Home and Foreign Journal, April 1869

n O'-» r— «PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE .’’--«FEED MY LAMBS.-” _ “ J0UEIAL7 *■ MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.” Ot b „New Series RICHMOND, VA, APRIL, 1869. Published UVEontbly by the I?1 oreign. ,,g«t & TERRIS: . —50 cent*. - - 2 00 . . — _ 3 00 - .. 5 00 . . . 30 00 . 35 00 . • '■*•£***> *>“* . - • L. . h*. i IouJ PtWIBg. 1 1 1» A DCCTSSlty -^ы 1: <1» ,{?.V?£«d», »’ '",l »» thc cbarelw of the Sooth. В j ■ fv- »mV|o bring hefore oar rtopln the e»rlifet Infor- J \A •' ■t*a ?!JL|. «mtempUtrf by the Southern Baptist Coo- - * e. F-,°,,r“,„ lbrir ebenrhss will be »ble Urn. to m.t, ■hole missionary enterprise, and eecore more "" ’ — *iUl ,b* ■ ,fe*?rfbI*'-V brrfAt possible list, and ibe money er tip<*b4 orders, registered letter., V ^ jo 130 Г0ЫКЗ J№№ Richmond, Va. г1-* - — - = enclosed. or chocks on ^fpsaiim §яд»й. ЩОЮГОЗЧЮ, iiS. Б- TAYLOK, — .Cor. Secretary. fhe Concert of Prayer. . c7Btb!v concert of prayer for the spread of _ L „a the first Monday of each month, or the i, non- renewal by many of our churches. • .e wiring front several of these churches the , „atribntion? which are then made on be- i osr cause. It will greatly encourage tho -. «1 onr beloved missionaries to know that . nf prayer is generally observed. . тг <ncb season, let those in attendance be in- iiiace npon the table their free-will oflerings. p л the case of Cornelius, their prayers and t .-.:iii ascend as a memorial before God. The People had a mind to Work.” • > was in the days of Nchemiali. Is it so ; ire the members of our churches impressed : asmess and necessity of working, in every ; ■ an. to send out Christ’s gospel “to every — “into all the world.” Workers arc needed. the efficient influence of the pastors on be- i з this cause — onr deacons may do much. So ;0 private brethren. Our sisters can greatly -*£ne С, я, reader, a faithful steward? I)o you rcc- : c.r newardship? Do you lift up your heart ■ '; .aad »ay with David, “all things come of ci then. as you give liberally, are you saying, ' '-wi have we given tlico?” God is the • - nrietor, and has put in your hands, as one “ want", a portion of -liis own goods, saying, 1 'ill [ come.” Are you using your Lord’s nraote his interests? ■re solemn questions. We beg you, dear revolve them prayerfully, and with rigid non. There is danger of deception here. ,s*d people of God at one time committed -'1= crime of defrauding him, and yet in their v they knew it not. Read the testimony. • man mb Gal. Yet ye have robbed me. ■ay wherein have we robbed thee. In tithes rm5- Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye •*d me.” . on withheld from God a proper percentage worldly goods? Do you upon any pretest •«r those objects which you admit to be ac- ■" his will, and connected with his glory? <®c of those cow suffering and jeopardized "(gleet, and the neglect of those who follow ‘-л?1е. Are yon failing to study the interests - i"tcr, in an all-absorbing devotion to your -’Г"*-; inquiries are propounded, dear Christian '9^ns€ of the sad deficiency which now cx- , '“^departments of benevolence, and be- c* robbery is allowed by many ,aware If every Baptist would f to tbe Foreign Mission Board a cheer- i ,all0D’ with due regard to all other claims, .<„l ***** °fr <he gospel could be sus- ^then lands! ' ‘Apartment of Christian endeavor, “how ^ таос ну lord?” - a - Eead tho HibleT . -PWauce of a regular study of the Bible Wr 0f cnfi>rced. Tliere tlie adorable ' ‘s rcv'ealal. Salvation is made • ^ pj3' 0f" <lut'’ aPPcars. Exceeding 003 I’romiscs are reiterated. Tlie unfolded. ’ 4»aiaf th° rCadinS of thc Bible aLo, be- ■Hf Г|Цг a^ay allusions to the spreading >,fha к-* Ccmer> an'I to the ultimate pre- ^tivc :tmh> d‘° 'vorbb This is the <5я*Ш(1*л 1 0 missionary work. Its success !abor and ".°rd.0^ a faithful God can make ... ,_[fve ‘n no uncertain enterprise. hiow eno,1Sh to save you, cvery- u- Love must tell if. . Who bo a Solicitor? >• c wish to engage several hundred solicitors. If they can bo secured, we sliall rejoice. With the love of Jesus in their hearts, they will be prevalent plead¬ ers on our behalf. However small the result in any case it will help to swell thc stream of Christian ba- ncvolcnec Each one who engages in this labor of -ove may be the means of bearing the word of life to some poor heathen idolator. Who will act? Our need is pressing. Number 12: ond Domestic IBoards of tlie Sontlici’n. 33a.ptist Convention. t- Marvcllous Results. A statement by brother Bixby, one of the mission¬ aries of thc Missionary Union, is full of interest, il¬ lustrating how wonderful arc the results of the sionary work, in only one of its departments. He says: “In thc missionary field first surveyed and occupied by Dr. Judson, who reached Burmahin laid and baptized his first convert in 1819, there have been baptized up to the present time more than iorty thousand converts,— Burmans, Karens, and о bans. _ Of these, twenty thousand arc now living. In 180/ there were on the same field 412 native preachers. The Love of Jesus. How wondrous is thc love of Jesus! He was not of the earth. Ho came from Heaven. He was in¬ deed, the eenl of God, a missionary to this apostate rorld, but he came willingly. His heart throbbed with the ardors of disinterested love. He understood all that was involved in his mission to thc earth. Though he “thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” he “made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself thc form of a servant — and was made in thc likeness of men.” Strange condescension I ■Nor was this all. “Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.” Thc Lord of life and glory became a sufferer for us. “He died -for our sins.” “Christ died for the ungodly.” He thus be¬ comes the mediator — thc intercessor — the Saviour. Through him eternal life is^ - he loves, ho loves unto thc end. By his power, all By his death we live. Is it Right? Is it right to send thc gospel to the heathen? If it bo a duty, then it is sinful to omit it. But is it a duty? Tlie word of God must answer. And the inquiry may be answered by asking another. Is it right to be baptized, and what makes it obligatory? We all believe it to be tlie solemn duty of every ouc wlib lias fled tor refuge to Jesus, to be buried with lii^t in baptism. Why? Because Jesus commands ^Im^iuoTebniGland^wlncluautliorizes^baDtisni quires that the gosjKj sliall be ’"preacl i ed » : t heathen. “Go teach all nations, baptizing them.” “Go ye into all tho world and preach the gospel to nus- cvery creature. ],c that believethand is baptized shall be. saved.” Here then is a specific law. And, lest it might be supposed that this law was binding only on those he addressed a! thc time — he adds, “and lo, I am with you to the end of thc world.” Wo thus sec that there is the same authority for sending thc word ofijlifc to tho heathen that there is for Christian bap¬ tism. i|We propose to preach the gospel to perishing idol¬ aters, because Jesus has required it at our hands. This ought to be enough for every Baptist. Does our Redeemer speak? let us listen — docs he command? lei us obey. We are not at liberty to decline. The only question with us is, how shall wc best fulfil this obligation? If any feasible plan can be adopted nbt inconsistent \vitli the will of Jesus, it is ours to avail ourselves of it. Nor should any. Christian be unwilling to have a share in the work. No time is tojbe lost. The heathen are perishing. They starve, because no one takes to them thc bread of life. They are knowingly wicked and need pardon. Theirhcarts are corrupt and they need renovation. But there is no фате given under Heaven among men whereby they can be saved but the name of Jesus.” eadcr, are you an obedient follower of Jesus? Are you doing all you can to make your Saviour known to the lost in heathen lands? his followers are kept through faith unto salvation. “Oh, for this lore let roots nml hills Their luting silence break.” What shall be the effect of this love? Shall we not love him in return? And how 6liall wc evince our love? Shall wc not speak of his lor e to others? This will be the natural prompting of a proper esti¬ mate of the love of Cbrisl. The fame of such a Sa¬ viour we will long to spread abroad. Especially where bis character and grace are unknown will we be ambitious to publish his deeds? If thc love of Christ constrain us wc sliall say with Paul “to whom he was not spoken of, they shall see, and they that have not heard shall uuderstaud.” This is thc spirit which should prompt us in thc Foreign Mission enterprise. Wc ought to give and pray and labor for the extension and prevalence of the Kingdom of such a Saviour. A Special Request. Tlie Foreign Mission work as conducted by South¬ ern Baptists has been attended with marked success. Thc Board, located in Richmond, arc now deficient about four thousand dollars in the present fiscal year, which closes within a few weeks. They desire at once to meet this deficiency. They also aim to rein¬ force some of their missions at an early _ period. With reference to these objects, it is proposed to re¬ quest a number of the friends of the cause to engage as solicitors. Eqcli one who receives this paper will please act immediately and thus aid in relieving our needy workers in heathen lands. Let tlie name of the church with which the donors are identified be given when thc funds are sent to thc subscriber, and the proper acknowledgment will be made. JAb. B. TAYLOR, Cor. Sec. Ac. Richmond, T'ct. _ _ What hath God Wrought? The Secretary of the Baptist Missionary Union says, with respect to the Burman Mission, that “about 740 converts per year, on an average, have been gath¬ ered into tho church, or not far from two daily, every day since the commencement of our work, besides all the converts of the missions in China, in Siam, in India, in Europe, and among the Indians of North America — which would fully double the numbers. Concert Collectors. Wc arc receiving the collections made at the con¬ cert of prayer from several churches. Brother Ivey, pastor of the Athens church, Ga., and brother Beverly, pastor of tlie church at Andereon, С. H., S. C., in send¬ ing their monthly contributions, express themselves m strong terms recommending these meetings, and also, that on these occasions the people be allowed the privilege of giving as well as praying. rather say, “here am Г, send me.” “Lord what wilt . thou have mo to do?” True loyalty to Christ will prompt to go upon any embassy, to fulfil any mis¬ sion. May I preach thc gospel to the heathen? .may ‘L I help to sustain any who go among the heathen? This will be the inquiry of the Christian heart. Brethren, sisters, baptized believers in Jesus, this is a favorable time for spreading the glory of our King. He is opening a pathway to thc nations, He is calling his sons from afar, His daughters from thc ends of the. earth. Let us enter upon this work with a will- jngihear^* T - «- -*• - WC Kill no w _ | | [ Let us desire the universal reign'' of Jcsiis^M. “prayer lie made for him continually.” The Southern Baptist Convention. This important convocation will take place in the city of Macon, commencing at 10 o’clock, A. M., on tlie Thursday before thc second Lord’s day in May, which will occur on thc (1th of tlie month: We trust'that the Divine presence will be vouch¬ safed, and that a new era in the missionary enterprise will then commence. Let all pray for this. >i V. uni ui- Wlio will do Likewise. A beloved brother of Kansas City writes us, en- Liberal Contribution. From an esteemed brother in Alabama we have re¬ ceived thc sum of five hundred dollars. Earnestly do wc wish, for their own sakes, and for the sake of their Divine Master, that many like-minded were found among our churches. Encouragement. Wc cannot but be encouraged when such instances occur as arc referral to by a corrcspondentwho says, eight dollars are given by one who is poor in this world’s goods and greatly afflicted. He sent four dol¬ lars on Saturday, and learning that brother Crawford must be sustained or quit tlie mission work, ho sent on Sunday four dollars more.” God will bless that offering and thc giver. Monthly Offerings. A brother is sending us one dollar for each month, which he calls his monthly offering. Why can we not have many more such ? The Children at Work. Little Eva West, of Accomac, Co., and little Jessie Johnson, and Sallie Davidson, of Bridgeport, West Va., have caeii sent us five dollars collected by them. May these dear children be embraced in the arms of the Saviour. Who of the children will do likewise? closing ten dollars, and says: “I trust it may be the means'of sending the gospel to benighted lands, and pray God to move thc hearts of others to give. I desire to double my subscription every year as the Lord prospers me.” A sad Deficiency. * The following from an esteemed correspondent will find an echo in many a heart. Is there not a reme¬ dy? Wc arc much pleased with thc Home and Foreign Journal. The letters from the Shantung Mission are full of interest, but saddening. How can the churches bear to bear of these tilings without being roused up to action? They liavc called for laborers and sent them into far-off fields expecting them to toil on yean after year in their arduous work. They have labored— sent them? Thc Scriptures say, “the laborer is worthy of his hire.” To those who withhold it, may not thc words of James be truthfully addressed : “Be¬ hold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped, which is of you kept back by fraud, crictli; and the cries of them which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” To them who are wronged the message is, “Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto thc coming of the Lord * * * for thc coming of tlie Lord draweth nigli.” The Kingdom of Jesus. Thc Kingdom of the Son of God is predicted in tho Scriptures as destined to fill the whole earth. It is indeed of small beginning, and to human reason unpromising — a stone cut out of thc mountain with¬ out hands — a little leaven — a grain of mustard seed _ ahandfullof com on the top of the mountains, and yet its influence is to bo pervasive as the range of sin. What believer in Jesus docs not exult in flic glory of his Kingdom? But how iS this kingdom, which is not of this world, to obtain so wide a prevalence? Wliatare the means of bringing about so grand a result? The power of the King is infinite and absolute. “All power in heaven and earth is given” to him. But it is not tho exertion of mere power which will be employed. “It pleased God by thc foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Repentance and remission of sins must be preached in the name bf Christ among all nations. He makes his own people witnesses for him. It is for them to sound out thc word of the Lord. They are commanded to teach all nations. Thus his knowledge is to “cover tho earth as the waters cover thc sea.” Can any Christian contemplate, this arrangement., but with holy joy ? He may well be humbled attho thought that' bis Divine ' King employs not angels, but men, to cxtend'lii3 'triumph. Will he at all hes¬ itate to be employed in this agency? Will lie not “A Dead Sea Torpor.’ A lady writing to us, remarks: . . The following extract from an article published in the Christian Index of Feb. 25, on Southern Colleges, quotes these words of President Sampson, of Colum¬ bian College: “Wc have a society of Religious Inqui¬ ry and many have gone out as missionaries in years past. Thc /act that there is no special call for mission¬ aries xow made on us, has turned the attention of slu- . denis lo other fields.” I have italicised this passage; it is fearfully important, suggesting evidently the sad, sad truth’ that a dead sea torpor has fallen on thc churches respecting the last command of Christ, “Go ye into all thc world and preach the gospel to every creature. * * Ye shall be witnesses unto me, to the uttermost part of tlie earth.” In all ages, the church of Christ has been held responsible to send out its representatives into every land as “witnesses . unto Jesus.” If tho churches in our land refuse or neglect to fulfil this obligation they will incur the penalty.’ _ _ _ A good Wish. A brother in humble circumstances sends us thir-' teen dollars and says, “I wish I had oncr thousand1 to send.” _ _ _ _ _ _ - . - , For the Home end ForeiRK Journal. •To tho American Ministry. I ain aware that you are not strangers to thc few- . thoughts that I would present. Still, brethren per¬ mit me to stir up your pure minds byway of remem¬ brance. 1. The heathen soul-harvest, embracing over eight hundred millions, is ripe. Thc press, religious and secular, is teeming with evidences of this tact. To work this vast field .efficiently, means arc essential ; and to secure these wc must win to thc work' the heart of the people. How? By moving, but spasmodic, appeal. No. It can be done permanently and ef¬ fectually only by educating the. people to regard this as their distinctive work. I appeal to you, by the love of Christ, begin this training now. 2. Apart (Voni other and weighty considerations, thc present crisis demands this of you. There arc in America about eighty students whose united heart is set upoa this 'work. In a few years they will come forth with a zeal intensified by thought, by prayer, and by its long confinement to their own hearts. For such spirits the people arc unprepared. Failure must ever attend the efforts of the few who, outstripping tlicir age, lose its sympathy. Therefore, brethren of Ajncrica, begin, now to train your people to anticipate this awakening movement. To the few whose souls are stirred in this work, thc writer, with unfeigned joy, extends across state lines thc liand of cordial Christian greeting. „• Greenville, S. C., Box 26.