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THE COMMISSION.
YoL S.
AUGUST, 1858.
No. 2.
TO YOUNG MINISTERS.OF
THE BAPTIST DENOMI¬
NATION SOUTH.
Dear Brethren: — It was with much
pleasure that I read, in the March num¬
ber of the Commission, that as many as
eight associations were willing to under¬
take the support of missionaries in
foreign fields.
The fact that God, through his peo¬
ple, is furnishing the means, should be
regarded as a call from Ilim, for laborers
in his vineyard. Should it not lead you
to ask yourselves, if ho does not call
some among your number to “ preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ?”
It was with much pleasure also that
I read, in tho same number, the warm
appeals of brethren Clarke and Graves to
youthful ministers to devote themselves
to the service of God in heathen lands.
I could not help having my heart
drawn out in nfFection for them (though
I do not personally know them) and
blessing God for raising up those who
seemed so deeply devoted to tho cause
of their Master. May God grant that
their appeals may not be in vain,. and
that they (with all engaged in the same
“work of faith and labor of love,”) may
continually receive the consolations of
his grace.
And now, dear brethren, I would
unite my voice with theirs. I would
second their appeal, and ask you to con¬
sider the subject which they have
brought before you.
• ' *
Though in the providence of God, I
have returned to my native. land, yet I
can bear my testimony to the truth of
assertions from these - brethren, now
separated far from the associates of
their early days.
In a heathen land there will bo no
lack of opportunity of laboring for tho
Lord. Your work is continually before
you. You need not ask the question on
tho morning of each day — “ what can
I, this day, do for my Redeemer?”
There, you are surrounded by many,
who have never heard of the Saviour in
whom you trust, and there you labor
where labor is most needed..
It will be your work to show, to tho
idolater, in all his blindness, the path
that leads to purest bliss, to unfading
hopes and to endless joys. It will be
your work to point him to the Saviour’s
cross, to bid him fly to that cross for
refuge, from the curses of a violated
law, to bid him rest in faith, upon that
cross, amidst the changing scenes of
earth, that thus it might be his support
in the hour of death, and his salvation
in the world to come.
Among my happiest days, I number
many that were spent on heathen
ground, and if I am asked, “ what part
of my life spent in tho ministry has
brought with it the greatest enjoyment
to myself?” I unhesitatingly answer,
“ that part which was spent in proclaim¬
ing the Gospel among the Chinese."
Is there any one who reads this com¬
munication that has wished to becomo
