- Title
- Home and Foreign Journal, June 1868
-
-
- Date
- 1868
-
-
- Volume
- 1
-
-
- Issue
- 2
-
-
- Editor
- ["Taylor, James B. (James Barnett), 1804-1871"]
-
- Creator
- ["Southern Baptist Convention"]
-
Home and Foreign Journal, June 1868
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V
“PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.” “ FEED MY
ШИ,— К ШШ
ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
yol i__New Series.
RICHMOND, VA.f JUNE, 1868.
Number 2.
DPnbHsbed Monthly by the three Boards of'
Hip §mm ft
|»шр
gJmmuil
the Southern Baptist Convention.
'TEK-MSs
■f
1Л
one D
i'%e to one person,.
7rt «SS addrreW to one |x*r«
to one
рчгеоп.
f ropiw* edJrwvd, to one person . . . . . . 15 00
It is n necoeeity
. .
«Ю
cents.
. S = 00
. 5 00
1Э
00
•'0*
Systematic Benevolence.
The importance of this subject is becoming more
and more felt by our churches. The great concern
with many is to know the best plan of contributing
to the cause of Christ, so ns to ensure forethought,
regularity, and frequency. The following, prepared
by a committee of the Maryland Union Association,
inth was in South western Greece, we have evidence that
the command was a general one for all the widely ex¬
tended Churches of Christ. The command, too^ was
to <Xcry one,” rich and poor, in the Churches; for it
ш
alike, the duty and the privilege of the humblest
and poorest, like the widow commended by .Jesus, ‘to
cast their small offerings into the Lord’s Treasure.
и5Ь«|~п«'
fcr
1Ы»
mile »h«t Ins bwn loud ud rmsiog. ua« npcowur - . - “* — “
"*•“» шш
union -Association, HOW TO
ВП
CARRIED OUT
felt br all tlie Boanls, as well
ля
the churchee of tho South. I?r u «n
«...1
, _ • - , .. . ..'I v'” 1>,e WU1.
p fhall be able to bring before our people tlie enrlicct Infer- 1 w
БНЩНв, рШШ «Ш11
SCnptlUlll. that XVG "1 VC it. lYltll • TA/> *
»•».*.
, . . . . ,
”2Г£т«м>
,h” fr«tobj-cts coni.mri«tfi Dj iboSoutiifra Baptist Coo- , (.rent nlp-isnre . hl™
и
r , ° i. , 0 manner in ichicJi this system is (o be earned out
inwsofine it into «hrtr
.Англ™
.
«1ИЪ. .ы.
.bua u,mi! BrKlt pleasure,
я
place in the Journal. is also plainly stated. The C.m* t . 1
the devotion of proi-krty
то
uou. first day of tho week;
1 i
« г
n iih lb. «In' I
г
ial“sIobary cntrrprlir. nnj secure more
A'i' fi ’'C « it h fhe lavcvsl possible list, an-1 tho money enclesol.
"J, t^msil. st enr rist, in postal orders, resistrred letters, or chteb- on
'J^lddrs*. IIo*e
луч
Fonuo* Joctsu, TUcbmond, Vo.
Our Terms.
In resaming the issue of our little monthly paper,
nave put the price dc .vn as low as the interest of
•he several Boards will justify. The other mission¬
in' organizations of the land expend large sums over
.-.ad above their subscriptions, in conducting and cir-
■nlating their periodicals. In the present state of
-he finances, wc must for the present aim to make
на-
paper, as nearly as possible, self-sustaining. At
,-,яе
future time, it may be in our power to diminish
the subscription price, by appropriations for printing
hr each Board. Wc now beg the friends of Simdav-
<chools, and of Missions, to exert themselves by so-
, ‘urine and forwarding, at an early period, as many
=ub=Fribcrs as possible.
• Ten Thousand Subscribers Wanted.
If every one who receives this number will at once
такс
an endeavor to secure names, and forward the
money, wc shall be able in our next issue to send
oat 10,000 copies. Write the names carefully, with
•heir post-offices. Address, Home and "Foreign
Journal, Richmond, Va.
To Pastors.
r T ’j° 'V l° ,c b'story of. God’s people shows tliat the
Urst duty felt by
о
renewed soul, and the great sacri-
heo to I>c permanently made in the servicc of God, is
the devotion of property. In fact, Christians gene¬
rally m our day, have scarcely any other real sacrifice
than this to make; and most in our Churches have
in no other way the privilege of showing their grati-
tl,e,r Divine Master. Young Jacob spoke
alike for all in Old Testament times, and all in New
Testament days just converted to Christ, when God
appeared to him, and he vowed: “Of all that thou
shalt give
шс,
I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.”
l U>S’ ?.ur Srcat example, devoted his all to relieve
the bodily needs, and to supply the spiritual lccessi-
ties of men; and the consecrating of our all that the
poor may be fed, and liavc the Gospel preached unto
them, is the sacrifice which Christ enjoins on all his
followers. He sent his disciples out to preach, with¬
out purse or scrip, and vet said to them; “the poor
ye have always with you, and whensoever yc wifi, ye
may do them good ;” plainly indicating how they and
the poor were alike to he supplied. At their first
successful preaching in Jerusalem, those who had
property sold landed estate that they might meet the
sudden emergency; and thus a fund
лгав
raised to
sustain the poor widows, and provide for those “who
gave themselves wholly to prayer and to the ministry
of the word.” Even Paul, — though when among
those who did not understand their duty, he gave
himself for a time to secular employ, — received regu¬
lar
“лл
from distant churches; by which means
he
лгав
able to supply his own personal needs, and to
secure a “hired house,” in which all
лтЬо
wished,
The inspired tcach-
It i= the design of this paper to bring before The might gather to hear the Gospel,
harehes a monthly compend of
лл
is done in our
ing as to this permanent duty in the Church, is so
i .• • , 0 . , , plain, that in our country, — most ad\-anced as it is in
oreign and Domestic Missions and Sunday-school devotion, to Christ’s word and
лтогк,—
a simple refer-
xork, with such kindly arguments as the Word of Cnce to the Scripture statements setting it forth, is
Hod will
лл
ЛУо
wish for it a general circu- sufficient to stir up pure minds by
лгал-
of rcmcm-
■ it ion. It will do our church members -good,
1»^
•brsneer- <S«r Aiattt-cvfcc^21 ; .Luke iv.'tS; vii. 25;
° ’ 1 John xiii. 29; Acts ii. 45; iv. 34; vi. 1-4; xi. 29;
xx. 35; xx\-iii. 30; Rom. xii. 13; 1st Cor. ix. 11-14;
x\'i. 1-3; 2d Cor. viii. 1-15; ix. 1-14; xi. 7-9. Phil.
vi. 17-1 9 ; 1st Pet. iv.
noting their spirituality, and better preparation for
•heir work on earth, as
лге!1
as their rest in heaven.
Го
yon, dear brethren,
лге
look, as the leaders in our ' ;v.
Ю-18;
1st Tim. v. 16-18;
/ion, to secure as many subscribers as possible. Let | 9, 10: 2d John w 8.)
:• b<-nr from you immediately.
Reader — Take Notice.
We send you the present number
лл
the hope
nat you Avill consent to he a subscriber. If you cou¬
nt to do so, remit, cdonce, the sum of Fifty Cents,
ddressed to Home and Foreign .Journal, Richmond,
fa But he sure to look around and seen re a list of
•'her names, to be sent,
лл
the money.
To the Ladies.
Wc look to our sisters in Christ for their efficient
■elp in bringing oar little paper into general circula¬
tion. They can do much for us.
ЛУШ
not each one
procure a list of subscribers, and forward immedi-
itely? See the terms, which can he cut out and
pasted on a sheet of paper, or they may be .copied.
Who will he helpers in this good work?
The Demand upon us.
The Board are satisfied that a persistent prosecution
■1 the work assigned them, is a demand of the Great
i’edeemer, recognized by no small number of our
hnrehes of the South. This obligation is intensified
•7 the fact, that already the seal of the Divine benc-
Irction has been given, and that tho openings and
facilities for the evangelization of the heathen liavc
wonderfully increased. The opportunities of
"’nunnnication
лл
destitute countries, apd the rca-
haess of heathen tribes to listen to our ministrations,
■dmonish us that
лл-е
should surrender a most in\-iting
hrid of labor,
ллеге лл-е
to abandon the Foreign Mis-
-i»n work.
To pause
полу лл
fill the hearts of those whom
'e
Ьал-е
sent forth with sadness. Even the heathen
'hemseh-cs
лгоиИ
reproach us, could they hear of our
lefection. No, wc must not hesitate. The horrible
''ru cities and superstitions of unconverted millions —
-lieir subjection to the
ролл-сг
of idolatry — the certainty
"< their final ruin — their helpless, hopeless condition —
'll call upon us to hear to them “the only name
■awn under .Heaven among men whereby they can
h° saved.”
The time mentioned is “the
. . , convenient, because the disci¬
ples then assembled ; appropriate, because His
1ол-е
and sacrifice
лл-сге
.then fresh in mind ; and efficient,
LV,iU3e. frequent and small offerings arc easily made,
and
ллЬеп
made, realize by their rapid accumulation,
(he largest sums. The persons to perform this dutv
arc tin? universal membership,
“сл-егу
one,” male anil
female, young and old, bond and free; for,
аз сл-егл-
humau being lias cxjienditurcs necessary for food,
raiment and shelter, education ami professional ser-
л
essential to the body's
лл
so it is alike the
necessity of
сл
soul, that expenditure he personal¬
ly made for its spiritual well-being. The plan of
storing this
ллеек1у
contribution, designated by the
лл
“lay by him in store,” leaves to the wisdom of
cadi giver the method of collecting and depositing
moneys thus gathered; commanding, lunvcvcr, the
positive dc\-otion of a portion of each one’s income.
The proportion of bounty to he thus devoted by each
one, lj left still more to the conscience and Christian
love of ••ach disciple; hut it is positively enjoined
that it shall ho honestly graduated by the self-applied
rule, according “as God hath prospered him.”
and delightful in tlieir
лл
when once entered
upon by those who love Christ, and delight in doing
Ilis
лл-огк.
In general, the younger members of the
Church, those ready and favored
лл
time, and fullest
of zeal for tlieir work, have proved most successful
collectors. A judicious selection, by the pastor and
deacons, of youth acting under tlieir supervision, and
a districting of tho Church and congregation, so that
each collector can readily, on the Sabbath, or during
the week, rail upon all on his list,
лл
reach all the
members. Papers, ruled, so ae to liavc a column for
names, objects and subscriptions per
лл-сек,
are essen¬
tial fin- the collectors.
—
.. i a
two epistles to the Corinthians — (see 1 Cor. i.
4-18; ixii. 3; xvi. 1-17; 2 Cor. 8th and 9th
THE REASON FOR IT.
The reason suggested for this plan of gathering
charitable contributions, is plainly stated by the apos¬
tle in these words; “That there he no gatherings
'vlicn I come.” Ilis added suggestions found in his
- /— ’ Cor. i. 7; ix.
chap¬
ters; xi. 7-12; xii. 13-18) — indicate that considera¬
tions of convenience of propriety, and duly to Christ,
entered into his thought. For convenience sake, that
there might he no detention mid loss of time on liis
part, he urges his command; for in his work as a
preacher, lie had such demands for labor at Ephesus,
in Macedonia and elsewhere, that he lmd sent “notice,”
and asked other brethren to “go before” him, for this
purpose, that tlieir “bounty” might “he ready.”
A Modern Martyr. — One of the Tientsin con-
T*? — the fruit of a
лл
revival — showed the
•pirit of a Stephen.
“Нолл-
did you feel in antici¬
pation of death ?” asked the missionary of him,
лл
. had been seized and
Вгеоллтл
doлvn and severely
[xiaten while offering the
лл
of God to the crowd
m the market-place. “O,” lie replied, “all fear was
lakcn away. I have a glorious hope beyond the
•Fave. I am venturing my all on Christ.”
A TLAN NECESSARY.
The lack in our Churches at the present day is not
that they do not recognize this duty, hut that they
have not realized an efficient ]>lan by which to secure
the accomplishment of tlieir Master’s requirement.
Ought not the importance of this subject to inspire us
лл
foment desire to find some method by- which the
need can he met? Should
лге
not be careful lest our
spirit of liberty in the Gospel betray us into umvorthy i
neglect or rejection of any suggestion
лл
promises
to attain the end
лте
all seek? Most of all, who
лл
not sincerely pray, that if Christ himself has taught
us a plan, by
лл
he would liavc us co-operatc for
this end,
лге
may, with submissive minds consider it,
and avI til united hearts combine our energies to put it
into execution?
THE DIVINE PLAN.
The great apostle to the Gentiles, in his extended
missionary labor, had such a plan, aviso in conception
suggested by natural considerations, and adapted in
its application, to the entire world of Christian effort
in which he labored. This plan, stated as it is in an
inspired epistle, is tlio suggestion of the Divine Master
himself; the only one which His Spirit has seen fit to
leave on record for our guidance. What disciple of
Christ yan refuse to consider it? Who of all our
membership, professing as
лл-е
do to take Christ’s
1алг
alone as our guide,
лл
decline to adopt it, because of
some difficulty
лл
our minds may oppose to His
infinite wisdom? Can anything but
лл'апЬ
of devo¬
tion to Him, of genuine
лл
to sacrifice for
His cause, prevail
лл
any of our number deliber¬
ately to reject, or thoughtlessly to neglect His posith-e
requirement in this department of Christian duty?
Opening to flic 16th chapter of Paul’s first epistle
to the Corinthians, avc read: “Now concerning the col¬
lection for the Saints, as I have given order to the
Churches of Galatia, so do ye. Upon the first day of
the xcech let every one of you lay by him in store, as
God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings
ichcn I come.” The positive obligation of Christ’s fol-
lowcrs to adopt thle-apostolic plan for systematic con¬
tributions, is first and carefully to he considered.
Here is a method, suggested by no man, or company
of men, hut by Christ’s Divine
лл
recorded in
an inspired epistle. The example of Christ-or of his
apostles is as binding os tlieir
лл
It should he
observed, that precisely the same authority Avliich en¬
joins the obserA-ance of the “first day of the
лгсск,
'here mentioned, as the Lord’s day, is given for our
adhering to this plan of Christian contributions.
Any disciple of Jesus, therefore, should hesitate to
from Corinth, past Ephesus, to Jemsclem, lie declares
that lie will ask them to send men of their
олта
to
hear their bounty, lest lie should seem to be appro¬
priating to himself an undue portion of their contri¬
butions; part of which
лл
ho needed for his per¬
sonal expenditures. Most of all, the pure motive
from
лл
all acceptable offerings to Christ’s ennsc
must spring, weighed on the apostle’s mind; that
tlieir gifts might he “as a matter of bounty, and not
as of coA-etousness;” that tlieir gifts might sccni to
spring, not from the “shame” of declining the apos¬
tle’s personal appeal, hut from the
ргсл
“purpose
of each man’s heart .
necessity,” but “of
■One Step More.
WImt though before me it is dark.
Too dark for me to see?
I ask but light for one step more:
’Tis quite enough forme.
Each little humble step I take,
The gloom clears from the next:
So, though ’ti3 vciy dark beyond,
T never am perplexed.
And if sometimes the mist hangs close,
So close I fear to stray.
Patient I wait
я
little while,
And goon it clears away.
I would not see my further path,
For mercy vails it so;
My present steps might harder be
Did I the future know.
It may be that my path is rough,
Thorny and hard and steep;
And, knowing this, my strength might fail^
Through fear and terror deep.
'-л
It may be that it winds along
A smooth and flowery wayr
Hut seeing this I might despise
The journey of to-day. r
Perhaps my path Is very short,
My journey nearly done,
And I might tremble at the thought 4-'*
Of ending it so soon. f,
Or, if I saw a weary length fi 1 1
Of road that I must wend,
Fainting, I’d think, “My feeble powers •
Will fail me ere the end? - r -
*yv.
?f*
!; t
r
And so I do not wish to see
My journey, or its length ;
Assured that through my Fathers love,
Each step will bring its strength. 4;
Thus step by step I onward go,
Not looking far before; • V“
Trusting that I shall always have
Light for just “one step' more.”
British Mctrene/tf.
The Leaders and the People.
“A-iliNT*'» ea«i5= rahiiXfj uue-wiolc ’coudhiUigftlit^ino^.
sionary spirit in the church, "That except here and
there, where
лл-сге
to be seen a fcAv zealous leaders en¬
treating and urging flic ranks to ad\-ance, no veiy dccis-
iA-c movement Avas preemptible.” The church was not
awake to its
ллогк,
but must he urged onward to
лл
little
лл-ав
attempted.
Though there lias been since that day, much
change, Avith a more general diffusion of missionary
spirit, vet it is easy to sec that the ranks still fall far
behind the urgencies of the times. For the
лл-огк
so
enlarges in importance from year to year, that the
_r _ __ _ ^ . . ^ leaders arc compelled to say, “Who is sufficient for
,’’ giving, “not grudgingly j ^ior of! tI,CS0 tilings?” And as tlieir vision Avanders over
'a ready mind;” in fine, -that gene- “much land yet to be possessed ” what wonder
rosity might be in them a Christian “grace,” like, ! tljcy- I°olc bade
оч
the bosts
лл
tbo mnks coh-
asPaul urges, to the “gra.ee ofour Lord Jesus Christ, 1 ta!u> and call them to the rescue?
who, though lie avos rich, for our sakes became poor, i 11 !a for the missionary abroad to keep us here at
tliat
лл-с,
through his
рол
might he rich.” borne informed of the field and its needs ; and it is
for those placed in positions of trust bv various Mis-
suited
то
each INDIVIDUAL Christian. sionary Boards, to sec that resources are forthcoming
Such considerations as these, duly pondered, must
at our day make
ел
1ол-ег
of Christ feel that this
plan is suited to his individual case. Surely the “first
day of the
лл-сек,”
commemorating our Lord’s resur¬
rection, is a fit time to devote our property to Christ.
It becomes thus as purely a religious
бсглйсс,
as preach¬
ing, prayer and praise. Certainly, too,
“сл-сгу
one”
_ t _ j
г
_ _ , _ gathered by
brethren, but of refusing to do liis Master’s bidding. , collections for mission and other purposes!
to meet tho demands made upon them. But avIiv,
why, avc would ask, is there need of such constant
urging forward of the ranks, that the work may he
in any
лА-ау
sustained? Is it expected that the offi¬
cers in our armies must needs he truer patriots than
the soldiers; or that ambassadors abroad are more
loyal than thousands
ллЬо
at home help to minister to
for Avliom Christ “became poor,’ that he might he tlieir support?
rich,” should make any sacrifice to add to Ilis ap- 1 Then, Avhy should not every minister of the Gos-
pointed agencies for the advancement of His cause, pci he as interested in and for the spread of this same
Yet more, that each one “lay by himself instore,” is I Gospel as those placed in front of the ranks? And
a testing of
л
self-denial, avIiosc exercise
лл
Avhy should not the masses of Christians
Ьал-с
as jruly
rcalizc Christ’s declaration, “It is more blessed to gft-e
*«
—
_ j- _
лг..
-
«
_ii «L-i. _ i-- _ _ i
than to receive.” Most of all, that avc be required
to give “according as God hath prospered each of us,”
is not only a rule, in "itself of just “equality,” but it
is also a mark of condescending confidence reposed in
us by our Master
лл
has given the command.
ITS SUCCESS.
The success
лл
has attended the adoption of this
plan commends it to our practical judgment; while
the apostle’s command makes it our duty to employ
it. Every business' man
кполл
that it is the careful
gathering of little sums, sometimes of only pennies,
that accumulates the greatest of fortunes. Alike in
the Catholic, the most formal, and in tho Methodist,
the most zealous of professed Christian denominations,
it is the care given to
лл
collections which pro¬
vides the almost cxhaustlcss means placed at their
disposal. Moreover, scores of our own most flourish¬
ing Churches' and efficient- pastors,
олл-с
to this svstem
of weekly contributions, tlieir success in building
houses of worship free from debt, and in securing
punctual and ample provision for tlieir pastor’s salary,
and never failing supplies for
сл-сгу
object of benevo¬
lence. Most of all, in our Sabbat h Scl lools, and most
flourishing mission fields, this system has been almost
a missionary spirit as those Avlio enter the mission
field as laborers? — Macedonian.
Two Drops of Oil.
А 1ол-сг
of Jesus gathered many into the Sunday-
school “from the broad highways.” After the day’s
duties
лл'сгс
done many thronged to him for advice
and relief of one kind and another.
Among them came a sin-hardened youth, not for
vesture or encouragement, but for relief from a pain¬
ful wound lie had received in a street revel, and
which, from neglect,
лтаз
giwving serious. The kind
man gently poured tAvo drops of oil on the surface of
the Avound. The jiain subsided. The
лл
лл-а.в
finally healed.
The Avild boy nc%-cr forgot the act. Ho could not
dismiss the thoughts it occasioned.^ That small act
of kindness
лл-аз
the means of leading him to Jesus,
the great Physician, and to-day that hoy stands as an
ambassador of Jesus Christ.
Arc there not comforting
лл
for you to speak".
Can you not pour oil on some wounded spirit? Or
can you not lead some soul to the halm of Gilead?
Колл-
is the time to doit! Do it. — Sunday
Times.
School
Ба^
“I prefer my own plan;” for he has to meet the universally adopted; and who 'has not been made to
Т1Ш
amount coiimomw m ri
responsibility, not of declining to co-opcratc Avith Aw wonder at the sums gathered by children m penny ; _ .
The amount contributed in 1866 to the support of
...c gospel by native Christians connected . avI itli the
missions of the American Board
лл
over §40,000 in
This plan, it is to be observed, avos made binding on
the Churches generally in Paul’s day; for the apostle
urges it on the Corinthian Christians, because as ho
says, “I have given order to the Churches in Galatia.
As Galatia was in theoentre of Asia Minor, Avliilc Cor-
VARIOUS METHODS.
Left to individual skill in devising plans for col¬
lecting. these Avcekly .contributions, various methods
Ьал-с
been successfully adopted; always simple, easy
gold, an eighth part as much as was given by all Avho
contribute through the Board to advance the cause oi
foreign missions, and by men and
лтотеп
hu
years out of the darkness of heathenism or (Iiodeg.
radation of Cil=e
лл огеЫр.
*
I
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