THE SUPERNATURAL IN MISSIONARY METHODS.
By Editor
THE following from the pen of A. J. Gordon, D.D., will, we believe, be of interest to our readers:— In the naturalistic drift which is now sweeping the church into its current, we cannot emphasize too strongly the supernatural elements in the work of missions. If the preaching of the gospel shall make a powerful impression upon the heathen, it will not be by what is human in it, but by what is superhuman. There has been no change of method since the day of Pentecost. The gospel is still to be preached "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;" and the Lord is pledged still to work with his servants, "confirming the word with signs following." Therefore all supernatural phenomena appearing in connection with the missionary's work should be emphasized, not ignored. There are few minds so stupid that they do not reason from effect to cause. If the effects attending missionary effort are only such as can be traced to natural causes, the mind is very likely to rest in such causes without being carried further. Teaching, doctoring, civilizing, mechanical and agricultural training, are all good and not to be depreciated in connection with missions to the heathen. But the evidential value of such works is very slight, unless accompanied with miracles of regeneration and wonders of moral transformation. Of this question of the supernatural in connection with evangelical labors among the heathen, we have space to speak only of a single phase, viz., the one about which there has recently been considerable discussion in missionary magazines. The late Professor Christlieb, of Bonn, in his powerful chapter on miracles, after defending their perpetuity and present possibility, says: "The work of missions is outwardly, at least, more extended than it ever was before. In this region, therefore, according to our former rule, miracles should not be entirely wanting. Nor are they. We cannot, therefore, fully admit the proposition that no more miracles are performed in our day. In the history of modern missions we find many wonderful occurrences which unmistakably remind us of the apostolic age. In both periods there are similar hindrances to be overcome in the heathen world, and similar palpable confirmations of the word are needed to convince the dull sense of men. We may, therefore, expect miracles in this case." He then cites many instances from missionary history in confirmation of this view, especially instances of bodily healing in answer to the prayer of faith. Is there anything in this paragraph of Professor Christlieb which is worthy of our consideration? Hostility to his view is sufficiently pronounced at the present time, not only in such conservative and guarded criticisms as those of Professor Tyndale on the prayer cure, but especially in the severe animadversions of some high evangelicals upon the same point, whose motto seems to be, "Allopathy or homeopathy, as you like, but no theopathy." "Palpable confirmations of the word are needed to convince the dull sense of the heathen." It is the palpable confirmations that are most direct and obvious. Something must be done to persuade the heathen of the beneficent character of Christianity, as well as much said. Hence medical missions, hospitals, surgery, nursing, Blessed and true servants of Christ are they who go forth to the heathen with such ministries as these. If only, as they are bestowed upon the blind, and the lame, and the leprous, they do not take their eyes from Christ, and fix them upon human benefactors or benefactions. At home or abroad this is the difficulty with all secular helps to Christianity. An eminent missionary lady in Burmah recently gave us the following chapter from her experience. In one of her tours she came upon a village where the cholera was raging. Having with her a quantity of the famous antidote, Perry Davis' Pain Killer, she went from house to house administering the remedy to the sick ones, and left a number of bottles to be used after she had gone. Returning to the village some months after, the missionary was met by the head man of the town, who cheered and delighted her by this intelligence: "Teacher, we have come over to your side; the medicine did us so much good that we have accepted your God." Overjoyed at this news, she was conducted to the house of her informant, who, opening a room, showed her the pain killer bottles solemnly arranged in a row upon a shelf, and before them the whole company immediately prostrated themselves in worship. We believe that all help possible should be derived from medicinal remedies. But the instances are numerous enough in which medicine can go no further, and the doctors surrender the case, with the confession that they can do no more. In such instances God no doubt often interposes in answer to believing intercession, and restores the sufferer. Here is the peculiar sphere of the prayer of faith for the sick, in which, we boldly say, the healing ministry of Jesus Christ should not be despised. For now it is possible, since the hand of man has failed, that the hand of the Lord should be recognized, and glory won for his name. Missionaries are naturally shy in revealing their experiences in this field, if they have such, owing to the opprobrium attaching to so-called "faith healing." But the writer, from the fact of his views on this subject being known, has had the honor to be much confided in by missionaries, especially those of the China Inland Society, who have made successful use of intercession for the sick. Their testimony as to the impression of supernatural cures upon the heathen is very strong.—Missionary Review.