saving the heathen.

Once, I remember, after urging laymen to go forth, and to assist in
evangelizing the heathen, a father in the church said to me, "Your
reasons are just and weighty, but it is of no use to present them before
the churches: they have not _piety_ enough to act upon them. If you can
clearly show that men can accumulate wealth, that they can really make
fortunes by going to heathen lands, then your appeals will succeed.
Bring this selfish principle to operate, and colonies will quickly
scatter over the world. But to go forth with a spirit of self-denial,
running the risk of trials and straitened circumstances, and with merely
the prospect at best of obtaining a comfortable livelihood and doing
good, is a measure not adapted to the present standard of piety in the
churches. Until the spirit of devotedness shall rise many degrees in the
churches, the course you urge will be looked upon as entirely
visionary."

Alas! can the church be so low in grace? If it be a fact, it is painful
and humiliating. If it be true, then the church is lacking in the most
essential qualification required of it--is unfitted for the main design
of its organization; and is there not reason to fear that God may cast
it away, as he has the Roman church, and raise up another after his own
heart, that shall do all his pleasure? Christian reader, can you calmly
entertain the thought of being set aside by the Lord as unworthy of his
employment--of being rejected on the ground of not fulfilling the
purpose for which you were called?

CHAPTER VI.

CLAIM OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE.

In early days, ministers of the greatest influence were called to the
work of missions. To prove this assertion, let us read the first verse
of the 13th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. "Now there were in the
church that was at Antioch, certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas,
and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen,
which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they
ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them." Paul had
been at Antioch a whole year, and Barnabas a still longer time. Their
labors there had been blessed. The word had been attended with the
demonstration of the Spirit and with power, and many people had turned
to the Lord, so that a large church had been gathered in that great and
opul