Home and Foreign Journal, August 1869

'HE HOME АШ) FOEElGf JOTJEIAL “PREACH THE GOSPEE TO EVERY CREATURE.”— “ MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.” 2-NeW Series. RICHMOND, VA„ AUGUST, 1869. Published ACoxxtbly ЪУ the Foreign nud Domestic Hoards of tlie Southern Haptist No. 4— Whole No. 16. ^ _ . _ _ . гг Convention. 4 mn & $тщъ gtamwi ^ _ — — to _ TERRIS: . -? , . . tu cue гея00 . I^onr. . I » са'ЛТ’ . i-i^. j miff ГЯ*ПЬ,“ . . ~50 cento. - $ 2 OO 3 00 - 6 00 - 10 00 . 15 00 3b-*1 si2!fiZ2£i rS»!' — . - OV*" Км Ы.П load and piweln?. It is n necessity ► , „ IbB Brtfctbe't »» «еЧ м the churches of the South. By I WJ *&. J! iuilo bring hefom our people the nrliRl InTor- *2, ”Ыгси cont.rupl.ted by the Southern Baptist Cou- fOal« ° it into their churches «111 bo able thus to make [1 tbs .bole missionary enterprise, ami secure more isrrat possible list, and lbs money enclosed. P°£d orders, registered letters, or checks on '"A goat вш Гоасот Зюяж^лШааоав, Та. ЩГЩззгт irnml. ;RIClE»XOI4I>, * Г liS- В. TAYLOR, YA. -Cor. Secretary. What arc the Results? це is eminently utilitarian, and no where docs ’.ni щдке itself more evident than among both anJ enemies of benevolent enterprises. . raer. from a spirit of earnest desire, and the 3Ath motives of hostility, say “So those many ' .,я have been planting, where is the harvest? . Cv. Ion" been investing, what is the outcome ?” c. could with propriety insist upon it that -шоп to labor rest not upon results, but upon E-A and while, bad our cfTortsbeeu unrewarded, -:,1 silence ever)- objection by simply pointing I-,, -"unission of the Master, still it is pleasant to ...pointto garnered cburclics and reply, “Here , arrest ’’ — and to church rolls of converted {•., ad say, “Here' is our Ledger; the invest- n tca^- fjf, giving some results of American Missionary Нь we desire to remark that the modern t~a charcb, in its crusade against the thousand i «rmr, which wc call heathenism, has inaugu- |.j .pgantic stniggle, to which nothing in the *:;• history can afford a parallel. This is nothing Jta an attempt by the foolishness of preaching jiret systems of error which arc hoary with age _,-e iofiiscd'themtcTvcif into tinnracttrftTiray'Utc- a customs and governments of untold millions, .-uses which have been put into operation to -a --npers titions and pull down strongholds, mighty through God, arc necessarily slow and a their operation. Not only aro these means iaflv unobtrusive, though aggressive, but to so ib in extent have they thus far been used, that hem to be puny and entirely inadequate to the о be performed. This, together with the fact t: i!l moral revolutions, unaccompanied by mira- io-e been the work generally of centuries, would rv a- to expect little from the few years of flinch have been expended in Foreign fields by inches. The first American Baptist Missiona- nwsent out just fifty-seven years ago. During fct rears* of their labors, few converts were re¬ td mil many became discouraged. But now, itss of the native churches report an average of i-rbms a day for every day since Jesus began to gdched among the heathen. This includes the ^e, both to the Northern board, and to our 1 board, since its formation iu 1845. When, 5-trc. we remember that these many thousands are first fruits ; that each convert becomes himself irf missionary, and that there has long been a increase in numbers of converts in a geometri- ™0' ™ 'rc not something of triumph point iiie waters and say both to friends and foes, the results.” - ятеп yean before a single convert was reported by - "aoaaries sent out. ut we desire to call special attention to the fact that these bodies are in their origin and design essentially missionary. It i3 an ilem of no litt]c intercst in t,lc ns opr of the Baptists of this country, that it was the X' oreign Missionary enterprise which, directly or in- «lirccUy, first gave an impulse to associated Christian etlort. And though Sunday schools, colportago, edu¬ cation, State Missions, Ac., should receive a due share ot attention, ,t ought not to be forgotten that weighty obligations rest upon the churches, in tlicir associated capacity, to send the gospel to those who arc beyond. - Most.oLtbc : associations have committees appointed to prepare reports on Foreign "Missions.’ Xlicbretli- ren upon whom this duty devolves should not wait, as is too often done, until reaching the place of nicct- rng, and then prepare a hurried report containing a vague and general endorsement of the work, but rather let them, after inquiry for facts, and thought upon ways and -means, present a paper which will both awaken and satisfy curiosity in' regard to the progress of missions and stimulate to exertion in their behalf. To these brethren are also committed in a certain sense the interests of the cause upon which they are appointed to report. It should he then their duty to decide upon the expediency of asking for public collections, of securing a favorable opportunity for the consideration of their report, and_of enlisting speakers to address the congregations on the subject. Wc arc convinced that if some brother alone, or with others, will intercst himself in behalf of Foreign Missions at each _ of the approaching meetings, that a new and much to he desired enthusiasm will he kindled among the churches. May the great Head of the church he present at the meetings of our brethren all over the land, that their sessions may be harmonious, and a spirit of ag¬ gression against the kingdom of the Evil One awa¬ kened. r The District Associations. -"this number shall have reached our subscri- kt °f th° annual racct!llSs of District As- afim ■ а*геа<П' have well advanced. Aside 7, , ““Poriant means for the dissemination of ^Reand perfecting ways for the spread of the , R 1DS^onb they are most delightful seasons ..y of Christian sentiments, and for re- i rii^ s people around a common altar. ^ °°.Purcr> sweeter joy on earth, than the !to thc^Sa . m^rc^ ra*n(L which are burning with ~le to iJI0-Ur’ and *'1СГС arc T-'w occasions more ^ the v 1° lntercllanSe of sentiment and feeling, ril Ty Ambling Of the delegates of the i(vern-,me dlc most delightful scenes wc Sh £ and ®°П1С of the most glorious айе ' c urfche3 have ever experienced, have th t \ f*ICSC satherings. 'Wc rejoice ir 3 * 10 ^'wotional element is obtaining ■* and greater prominence. ]hi proportion as pare- ^ “ntlucle«l in the spirit which results ''"tines*1' . ‘ntcrc,ianSe Christian experience, '^ofthejpt harm0n‘0U3 and conducive to R. H. Stone. By a letter which will appear in another place, wc learn that this faithful missionary has been compelled to leave his station at Lagos, and return to his home at Culpeper. rWe rejoice to know that in his severe illness lie was sustained by the Divine hand, and that now the symptoms of entire recovery are favora¬ ble. * Good Nows. The last advices from. China still continue to he cheering. Brother Hartwell reports one baptism, Brother .Gates, four additions, and three have been, baptized by Brother Graves. Tietruirpr.ilsc-iWT Concert of Prayer for Missions. Wc arc solicitous that a special season of prayer he set apart in all of our churches with particular refer- CIlCCTtU азк1а^-*Ьс'Ыегг?1П^-1 Foreign xvork. We have no reason or encouragement to expect divine blessing upon our Missions, however well appointed in every respect they may he, unless wc ask for it. The early churches constantly met and continued in prayer for the success of the preached word, and we have not only their example, hut the results of their prayers to encourage us. While the primary object of these meetings, which should ever be kept in view, is to supplicate the manifestation of the power of God in giving the truth a lodgment in the hearts of the heathen, there arc two other objects, which it may bexvcll to suggest: First — To awaken a deeper interest in our missionary opera¬ tions. This end may he accomplished by presenting facts — the origin, progress, results and present condi¬ tion of the work of our Board or other benevolent societies, or, by holding up the motives for missionary labors — love for the Saviour and love for a perishing world. While- this should of course he done from the pulpit, the concert of prayer affords an opportuni¬ ty for lay brethren to extend their usefulness and ex¬ ercise their gifts by speaking of these tilings. The speaker need never want for a theme, and when lie dwells on the love and command of Jesus as the mo¬ tive for beneficence and exertion, the Christian need only speak from the heart and the greatest element of eloquence is there. The second object to be secured by these meetings, is a regular monthly collection for Foreign Missions. This may seem as likely in any particular church, to secure hut a small sum, hut wc aro convinced that, were these meetings regularly held by all our Southern churches and collections made, the resources of our hoard would be trebled. Is there a concert of prayer for Missions in your church ? _ _ В. H. Hickman. ‘ - This esteemed Brother, one of the purest and best of tlie many excellent workers for Jesus, in Missouri, has recently passed away. We loved him for his genial Christian spirit — above all, for the high sense of indebtedness to liis Redeemer, and his conscientious liberality in all the pecuniary offerings he made to the cause of truth. He needed not to he reminded of his duty. He was ready to “make up beforehand” his bounty. “To do good and communicate,” xvas his delight. He xvrote us a short time before his death, “It is time I was again contributing of what my most gracious Lord has loaned me, and I enclose herein a_chcck for twenty-five dollars.”- Beloved Brother! thou are not dead. Eternal life is thine. Wc weep not for thee, hut for ourselves. The cause of Jesus on earth has lost a devoted friend, but his “gracious -Lord,” can raise up others to fill liis place. May his mantle fall on many. brethren and sisters, arc everywhere manifest, us thank God for this, and take courage, f -tlio Atactric- .npcin_out: — Wc an>jiBAut7 ir_iL will !»>_ proper- the jmlivldiinls to assume the responsibility of collecting for the Board? We answer, yes! Any one, male or female, young or old, is authorized to open a subscription, putting down liis or her name, and then, handing it, if possible, to every church member. Such amounts forwarded to us, will he at once acknowledged. for his goodness, and with new fervor let ns prosecute the work he has given us to do. Wc Need More Mon. Wc must increase our force iu tlie Foreign fields. Brother Phillips and Reid are expecting to return to Africa in the tall. Three men ought to bo sent to China. But where are these three men ? Arc none to he found in all our Southern States, breathing a large hearted missionary spirit, with suitable intelligence, and soundness of judgment, xvlio are xvilling to oiler themselves ? But will the cburclics he xvilling to sustain this in¬ creased force? Yes, they will. Wc have confidence that God will put it into the hearts of his people to give willingly, as lie has prospered them. An Earnest Request. Wc request every render to make special prayer to the Lord of the harvest, to give ns three men for tlie now suffering harvest field, :» portion of which wcare toiling to reap in China. The Lord of the harvest has invited — yea, commanded us to pray fin- this, be¬ cause “the harvest, truly is great.” A Cheering Indication. The tokens of increasing liberality among our Let For the Home and Foreign Journal. Missions Arc so important, that every man, woman and child ought to give Jesus, who gave his blood — and is our money worth more than his life? How much money is given to destroy, but how little is given to save people ? For the Home and FoieJgn Journal. The Light Spreading. One afternoon I called on Zcc-boo-boo, an old wo¬ man who was trying to find the true light from above, and who lias been now for many years a member of Brother Yates’ church in Shanghai. After reading to her from the Scriptures, and explaining parts of hymns which she had memorized, we began to dis¬ cuss “sin.” “Of course I have sins,” she said, in her peculiar, emphatic way, “because you tell me so; hut I can’t see them ; I can’t feel myself a sinner. True, I know it xvas xvrong for me to continue making straxv houses to burn for tlio dead after I knexv it xvas displeasing to God, and sometimes I have broken the Sabbath; still I can’t sec myself a sinner particularly.” Here slic threw hack her head and laughed heartily. “That,” said I, “is not because you are not a sin¬ ner, hut because you arc in darkness and cannot see yourself as you are. You are like a person, in a dark room xvhere there arc snakes, centipedes, and scor¬ pions, yet because of the darkness he sees nothing and pronounces the room empty. But let him open a xvindoxv, and lie is frightened at xvliat he secs. So xvith our hearts; wc cannot see our xviclcedness until the Holy Spirit gives us light. Then xx-c see our¬ selves vile and execrable. Pray for this light from the Holy Spirit that you may sec your sins, for most assuredly you have them. ‘There is none good, no not one.'" All are not equally xvlcked. It xvould not be true to say you arc as xvicked as those ‘long¬ haired rebels’ xvlio live on plunder, and xvlio murder xvomen andjehildrcn; hut pick out the best men, and even they, in the sight of God, are very vile. One act of disobedience slioxx-s a disobedient heart, and God can sec the heart.” A young xvoman present asked, “Why don’t you let my aunt Zcc-boo-boo join the church? she has been xvanting to join a long time, and truly believes in Jesus.” • - I*' ■Vi м •i - L ■ л "to » Г я -чт' * • . 'to ... I £ i olit “But she has not fulfilled the conditions to' repent у_1в and ho converted.” . ,.tt Cun “IIoxv long, then, before she may join?” -'r ” “There is no specified time: as soon as she puts' J ” her trust iii Jesus for forgiveness and salvation, in- ' ' ‘A" stead of thinking she has nothing of consequence to he forgiven.” Seeing by this time a largo number of persons col¬ lected at tlie door and xvindoxx-s to listen, though I continued to. direct my conx-ersation to those within, I also had regard to those outside. “You Chinese say ‘foreign doctrines for foreigners, Chinese doctrines for Cinnamon.’ This is a great 1ГШ1ЯШ5 -rurprlnclplt» Tinril icTjonw»v«*pyi«liern. -гГ1пя paper (holding up a slip of white paper) I call whit do you not also call it white?’ White is xvhite, and black black, to you and to me equally, without refer¬ ence to nationality. If you should .call it black would it therefore he black, or xvould it not he xvliifc, notwithstanding you might perversely call it black? So, true i.s true, and false false, regardless of men’s opinions. You Chinese say ‘ tlie gods arc gods only to those xvlio believe them to be so,’ by which saying you really admit they arc nothing hut images. But the true God is God, xvliether men believe him to he so or not. The doctrines of Jesus arc true and binding, whether men xvill rcccix-e them or not. He xvill rule, and bring to judgment all men, spite of their opin¬ ions and practices. He xvill not listen to you at the judgment when you tell Him that you never received him as your Lord — that he is Lord only of the for¬ eigners. In matters of dress, food, style of living, and other things indifferent, xx'e may differ without sin. But in morals it cannot be so. You enforce the obedience of children to their parents as rigidly as xvc do, and so xvith the various relations binding men to each other. These hold good xvlicrcver men may lix-c; and it is equally so in our obligations toward God — xx-e must worship him alone, no matter xvhere xvc lix-c or what may be the customs of those around --T :-mr ' 4 1 During the conx-crsation those listening at tlie door and windows frequently expressed their assent by nodding -tlip.ir_licads^ Jooki_ng significantly at each other, and by frequent exclamations — “That’s true,” net -•чг: listake M. F. C. :-i,e ax r. ' ■Fh •nia ■X . - yiS "il'i . .i'« J ;/ oJ J For the Ilotne and Foreign Jonrnul. Englisli Teachers for China. The California railroad, together xvith the Pacific mail steamers, xvill soon unite the ends of the earth. The Christian xvest and the heathen cast xvill floxv to¬ gether, and out of the txvain a new xx-orld xvill arise. The English language xvill become the medium of communication in all commercial affairs between the peoples of the txvo hemispheres. Let Christians con¬ sider xx'cll this matter, and he ready to meet the xvants of the age. English teachers arc already in demand throughout India, Burinali, Siam, China, and Japan. By the blessing of God, xvliat a mighty means of evan¬ gelization this may become ! English school-teach¬ ing, in a fexv years more, may he not only self-sup¬ porting, hut highly remunerative. Here is a glorious field opening before those zealous young Christian brethren and sisters xx*lio desire to xvork for God, hut do not feel called and qualified for the ministry or regular missionary labors. They xvill not have to take a long and trying voyage around the Cape of Good Hope in a sailing vessel, and land on the field worn down by had food and sea-sickncss. They leave their homes in any part of the States, and reach their place of destination, fresh and well, in thirty or forty days. It xvould not ho necessary for them to spend several years of their youthful ener- . gics and zeal in studying a difficult and stupid lan¬ guage, as the missionaries have had to do. The}- could enter at once on their xvork, and make it tell from the first day. If they found the climate un- suited to their constitutions, they could return home in time, without spending a fortune and half a life¬ time on the way. Neither xvould it he necessary for them to make their x\-ills iri advance, bid tlicir friends a long farewell, and come out to teach for life. Such as xvere called to do so might, xvliilc teaching, study the dialect of the place, and after a fexv years leave tlie school-room for the gospel ministry' or full mis¬ sionary work. Others might go into business, and by their example and influence aid to build up and sustain Christian institutions- in the East. I throw out these remarks simply as suggestions, hoping that many of our zealous- young brethren and sisters xvill hear them in mind. Gather information and pray over the subject. God calls to nexv and xvide fields. T. P. Crawford. Tung Chou, April 5, 1SG9. Л. Frkk Gospsb.— During the jear Hr. Spurgeon has received ■ in voluntary offerings for his various benevolent, operations, : . about one hundred and forty thousapd dollars. This raagnin- ^ cent sum xvas gathered week by xveek, in tho boxes at the doors of tho church. . ->S -iii if -•i . .fie -a • .-"qa : rt v dT ■ "TtViJ >--ф Ш чЫт№ .:V.|Vw - -X»-Jb -«i'c зпт.гш 'i. }i в ■>жЛг