The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-02-26

himself q missionary in these circumstances,
and it is probable that with the formation of
every church. elders ought to be ordained to
take the oversight, of course under the direc-
ton of the missionary. The primitive church
es seem to have been so treated, and we may
safely say that the composition of one of
those churches. as seen and reported on by
the soothing Lucian, due allowance being
made for that Punch of his day, was very
much inferior to that of the respectable Hot.
tentots, and South Sea planters, who now
form the staple of our mission churches.
What kind of preaching has been the most
successful at home? The faithful, earnest,
affectionate exhibition of the gospel. 1t is
the same abroad. But the missionary has
many more duties to perform than thepastor
at home. He is expected to be model of
all the Christian virtues, and perhaps the
only model his people may ever see. He
has to adapt his thoughts to new current,
and his abilities must be equal to every
emergency that may arise. In Africa he is
q Jack. .of-all. trades without and maid.of-
all-work within. The pastor at home has
whole congregation to keep him right; he
has posse con- ta:ns Of enlightened deacons
to put him right and hold him up when he
takes false step. Is he expected to be able
to move with propriety in genteel company?
The missionary more. Even dealing with
the rudest tribes in Africa, he finds that
politeness and good manners 60 great way.
There is not woman in the country who
will not listen respectfully if you address her
by the name mother Una J and courteous
manner towards the different ranks and de-
grees of the aristocracy goes as far with them
as among the higher circles at home. he
must do all this in foreign tongue. His
teaching and arguments are all in the same
language. 1t is easy to call the customs Of
the heather foolish and benighted, and so
forth, but to enlighten is quite different
matter. We question if many of our home
ministers would come off victorious in an ar
gument about rain-making. A missionary
has to originate many new ideas, and convey
them to those who have not even the words
in their language. The idea Of moral purity,
for instance, or holiness, is derived from the
Hebrew, and is found in no language, unless
taken from the Bible. There is no such idea
in the heather mind, nor any phrase to ex-
press the full force of the thought But the
home pastor has the whole sacred phraseol-
ogy ready made. TIE truth seems to be,
that the ministers of Christ ought all to be
highly educated, whether for the home or
foreign field; and if high education can, in
either case, be dispensed with, it ia not the
foreign laborer who will miss it least
q - "a 3k sc
success nor the difficulties of the work which
ought to sway our minds. Let as think
highly of the weapons We have received for
the accomplishment Of our work. The weap-
ons of our warfare are not carnal but spirit
ual, and mighty through God to the casting
down of strongholds. They are-Faith in
our Leader, and in the presence of His Holy
Spirit; full, free, unfettered gospel the
doctrine of the cross of Christian old story,
but containing the mightiest truths ever ut
tered-mighty for pulling down the strong
holds Of sin, and giving liberty tc the cap
tives. The story Of Redemption, of which
Paul said, am not ashamed of the gospel
Of Christ" is old, yet, in its vigOr, eternally
young.
This work requires zeal for God and love
for souls. 1t needs prayer from the senders
and the sent, and firm reliance on Him who
alone is the author of conversion. Souls
cannot be converted or manufactured to or
der. Great deeds are wrought in uncon-
sciousness, from constraining love to Christ;
in humbly asking, Lord, what wilt Thou lave
me to do? in the simple feeling, we have
done that which was our duty to do. They
effect works, the greatest of which it will re-
main for posterity to discern. The greatest
works of God in the kingdom of grace, like
His majestic movements in nature, are mark
ed by stiffness in the doing of them, and re-
veal themselves by their effects. They come
up like the sun, and show themselves by their
own light. The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation. Luther simply followed
the leadings Of the Holy Spirit in the strug-
giles of his own soul. He wrought out what
the inward impulses of his own breast
prompted him to work, and behold, before
he was aware, he was in the midst of the
Reformation. So, too, it was with the Ply
mouth pilgrims, with their sermons three
times day on board the Maytlower. With
out thinking of founding an empire, they
obeyed the sublime teachings of the Spirit,
the promptings of duty and the spiritual life.
God working nightly in the human heart is.
the spring of all abiding spiritual power; and
it is only as men follow out the sublime
promptiDgs of the inward spiritual life, that
they do great things for God.
The movement of not one mind only, but
the consentaneous movement of multitude
Of minds in the same direction, constitutes
what is called the spirit of the age. This
spirit is neither the law of progress nor blind
development, but Gods all.eternal, allen
bracing purpose, the doctrine which recog.
nises the hand of God in all events, yet
leaves all human action free. When God
prepared an age for new thought, the
thought is thrust into the age as an instru.
ment into chemical solution-the crystals
cluster round it Immediately. If God pre-
psres not, the man has lived before his time.
Huss and Wycliffe were like voices crying in
the wilderness, preparing the way for a
brighter future; the time had not yet come.
Who would not be missionary? "They
that be wise shall shine as the brightness Of
the armament, and they that turn many to
righteousness as the stars for ever and ever"
Is God not preparing the world for missions
which will embrace the whole Of Adams fam.
lily? The gallant steamships circuunaVigate
the globe. Emigration is going on at rate
to which the most renowned crusades of an
tiquity bear no proportion. Many men go
to and fro, and knowledge is increased. No
great emigration ever took place in our world
without accomplishing one of Gods great