The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-10-18
SOMETHING STIRRING.


just as it is generous, sends US the following
1t is a view of the subject which strong
commends itself to our common sense. W
certainly need to mix more patience Wit
our faith:
A missionary in China received letter
such as missionaries probably receive pretty
containing these expressions: 81 wisl
our hearts could be Stirred up to some dut
sense of the demands of the heather upon US
as you who are surrounded by them see and
feel it" "Please write something to US tc
arouse our waning ZEAL" An admirable an.
swer was returned, and published in Wo
mans Work for Woman. We make some
extracts:
owe receive similar requests frequently,
from many different places, and strong ap'
pealS occasionally from our secretary, to help
them to supply the demand for something to
arouse the waning zeal of the Church. The
touching and stirring account of Jim, given
in the Foreign Missionary, few years ago,
by Mrs. Lloyd, of the Zulu Mission, was
pointed out as sample of the good that
could be done by well-written accounts of the
incidents we meet with in our work. Now,
there is not one of US that would not be thank
full, and inexpressibly gratifed-and perhaps
He who knows our hearts best sees that to be
truthful-we must add, nightly elated-to
send such an account by every mail, if we
only had it to send. Possibly there are Neb-
uchadnezzars at home, too, who would in
such case, take pride in this great Babylon
which we had builded.' But whatever may
be the reason there are very few such stories
to write. Missionary work is much like
preaching and teaching at home. 1t has its
ups and downs, and more of the downs than
ups.
"Some souls are growing in grace, some
are coming into the Church, and some have
gone home to glory. Good is being done all
the time, yet We sigh more than we rejoice.
When the ten lepers were cleansed, one turn
back to give thanks; but Christ sighed for
the nine. The man in the parable rejoiced
more over the one sheep recovered than over
the ninety and nine that went not astray;
but if the hundred had all gone astray, and
he had found one, I think he would have for.
gotten it in sorrow for the ninety and nine.
So it is with US. We almost forget the few
tens that are saved among the tens Of thou.
sands who are going down to death. Then
we find many who, like the Galatians, "run
well for time," and our rejoicing on their
account is turned into mourning-we soon
learn to rejoice with trembling, and fear to
tell our joy, lest it turn into mourning
Sometimes we do like David, number the
people; and, like David, We haveto mourn
our folly. This work taxes not only our
minds and our bodies, but our hearts, and
that all the time; and, as l said before, We
walk more in the valleys than on the noun
tain tops. x We are almost cut off
from the Christian and civilized world. Our
friends become absorbed in their new inter-
ests, and cares and friendships, and one by
one forget US till the mail almost ceases to
bring us any but mothers letters, and busi-
ness letters. By-and by the mothers close
their dim eyes and fold their trembling hands
in their long sleep, while We are far away,
and 80 almost the last link is broken that
binds us to Christian land. Appeals come
to US for information. The Church has a
right to know what We are doing, and what
are the results. We are watchmen as we'll
as workmen. We answer as fully as time
will allow; but there comes no response. A
Sunday School or society offers to support
child in school, and wishes " frequent and
regular letters to keep up the interest" We
write our regular letter, they send their reg
ular contribution, but there never comes with
it word of sympathy or cheer. All is 81
lent as the grave. Does our zeal never wane!
Does our interest never flag? Do our hearts
never faint? Are We in no danger of grow
ing weary in well-doing? Who writes let
ters to "rouse our waning zeal?" Who
cheers our dropping spirits? My dear sis
ters, the conversion of the world is not a job
to be finished up in year or two, by a
"spurt" now and then, when some extra ex-
citement stirs up our enthusiasm. 1t is a
stupendous work, that will require the con-
centrated and consecrated energies of all who
love the Lord Jesus, of every name and ma
ton, and for many long years to come. The
only way to accomplish it is for the whole
church to take up the work, in obedience to
the Lords command, with just estimate Of
its immensity, and with strong determine.
tion on the part of each member to work on
until we fall at our post. There is mo dis.
charge in this warfare, and it will not be
ended in our day. A geography will be the
best help to a just estimate of its immensity,
and the Bible the only help to just esti
mate of its difficulty and Importance, because
that alone reveals to us the depravity of the
human heart and the value Of souls. When
our zeal wanes, let us renew it in our closets
When our courage fails, let US strengthen
ourselves in the Lord our God. When oul
labors seem fruitless, let US 60 to the sure
promises. When we are tempted to despair
by the ingratitude, opposition and hatred O.
those to whom we are giving our money, oul