a foreign language.
There is force in this remark; but let us be cautious, that we do not
trust too much to it. A great amount of labor may be performed on
heathen ground without a knowledge of the language. Much can be done in
the English language, and much, too, can be done through interpreters.
All that David Brainerd accomplished was in this way.

But how certain is it, that persons somewhat advanced cannot acquire a
foreign language? This plea is not peculiar to those who have been some
time in the ministry. No excuse is more frequently offered, and with
more appearance of honesty, even in the college and the theological
seminary. It is difficult to place the mark of age where this excuse may
be properly offered, and where it may not. Shall we place it at
thirty-five? Some missionaries now in the field entered on the work at
that age, and acquired the language without much difficulty. It may be
remarked, too, that men of traffic abroad, from youth to gray hairs,
usually learn so much of a foreign language as to answer their purpose.
Let us beware, then, _how much_ we depend on the excuse of age; and be
cautious, too, _how far up_ the scale of years we place the mark.

Another excuse which has some weight is this: "I must remain at home _to
take care of my aged parents_." So said one to Christ: "Lord, I will
follow thee, but suffer me first to go and bury my father." Jesus
answered, "Let the dead bury their dead, but go thou and preach the
Gospel." I leave to the reader to determine the precise meaning and
force of this reply of our Saviour. This much it certainly means, that
some _may_ excuse themselves from preaching to take care of their
parents, when the excuse is not valid. I will not say, that the excuse
is not sufficient in some cases; but I am inclined to think that such
cases are rare. A parent must be _very_ dependent upon a son, to be
liable to such inconvenience and suffering from his absence, as can
reasonably weigh in the balance against the claims of the hundreds of
millions of dying heathen.

But the excuse which seems to be the most valid, is this: "My going to
the heathen is out of the question, for _I have a family of children_."
This is indeed a tender point. God has given me some experience on this
subject, and I know how to appreciate the excuse. But the Saviour says,
"He that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." This
declaration means nothing, unless it requires us to m