ightiest arguments
for Christianity. But conversion to Christ goes, in its influence,
farther than the individual. It has a far-reaching social influence. It
lifts up the whole family, the whole class, the whole caste, making its
members intelligent, efficient, trustworthy, as many British officials
in India gladly bear witness. Christianity seems likely to give the
Sudras precedence of the Brahmans in civil and political affairs, so
that in one case at least the meek shall inherit the earth.

The kingdom of God, however, can never win its triumphs solely by
external reforms. In order to obtain the fruits of education, morality,
and self-government, you must first have Christian faith rooted in the
soil. Applications of Christianity are necessary, and they are to be
earnestly sought, but it will be vain to seek them, if we have no
Christianity to apply. The tendency in our missions to put the main
stress upon physical and social agencies, to the detriment of simple
gospel preaching, is sure to be disappointing in its results. It is like
trying to light a coal-fire by putting your kindlings on top. It is like
beginning at the roof, and building down to the foundation; or like
first purifying the stream, and afterwards the fountain. Society is made
up of individuals, and regeneration of the individual must precede all
social renovation. The old gospel, with regard to sin and salvation, is
the only gospel that will save the heathen world; and the living,
personal Christ, with his atoning blood and his renewing Spirit, is the
only power that can bring about permanent reformation of social evils
and the establishment of the kingdom of God in the individual, in the
nation, and in the world.

That this is the true theology of missions, the history of missions is
the best of all proofs. We need not only to touch the intellect, but
also to touch the heart. We need to furnish a motive that will win to
action the sluggish and selfish devotees of systems century-old that
have enslaved them. One message, and one only, has accomplished this
result, and that is the message of the Cross. Not the presentation of
God's greatness and power, but the story of the personal Jesus and his
giving up of his life for sinners, has moved men to give themselves to
him. The love of Christ has called forth answering love. Greenlanders
and Bushmen, Tibetans and Telugus, Australians and Chinese, have gone
to their deaths for Christ, simply because they