without going ourselves, is little better than
dreaming.

To induce young men, to any great extent, to become missionaries, when
their fathers and elder brethren do not, is hopeless. Precept must
become more powerful than example, before such a result can take place.
How can you so blindfold the young, stop their ears, and wall them off
from surrounding influences, as to expect such a result? If their eyes
are left open, what do they see? They see their fathers and elder
brethren settled at home, and some of them in quiet, comfort and honor.
If their ears are left open, what do they hear? They hear various
excuses for remaining at home, and among others, the specious idea of
training up children to be missionaries. And what will they do? They
will dream of training your grandchildren for missions, and your
grandchildren dream of training the next generation, and so on, as the
sixty generations past have done, from the time of the Saviour down. But
the fire of God's Spirit shall burn up this chaff. The world shall not
be cheated out of its millenium. The judgment trumpet shall not sound
before the arrival of the latter day glory.

To become a missionary, in the present state of things, is sailing
against wind and tide; so that those who find their way to the heathen,
compared with the number who ought to go, are very few indeed. To urge a
large number into the field is hopeless. Bonaparte might as well have
urged his soldiers over the Alps without leading them. We cannot expect
the nature of things to change, and precept to become more powerful than
example. A portion of the more talented of the settled ministry must
lead the way. Then there shall be found a resuscitating principle; our
eyes shall beam with joy, and we shall fondly cherish a rational hope of
the world's renovation.

Again, many pastors should become missionaries, for all things await
their personal enlistment in the service. God, in his providence, is
causing a state of preparation in the world which calls for some mighty
movement on the part of the church. A door is opened into almost every
nation on the earth, and ships are ready to carry us to almost every
port. Now is the time for a great effort. All the elements are ready for
action, and need only to be brought to bear on the glorious cause of the
world's conversion. To effect this, there must be a high stand of
prayerful enterprise on the part of the present generation of ministers.
The Lord ha