The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-11
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL Lesson.
May II, 1901, The Great Commission
Matthew xviii. 1920.

The traditional answer to all objections to for
eign missions is that they are undertaken in i'm
plicit obedience to the direct command of Jesus.
When the forty mystic days which interviewed
between the resurrection and ascension
ending the Savior his disciples at the APP
pointed rendezvous the mountain in Gailee.
This may have been the occasion also when the
500 brethren whom ST. Paul names as witnesses
of the resurrection were present with the eleven
apostles. There general recognition and
alteration of the Risen One. but as in the very
college Of apostles there was one doubter, 20
now in this larger company there were several.
Parting words sometimes really assumed
ly fippant. The persons involved. the interests
at stake. make nonchalance impossible. AS
judge charges a jury, Jesus weighed every
word and made each mighty. His last message
is aptly called 1.-The great commission Go
ye into all the world and preach my gospel TO
every creature That the divine authority OF
the command might be disputed He pre-
faced IL with the words. "Al power is given unto
Me in heaven above and in the earth beneath
That the enduring nature OF the command the
church in each successive age, represented in
the college OF apostles. might be unquestioned.
it was concluded with the assurance: And 10.
/ am with you Away. unto the end of the
world The traditional answer to OBJ
jections against missions is he correct answer.
This command, apty called by the Duke of
Wellington THE church's marching ORDERS" is
a foundation broad enough to sustain the whole
fabric of modern missions 1t Will be found suf-
hcient TO bear up the mightier superstructure,
in comparison with which the boasted fabric OF
to-day will appear toy. The exactions
and sacrifices of the missionary cause are con-
fessedly great. Money So 100000. in round
numbers, per annum from the United States;
talent apparently needed at home; happiness-ln
Of far f.
through unwholesomeness OF climate and vio-
lence OF heather. No abatement OF these exac-
tons can be anticipated in the future. The
circles OF missionary effort are widening. De-
msnds for men and means will keep pace. Yet
as the church reads her marching orders.' a
halt is impossible. From a purely hue
| manistc standpoint the enterprise OF missions is
justified. In spite OF sacrifices involved. II aims
by the persuasion OF love to make an end OF all
the abuses of heathenisn-tribal wars. caste
widow burning foot-bnding. child marriage
killing o: the aged. 1t seeks abate human
suffering and conserve life by the Introduction
OF sanitation and the medical and surgical arts
Hospitals, dispensaries. asylums and schools are
in the train OF the mission. II was on this
ground that Charles Darwin while not a be-
lever in Christianity, yet became an annual
subscriber for life TO a missionary society
The incidental introduction Of the bar
barisms of civilization Through commerce and
trayeD-war rum. opium, licentiousness-is
frankly admitted. This however in fairness
cannot be charged up against Christianity. and
is only additional and strong argument for
the prosecution OF Christian missions
The astonishing holiness Of Jesus, as exempli-
fed in His last command. is still the marvel If
history. There is. humanely speaking audacitv
in what Canon Ldden calls the plan OF Jesus
THE great commission" in its very terms, en-
braces all time and the whole earth. AS Colt
hold says. Christ bequeathed TO His church
the world 10 be converted
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
The discrimination between home missions and
foreign missions is worse than unfortunate II
is vicious. Competition between them Is absurd
The Lords work is one. Anything that partakes
of schism is not the Lords work Max
Muller. that prince OF comparative rellgionists
whose recent death the world OF scholars Is
still regretting. has immortal paragraph on
missions: THE very soul OF our religion is mis-
sionary. progressive. world embracing. il would
cease to exist II it ceased TO be missionary. il
it disregarded the parting words OF its Founder:
Go ye therefore. and teach all nations etc
The spirit OF truth is the life spring Of all re-
ligion and where IL exists IL must manifest
itself, it must plead. IL must persuade. Il must
convince and convert. There may be times when
silence is gold and speech silver: but there are
times also when silence death and speecn Is
life-the very life Of Pentecost. Look at the re-
ligions in which the missionary spirit has been
at work and compare them with those in which
any attempt TO convince others by argument 10
save souls. 10 bear witness 10 the truth. il
treated with pity or scorn. The former are alive
the latter are dying or dead" The alb
solute righteousness Of the Bible narrative Is
illustrated by the phrase. But some doubted
fiction would not have admitted so derogatory
an expression. 1t would have asserted that all
worshiped. . The dignity. Importance and
obligation OF the sacrament OF baptism is evil
dent in the fact that IL Is named in the very
terms OF the great commission"
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES
breviations-American A: Afford All:
Cambridge Bible. &. b.; Bencel, b Jameson
Fausset-Brown J. r b. Clarke. G: Exposifor's
e International Critical, 1. c.: Keil and Del
r.: Meyer. N; Olshausen, o.; Peoples T. II
4 Vincent Word Studies Y. W. : Sadler S:
sitter, 81 Trench. T.. Whedon. W. Lives az
Jesus: Edersheim. Ed. Farrar. f.. Andrews
An. Pressense Pr; Elicott FL; Lange. La:
Ncander y.
The leven: one had fallen like a star from
heaven.-W....They worshiped: An instantane-
Gus and universal Observation-Disclosures. some
doubted: They did not believe all al that time
Clarke....An power: Word embraces the ideas
of both power and authorty.--Abbott.. An ma
tons: Both organically and Individually -Whe-
don. Go ye, therefore: Because / have All
-. aufhorfv 4 have righf A. -.