The foreign missionary; his field and his work

Preface

This book embodies the results of about eighteen years of personal experience and observation in the foreign mission field, as well as of much missionary reading and thinking. The works to which the author has been most indebted are, "The Great Commission, or the Christian Church Constituted and Charged to convey the Gospel to the World," by Rev. John Harris, D. D., and " Foreign " Missions, their Relations and Claims," by Eev. Rufus Anderson, D. D.

The present stage of missionary progress, and the culture of the age, evidently require a more complete and scientific treatment of the missionary scheme, than that to be found in memoirs, or in sketches of particular fields? or in isolated addresses, sermons or appeals. The novelty and romance of missions have passed away. Hence, what is now demanded

VI PREFACE.

by intelligent Christian readers of missionary productions, is not merely amusing or thrilling narratives, nor pathetic appeals, nor grandiloquent generalizations and speculations respecting the " glorious missionary enterprise," but reliable facts and fundamental principles. In the present work, the aim has been to present the main facts and principles of missions, in a plain but systematic and thorough manner, and at the same time the endeavor has been to give the whole as practical a bearing as possible. Appeal has been made not so much to the sympathies and emotions, as to Christian principle and the spirit of obedience to Christ. The missionary enterprise, having passed through its difficult period of incipiency, its " heroic age," and nearly through its "played out" or "old story" period, seems now to be entering upon its fourth and most healthy and efficient stage of progress, in which missions shall be prosecuted, not from novelty or sympathy or spasmodic impulse, but from an abiding sense of obligation founded on the love of Christ and the will of God.

PREFACE. Vll

Some peculiarities in the style and mode of treatment of the subject of this work, are accounted for by the fact that the substance of it was originally delivered in the form of lectures before the students of several theological seminaries.

It is the hope and prayer of the author, that this humble attempt to throw light upon some points and solve some problems connected with the work of missions, as well as add something to our missionary literature adapted to the age and to the present stage of missionary progress, may serve to deepen the missionary spirit, and stimulate zeal and activity in the great work of evangelizing the world, among both pastors and churches.

M. J. K.

Philadelphia, June 10th, 1872*

Chapter I. The Fundamental Place That Missions Hold In The Christian

ECONOMY.

Introductory — Christianity and Missions identical in their Origin, and in their Object — Christ, the Model Missionary — All Preachers of the Gospel, Missionaries— Every Disciple of Christ, also a Missionary— A Christian Church, a Missionary Organization — Early Historical Development of Missions — Importance of Right Views on Missions 11-26

Chapter II. Duty Of Pastors Respecting Missions

It Devolves upon Pastors to promote Interest in Missions — They should possess a Missionary Spirit, and hold correct Views respecting Benevolence and Missions — Lack of Interest among Pastors, the chief Cause of Apathy in Churches — Pastors should teach the Unconverted their duty to become Christians that they may Work for God — Tlie Church should be taught her Mission, and the Law of Beneficence — It is the office of the Pastor to keep the Church Informed on Missions, by means of Missionary Reading, Missionary Sermons, and the Monthly Concert— He ought to seek out Men for the Ministry, and for the Missionary Work— Parents should be taught their Duty respecting Missions — All the Members of the Church should be kept at Work for Christ 27-52

Chapter III. The Kind Of Men Required For The Foreign Missionary Work

The Foreign Missionary should possess a healthy, Christ-like Piety, and be thoroughly imbued with the Missionary Spirit — He should be an able, efficient Man — Responsibility of College and Theological Professors — The Missionary requires sound Common Sens*, Practical and Varied Knowledge, and Administrative Ability— He Ins ample Scope for Learningand Eloquence — HisLabois do not tend to mental Imbecility — He Requires good Health — He should be Married— He must be a Worker, and Possess Courage 53-77

ix

X CONTENTS.

Chapter IV

MOTIVES TO ENGAGE IN THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY WORK. Unworthy Motives — The Love of Christ, the Foundation of all True Motives — The Great Commission — The Duty and Privilege of Carrying the Gospel into the Regions Beyond — The Reflex Benefits of Missions—The Heathen lost Without the Gospel— Many Open Boors — The Laborers Few— The Foreign Field affords the widest Scope for Usefulness—Disparity of Labors in the Foreign as Compared with the Home Field — Facilities for Traveling— Concluding Inquiries 78-111

Chapter V. The Nature Of The Foreign Missionary Work

Mistakes Corrected— Learning the Language— Preaching the Gospel the Grand Means to be Employed in Evangelizing the Nations— The Establishment of Permanent Stations— Native Preachers— The Formation of Churches — Native Pastors— Mission Schools— The Press— The Power must come from God 112-135

Chapter VI

THE TRIALS AND COMFORTS OF A FOREIGN MISSIONARY LIFE. (1.) Trials of Missionaries — Separation from Friends, Native Land, and Christian Privileges — Sending Home Children — Troubles with Associates — Physical Discomforts — Disagreeable Characteristics of the Natives— Obstacles to the Progress of the Work, Trying— Trials with Converts — The Meanness of the Work— Exposure to Perils— (2.) Comforts of Missionaries— For Jesus' Sake — Physical Comforts Increasing, and " Already Numerous — Luxury of Doing Good, of Performing a God- Appointed Work — Many encouraging Facilities — Comfort from Converts — A Great and Noble Work 136-160

Chapter VII. Signs Of The Speedy Diffusion Of The Gospel Throughout The World

The Universal Diffusion of the Gospel Certain — Rise and Development of Modern Missions — The Opening of the Nations — Important Position of Protestant Nations — Facilities for Disseminating the Gospel — The Spirit of the Age — The Exploration of the Fields — Missionary Occupation of the Nations — Direct Results throughout the Unevangelized Portions of the World, in Conversions, in Establishing Mission Stations and Churches, in Rai-ing up a Native Ministry, and in Rendering Heathen Nations Christian — Physical, Mental and Moral B nefits Imparted—Success Attained, a Precursor of Victory — Human Agency Necessary — Closing Appeal, 161-196

THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY.

HIS FIELD AND HIS WORK.

Chapter I. The Fundamental Place That Missions Hold In The Christian Economy

MODERN Christian missions have been in operation about eighty years. During this period, the nations, in the providence of God, have been opened to the gospel, the missionary spirit has been greatly developed in the churches, and much progress has been made in the missionary work in heathen lands. Still, missions evidently have not yet assumed that prominence in the minds of Christians generally, that they should occupy. Many churches contribute nothing for missions, and most that is done for this cause appears to be performed in an incidental or formal manner, rather than from an all-controlling principle. Few appear committed to the work of giving the gospel to the world as 1 an enterprise to be accomplished at whatever expenditure of money, time, toil, and at whatever sacrifice may be necessary in its execution.

In the present work, I propose, in the first place, to treat of the fundamental character of missions, to show that the missionary spirit is necessary to a symmetrical Christian character, and that to be engaged in missionary labor is the normal condition of every Christian and of every church. Subsequently, I purpose to notice some of the duties of pastors respecting missions ; also to indicate the kind of men needed for foreign missionaries; to point out the chief motives to engage personally in the foreign missionary work ; to delineate the principal features and characteristics, the trials and the comforts of that work; and call attention to the signs of the speedy diffusion of the gospel throughout the world.

In this chapter, I shall endeavor to show that missions hold a fundamental place in the Christian economy, from the fact that Christianity and missions are identical in their origin and in their object; that Christ himself was a missionary ; that the preachers of his Gospel are missionary in their character; that every Christian also is essentially a missionary ; and that the church was established for missionary purposes.

1. When and where did Christian missions originate ? They did not originate with the formation of the numerous modern missionary societies ; nor with any of the great names of modern missions, as Carey,

Morrison, Judson and others ; nor with the Romish missions of the middle ages ; nor with the Nestorian missions in Asia in the fifth and sixth centuries; nor w 7 ith the early Christian fathers; nor did they originate with Paul, "the apostle to the Gentiles;" nor with Peter and the other apostles; nor even with the coming of Christ himself into the world on his great mission ; nor yet with any of the ancient prophets or patriarchs.

Christian missions did not have their origin on this earth, nor in time. If we would trace their source, we must go back to the origin of Christianity itself; we must look up to the great loving heart of God. " God is love." His very nature is love, constituting the fountain whence flows the river of God's beneficence, deep, broad, perennial, — pouring abroad a flood of blessedness to gladden the universe. In this same fountain of love we find the origin of Christianity and of Christian missions.

Far back in the counsels of the triune God, long before it was said, " Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," before "the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" over the newly created world, before it was said, "Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil," — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit foreseeing man's fall, had compassion upon him in his prospectively ruined state, and took counsel to determine a plan for his recovery. The inquiry arose, "Whom shall we send, and who will go for us?" Then the Son responded, "Lo, I come, to do thy will, O God." And the Father "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." He "so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Here, then, before the foundation of the world, in the love and counsel of the triune God, we find the origin of Christ's mission to save the lost ; and here too we find the source, and inspiration of all those movements in the world which have for their object the renovation and salvation of men.

That counsel of the three Persons of the Trinity may be styled the first missionary meeting, and Christianity itself was to all intents and purposes a mission — the first original Christian mission. Thus, Christianity and Christian missions are identical in their origin.

2. It is also evident that they are identical in their object. Christianity, as we have seen, is itself a mission. Its field is the world, which as a whole, but for the scheme of redemption, would have been in a far more hopeless and wretched condition than that of any heathen nation, now that a dispensation of grace has been provided. The object of Christianity was to impart light to those shrouded in moral darkness, to quicken to life a race " dead in trespasses and in sins," to bring back a revolted world to repentance and to God, to regenerate and purify corrupt sinful men, in a word, to seek and save a lost world. Such was the object for which Christianity was originally instituted. Christian missions have in view the same object — are simply carrying out the same great scheme. Any mission that has a lower or any different object in view than the salvation of men in the comprehensive sense above stated, is not worthy of the name of Christian.

3. The fundamental character of missions appears also from the fact that Christ himself was a missionary in the most perfect sense. Missionary, from missio, means one sent. Christ was emphatically the Sent. He was " The Messenger of the covenant." " He that receiveth me," says Christ, "receiveth him that sent me." " My meat is to do the will of him that sent me." " My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." "I must work the works of him that sent me." "Now I go my way to him that sent me." Thus was the Son of God the Father's Sent One — God's great Missionary to our sin-ruined world. And when the Father sent him into the world he set his seal upon his divine Sonship, gave clear proof of his sympathy with his mission and assurance of its ultimate triumph. "When he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee." "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever ; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

Jesus was the model missionary. He was so in his perfect and cheerful obedience to the will of the Father who sent him. "When he cometh into the world he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst

1* not, but a body hast thou prepared me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come, (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." It was his "meat" to-do the will, to speak the words and perform the works of his Father. And when the crowning test of his obedience came, in the agony of Gethsemane, his prayer still was, "Not my will, but thine, be done." Thus he came into the world, and faithfully fulfilled his whole mission, all in obedience to the will of Him who sent him, setting a perfect example of conformity to God's will, whatever it may require, for all his disciples to imitate.

He was the model missionary, also, in his self-sacrificing spirit. His entire mission was one of self-sacrifice for the good of others. "He pleased not himself." " Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor," so poor that " he had not where to lay his head," " that we through his poverty might be rich." He left the bosom of his Father, laid aside his glory, and voluntarily became subject to poverty, to disgrace, to toil, to suffering, and to death, even the ignominious and painful death on the cross. His self-sacrifice was complete; he laid all upon the altar; a standing and most impressive example to his disciples, but alas, how seldom followed !

He was the model missionary also, in his condescension. He condescended to come down from the throne of the universe, to take upon him human nature, yea, the " form of a servant," to dwell among ungrateful and sinful men. He humbled himself to the lowest depths of man's fallen, wretched condition, that he might raise him up.

Moreover, he was the model missionary in his mode of preaching. He adapted himself to the condition and comprehension of his hearers. He " preached the gospel to the poor," and to the worst of sinners, and mingled with all classes that he might win them to repentance. His preaching was specially characterized by the kindness, yet pointedness and authority of his words ; by his condescension, zeal and faithfulness; by the persistent singleness of his aim, which rejected all irrelevant themes and ever held his hearers to the great subject of their personal salvation and their duty to serve and glorify God ; and by exemplifying and enforcing the principles that he taught in his own consistent and perfect life.

Again, he was the model missionary in his love and benevolence. The crowning feature in Christ's life, that which threw a beautiful halo around his whole character, was his love. He was, indeed, the very embodiment of the love of God. He lived and moved in an atmosphere of love. Love was the spring of all his acts. From this divine fountain of love flowed a constant stream of beneficent deeds. " The whole of his course was a history of pure and disinterested benevolence." " He went about doing good." Wherever he went, he scattered blessings around him. He was devoted to the work of making others happy; relieving the afflicted, comforting the distressed, instructing the ignorant, reforming the erring, saving the lost. " He did nothing for himself: whatever he did was for the advantage of man. Selfishness stood abashed in his presence."

Finally, in his blameless and holy life he was the model missionary. The prophetic description of his character was fully answered in his practical life. " Thou art fairer than the children of men." " He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." His enemies could bring none but false accusations against him. His judge was forced to declare, "I find no fault in this man." His disinterested, blameless and holy life gave effect to his teachings, and afforded proof of his divinity and the truth of his gospel.

Thus Jesus in his whole spirit and life was a true missionary. He was the living exponent and embodiment of the principles which he taught. Hence, Christianity is not the mere theory of a teacher, or a mere faith in a system, but a " life." The life of Christ in the soul constitutes a man a Christian. And since the life of Christ is so purely missionary, it is evident how essential a place the spirit of missions holds in Christianity. "A Christianity that does not possess the missionary spirit is a fraud. Missionary operations, so called, are simply so many indications of the existence of a vital Christianity." They are signs of the presence of Christ's spirit.

4. That missions hold a fundamental place in the Christian economy, appears again from the fact that Christ sent forth the preachers of his gospel in the character of missionaries. His apostles were "the sent " — were missionaries. And every true minister of Christ, (I do not say ought to be,) is a missionary. To this there is no exception. " As my Father hath sent me," says Christ, " even so send I you." In other words, " As I am my Father's missionary, even so are ye my missionaries." As the Father sent me to preach the gospel and save the lost, so send I you on a like mission. You are to be my representatives on earth. You are to carry forward the work that I have begun. " Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." If Christ was a missionary, then are his servants who go forth at his command and in imitation of his example, also missionaries. If any minister of Christ has a secret idea that to be a missionary to degraded heathen would be somewhat derogatory to his dignity and aspirations, he should remember that, " The servant is not greater than his lord, neither he that is sent, greater than he that sent him." Or if he entertains the notion that since he is a pastor or intends to be a pastor at home, his calling is not that of a missionary, he should bear in mind that "It is enough for the disafiple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." And since his Lord and Master was a missionary, if he is his true servant, he too, like him, will possess a missionary spirit, and will be a missionary wherever may be his field of labor.

Moreover, the great commission, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,'/ constitutes every gospel preacher a missionary. This commission is very broad. It is not confined to any particular class of laborers, nor to any circumscribed place, but it applies equally to every herald of the cross, in whatever part of the world duty may call him to labor. And it is so purely missionary in its spirit and tenor, that it constitutes every person acting under it, though he may be the settled pastor of a church, to all intents and purposes a missionary. The pastor is the missionary of his parish. Within the district occupied by his congregation, dwell many souls unconverted, ignorant, benighted, for whose enlightenment and salvation he is to labor in the same spirit, mode, and purpose, as his Master, the model missionary.

Taking this view of the subject, it is no longer a question with you, my brethren in the ministry, who shall be missionaries. That question need not be agitated, for you are all missionaries. The only question to settle is — what field ? The language of every truly loyal heart is, " Lord, I am thy sent one, thy missionary. Where in the great field, i the world/ will thou have me to labor ? Send me where thou wilt."

5. Again, every disciple of Christ is also essentially a missionary. In Christ's remarkable prayer for his disciples, as recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John, he employs language respecting all of his disciples similar to that addressed to the apostles. "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." Here the reference evidently is to all his disciples, in every land, through all time. As Jesus was sent to be the Father's Represervative on earth, so the Christian is sent by- Christ to be his representative in the world. He dwells in Christ and Christ in him. He has "put on Christ,'' has "put on the new man," the "new Adam," he has " Christ formed within."

His very discipleship depends upon his possessing the " spirit of Christ," without which he is "none of his." And since the spirit of Christ is pre-eminently a missionary spirit, every true disciple possesses the missionary spirit. To be destitute of that spirit and yet claim to be a Christian, would be a contradiction of terms. Possessing the missionary spirit of Christ, every true, enlightened Christian will be found in some humble way imitating his Master's example. He is a missionary in his sphere. He is inspired with a love for others that impels him to seek their good, especially the salvation of those who are still in their sins. To this end, he is willing to labor, to suffer, to make sacrifices. He, like the great model missionary, "goes about doing good." He does not wish to be isolated, and like false and mistaken religionists, to be a recluse, nor does he wish to indulge in selfish ease. But his delight is to follow as far as he is able, in the footsteps of Him who "threaded his enlightening and healing way through the thronging multitudes," and daily mingled love and work together, whose love was not a mere sentiment, a self-considering and self-satisfying passion, a mere selfish desire to be happy, but " the spring of an expansive and intensely practical philanthropy."

As "the light of the knowledge of the glory of

God in the face of Jesus Christ," shines in the heart of the disciple, he naturally reflects that light upon other hearts. Partaking of the light of Him who is " the light of the world," he desires to let his " light so shine before men," that they may "glorify his Father who is in heaven."

But it was "the life" that was "the light of men." And each disciple being a partaker of the life of Christ, is sent forth to impart that life to others, to those " dead in trespasses and sins."

Moreover, life implies action. Life is full of activity; it must have occupation. And the life of Christ in the soul is an active, productive principle, inciting to Christ-like benevolence and activity.

Hence the appropriate, normal position of every Christian is that of a laborer, a missionary. " My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." The disciple is not above his Lord ; he is to " work " as did his Master. The command of Christ to every disciple is, " Go work to-day in my vineyard." Jesus did not come into the world merely to save men from hell, and enable them to be " carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease." But he came "to purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works." To love and to work are the two great duties or rather privileges of every Christian. But "to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

The primitive Christians acted on the principle that they were Christ's missionaries. When they were scattered abroad by persecution, they were not inactive, were not silent, but "went everywhere preaching the word." Thus the gospel was made known and converts gathered, throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, and even in many distant regions, far in advance of the labors of the apostles, by the humble disciples who went everywhere telling the story of the Cross. The disciples at Jerusalem laid their possessions also at the feet of the apostles, to be used as far as required, in promoting the common cause which they had joyfully espoused.

6. Finally, that missions hold a fundamental place in the Christian economy, appears from the fact that a church of Christ is a missionary organization. The church is composed of missionary elements. As we have seen, its Head, its ministers, and its individual members, possess the missionary spirit — are essentially missionary in their character. The union of these elements in one body, for mutual edification, to maintain the Christian ordinances and Christian worship, and to promote Christ's kingdom in the world, is what constitutes a Christian church. The primitive idea of the church, appears to have been this, — the company of disciples in a given locality united by the bonds of the same Christian faith, love, hope, obedience, and spirit, and the same Christian zeal in doing good aud saving others. The church is the blending of the light of the individual members in one focal blaze, for the more effectual enlightenment of the world. The law of the church, is the law of love, — love to God in Christ, love to each 2 other as Christ loved them, and love to a perishing world such as burned in the bosom of Jesus when he came on his mission to save lost men.

Christ left his church in the world to represent him, and convey his truth to the nations. The disciples united in one, in the Father, and in the Son, were sent forth by their Lord "into the world," not simply on their own account, for their own benefit, but that the world may believe that the Father sent him. The church was to constitute a standing living witness of Christ's divine mission, and the truth of his gospel.

Christ committed to his church God's word. "I have given them thy word," not to be concealed, not to be " laid up in a napkin," but to be in their hearts "as a burning fire shut up in their bones," the "word of life" to be "held forth ;" the word of God that should " mightily grow and prevail."

The church was established for the special purpose of carrying forward the work which Christ commenced. He committed to the church his gospel with the express command to " preach it to every creature." She is the "Zion that bringest good tidings;" who "lifteth up her voice with strength." Christ laid upon his church the duty from which she cannot be released, to "disciple all nations." He constituted her " the light of the world." He placed her as " a city set on a hill that cannot be hid." He committed to the church the savor of his own saving efficacy, constituting her " the salt of the earth." He imparted to her his spirit of love, of benevolence ; in a word, his own missionary spirit, to ever remain an inward element of expansive and aggressive power, which was to extend outwardly in ever-widening circles of philanthropic influence, that should only terminate with the utmost boundaries of the globe.

Christ's church is a kingdom, " the kingdom of heaven," hence it is aggressive and destined to triumph. It is as "a grain of mustard-seed," which becomes " the greatest among herbs," yea, a tree, so that " the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." It is "the leaven hid in three measures of meal, till the whole is leavened." It is the "stream issuing from under the threshold of the sanctuary of God," which flows on, widening and deepening until it becomes an impassable river. It is u the stone cut out of the mountain without hands," which rolling onward shall break in pieces the image of iron and clay, of brass, and silver, and gold, which shall become " like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors," which the wind carrieth away, while the stone itself shall " become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth."

If we turn to the early historical development of missions, we find that the primitive Christians, and even the Apostles, were slow to comprehend the spiritual and universal character of Christ's kingdom. Though the declarations of the prophets, and the teachings of Jesus, often contained the seed-thoughts of these new, grand and revolutionary ideas which constitute the chief power and glory of that kingdom, yet for a long time they failed to understand them.