- Title
- The Commission, January 1850
-
-
- Date
- January 1850
-
-
- Volume
- 2
-
-
- Issue
- 1
-
-
- Editor
- ["Reynolds, J. L. (James Lawrence), 1814-1877","Taylor, James B. (James Barnett), 1804-1871","Kingsford, Edward, 1788-1859"]
-
- Creator
- ["Southern Baptist Convention. Foreign Mission Board"]
-
The Commission, January 1850
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t
VOLUME 2, NUMBER
“Go yc into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'' RICHMOND, JANUARY 15, 1850.
Southern Baptist (Gouocution.
Correspondence of the Foreign Board.
Communications relating to the general buai-
ncss of the Foieign Mission Board, may be ad¬
dressed, jiost paid, to
• James B. Taylor, Cor. Sec.
Richmond, I'a.
Communications enclosing donations, or relat¬
ing to tlio financial department, niay bo address¬
ed to Archibald Thomas, Trias.
Richmond, Va.
From tie (London) Jn-icnllo MUnlonnry Vaguina.
Hymn.
Hark! a distant voice is calling,'
Mournfully it meets the car;
Louder still those accents falling,
Fill each heart with thoughtful foar ;
Let us listen;
Now the cry of grief is near.
'Tis the groan of spirits dying,
Lost in sin’s dalle night they stray;
’Tis the call of thousands crying,
“ Ye who know the living way,
Como and guide us
To the land of perfect day."
Wo tom< Id help them, 0 out Father!
Thou hast freely bid us give.
Wilt Thou not these wanderers gather?
Shall not dying sinners live?
Hear our pleading,
And our past neglect forgivo.
We would send to every nation,
News of life and light divine;
And to spread thy great salvation,
Freely all our powers resign.
i.; Take the first fruits,- -
Then
очг
lives shall all bo thine.
E. It.
Appeal to Southern Ministers.
To ono who looks over tho globo sod surveys the guilt
and wretchedness of millions who know not God, nor Jesus
Christ whom lie tins sent, tho thought is painfully altcctlng,
that so few nro willing to go forth and publish to them the
gospel’s joyful sound. Nearly FOUR THOUSAND preach¬
ers, ordained and licensed, arc counecM with tho Baptist
ehurchca of t ho South, and yet of all these, not
того
than
FIFTEEN hive been ready to go where Christ Is not named
in pagan lands. Is not tho principle by which too many
are actuated, opposed to tho very genius of the goerelt
They are willing to preach, but only at home, where they
may live In comfort. The dangers and sacrifices of the for¬
eign field, they cannot meet. To forsake all they hate, '
too hard a requisition, and they cannot submit to IL And
this, too, whllo God Is calling upon them by his providence to
preach tho gospel "to the poor,” outcast heathen, where
doors, “wldo and oltcetnnl,” are opened’ on every hand. We
hope, however, to seo n change In, title particular. Our
brethren of tho ministry, In tho South, ere hereby earnestly-
besought to take Into consideration the following appeal
from the pen of brother Shuck, In reference to tl.e subject.
It Is worthy of serious and prayerful thought, lie says;.
“ When you entered tho ministry, you based
your authority for proclaiming tho unsearchable
riches of Chiist lo your fol!mv-men, upon what
is usually termed tho ‘Great commission,’ viz:
‘ Go yo into all tho world and preach the gospel
to every croaturo,’ &c. This is tho same au¬
thority upon which tho apostles acted, when they
went forth heralding tho coming of the kingdom
of God; the same which constitutes Christ’s
true ministers in every ago and in all lands;
and tho
зато
which sends to tho most distant
niiliojis of our earth every missionary of the
ci'oss. No man can be seripturally honest, and
bo forcb a construction of Iho-words of the great
commission, as to make it a peculiarity of ap¬
plication td missionaries who go abroad
того
than to pastors and ministers at home. And by
what daring exigesis, 1 ask, can the last com
mand of tho Son of God bo so interpieted as to
make it consistent for about three thousand Bap¬
tist ministers to cluster together in the Southern
and South-western Slates of tho American con
fedcracy, among a population of scarce ten mil
lions of people, and only eight individuals of
theit number go lo tho threo hundred millions of.
the immortal souls of China? No wonder the
heathen sometimes puzzle us by saying that they
do not believe our religion is as important as vve
declare it to be, for if it were, there would bn a
very much greater number who would coma to
teach tho vast multitudes who know noihing of
it. Must we tell them, to tho shame of nut re¬
ligion, that many of Christ’s ministers supposo
the term ‘ every creature ’ has reference only to
a fractional part of tho population of our earth ;
that the phrase ' all tho world ’ signifies a few
favored regions of a most favored country already
christianized ; and that tho word 1 go,’ means to
stay at homo?
“ But some of you will say, ‘T am well set¬
tled as a pastor, and bclive I am useful where I
am.’ In reply, let mo say, that no man should
become a missionary wlm cannot sustain himself
at home, and useful men are just tho men we
want in China. The experience, too, which
you havo gained in tho pastoral office, will prove
of the highest service to you as a missionary to
the heathen. This has been verified in the case
of quite a number of Baptist pastors who have
become missionaries, such as Ingalls, Binney,
Arnold ami Bullard, and some also in China.
Others will say, 1 1 am not qualified for the work
of foreign missions.' There is such a variety of
absolute missionary work to bo done among the
heathen, that men of almost every grade of
talent and qualification can find ample employ¬
ment, provided their hearts he really constrained
by the love of Chiist to care for souls, and they
cherish a genuine spirit of fraternal co-operation.
Only let there be a whole-hearted oiler on your
part willingly to give yourself to the cause of
God among the heathen, and then if the way be
not open, your responsibility of personal conse¬
cration lo the work
Гое
tho time being ceases.
Men unfit for tho work arc, of course, not need¬
ed; but have you ever tested your fitness aud
qualification by submitting your case to the dis¬
interested and candid advice of pious and well
informed brethren 1 Still, you may say, 1 1 lack
piety sufficient for such a great undertaking.’
Then, my brethren, you lack piety sufficient to
enable you properly to discharge the duties of
tho pastoial office at home, yea, to act under the
high authority of the great commission at all.
Not piety enough to obey the commands of Godl
Why, tho greatest of all aris of piety is obedience
itself. Will disobedience to the last command of
our Lord and Master bo calculated to increase
your piety? And arc you willing to rest satis¬
fied with your present attainments in piety?
The command of tho Saviour siares you in the
face; you know tho heathen are sinking into
the grave and into hell ; some of tlieso deathless
spirits you might, by God's blessing, bn tho in¬
strumentality of saving, but they are lost, lost !
When their blood shall bo required at your
hands, will the excuse do, 1 J had not piety
enough to do what I ought to havo done toward
pointing them to tho Lamb of God whom I knew
could save them? ’ Let conscience speak. 0.
for more of the Spirit of Christ !
“But others will say, * I do not feel it my duty
to go.’ Why is it not as much your duty to
preach Christ to tho most destitute, as any of
your brethren ! Christ has assigned
аз
tho field
of his servant's operations, 1 tho world,' and tho
commission under which you act is world-widedn
its application. To that portion, therefore, of
this vast field where the greatest destitution ex¬
ists, the Master expects his people to send men
and means. Idolatry is that feaiful crime whicli
dishonors God, and curses man tempoially and
eternally. But you ‘ don’t feel it you; doty ’ to
labor to turn men from dumb idols to the worship
of the true and living God. Then do you 1 feel
it your duty ” to let tho heathen perish as far as
your individual consecration to tho work is con.
corned! Brethren, have you ever prayerfully,
scarchingly, and conscientiously tested your
‘duty’ in this mattei, in candid view cf the
claims of tho heathen and your own professed
love to souls? May God enable us all to know
and to do our 1 duty.’
,j.‘‘ But I hear it said, ‘ All cannot become mis¬
sionaries to the heathen.’ To this 1. readily as¬
sent. Many legitimato reasons may make it
your duty to remain at home. But you will
agree, that if all are not to go, a large number
must go, if ever the heathen ire to be given to
Christ foi his inheritance.. Of this large number
who really ought to go to the heathen, how few
of them are there who actually do go! The
special service upon which Christ’s ministers are
now urgently needed, is to preach the everlasting
gospel to thoso millions of dying pagans who,
blinded by gross superstition, and besotted by
idolatry, are literally perishing for lack of that
very, knowledge which Christ’s ministers alone
can supply. Now let tho delusive question
about
‘ей’
becoming missionaries, be thrown to
th? winds, and in the honesty of a Christian
conscience, let tho question
сото
home to each
heart, ‘ ought I to go? ’ And the question, too,
‘ ought I to go? ’ must come, home to the hearts
ot those who are not pastors, to evangelists,
students, physicians, school teachers, and to sis¬
ters in our churches. Tho venerable missiona¬
ry; Swan, declares:—1 1 am clearly of opinion,
that many individuals, ministers, students and
private members uf the churches, of various
ranks, who are at home, ought to forsake all and
follow Christ as preachers of the gospel to the
poor dying heathen ! This is an awfully serious
subject ! It involves nothing less, so far as hu¬
man agents are concerned,- than the question
whether these millions upon millions of idolaters
shalUive.and die without Chiist and- without
lio-3* iri>lhe -world, 'or 'whelhcr'thersbairhear
tho gospel, believe and be saved ! 0, what a
tremendous responsibility rests upon those who
have tho bread'of life ! ’
“ Brethren of the Southern Baptist churches,
will you not give this matter fresh consideration!
lie-examine your commission, re-survey the
vastness of the field, and in view of tho fearful
responsibilities with which you are charged, act,
— act like men, like men of God! Were some
more of our pastors and ministers in the South
to sever their present ties in the name of Christ,
and come far hence to the gentiles, it would give
a new impulse to the cause cf the world’s con¬
version, mark a new era in the history of our
churches, constitute tangible channels for most
blessed reflex influences between the causo at
home and tho causo abroad.”
Origin of the Foreign Missionary
Enterprise in America.
It . may interest some of oui readers to learn
the commencement of those efforts in the United
States by which the gospel has been transmitted
tn so many portions of the heathen world. A
few young men, at different institutions of learn
ing, seem to have been simultaneously impressed
with the conviction that American churches
should combiuo their energies in this great work.
Tiiey prayed and wept over the-subject until the
purpose was formed; that with the Divine direct¬
ion and blessing they would not inlermit their
cndeavois until some definite arrangement was
adopted for sending out and sustaining suitable
men as missionaries among the heathen. Those
who were thus prominent in tho enteipfiso, were
Adoniram Judson, Samuel Mills, Gordon Hall,
Lulher Rice, Samuel Noll, Jr., Samuel Newel,
and James Richards. From the self-denying
and peiseveiing exertions of these young men,
sprang the American Board of Commissioners
and the Baptist General Convention. An extract
from Smith and Choulcs’ History of Missions,
and another from Mrs. Ann Judson’s Life, will
furnish interesting fuels which may perhaps bo
new to many who read the Commission.
Samuel 'J. Mills; ' .' ' " " _
In April, 1783,; Samuel Jojjn.MiJJs; yyasfbpfn
in Torringford, Litchfield, county, . Connecticut/.
His mother was a woman of intelligence RjidM'
pre-eminent piety. The. attention, ofjljli^aq
often directed to tho subject of missions,
mother. She freqyently;spoke of Biaincfdf.and
Eliot, and other missionaries; and,
аз
ehe
:еп;
larged upon the blessed, cause jq .which. .they
were engaged, lie once heard her. say respecting
himself, "1 have consecrated this child to, the
service of God as a misstbnary,” This
гещзгк
was never forgotten. From the first hour pf his
conversion to Christ, his heart was in'tne-mis-
3ionary enterprise. Soon after that event, he
remarked to his father, "ihat ho could not con¬
ceive of any course of life in which to pass' the
rest of his days, that would prove so pleasant, as
go and communicate the gospel salvation to tho
poor heathen.” For this purpose, he deter-’
mined, with the consent of his parents, to obtain
a public education. In the spring of TSOfi, he
became a member of Williams College, Massa¬
chusetts.' He was there Instrumental of the
conversion of sevetal individuals, who have be¬
come missionaries in the East, and among the
American Indian's. In Ids diary helms the .fol¬
lowing' remark : — ' ‘ I think 1 can. trust myself in
the hands of God, and all that is dear to me;
but 1 long to have'the time arrive, when the gos¬
pel shall bo preached to the poor Africans, and
likewise to all nations." It was, without doubt,
a special visitation of The Spirit of God, which,
in a manner so remarkable, turned almost his
whole attention to plans for the diffusion of
Christianity. Ho gave to the. subject’ a. 'protract¬
ed and most serious consideration,, beforeThe
-
-
-
■- a-- .wrt-.-Awr*-—
»>"•. »
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communicated his views and feelings to any in¬
dividual. At length, in company with two of
three of his more intimate fellow-students, lie
retired, on a certain day, into a meadow, at some
distance from the college, to a place probably
familiar to himself, though little exposed to ob¬
servation and intrusion. There, by the side of a
large stack of hay, they devoted' the day" tn
prayer and fasting, and familiar conversation on
this new and inspiring theme. Much to the sur¬
prise and gratification of Mills, he found that the
Spirit of God had been enkindling in the bosoms
of his companions the same desires which had
been so hang burning in his own, Th.e individ¬
uals to whom he first communicated his feelings’
were Gordon Hall and James Richards, both
afierwards missionaries to tiie East. To the
consecrated spot on the banks of tho river Hon-
sac, they often repaired on Saturday afternoons,
to dedicate themselves to the service of Chrisl
among tliq healben, and to pray for a revival of
the missionary spirit among the churches of
America. These events took place in the sum¬
mer or autumn of
1Ё07.
In September, 1803, a
society was formed by Mills, Hall, Richards,
and two or three others, in the north-west room
of the lower story of the east college building.
The objects and character of the association are
thus stated in the original document:— “The
object of this society shall ho to effect, in the
persons of its members, a fnission'or missions to
tho heathen."
“No person shall be admitted who is under
any engagement uf any kind, which shall be in-
eompaiible witli going on a mission' to the hea¬
then.’’
“Each member shall keep absolutely free
from every engagement, which, after his prayer¬
ful attention, and afier consultation with the
brethren, shall bo deemed incompatible with' the
object of this society ; and shall hold himself in
readiness to go on a mission when and where
duty may call.”
The great object of Mills and his associates’
was now to devise measures to carry’ their piling
into oxeculioh. They introduced tho subject to,
the attention of clergymen and Christians, -;dis-»
cussing the greatness of tho ond to be aciom- -
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