strength. 1t is impossible to estimate what
energies reside in man until some work Of
emergency is set before him that is calcu-
lated to call them out. Thus it is that occa-
sions develop men. Let missionary intelli-
gence be thoroughly diffused, let perishiDg
world Be set squarely before the Church of
God. and let her ear catch the dying groan.
the cry of distress, and energies and re-
sources will be developed in her, and results
achieved that will astonish the world.
How does it come, that in many of our
Churches the most interesting, lively, and
profitable service of the Sabbath day is the
Sunday School service? 1t is because the
Sunday Schools are organized into missiona-
ry societies, and this grand enterprise of saw
ing the world is set before them, and the
privilege accorded to them of acting part
in the achievement of such result. 1t is
impossible for any Church or Sunday School
to take an active interest in the missionary
work without increasing her intelligence a
hundred fold, and growing in every way
purer, better and stronger. There are pupils
in Sunday Schools that can tell you very
much about China and India, their history,
climate, condition, manners and customs
their arts and political institutions, and
changes that are going on, that but for the
Sunday School missionary society, would not
know the most common facts of their geog,
raphy. It pays Intellectually to make the
missionary and his work careful study. 1t
ripeps the heart and blesses the soul to labor
and pray and give, to help him in his work
If the Church of God would come fully up
to her duty and take hold of this missionary
work in right down, good, self sacrificing
earnest, it would silence every infdel tongue,
develop unwonted powers that now lie DOR
mant, and secure such an outpOuring of the
Holy Ghost and such general revival Of
religion as the world has never yet Witnessed
Northern Christian Advocate.