West? Some
have gone to the West, to be presidents of colleges there; but how many
have gone to engage in the more appropriate duties of the _missionary_?
And in Great Britain, how many have left their professorships in the
universities, and their wealthy churches, to labor as _missionaries_
among the ignorant class of society in England and Ireland? O! the West,
and the ignorant class in England and Ireland, would lift up their
hearts to God in gratitude if you would go forth to the heathen: for the
reflex influence of such a course would scatter among them the means of
grace as thick as the stars of heaven, and as bright as the sun in his
glory. I could almost assert, from personal observation, that every
missionary to the heathen sends ten to the West. If men are pressed to
go to China, they cannot stop short of the West. Besides, have you
forgotten the nature of benevolence? If you wish to strengthen it, to
increase it and expand it, so as to be the means of saving the United
States, and of saving Great Britain, then bring it into exercise. Let
the church impart liberally of what she has, both of men and money. She
will have the more left, paradoxical as the assertion may at first seem.
Let the principle of benevolence be aroused in the churches, and it is
literally inexhaustible in its resources, both of money and of men; for
the more it exhausts the more it still possesses. This is not mere
missionary philosophy, but Bible doctrine; and so plainly inculcated,
that he that doubts it is a novice in the Scriptures, and a babe in the
school of Christ. There is a backwardness, an apathy and deadness in the
ministry, and in the churches; and it is THEREFORE that infidelity and
Romanism prevail at the West, and that the ignorant class in England and
Ireland remain in wretchedness. The great thing needed is that the
spirit of benevolence, the spirit of Christ, or in other words true
religion, be aroused in the churches. And in no way can you so
effectually do it as by giving yourself to the missionary work. God's
wisdom is very much at variance with the cold, calculating,
short-sighted and sin-blinded wisdom of man. Let us follow heavenly
wisdom, as laid down in the Bible: "GIVE," "GO," and thereby save
ourselves, our country, and the world. _That nation that obeys God_
shall prosper. Let us try the Bible philosophy of saving the United
States and Great Britain, BY OBEYING GOD--by going forth and teaching
all nations.