Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

CHEISIIAN NATION,V U1U1I16 lo»" Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations,"to every people under heaven, till every cornerof the globe re-echo the responsive call, " OomeLord Jeeus, oome quickly."a. The Christian that doos not believe in ForeignMissions does not believe in the Lord's prayer. Thedisciple is asked by the Master daily to reiterate thatform of prayer Christ taught his apostles, as in ferventintercession he pleads, "Thykingdom oome. Thywill be done in earth, as in heaven." HypocriucalT h e Ghf istiai) |latioo lips cannot breathe the spirit of missionary enthusiasmin these inspired words, only a disciple that feelsA fournal of Christian Civilization. the impetus of the Christ driving him into the sphereof missions can whisper into the ear of God these tenderWEDNESDAY, FEB, 15, 1893.New Yokk.sentences.3. The Christian that does not believe in ForeignMissions does not believe in the mission of Christ toTerms: 5 cents a copy; $ 1 50 a year, in advancethis world. "I came not to call the righteous butEditor and Manager,John W. Pritchard.Department Editors :Department of Missions, Rev. F. M, Foster.Sabbaih School Lesson, Rev. T. P. Robb.Primrary S. S. Lesson, Grace Hamilton George.Prayermeeting Topic, Rev. T. H. Aoheson.The Week in Review, Prof. J. M, Littlejohn.Literary, Educational, Harriet S. Pritchard.Helpful Corner, Rev. Wm. Littlejohn.Children's Corner,Mrs. Rev. R. J. George.Mrs. M. S. Gibson.Associate Editors .-Prof. J, M. Coleman,Rev. 0. D. Trumbull, D. D.,Rev. W. J. Ooleman.THE CHRISTIAN AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. missions to the heathen as a prominent part of theIn no field of the church's activity is there suchChurcli'sawork. In 1560, the year of the ever memorablefiisVPree Reformed Assembly of the Church,pressing call for Christian consecration as in that otthe Foreign Missions, On tbe part of every trueKnox solemnly bound the Church of the Reformationto " preach the glaid tydinges of the Kingdom throughOhristian there is demanded a threefold duty, earnestthe hail world." This was one of the corner stones ofprayerfulness, energetic and self-sacrificing work, andthe First Reformation. In tbe second great reformconsecration of material goods, so as to realize thethe most conspicuous place in the Church's testimony,ideal of missionary character of Christians and of theas Sealed by the blood of the martyrs, was the UniversalMediatorial Headship ot Cbrist, This unlimitedchurch of Christ. It is not enough that Ohristians doone or even two of these things. Each and every believerin Jesus Christ must unite prayer with patientauthority cf the Lord Jesus forms the ouly warrantfor engagiug in the mission of converting the heathen,activity and Christian giving. The fact that the past"All authority is given unto me in heaven aud earth."century has enlisted the sympathies of Christians in5, Finally, the Christian who does not believe inevery part of the globe and commanded the servicesForeign Missions does not believe in tbe inspiration'of the most heroic and accomplished among the servantsof Cbrist, resulting in the opening of dark India,of the SiJsipthres. The brightest picture evetpaisfeed.-by human hahd IS that portrayed on the canvas ofvast China, the black continent, the snowy Greenland,time under the inspiration of God, in which the kingdomof Christ is "presented asr world-wide. Visionsand the Cannibal Islands of the Ocean, to the charmingtread of the apostles of free salvation, these factsand prophecies uuiic iu glowing rapture iu foreshadowiugthe world kingdoms becoming the kingdoms ofbut awaken expectations that should thrill men's soulsand magnify the responsibility that rests upon everyour Lord. The divinest songs are indited under thebelieving heart. The dark fieldof paganized human­spirit of lar-reaobing and uuiversal peace (Ps. 67, 72,ity remains as yet uncultivated. JN early a thousandmillions lie in the deserts upon the sands of time untouchedby the magic wand of the gospel of peace.Are Chribtians encouraged to engage in the work ofcultivating the fieldof the world? Yes, And what ismore to the point, Christians are bound by an obligationfrom which they cannct rid themselves withoutflagrant sin, to make known the gospel ot Christ to theperishing masses of unbelieving humanity. In relationto our Christian character and responsibility flvepoints are deserving of prayerful study in connectionwith the claims made upon us by repeated cries," Oome over and help us."1. The Ohristian thct doss not believe in ForeignMissions does not believe in the great commission.From the mountain in Gallilee the voice of the risenHead of the Church aud world gave the command tomen, women, and children, his professed followers,sinners to repentance. ' By the voice of the evangelisticprophet, long centuries before his incarnate life,Jehovah had said, " The Lord God which gathereththe outcasts of Israel saith. Yet will I gather others tohim, beside those that are gathered nnto him,"" I will gather all nations and tongues, and they shallcome and see my glory." What does this mean?The Gentile dogs are to eat the crumbs that fall fromthe Master's table. The refined Greek, the chivalrons Roman, the barbarian Teuton, the red Indian,tbe pale Chinese, the dark African, the uncouth islanders,all these are to oome to Christ. How? The"Light of the world" puts it in a single sentence, "asmy Father hath sent me into the world, even so haveI sent you."4. The Christian that does not believe in ForeignMissions does not believe in the reformation prinoipleof the Covenanter Church. Missions are comparativelynew in the history af the Church. Yet, in thegreat reformation of the sixteenth century the twoleaders of Protestantism, Calvin and Kuox, set forthAnd it is evident that every patriot must exert himseUto the uttermost to save our country or all will be lost.Hoping to hear from you at your earliest convenienoe,I am yours for truth and right, T. J. M.RELIGIOUS CONGRESS AND WORLD S FAIE.We have received the following interesting letterfrom the Bev. James Kerr. D. D., one of our honoredbrethren in Scotland, and the indefatigable Secretaryof the Soottish Protestant Alliance, whioh ia doing»great work for Beformation Ohristianity across theAtlantic:Dear Dr. Barrows:—I am favored with your intimationof my appointment by the General Oommitteeto membership in the Advisory Council on ReligionsCongresses in connection with the World's ColumbianExposition. Accept my sincere thanks for the privilegeyou have beeu pleased to confer.On my reoent visit to the great Western World, Isaw theExposition buildings, including the MemorialArt Palace where the Religious Congresses are to beheld, and I was quite overpowered by the architecturalbeauty and enormous bapacities of the numerous edifices.The conception of suoh a Parliament of Religions asyou propose is worthy of so great an occasion, and thesuccessful execution of the proposal is already morethan assured by the operations and preparations ofyour General Committee. The faith of th i Christ ofwhich I am a witness, caunot suft'er any eclipse in thepresence of any or all of "thegreatliistorio faiths" ofthe World. The comparisons and the contra'-ts betweenthe Gospel of the once crucified but now exaltedJesus aud tbe other "gospels " tbat proffer their healingbalms for humanity which such a Parliament willpresent and accentuate amid the world's civilizationat the close of this nineteenth century of the Christianera must, I am fully confident, draw world-wide attentionto the song of the heavenly host on the plainsof Bethlehem, " Glory to God in the highest, aud onearth peace, and good-will toward men." May the religiousCongresses and whole Columbian Expositionbe signally helpful in leading the peoples and nationsot ;both hemispheres to believe inthe one Mediator, theSaviour of sinners; imA in all their relations to crownHim who sits on the Throne of Thrones.I am, dear Dr. Barrows, Yours faithfully,^ — , — _J*«ni;s Kebe.' We gladly re-echo with our heart of hear'-s the sentimentsexpressed by Brother Kerr. Christianity asembodied in the Gospel of Jesus, the once sufferingand now reigning Mediator, has scaled all the heightsreared by the uncouth hands ot sceptics, fanatics, andsecularists; and we have no reason to fear that the ingenuityot men about to enter soon on the twentiethcentury will baffle the detenders of a faith that through100), aud promises that are most precious to theChurch in her TESTIMONYmission of love BEARING.among men burn withThere the fireof is no Pentecostal lack of zeal, evidence as they that bear Synod the very was seal wisetheinfishermenof Gallilee became the universal faithproviding of uuiversality. for the Would ohurch tliat the means every disciple and the of opportunityof say carrying thelanguige on work of the of Irish bearing monk testimony ot the Mid­byof humanity. Is it not flttingthat in an expositionChristfilled to oveiflowing with evidences o£ human genius,couldcrowned with the glory ot arehitectural splendours,circulating dle Ages, " literat,ire My country that is teaches wherever what I can should gather be theand adorned with the ornate expressions of refined humanart, in the Memorial Palace of Art, Jesus Christcharacter largest harvest and aim for of Ohribt." government, both as to its attitudetoward God and its service for man; aud whatshould be enshrined, as he was once amid the snowalso is the individual citizen's duty in this connection.clad peaks of Hermon. "Jesus only/" The brightestaud best spirits of nineteen centuries have rev­The following encouraging letter has been receivedfrom a town in Texas:elled in delight as they honored Him. The knightsC , lexas, Jan. 29, 1893.saw in Him the mirror ot chivalry, the philosophersTo the Commitlee of Tesiiinony Bearing, 50 Boylethe source ot enlightenment; to a Fenelon he was theStreet, Allegheny, Pa. Dear Sirs:—I have receivedPrince ot Mystics, to a Vincent de Paul the model otthrough the mail two tracts, " Christ's," by Prot. R.philanthropy. Jesus is yet marching in the van ofJ. George, D. D., and "Is the Constitution ot thenineteenth century civilization. The profoundest in­United States Christian? " by the Rev. W, J. Coleman.tellects and the noblest hearts call him Lord. If waWith the ideas advanced in both, most of which haveenshrineA DisPATCuhis nametrominSyracuse,our InternationalNaw York,Congress,dated Feb.Hibeen long entertained by me, I was well pleased. Andwill4, andbepublishedlike placinginthea Rome,copestoneN. Y.,uponpaper,thesaysmateithatiaI would like to know more about your Society and itssuperstructurepassenger train onsothefullPhoenixof grandeur,branchwithof theaB.nameW.literature. I handed tha tracts to a friend who alsoengraven& O. railroad,uponwasitditched"thatbyisspreadingabove everyof thename,"rails atliked them, and we thought the circulation of themJesusWoodward.Christ ourAmongking.theWhatlist ofa flttingconclusionwounded is the nametomight do good. Now on what terms, please, can wetheof ourChurch'sChurch'sstrugglelovedforandthegenerousobservanceelder,ofJohnthe dayHunter,ofobtain twenty-flve or flftyeach of said tracts; for wethe Lordot Sterlingin the greatValley,Exposition,N. Y,, who is reported as "badlybruised " The itom did not come under our no­wish to order a few for circulation if terms are reasonableWe have already been gre»tly taxed in reform tice until just before going to press, so that we hadwork, hence our caution as to terms. We hope youmay be able to send samples to every minister in theno opportunity of learning the exact character of Mr.Hunter's injuriti.land, as the uth might fiudlodgment here and there.