Southern Baptist Missionary Journal, February 1848

SOUTHERN BAPTIST MISSIONARY JOURNAL. VOL. II. FEBRUARY, 1848. NO. 9. THE GREAT BUSINESS OF LIFE: OR, “THE CHRISTIAN SERVING GOD IN HIS BUSINESS.” Wc have been deeply interested in looking over the Memoirs of Jftmand Smith and Xulhaniel Ripley Colb, аз published by the American Tract Society. They illustrate in a striking manner the fact, that a proper view of responsibility to God will prepare men to engage in their worldly pursuits with special reference to the promotion of his kingdom and glory. They exemplify also, the blessedness of serving God in nil lawful worldly avocations. These men, in early life, consecrated themselves to Jesus Christ, as their Saviour and Lord. They recognized themselves to be servants, in the strictest sense of the term. God was their master. Bought by the precious blood of his Son, they accorded to him the right to claim their entire service. It became with them a ruling principle, to make all their plans and operations subsidiary to the interests of his kingdom. In their calling they determined to serve him. Had they been called to the work of preaching the gospel, their talents would have been faithfully employed in this work. But one was a merchant, and the other a mechanic. Their talents, and the leadings of Providence, indicated these worldly pursuits as the appropriate spheres in which they were to more. An obligation to make their daily business promotivc of the cause of truth and righteousness, was recognized. The avails of their business belonged to God. They were his stewards— his servants. IIow shall wc please God ? How shall wc best extend his interests and glory in the world, by the means which he places in our hands? — These were the subjects of habitual inquiry and concern. And, as the result of these inquiries, they expended their funds in doing good. In a world full of sin and miser)-, they found ample scope for the exercise of their benevolence. Nor were they without testimony that they pleased God. They were eminently happy men. Our readers will doubtless share with us in the pleasure enjoyed by us as wc have contemplated these instances of “ the Christian serving God in his business,” when wc introduce to their notice a few extracts from these brief memoirs. Referring to Mr. Smith’s devotion of his talents to God, the biography states: — lie commenced business with a capital advanced by his father, which his success soon enabled him to repay. He did not expect to do much more than support his family ; but at the close of the first year he found that the Lord had prospored him far beyond his expectations. This, instead of elating, had the effect to humble him. He thought that God was trying him by prosperity. At the close of the second year lie found that lie had been still more prospered, and the effect on his mind was similar. The. same was also the case at the end of the third year. This was a good s,2n: it showed that lie had a lender conscience. He thought of God in 2G