ment in religion and morals, but it would not be much benefited in any way by the old clothes of a skeleton Christianity.

It is often said that there are many heathen people in this country, and this is true. These are to be found by no means only among the "lower classes," as some seem to imagine. Not a few are to be found among the "upper ten thousand," and among "the better," or rather "the better-off, classes," whom it is often uncommonly difficult to reach by any Gospel ministrations—especially as they generally make much of the rites and ceremonies of religion, or maintain the form of the truth without any truth in the form. And it is further said that until all these be Christianised it is not required that we should go to the heathen abroad. This "heresy," for it is nothing less, seems passing away. We constantly find that those who are doing most abroad are those who interest themselves most largely in Home Missions. For they know that paralysis at the heart is the most dangerous of all diseases. But the argument is contemptible, and deserves no consideration. There needs be no arbitrary division between Home and Foreign Missions, though it may be desirable to have them under separate management. That which helps the one. helps the other. There is no necessity for any "scientific frontier"- which might tend to death, not to "peace with honour."

In the present day it is the correct thing with not a few to take part more or less definitely in mission work of various kinds, and it may be that some take part in it without any heart interest. A certain enthusiasm may be stirred up by attending

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numerous meetings and in other ways, which may soon collapse unless it is grounded in knowledge and love. Even Cicero can speak of religiositas as entirely different from religio. And in these times we are not wholly exempt from that fussiness about divine things which sometimes passes for true religion, of which it is only a poor counterfeit. It should never be forgotten that the measure of grace is the measure of any work done for God, and that it is grace, and grace alone, which traineth us, as St Paul writes to Titus. Ministers, missionaries, and others may teach the facts and doctrines of Christianity, and grace may be vouchsafed to their prayerful efforts, rendering them effectual in the conviction and conversion of sinners. But they cannot by themselves bring sinners into touch with their Saviour, and thus into the knowledge of the Father and of the Son, in which standeth their eternal life. This may be said to be a truism, but it needs to be constantly impressed on our minds and on our hearts. Otherwise Christian work will be done only in a mechanical kind of way, and in religion neither mental nor material mechanics are of much use. We must use logic in our theological systems, and in so far in preaching the Gospel. But in all our work we must ever remember that religion is more than logic, and that the immanence of the Divine Spirit is as needful in the re-creation of man as in the first creation of all things. For to lead sinful men to maintain doctrinal truth may be only a mental process to bring them to live under its transforming power argues the presence of an omnipotent Creator.

If Christians were manufactured in any hard and unyielding mould, converts could be easily counted,

and the results might be set down in exact statistics, for which some people have so strong a liking. The mould into which they are put is of a very different, of a much higher, kind-one that powerfully fits itself to the different types of humanity and gradually "makes all things new." Such statistics we never have in the Gospels, and the parables of the kingdom are sufficient to show us their uncertainty, and also the absurdity of "payment by results," which has sometimes been spoken of in connection with mission work.

There are manifold and secret "drawings of the Father" who can tell, with any definiteness, when the sinner is drawn within the innermost circle of His love? The influence of such a Christian institution as that at Lovedale will make an impression on its surroundings: can you state accurately the depth or the extent of that impression? Can you draw an exact circle round those born into the kingdom? If so, you have done much more than "square the circle," for you have been dealing with the finite spirit of man in mysterious touch with the infinite. Spirit of God. "By their fruits ye shall know them," saith the MASTER; and again: "If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments."

"The Christian world," says the essayist already quoted, "is querulously crying for results. . . . There is nothing in the world so slow to recognise as silent energy, and all missionary work is essentially of this nature. . . . 'The kingdom of God cometh not with observation,' and still we marvel that we cannot see its advance. . . . The true gauge of missionary success is to be found neither in reports nor in statistics, but in the hearts of thousands of men and women.

The mighty silent forces are God's own; enough for us that

'As true as God's own word is true,

Not earth, not hell with all their crew
Against us shall prevail;

A jest and byeword are we grown—
God is with us, we are His own,

Our victory cannot fail.'"

If we are to do effective work in Missions at home or abroad, we need to engage in it with this assurance, in faith and love and hope. We also need all suitable and prayerful preparation on our part as well as the recognised presence and power of the risen Lord, of Him who said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

"Mine eyes have seen THY salvation," said the aged saint, "which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." And so he was ready to depart in peace. There was no thought of self in his psalm. He rested on the Lord, and looked forward to the salvation of every race. Should we not take up his words or those of another psalm "God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth"? And then we might be delivered from morbid introspection, from doubts and fears, from all spiritual selfishness. "Solvitur ambulando": there is deliverance in making progress, in marking the footsteps of the King, in seeing the work of Christ continued in the world,-" all that Jesus began both to do and teach."

The work, thus carried on, must be successful. However sad the outlook may seem at times to be,

MASTER'S presence and
When Judson was asked

with the assurance of the help it is sinful to doubt it. if he really believed that the world would ever be converted to Christ, he replied that "it was sure as the promises of God." And the saintly and heroic Martyn wrote: "If we believe the prophets, the scenes that time shall unfold, though surpassing fable, are yet true.' While I write, hope and joy spring up in my mind. Yes, it shall be; yonder stream of Ganges shall one day roll through tracts adorned with Christian churches, and cultivated by Christian husbandmen, and the holy hymn be heard beneath the shade of the tamarind. All things are working together to bring on the day, and my part in the blessed plan, though not at first exactly consonant to my wishes, is, I believe, appointed me by God."

If he could write so about a hundred years ago, when missionary effort was so weak, what faith and hope may we not entertain now, when things are so much changed for the better in nearly every section of the Church of Christ? The promises of God are being fulfilled, and we may rest assured that

"Earth's kindreds shall not always sleep,
The nations shall not always weep."

We need more of a divine human-heartedness, more earnestness and zeal, more heroism and true saintliness—a kind of sacred chivalry, such as has been displayed by not a few missionaries, in the Home Churches, where, however, it has been present with some especially in Home Mission work. And we need Pentecostal blessing from the risen and