character? An entire consecration of our children to Christ is
not a test of missionary spirit, but a test of discipleship. Not the
missionary, but "_He_, that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not
worthy of me."

The spirit of this injunction requires _all_ parents to train up their
children in that way in which they may be of the greatest service to
Christ; and not only to be willing--that would be but a small measure of
Christian feeling--but earnestly and constantly to pray, that they may
be employed in that part of his vineyard, and in that kind of work,
where they can be instrumental of the most good, even though it be on
some distant shore, teaching the alphabet to the ignorant and degraded.

But is this the spirit which prevails in the churches? I have seen it
stated that, of twenty or more young men in a theological institution,
who were at the same time agitating the question of their duty to become
missionaries, _all but two were discouraged by their parents, and these
two were the sons of widows_. Many other facts of a similar kind might
be added, if it were best to name them. Many parents give their children
to the Lord when young, and talk of locating them on the shores of
Japan, or New Guinea; but the very manner of educating them--in
softness, delicacy and helplessness--shows at once the inefficacy of
such a profession. Many parents are quite ready to consecrate their
children before they become pious. "O, if the Saviour would only convert
my child, I would readily yield him to go to any part of the world, and
to perform any service for which he might be fitted." The child becomes
a Christian, and proposes to go to the heathen. The parents cling,
dissuade, and throw every consideration in the way to keep him at home.

At the judgment day, if I mistake not, we shall see a great deal of our
conduct in a different light from what we do now.

The spirit of the Gospel is a spirit of self-denial for the sake of
Christ. The Saviour is worthy of our highest love, and no earthly
attachment can be allowed to come in competition with the supreme
affection which we owe to him. This love to Christ must be manifested by
obeying his commandments. To yield strict obedience to Christ in this
world, disordered and confused by sin, it is frequently necessary to
sunder some of the tenderest ties on earth. Keen as is the sensation, it
must be endured. A child must not cling unduly to a parent, nor a parent
to a chil