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SOUTHERN BAPTIST
MISSIONARY JOURNAL.
VOL. I. JULY, 1846. NO. 2.
TO THE RISING MINISTRY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES
IN THE SOUTH.
By the rising ministry, we mean both those who are on the eve of enter¬
ing the ministry, and those who have already entered it, without being so
far advanced ris to render their embarcation on the foreign missionary ser¬
vice undesirable. It is quite likely that this appeal will apply to some
who may be regarded as comfortably and usefully settled in the home field.
Youthful servants of Christ, will you listen to our appeal?
ЛУШ
you
give a candid and conscientious consideration to what we have to offer, and
on your knees seek of the Giver of wisdom a solution of this question: is
il not my duly to dcvole myself ■personally lo the work of preaching Christ
lo those who have not heard his name 1 And should you not be brought
to the conclusion that you must make an actual proffer of yourselves for
this service, will you not further' weigh well whether, should you be soli¬
cited by the Board to become amissionary, you could rightfully decline?
We do not ask you to determine unconditionally that you will go ; but we
do ask that you will hold yourselves ready to do your duty in this matter,
and seek divine grace to enable you to do this.
“Go — teach all nations." Young brethren, is it not to you pre-eminent¬
ly, that Jesus is addressing this command? True, the mandate is, in some
sense, binding on the whole church ; and with many it must appropriately
be interpreted, send! “How shall they preach except they be sent?”
There is lobe sending , — would that this truth were more deeply impressed
on the great mass of our churches 1 — but there must be going also. “ Kow
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall
they hear without a preacher?" And are we not bound so to interpret the
commission of our great Head, that its direct application shall stand forth
the most prominent? Are we not to understand it literally, except where
proof the most conclusive exists, that a strict, literal application of it can¬
not be made?
ЛУЬсп,
therefore, the Master says, “go!” with what pro¬
priety is slaying at home to be taken for granted as the rule, and going
to be made the exception? At least, how can his ministers justifiably con¬
clude that it is their duty to remain at home, before they have, with due
deliberation, decided that it is not their duty to go abroad?
