OUR WORK A MISSIONARY WORK.
By Elder S. N. Haskell
THE nature of the work of God in the closing scenes of this world's history is emphatically a missionary work. The proclamation of the First Angel's Message is: "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come." "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." "And the third angel followed them," that is, the first and second angels which went to every nation, kindred, and tongue, and people. This is the work God has committed unto his people. In his word we have set before us the living example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. From his example and the instruction he gave and the example of the early apostles who were with him and took up the work when he ascended to heaven, we learn of the true missionary work. It is from these examples and the inspired teachings that we gather all the light we have on this all-important subject. From a few Bible expressions we learn that it is the same spirit and motive which actuated Christ, his early disciples, and all Christians to the end of the world. In the fourth of Luke and the first verse we read, "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan." Mark the expression, "being full of the Holy Ghost." Now concerning the early disciples, who took up this work of Christ after he ascended to heaven, to whom the Saviour said, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . unto the uttermost parts of the earth," we read, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." When the Saviour entered upon his work, he was "filled with the Holy Ghost." When the disciples took it up, they "were all filled with the Holy Ghost." After being filled with the Holy Spirit, they were charged by their enemies with being drunk with new wine, but Peter vindicated them. It was because every man heard them speak in the tongue in which he was born. It stirred them and gave them a zeal uncommon and about which the proud Pharisees knew nothing. Now concerning the Christians we read in Ephesians: "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." Here again occurs the same expression. And when filled with the Spirit we will speak to one another with psalms and spiritual songs. In the eyes of the cold professor, we shall appear as different from the mere formalist as an intoxicated man does from the sober man. There will be a sincerity, a devotedness, and a zeal inspired by the Spirit, that will arrest the attention of others. "Behold, how these brethren love each other." The zeal that should actuate those looking for the second coming of Christ should be as great as that of the early apostles. But the question may be asked, How shall this zeal be manifested? We answer, In the same manner as it characterized Christ and the early disciples. Of Christ his own brethren thought he was beside himself. It was the same with the early disciples on the day of Pentecost. "These men are full of new wine," said the looker on. Christ went about doing good; self-interest was forgotten in the interests of others. We look abroad throughout christendom and there is no denomination but to a greater or less extent is stirred with the missionary spirit in this nineteenth century. Almost continually there is a stream of young men and women flocking to China, India, and Africa as missionaries. Do we possess the same zeal and spirit? Many of these go with a promise of but little if any remuneration. Within the arrangement of the present organization of this people, there are open doors for everyone. They are needed for missionaries of both sexes, as teachers, preachers, Bible workers, canvassers, corresponding secretaries, as well as managers both home and abroad. There never was a greater demand for workers than now; also for means to prosecute an aggressive work. Instruction is imparted by our periodicals in both the home and foreign field. Are these taken and studied by families and individuals? Where are the men and women who this day will consecrate themselves and their means to the cause of Christ? Where are those who will empty themselves, as others have done, and say, "Lord, here am I, send me." Zinzendorf was a wealthy German lord, but he emptied himself of his honor, his wealth, his home, his friends, and his all for Christ. When he was about to have his estate confiscated, he secured it all to the Herrnhutters (Moravians). After making a full surrender, he said, "Lord, I surrender it all up." Immediately after he said: "I have but one passion—it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field, and the field is the world; henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in the service of Christ." He was thought to be beside himself. It is reported that he baptized the first convert in this country, and that was near what now is known as the State of Georgia. Through his influence the Herrnhutters sent forth their missionaries to the remotest corners of the earth. He virtually became the founder of the denomination known as the Moravians, one of the greatest missionary denominations in the world. The same spirit has existed and does to some extent yet exist in our midst as a people. Names might be mentioned. But this practical consecration does not exist among us as it should. Do we hear it said, What can I do? Begin in your own church. Visit the sick; take Christ to the sick and desponding; do not think at first you must press home some peculiar idea, but tell the story of the cross of Christ. Then take with2you those periodicals that are especially prepared, and let them read. Send them to those at a distance and correspond in a manner that will bring men and women to our Lord Jesus Christ. Be faithful in the circle in which God has placed you, and leave an influence that will tell for God there. If God has a wider field of usefulness for you, he will open the way. Then there are others who can go into the foreign fields and support themselves. To such we say, Go, and let a godly life tell that you are a Christian. Some can make themselves useful as nurses, and looking after the poor. In every phase of Christian life there are open doors for those who possess the Spirit of Christ. The missionary spirit can no more live in a heart and not show itself than can water exist and there not be a moisture arise from it. It is the Spirit of Christ. It is the Christian religion. It is all there is to life. Home missionaries in all our churches are wanted. Children should be instructed in every principle of the Christian religion, and before their youthful minds should be placed the nature of the work of Christ in the earth. Tell and read to them such anecdotes as will inspire them with the true missionary spirit, that will lead them to think of souls for whom Christ died. Let them learn to sacrifice. Let them feel the importance of self-denial for others' good. Work is everywhere to be done; the world is full of hearts which are bleeding from wounds that nothing but the gospel of Christ administered by those who have felt its subduing power can heal. But, first of all, get the heart imbued with the Spirit of Christ. Know that your sins are forgiven, that you have the evidence of divine acceptance. God is more anxious than we are to impart to us the assurance of his love. Will we accept it, and then work out as he works in? Will we make life real and earnest? Will we begin now, right where we are, will we begin to educate ourselves in the school of Christ, by self-denial, by prayer, by encouraging the missionary spirit in ourselves and others?