witness among all nations." And this text, neither dragged from its context, nor distorted from its true meaning, would alone warrant every effort that has been made in the way of missionary journeys. Of course we do not for a moment wish to imply that the whole of missionary effort should be comprised in them. One of the Scriptures we have already quoted, tells us that there must be some to water as well as some to plant; there must be missionary centres, with something of a stated pastorate. But what we mean is, that we can hardly assign too great a value to the broad-cast sowing of the seed of the Word of Life. We might speak of results that have from time to time come to our knowledge, but we forbear, as dealing now with principles only; and yet is it not a blessed thing to read of the cry rising again and again, "What must I do to be saved?" of unusual tears trickling down the cheeks of those who heard for the first time of redeeming love. Surely there was joy then in the presence of the angels of God. And when we read of these things occurring over and over again in the course of the Abyssinian journey, and take them in connection with the wild mountain scenery amid which they occurred, (p. 360,) we can almost hear, ringing in our ears, those exquisite strains of the Jewish prophets: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace."

And now we would add a few words on the current objections, not merely to our work, but to all missionary enterprise.

There are some, indeed, to whom facts and arguments are alike offered in vain. They are ever ready to listen to every calumny-to receive for truth every adverse statement-and it is surprising to note how few of the objections brought against missionary work are based on personal knowledge or observation.

How often is the assertion made, that the missionary spirit is nothing better than a misguided enthusiasm, diverting men's thoughts and sympathies from real to imaginary duties; and leading them to neglect the wretchedness that lies at their door, for that which is remote and at a distance. This, if true, is a very grave charge; but we unhesitatingly assert that it is most untrue, and further still, most unjust. We do not wish to retort on those who are ever ready to

make this allegation, and to ask, What are you doing for the wretchedness at home? because though the argumentum ad hominem may sometimes serve to stop the mouth of a troublesome opponent, yet it leaves the question of right or wrong entirely undecided. It should not, however, be forgotten by those who bring such accusations, that our common Master has said, "Cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye." But let us take the objection we have stated, and let us for a few moments concede, for argument's sake only, that the missionary spirit is merely enthusiastic sentimentalism. Well, what if it be? Is it unlawful to indulge it? We think it will be allowed without difficulty, that a man may indulge his tastes in common things, provided they are not carried to excess, and provided other duties are in their due proportions discharged. The man who loves art may spend considerable sums in order to encourage it, without reproach; nay, his liberality will be applauded, and yet there is rising the wail of wretchedness from many a squalid home, where the children are crying for the bread that the miserable parents have not to give. The question we naturally put in such a case, is simply whether such an individual has done his part in feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, as well as in the encouragement of art, and in the gratification of taste; and surely it is as allowable if, whilst not by any means overlooking home duties, but faithfully discharging them, we wish to devote some small surplus to the gratification of what you may be pleased to designate a sentiment as strong in my case as my neighbour's love of art in his, viz., the love of souls. Man of the world! we would say, be consistent, be fair, deal with my tastes as tenderly as you ask me to deal with yours. If we were to go to you and say, you have no right either to devote your own means to erect that splendid statue which you are endeavouring to raise in order to perpetuate some noble name, nor have you any right to ask others to contribute a single shilling to such an object, whilst there is one miserable cottage, one houseless wanderer, one squalid pauper in the whole broad realm of England; you would rightly tell us that our remonstrance was simply absurd;

and yet it is in precisely similar strain that you chide us for our efforts to sustain missionary work. But it will be said, look at the sums in the aggregate. Their magnitude, we would remark in passing, is very greatly exaggerated; but granting they are large, we can find a parallel. Open the blue books of Parliament, and reckon up the sums which have, during the last thirty years, been spent out of the nation's income in the pursuit of barren geographical discovery, and the many valuable lives which have been sacrificed, and for what? Why, to keep England at the head of maritime adventure, and in the van of discovery! All this excites no unfavourable criticism, nay, it elicits a just meed of applause, the tribute we pay to heroism and endurance; we should not be understood to say one word in disparagement of brave and glorious men, but we would say, Is there no parallelism? You who can see so much to admire in the man who goes forth in the cause of science, with his life in his hand, to the inhospitable regions of the North, can you find no better name than enthusiast for him who goes forth to similar dangers in the cause of Christ?

You who can unhesitatingly justify the outlay of hundreds of thousands, to clear up a merely scientific point, do you at once become niggardly, and parsimonious, and utilitarian, when the idea that rules and actuates, is man's spiritual welfare?

We might add many more instances, where large sums are spent to procure no absolute tangible good in return, and are nevertheless by no means looked upon as wasted. It is evident, therefore, that just as in the case when it was said, "why was not this ointment sold?" the real gravamen of the objection lay beneath the surface; so likewise when missionary expenditure is said to be a misapplication of money that might be more advantageously employed, it is not that they who make the remark, care for those at home who are spiritually destitute, but it is the manifestation of that contempt for spiritual religion, and of that practical disbelief in the blessings of the Gospel, which really exist in every unrenewed, unconverted heart. Christ Jesus is still "to the Greeks foolishness." Spend thousands on luxury, art, science, or anything you please, provided it be earthly; but on the Gospel, nothing.

We are not saying that duties that lie at our doors may be neglected, any more than that a man might of old lay his gift on the altar, and then feel himself exonerated from ordinary filial obligations-certainly not. This we ought to do, whilst we leave not the other undone; and we think that we may confidently assert, that those who have been the foremost in advancing missionary enterprize, have shown themselves most alive to the claims of spiritual wretchedness at home.

But let us take our real vantage ground, and let us ask, What means the precept, "Preach the Gospel to every creature? We confess ourselves incapable of understanding the sophistry that can evade its force.

The man who attempts to hinder the cause of Christ, incurs a fearful responsibility. It is bad enough to be neutral and inactive, for has not Christ said, "He that is not with me is against me," but it is far worse to oppose and hinder. It was a wise caution once given to the Jewish Council, to forbear an active opposition to Christ's apostles, "lest haply they might be found fighting against God." Let it alone, was the wise advice; if you cannot forward, do not hinder. This we ask of the opponents of missionary work. If it be the sentimentalism they would have us deem it in principle, if it be the futile resultless thing they would have us believe it to be in practice, it must fall by its own weight; and yet fifty years have passed, and we find missionary work has the same hold on the Christian mind and heart, that it ever had. In spite of errors and mistakes, incident to every scheme that depends for its execution upon fallible man, it has held its ground, and for the one simple reason, that, whatever the practice may have been in this or that instance, the principle is one which beyond doubt is sound and scriptural.

Whatever, however, have been the objections brought against missionary work in general, much more serious have those been which have been urged against our own special branch of labour. It has been stigmatized over and over again as chimerical-undertaken without sufficient reason, and carried on without success.

All we

would say in reply to this, that the duty of preaching the Gospel to the Jew is plainly and distinctly inculcated as a special work in Holy Scripture, and on first principles, even if there were not a single convert, we should, as those who reverence the Word, be compelled to take our stand. But how different are really the facts of the case. We might safely appeal to the preceding pages, and leave the matter there, but we would add one recent fact, which is in itself a complete answer to those who would have us believe that nothing is being effected. It is a fact connected with the Home Mission, and one therefore which may be tested without the slightest difficulty. Speaking of the thirteen years during which the Wanderers' Home for inquiring Jews has been opened, Dr. Ewald tells us that from the time the Asylum was opened, (in November 1853,) six hundred and seventy-seven Jews and Jewesses have enjoyed the privileges of the Home; and that three hundred and twenty-nine of that number, after having received Christian instruction, have been baptized, including twenty-eight families, and eighty-two children.*

From the very circumstance that the field of labour is in great measure at our own doors, difficulties and embarrassments from time to time arise. Committees and missionaries are only fallible men, and both may err in judgment; sometimes even loving tenderness for those who have erred misleads the conclusions which would be correct enough, were the dictates of cold reason only listened to. It is easy to point out these errors, and to give them hard names, and those who have been guilty of wrong doing, are proverbially bitter towards those against whom they have sinned. This is simply human nature, and it is equally human nature to lend too willing an ear to insinuations against others. It is, let us remember, a very easy matter to criticise ―a very hard matter at times to decide; but we do think that a reference to the preceding pages will make us feel persuaded that in prayerful simplicity, and with calm sobriety, many a difficult and critical case has been decided. Through evil report and good report,

* See Appendix, p. 381.