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KINGDOM Os GOD AND CHURCHES
OF GOD.
This kingdom should not be confounded
with the churches of God. as though church
and kingdom all meant the same. For the
kingdom of God is one, while we can say of
the New Testament churches
1. The church at Jerusalem was composed,
when waiting to be endowed with power
from heaven, of about one hundred and
twenty, both men and women, to which were
added on a memorable day through preach
ing as attended with the power of the Holy
Ghost, about three thousand souls, who bad
gladly received the word of God, and to
which the Lord afterwards added dally such
as were saved from that untoward generation
of unbelieving Jews, and which evidently
was a model church after which as a pattern
other churches (to execute gospel laws)
were formed in cities and country places,
till it can be said now (2) “all the churches
of the Gentiles,” ’ churches of Galatia,”
“seven churches of Asia,” etc. But we could
not Scrtptarally say so much for the king'
dom of God, as though there were one of
his kingdoms in Jerusalem, another at
Bone, another at Ephesus, another at Thes
salonica, making separate kingdoms of God
thus; and then conclude by saying the king
doms of God in Galatia, al) the kingdoms
of God among the Gentiles, the seven
kingdoms of God in Asia, etc. Would it
not oe belter to consider the kingdom of God
as composed of all in every age as are regeu •
generated when as the wind bloweth where
it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof,
but thou esc at not tell wheuce it coineth nor
whither it goeth, ao is every one that is born
of the Spirit, or so it has been with all these
subjects of Jesus, the God manifested in the
flesh? Then also would it net be bitter as
above to consider the local church as at Je
rusalem, or rather all these local churches as
merely the judiciary bodies, composed each
of believers after baptism, to execute the
laws as found in the New Testament of this
one spiritual kingdom that shall aland for
ever instead of making their own laws to be
executed by any of their appointed officers?
Taking tills view of things, we can see at
once the right subjects fur church member
ship; not infants that can take no part in
judiciary bodies, not impei.itept unbelievers
—not the unregenerated enemies of Christ
and of his holy laws, butpeniteut, believing,
regenerated persons, males and females,
whose hearts love Christ, love his word, his
ordinances and his peculiar people, or each
other as his people, hud fellowship with each
other to keep house in each community
when a sufficient number is found for such
a purpose. Yes, to carry out wholesome
discipline, holding forth through a faithful
pastor, the word of life, under whoseadmin
istrstlous the local church could receive sui
table persons for membership, baptized be
lievers, upon their baptism, as on the day of
Pentecost, or by recommendation from other
local churahes of the same faith and order,
or aa commanded to do, exclude such as
walk disorderly. How much more Scriptu
ral would all this be than to baptize persons
In order that the spirit may attend the water
as applied in infancy, or in manhood or
womanhood to make them the regenerated
people of God, and thus to bring them into
the kiugdom of God or church of God, or at
least to bring them into the covenant of cir*
cumcision, or of the so called covenant mer
cies of God, or anything of the sort, for in
such services strong delusions are placed
upon old and young by which they may per
ish forever, and Jesus fails to get the person
al obedience of faith from each as that which
would honor him most of all. God grant us
such measures of grave divine as will keep
from error and build us up in gospel truth I
' I. A. Goss.
SOME POINTS OP COMPARISON AND CON
TRAST RETWEEN THE LORD'S PRAYER
AND THAT OP JABEZ.
Our Lord's Prayer as recorded in Matthew
is as follows;
' Ouf Father which art in heaven, hallow
ed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Give.naXhis day our daily bread. And for
give us our debts, as we fergive our debtors,
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and
the power and the. glory for ever. Amen."
That of Jabt z as recorded in 1 Chronicles
Is in these words :
And Jabt z called on the God of Israel,
saying, VO that thou wouldeet bless me in
deed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine
hand might be with me, and that thou
wouldtsi keep me Irom evil, that it might
mot grieve me 1”
These prayers when brought together ad
mit, in some particulars, of comparison, in
others, striking contrasts are presented. As
to comparison, we observe in the Lord's
Prayer that “our Father” refers to the only
true God—the maker and preserver of hea
ven and earth, together with all beings and
things contained therein. In the prayer of
Jabtz the “God of Israel,” upon whom he
called refers to the same being. So then the
God to whom our Lord directs us to pray is
the same to whom Jabiz made petition, and
this is none other than He who always was,
is, and will be. In him we live and move
and have our being. He is the God of all
grace—the Father of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
Again, the Lord's Prayer and that of Ja
bi z begin and continue throughout upon the
principle that God is able to grant requests.
We see also in the language of both, tbe
idea of God's willingness to satisfy our de
sires when the same are made known in
prayer.
In the next place let it be noticed that in
our Lord’s prayer, there is a petition for de
liverance from evil. Jabiz makes the same
request, and whatever may be the nature
and extent of evil as mentioned in one, we
are to understand that the evil mentioned
in the other is of the same' nature and
extent.
In the one it is, “deliyer us from eyil,”
in lhe other, “Ke<p me Irem evil." We
judge that all evil is meant in both peti
tions.
The prayers are alike in another particu
lar ; and that is they both refer to temporal
good. In the Lord's Prayer temporal good
is alluded to when it is said, “give us
this day our daily bread." In the prayer
of Jabez we have doubtless the same idea
in the words, “and enlarge my coast, and
that tbine hand might be with me."
Let us look now at these petitions in view
of the points of contrast between them :
We have ia the one, “our Father,” in the
other, “God of Israel.” When we say “our
Father," fears subside, anxieties flee away,
dread of lhe “Judge" is banished, we are
composed, cheerful and bold. It is “onr
Father," and we know he pities us, we real
ize that he protects us, wfl. know that he
loves us. A father is patient, gentle and
long- suffering. When we say “our Father,"
we get very near to God.
Jabez called upon the “God of Israel,”
and saw in him a strong deliverer. He had
learned of him through Sinai’s lightnings
and thunders. Jabizknew God as judge of
all the earth, infinite in wisdom and power.
He who can say, “our Father,” is much
nearer to God than he who must needs say,
“God of IsraeL”
In the prayer of our Lord, a desire for the
interest of God’s kingdom is made promi
nent, indeed this seems to be the chief de
sire. In this petition we “seek first the
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1881.
kingdom of God.” Our wants are to be sup
plied, but we are to ask for these seconda
rily, and iu the seeking we are not to be for
getful of other*. Mark here the force of the
pronouns “us" and “our” io our Lord's
prayer. He who prays “after this manner”
recognizes all men as bis brethren. He is
as careful of tbe interests of others as be is
of bis own. He is not satisfied with a sup
ply for himself alone. He feels for the race,
and brings not only his own wants, but the
wants of all others along with bis, and
makes supplication for the satisfaction of
the whole. How broad, how deep, how
complete this prayer. How unselfish the
spirit that reigns throughout its every sen
tence.
It is not manifest from the language of
the prrv< r ui Jabez that he feels any inter
est at all in the establishment and promo
tion of God’s kiugdom. There is no “let
thy kingdom come” in it. Jabez does not
seem to have any brethren. He is not in
sympathy with others. He brings nobody's
wants along with his own to the "God of
Israel." His prayer does not even rise to
the dignity of the brother's, who, when he
prayed, said : "Lord bless me and my wife,
my son John and his wife, we four and no
more”—no, he did not even contemplate the
wants of four—no, nor of three, nor of two.
No, be only bad in view the wants of Jabez.
Mark iu this connection the force of the pro
nouns “me” and “my.” All lines converge
here, “Lord bless me. enlarge my coast,"
etc. The whole prayer is tucked in at every
corner by "me." How extremely narrow,
how selfish ; what a contrast here!
In the model prayer temporal good is
asked for, barely enough though for one day,
no surplus, no abundance, no enlargement
is contemplated. But Jabez wants the hand
of the Lord with him, and desires the en
largement of his coas l.
Now the Lord's prayer has been repeated
every day doubtless tor more than eighteen
hundred years by thousands of Christians.
Volumes would not contain its repetitions,
lhe young, tbe old, the illiterate, the learn
ed, all see to same extent the propriety of
praying “after this manner." Nevertheless
the prayer has never been answered. No
man's faith has ever been strong enough to
bear up this petition. No man's faith to
day is sufficiently enlarged to receive in all
the fulness of a just interpretation tbe words
of the model petition. If any of the most
obscure of God's children were to offer this
Crayer, nothing doubting, the world would
e immediately converted. God's omnis
cience giving direction to God's omnipotence
would bring instantly into the field all agen
cies necessary for tbe accomplishment of the
end without delay, and the day would ap
pear when we would rejoice not that a na
tion was born, but that the world was libe
rated from the powers of darkness.
The prayer of Jabez so far as we know was
never prayed but once, and then not by
thousands, but by Jabez alone, and though
narrow, shallow, incomplete, and by .no
means a model, it nevertheless was answer
ed, for it is written that God granted him
that which he requested.
Our prayers then may be all comprehen
sive, perfect as to form, exactly in accordance
with God's will, and yet not be answered.
On tbe other hand, our prayers may embrace
very little, may be very faulty, and yet be
answered. It is tbe prayer of faith that is
answered, and faith is the gift of God. How
helpless we are. By grace are ye saved.
H. R. Bernard.
Athens, March 30, 1881.
THE STATE CONVENTION.
That the opproaebing session of the Con
vention may be profitable is desired by every
Christian among the churches connected
with that body- Some weeks ago sugges
tions appeared in Ths Index as to the man
ner in which that result is to be secured,
The object of this short communication Is
tbe same with that ot Chose suggestions.
Ist. Let us fully realize the changed con
ditions under which the Convention now
meets. The time was when large sums of
money were collected for the general and
regular enterprises of that body ; that time
has passed. The time was when much new
information wa? imparted at ihese meetings
to delegates and visitors in reference to those
enterprises; but the religious newspaper,
more largely circulated and more efficiently
directed, has largely affected that condition.
The time was when the plans of the Conven
tion reached only the few, but now those
plans are adapted to reach all. A faithful
ministry with such plans cannot fail to reach
all who can be reached. What then re
mains for the Convention to direct its ener
gies to?
2nd. Let the prayers of all be directed to
and concentrated upon one object—that the
meeting may be a blessing to its members,
and to the church and community with
which its session may be held, that conver
tions of unbelievers may he realized during
its session. Conversions ought to attend
every such large gathering of God’s people,
they would, if thev were desired, and ex
pected. Superficial and indistinct religious
impressions, to be deepened and made dis
tinct by subsequent wise labor and preach
ing ought not to satisfy tbe desires of so
large a oody. On one occasion several breth.
ren on their way to the Convention agreed
among themselves that while there t.ey
would pray especially for the family who
might entertain them and that, if there were
such members, they would seek opportunity
to talk to the unconverted of them. It hap
pened that they were assigned to a family
where there was bnt one member of the
church. It was soon ascertained that of the
others, a married daughter and her husband
were both concerned; conversations were
had, at least, with the husband, in which
finally there was a declaration of bis hope,
and that also of his wife, and the purpose of
both of them to unite with the church,
which was consummated during tbe follow
ing summer. If a singular course shall be
adopted generally, similar results may fre
quently be realized.
3rd. Tbe other main suggestioq is that the
prayer and effort of every one be directed to
securing greater vigor in the prosecution of
the plans of tbe Convention. No plan is as
good as the best if it be neglected. What is
needed is an earnest purpose to press the
plan. A revival in the Convention upon
the matter of its peculiar work will be pro
moted by carrying suggestion first into effect,
and nothing in addition to that will be need
ed but a little direct attention to suggestion
second. If a larger measure of the influence
of the Holy Ghost shall be carried away from
the city of Athens than is brought to it by
the Convention, the next year will show
larger results of our work than the present.
Deleoatk.
REMINISCENCES OF MERCER.
NTMBER 11.
When I entered the Freshman Class at
Mercer in the spring term of 1851, the Senior
Class which was to graduate at the ensuing
commencement, numbered twelve. Well do
I now remember the impression ‘hey pro
duced upon me. Each and every one of
them I regarded as a model of dignity and a
prodigy ol learning, and it seemed a very
long height that I should have te climb if I
ever attained tbe elevation upon which they
stood. Every Freshman, I presume, has
had such thoughts about his Seniors. But
though I have since been along there myself,
and nave learned by experience that one
may be a Senior and stiii know very little,
tbe impreesion that this was an exceptional
class has not been wholly eflaced. In tbe
firat place, they were all men. The oldest
was reputed to be near thirty, the youngest
was more than a boy. It followed thence
both that their minds were prepared for the
grave studies that they were required to dis-
cuss, and that in their intercourse with tbe
"boys" below them, thev could u nine “le
Srande air” which impressed a high idea of
aeir dignity. This impression was render
ed tbe stronger by tbe fact that most of
them were fine looking men. Then there
were nearly twice as many of them as had
ever been in any former graduating class.
They bad pledged themselves a year before
that they would unless providentially bin
di-red, remain together and take their diplo
mas from the Alma Mater which had edu
cated them. This resolution of theirs had a
treat effect on the history of tbe Institution.
It ceased to be a fa-hiou for students to
v ithdraw at tbe beginning or middle of the
senior year, and give some college of greater
name the credit of their graduation. After
tbe commencement of 1851, it was consid
ered as creditable to graduate at Mercer, as
at any college in the country. Her diploma
became an “open sesame” to any position
t> which sound and accuratescholarship wes
a prerequisite. Is it a wonder that tbe class
winch did so much to extend the fame of
the University should have been highly es
teemed by the Faculty, and the citizens of
the village should have so much “gloried in
their spunk" as to give to them Jhe sobri
quet ol “the immortal twelve? ’
Apart from these considerations, tbe talents
of its members were such as to make this a
class of fine promise. The records would
doubtless show that its grade of scholarship
was high, and that those who bore off the
honors nad no easy task. In the two litera'
ry societies —those microcosms in which the
boys foretell the men—most of them were
good debaters. But their ability is better
proved by their future histories. One half
of them were called to pass over thft River
before they had time to do much work or
win many honors. But of the six who sur
vive, every one has done something in the
world. Only one close politics as his voca
tion, and in it he has achieved a distinction,
both brilliant and rapid, proving an excep
tion Dr. Holmes' rule that the black horses
always make the best speed during the first
heat.* Os the three “black horses” of this
class, one for many years a Doctor of Di
vinity, occupies the first Baptist pulpit in
Georgia; another, also a D.D., is perhaps
the most prominent Baptist minister in his
portion of the State; the third, a valued
member of the corps of instruction at bis
Alma Mater, says he might be made a D D.
if he were more dull in his preaching, and
we think be might be if his modesty or his
vis inertae did not came him to starve the
public on his eloquence. Os the otherdwo.
one is a physician of marked ability, and
the other deemed while at college tbe most
brilliant of the twelve, is holding briefs, and
we hope is making his way to emminence in
the eourts of the West.
So stands the record after tbe lapse of
three decades. But we did not set out to
speak of them as they are now—men grap
pling with the stern realities of life. It was
rather to recall our r< collection of them as
students, full of romantic enthusiasm, and
dreaming the sweetest dreams of that life
upon which they were about lo enter. If
they were not giants in reality, they were so
to our Freshman imagination. The
University has since sent forth classes
considerably larger, and many of her
later graduates have done credit to
her training. But no class has ever
done her a more signal service. Their grad
uation was the close of her leaden and the
ushering in of her silver age- When they
entered her halls as Freshmen, it was with
half a blush that they so owned themselves.
After the commencement of 1851, no young
man was ashamed of being a student of
Mercer University. In effecting this great
rise in her reputation we are by no means
inclined to underrate the labors of the sixg
eminently gifted and higtly cultured metw
who constituted her Board of
With such professors, her ultimate success
was assured. It came however all the soon
er because the course pursued by this ‘ im
mortal twelve” made the practice of run
ning off to some other college to get a diplo
ma “more honored in the breach than tbe
observance.” L. L. V.
[Written for The Christian Index-]
SKETCHES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
FRANCE.
President of the Republic: Francis Paul
Jules Grevy; born August .sth, 1813; elected
by the Assembly January 30th, 1879. Capi
tal : Paris. Population, 1,988,748.
The most westerly State of Central Europe;
bounded on the north by the channel and
straits of Dover, which separate it from Eng
land. Its circumference is estimated at about
3.000 square miles, and its present area at
204 196 square miles. The territory lost, in
1871, 5,603 square miles,
France is divided into eighty-six depart
ments, including the Island of Corsica, in
the Mediterranean Sea, off the west coast of
Italy. The principal rivers are the Seine,
Loire, Garonne and Rhine. The principal
forests are the Ardennes, Compiegne, Fon
tainebleau, Vosges and Orleans ; consisting,
principally, of oak, birch, pine, beach, elm,
chestnut, and cork-tree in tbe south. Fruit
trees abound, and are very productive : the
principal being the olive, chestnut, walnut,
almond, pear, apple, citron, fig, plum, etc.
The vine is cultivated to a very great extent,
as the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Cham
pagne, etc., etc., evidence. The chief agri
cultural products are wheat, barley, rye,
maize, oats, potatoes, beet-root, for tbe
manufacture of sugar, hops, etc. Its mineral
resources are great. Iron is found nearly all
over the country. Copper, lead, silver, an
timony and coal, also exist. The most
im, orlant manufactures are of metals, ; ot
tery, watches, jewelry, cabinet work, carv n
glass, chemicals, dyeing, paper-making,
woolens, carpets, linen, silks and lace, its
oyster fisheries are a very important indus
trial feature.
The population, in 1879, amounted to
thirty-seven millions—about six hundred
thousand were Protestants, and fifty thous
and Jews.
The effective strength of the army, under
the colors, is 502,866 men ; but, in time of
war, including all reserves, 3,750,000 men.
The navy consisted, in 1880, of two hundred
and fifty-eight vessels, of which sixty-six
were iron-clads.
The educational system is governmental,
aud presided over by a Minister of Instruc
tion, part of the expense being defrayed by
the State. In addition to the Faculties of
theology, law and medicine, the Lycees, the
Colleges, the naval and military schools, aud
the Ecole Polethechnique, the State supports
numerous establishments for instruction in
special branches of knowledge.
The system of railways in France is very
extensive, they are entirely cocedees, that is
thfcy will become State property after tbe
expiration of the concession. Tbe entire
length open for traffic in 1880, was 14,735
miles. The lergth of telegraph wires, 34,-
754 miles.
The principal exports are haberdashery,
silks, woolens, silk and cotton manufactures,
apparel of all kinds, jewelry, silk (raw),
skins, tanned and curried, etc., wine, metal
wares, tools, fruita and spirits. The princi
pal imports are cotton (raw), silk and floss
silk, wool (raw), timber, coal and coke, coL
fee, hid« and skins, silk, woolen and cotton
manufactures, grain, cattle, etc., etc.
Revenue for 1880, $549,943,110. Expendi
ture for 1880, $690,000,000. Public debt.
1879, $4,700,000,000. Total value of imports,
$720 000,000. Total value of exports, $640,-
100,000.
The French colonies, foreign possessions,
and protected lands of France in Africa, are
Algeria Senegambia. the Islands of Bourbon
(Re-union), St. Mane, Mayotte and Noasibe,
In the Indian Ocean, and Gaboon, on the
coast of Guinea, with a population of 3,296,-
916 souls. In South America, are tbe Is
lands of Martinique, Guadeloupe and St.
Bartholomew. In tbe West Indies, French
Guinea or Cayenne, with St. Pierre and
Miquelon, near Newfoundland, with a popu
lation of 367,347 souls. In Asia, tbe Indian
settlements of Pondicberey, Mahe, Karikat,
Yanaon.Gbandernsgore and French Cocb n
China. In tbe Pacific Ocean are two group*,
the Marquesas and Liberty Isles, tbe Island
of Clipperton and New Caledonia, with 77,-
645 inhabitants. Tbe countries over which
France claims a protectorate are tbe King
doms ot Cambodia in Asia; Tahite and
some other ialands in Oceanica, with 900,000
nhabitania.
The chief cities of France are: Bordeaux,
Boulogne, Brest, Calais, Cherbourg, Ajaccio,
(Corsica), Dunkirk, Havre, Marseilles,
Nantes, La Rochelle. Nice, Algiers, Oran,
Bone, Martinique, Reunion, Saignon, New
Caledonia, Cayenne.
The Sunday-School.
International Sunday-School Lessons.
[Prepared specially for Ths Index by Rev. 8. H.
Mlrick, of Washington, D.C.)
Lesson
COVETOUSNESS.
Luke XII. 13-21.—A D. 29.
Neither the time nor tbe place of this inci
dent are certainly known. Most probably
it occurred in Judea and shortly after our
last letson, toward the close of our Lord's
ministry. By some it is placed iu Galilee
and about one year earlier.
OUTLINE.
I. A request, v. 13.
11. A reply, v. 14.
111. A warning, v. 15.
IV. A parable, v. 16-21.
NOTES.
I. A request.
V. 13- “One of the company.” One of the
great multitude (v. 1) in whore presence he
was addressing his disciples. “Master.”
Teacher. The man is respectful. “Speak
to my brother that he divide,” etc. The
man is far more intent on his personal in
terest than on profiting by tbe instructions
of Jesus. For some reason tbe brothers
could not agree about their inberitance, and
this one thought Jesus might by his in
fiueuce over the other, put an end to the
strife between them. We need not suppose
that this man asked any more than simple
justice from his brother.
11. A reply.
V. 14. “A judge or a divider." Deciding
what is right t>nd executing the decision.
Tbe reply of Jesus, while it shows no perso
nal displeasure against the man, does con
vey a gentle reproof. He tells him that he
did not come to settle personal disputes
about secular matters. In what follows he
shows him that be came to announce prin
ciples which would promote tbe mutual ex
ercise of justice among men.
111. A warning.
•V. 15. "Tb«m.” The disciples, while the
man, and, perhaps, bis brother are still
within hearing. “Take heed and beware.-’
The double admonition indicates that covet
/ausnes, against which he warns them, is a
great danger, by which one may be unex
pectedly overcome. Covetousness.” A cra
ving desire for more. “A man’s life.” etc.
That is, large possessions neither give,
fnor continue, nor make lifte. The true
|ifo of man is fils character, not his posses
sions. Life even in its sense, depends
not on possessions, but on (he will of God.
IV. A parable.
V. 16. By this parable our Lord illustrates
the folly of covetousness, and we may well
observe that the illustration is taken not from
tbe case of one who accumulates by injus
tice, but one who obtains his wealth by the
gift of God, obtaining it from the ground it
self. The man isw wealthy farmer, blessed
with a productive foil and favorable seasons.
‘ Ground.” The original word implies a
large estate.
V. 17. “He thought within himself."
Selfish altogether and with no regard to God.
“What shall I do? ’ Perplexed and anxious
as to what he shall do with his increasing
treasures, he does not even think of doing
anything for those in want. It is still self.
He has no idea that he is a steward of God.
V 18. "This will I do.” The common
decision of worldly men, who do not take
God’s will into account. “Pull down my
barns and build greater." The barns were
subterranean vaults or pits, walled so as to
be dry, in which grain was stored. Tbe man
would pull dowh the walls and enlarge the
pits. “These will I beetow, ’ etc. Hoarding,
not using. Unused property, while it does
no good, is subject to deterioration in many
ways. My fruits and my goods.” No ac
knowledgement of God who gave them.
“All my fruits.” A completely selfish de
cision.
V. 19. “Soul." The living principle.the seat
thejof sensibilities. "Thou hast much goods
laid up for many years.” He counted on a
long life, and that that life would be free
from care and anxiety because of his abund
ant possessions, “Take thine ease, eat drink
and be merry.” Sensual enjoyment is his
highest idea of life What a portion is this
for an immortal soul!
V. 20, “But God said.” Man is not an
independent body. He may plan, he may
purpose, he may commend himself, but God
controls, after all. “Thou fool.” God’s
opinion of him is directly opposed to his
opinion of himself. Ke thought himself
possessed of prudence and foresight. God
thought him wanting in these characteris
tics. "This night.” Instead of after the
many years which he had promised
himself. “Thy soul,” which be had called
upon to take its <are and be merry.
“Shall be required cf thee." His life
was the loan of God, who rightly might
demand its return when he would.
Literally it is, “they require thy soul,” that
is the messengers, whom God should send.
We may notice, too, that the soul of this
man is "required,” as from one unwilling to
give it up. The good man willingly and
cheerfully commits his soul to God. r ‘Then
whose shall those things be ? ’ Those things
in which this man’s life consisted. A starts
ling question surely. The idea is not so
much who should possess what he,had laid
up as that he should lose it. What more
pitiable sight is there than that for a man,
all whose energies have been devoted to the
acquisition of wealth, for its own sake, to
find himself in the moment of great success,
laid upon a dying bed, with the assurance
that all his possessions cannot add one hour
to his life.
V. 21. "So is he." Jurt such a fool. There
are two methods of laying up treasure, due
tinguished by the object for which the labor
is expended. The one is laying up for self
and the other laying up for God. He who
lays up for himself alone, shall sooner or
later awake to the terrible reality that l:e
has made an awful failure. The judgment
of infinite wisdom will be that he is a foo?
REMARKS.
How poor a rich man may be. God’s
thoughts are not like the thoughts of men.
“The mournful fate of the man who gathers
treasures to himself, and is not rich toward
God; 1. painful discontent; 2. increasing
anxiety ; 3. delusive hope ; 3. irreparable
loss." The Lord knows the thoughts of men.
Tbe covetous lose the life to come. “The
poor Rich Fool comes before God's Judgment
with a lost name, with a lost soul, with a
lost world, with a lost heaven."
Missionary Department.
REV. J. H DsVOTIE. M>-. I WMon
REV. C. M IRWIN. jaonora.
Minion Board ot tbe Georgia Bsptirt Conven
tion—Offioeta: Rev. R. B. Hendden, President:
Rev. J. H. DeVotle, Corresponding Secretary «nd
Treasurer; Rev. V. C. Norerors, Recording
Secretary. Members-Revs. D. W. Gwin, A T.
Spalding, H. C. Hornady, F. M. Daniel, V. C.
Norcrow. Dr. J.a 8. Lawton Atlanta; G.A. Nun
nally. Rome; D. E. Buller.Madison: J. O. Ryals
aud R. B. Ileadden, Carteisvllle-; J. H. De Vote.
Foreign Mission Board ot the Southern Baptist
Convention.—Rev. H. A. Tupper, D. D., Corres
ponding Secretary, Richmond, Va.
Home Mission Board ot the Southern Baptist
Convention—Rev. Wm. A. Mclntosh, D.D., Cor
responding Secretary, Marion, Alabama.
THE WORK OF MISSIONS.
Rev. J. V. N. Taimags, by arrangement,
preached before “tbe General Conference of
Missionaries," held in Shanghai May. 1877.
Hie tbeme was "The Work of Missions,”
founded upon the Commission as recorded
by Matthew 28: 18-20.
We make a few extracts from this sermon,
which we hope will be interesting to the
readers of our mission column. Dr. Talmage
Bays.:
"The duty of evangelizing the whole world
is explicit. But duty may be performed as
drudgery. Better so —infinitely better—than
that it be not performed at all. From the
performance ot duty there can be no absolu
tion. Yet, our Lord does not mean us so to
perform our duties to him, especially the
most blessed of all duties—tbe duty of saving
men—of saving the world. Hence, this
Commission is not simple assertion of au
thority, followed by imperative command.
It closes with promise most gracious. Lo,
I am with you alway.' What more
could we vk to make our work pleasant or
successful ? What more could be given us ?
Tbe gracious presence and tbe efficient help
of our Lord 1 Christ with us, we can bear
all things! Christ with us, we can do all
tilings!
"I look upon China as the most difficult
missionary field in the world, aud therefore,
to mere human calculation, the most hope
less. This, I think, is the reason why God,
when re-kindling the missionary spirit in
His Church in modern times, allowed China
to be so long closed against missionary ef
fort. The church was not ready immediate
ly to grapple with such a foe as she should
meet here But however great the
difficulties, they do not at all dishearten us.
See what God, in his providence and grace,
has done for this land during one generation.
I remember well when the burden of prayer
for China was that God would break down
the great wall which kept tbe gospel out Os
this land. That prayer has been answered.
When I arrived in China, thirty years ago,
there were only five places open to missiona
ry effort, and only about the same number
of Christian converts. Nowpreaching places
are numbered by the thousand, and Chinese
Christians by tens of thousands. If tbe pres
ent generation has seen all this, what may
not tbe next generation see? ... .
“And now, my brethren, look forward a
moment to the work accomplished. China
Christianized I Abd not only China, but
India also; yea, all of Asia and Europe, and
Africa and America, and the Islands of the
Sea—the whole world Christianized I Not
nominally merely, but really 1 Shall all this
ever be accomplished? Eighteen hundred
years have passed away since the issuing of
this Commission, and still the larger portion
of our race is in rebellion. Why is this?
Because the Church has failed in obedience.
Without obedience to the command, we may
not claim the fulfilment of the promise.
Fulfilment has always kept full pace with
obedience. Oh, that tbe Lord would make
us faithful, and His whole Church faithful I
Then should the gospel soon be preached to
every creature, and the preaching be made
effectual, and all the nations Christianized.
Shall the Church of Christ ever come
up to this standard of duty ? Yes, I think
so. He who gave the command to preach
the gospel, has power to give efficacy to the
command as well as the preaching. Surely
He will do it. He has begun to do it already.
Look at the signs of tbe times. See you not
the argel flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to preach unto
them that dwell on the earth, and to every
nation and people and tongue ? Never, since
the days of the apostles, has this vision been
so plain as during this generation. What
Christ begins, be sure He will carry through.
Was he manifested to destroy the works of
the devil, and will He not do it ? He will
do it, and His name shall have the praise
lorever.” I.
A TRIP IN SOUTHERN ITALY.
LETTER FROM DR. G. B. TAYfoR.
Brethren Editors : I have just returned
from a trip, of nearly three weeks, to our
stations in Southern Italy. It was very
pleasant to have brother Eager along, for,
though I had become accustomed to my long
solitary journeys, a congenial companion
was none the less welcome.
A week was spent in Naples—not in sight
seeing, but in matters strictly pertaining to
our work. The nightly and sometimes daily
services of the sanctuary were truly consol
ing, and I found it, as ever, a pure joy to lift
up my voice, announcing the “great salva
tion.” It was also refreshing to see cherished
friends, some of whom (the family of Mr.
Duncan, and Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs, of Calvary
church, New York) I had not expected to
meet. But the adjusting of difficulties, and
arranging the “affairs” of our work was any
thing but agreeable. The brethren of our
little church, after a Sunday morning meet
ing, requested me to wait, to hear their views
and wishes as to what ought to be done, for
they were aware that the discontinuing of
the station, or the merging it Into another
mission, had been considered. So we re'
mained together till a late hour in the after
noon, and they stated that, while our work
was small, it was genuine, and that they
would be deeply grieved were it cither total
ly abandoned or absorbed. They were satis
fied with the evangelist, but did not enter
into certain existing difficulties, and were
ai xious that, whether he or some other man,
or no minister at all, labored with them,
they be permitted to have the locale and to
continue their organization. The result was
a decision, on my part, to take the locale, at
least for another year, and since that, it has
been decided that the present evangelist re
main at least until the coming autumn. In
the above described conversation, when the
plan of a fusion was suggested, with its ad
vantages, the principal speaker, who was
once in a municipal office, but is now a no»
tary, replied, “Timeo Danaos et dona ferens
tes,”» which I hesitate to give, for fear of
brother Pendleton ; but that familiar quota
tion was never more aptly cited, and it
showed the culture and wit of the brother
making it.
A ride around the flaming mountain—on,
on, through the valley of Benevento, so ad
mired by Dr. Jeter, and over the vast plain
around Foggia, with its countless herds, and
we And ourselves across the Peninsula, on
the Adriatic coast, and in the midst of the
vineyards and olive groves and almond trees,
covered with peacn-like blossoms, which
surround Barletta. Two hours more, still
southward, with the sea on the left, and we
are at Bari, very ancient, but, at the same
time, a thoroughly modern, thriving, rapid
ly growing city. As Venice is the “Queen
of the Adriatic," let us call Bari, first Maid
of Honor.
For the first two days, Big. Volpi, our ac
tive evangelist, was absent, on one of his
missionary tours. We repeatedly visited his
wife, who, with her four interesting little
girls around her. grieves none the less for
her babe, whom the tender Shep
herd has recently taken to bim«elf. I
thick that si • found oar sympathy and
words peculiarly consoling. Two xer vices
of he cl arch were attended by us,
and tbe Sunday-school. This last is in 'the
hands of the pastor, and we could see how
well tbe children are taught. The congrega
tions were good and attentive, and from
what I thns saw, as also in private, I felt that
the state of the church and of our work in
Bari is healthful and encouraging. The
brethren greatly desire a good locale of their
own, which could be bought for $2 500, and
which would give also rooms for tbe minis*-
ter. One of them said to me, “It is hard for
us to draw tbe better sort of people to such a
place as ours. All the different trades have
their unions, and every union has its hall,
and even the waiters of Bari have now a ball
much nicer than ours." I saw from that
remark better than ever before, how real and
great is tbe need. And if one only asks,
why the church can’t get a hall as well as
tbe waiters, the answer is, that tbe former
are far more numerous and far more able
than are the latter, who yet do something,
such as for instance, pay for their lights and
sexton and help their poor.
One or two incidents interested me. We
were deciphering a Latin inscription on a
wall, not very successfully, I must confess
to brother Pendleton, when a well-dressed
and unusually bright little boy of ten or
eleven years came up, and we entered into
conversation with him. Finally brother
Eager gave him John’s Gospel, which was
received with thanks gracefully offered and
a touch of the cap. Then tbe 16th verse in
the third chapter, “God so loved the world,”
etc., was commented to him, and he repeat
ed it several times in his masical tones.
Then he looked at the little page and saw,
“London: American and Foreign Bible So
ciety,” and his countenance changed, and
he courteously but decidedly refused to re
ceive the book. Nay, he turned propagator,
and declared that Saint Nicola was the pro
tector of Bari and his protector, adding that
the body of tbe Saint was in the Cathedral
and wrought miracles, even offering to ac
company us thither. He evidently believed
what he said, and I could not butadmire his
intelligence and zeal, tempered with courte
sy, while I grieved for the errors by which
he seemed enslaved. Afterwards I met him
as he was walking with his school, in charge
of an ecclesiastic, and I understood the case
better. Whether the words spoken to him
will ever bear fruit, time, or rather eternity,
alone, can reveal.
A counterpart picture to the foregoing, I
will now try to paint. We were in the little
store of one of our aged members, in front
of the counter, and around a scaldino whose
hot ashes sent up a grateful warmth. “We”
means brother Eager and I, a oolporter of
the Bible Society, who is a member of our
church, Mrs. Volpi, and tbe storekeeper and
his wife. He is In delicate health, and can
rarely go out to meeting, but, as will appear,
is far from inactive or unuseful. He has a
singularly fine face, of the Dante style, with
sharply defined and well chiseled features,
and bis appearance was rendered more im
posing by the beretto, or skull cap, which
be wore, while his voice, deep, but, from his
disease, somewhat hollow, was strangely
impressive. Ah 1 there were others present,
who almost escaped my attention, one being
an elderly man who sat a little apart, and
was a quiet sptetator; the other a little girl
of eight or nine years, and small for her age, .
who was waiting on customers, and per
forming other services. We had been talk
ing of the gospel, when at a pause, the old
brother, whom I have described, calling the
girl, said to me, “I will show you a little of
what I have taught her." The child stood
up, as is the custom in Italy in reciting, and
With folded bands awaited the recitation, the
handkerchief, turbaned on her head in the
style of the peasants, uniting with her sober
face, to give her a singular, womanly appear
ance. First, she recited her catechism,
which began with “the chief end of man,”
"to serve God on earth, and to enjoy Him
forever,” and was truly excellent. Then, a
creed, which was the substance of evangeli
cal doctrine, was recited; then, the Ten
Commandments, the Lord’s prayer, several
C assages of Scripture, and finally two or three
ymns. All was said without mistake and
without hesitation, but intelligently and not
at all in a parrot-like way. In the mean
time, several customers had entered, whom
the wife had quietly Served, and who went
. ut as quietly, not to disturb the impromptu
gospel meeting which was going on, with a
little child as the preacher. But not all went
out; for an aged woman paused to listen,
and as she looked down upon the little
maiden, the tears slowly stealing down her
rugged, weather beaten face,her countenance
might have been a study for an artist. It
was a study for me, but whether it expressed
sympathetic admiration for the child, regret
that her day had passed without such op
portunities, or joy tn the sweet truths which
were being in so unique away set forth, I
could not tell. God knoweth. I know that
our Lord Jesus hath said, that “out of the
mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast per
fected praise.” And it was a little servant
girl who had been thus taught by our aged
brother, who evidently believes, with Spur
geon, that there is no better work than to
teach even one poor little child tbe word of
God. Hear it, O reader, whoever thou art,
and if thou hast the opportunity, fail not to
follow the example of the venerable invalid
of Bari. Ah 1 I fear there is many a child
of Baptist parents in the United States, who
could not repeat the Lord’s prayer and Ten
Commandments, not to speak of other things;
and Sunday-schools can never rid us of the
obligation nor deprive us of the privilege, of
putting a heavenly seed in a youthful soul,
whenever God, in his providence, gives the
opportunity.
As so much freedom seemed to exist, I
proposed a song, and we sang, "Safe in the
Arms of Jesus,” and other like pieces. I
said, when we had concluded, “They express
the very core and heart of the gospel.”
“Yes,” replied the old man, “that He who
was infinitely worthy suffered for me, who
am infinitely unworthy, and by His suffer
ing brought me salvation.”
When we left, I expressed my surprize
that our ft lends felt so free and independent
in the midst ot a Roman Catholic popula
tion, on which they depended for patronage.
In reply, it was stated that they had decided
in the beginning to be as frank Protestants
as they had been Catholics, and take the
consequences; and that at first they were
persecuted and left alone, but afterwards
people had come to respect their straight*-
forward consistency, and to treat them as
before; a very good lesson, surely, for every
body.
I had thought to write everything in one
letter, and that a not very long one, but I
find myself compelled to clcse, with the
promise to follow this immediately with an
other letter about things in Bari, and in the
region round about, which was also visited
by us. Gao. B. Taylob.
Rome, Italy.
»“I fear the Greeks, even when they bring
gifts.”
An Old Doctor’s Adviob.—lt was this:
“Trust in God and keep your bowels open.”
For this purpose many an old doctor has
advised the habitually costive to take Kid
ney- Wort— for no other remedy so effectually
overcomes this condition, and that without
the distress and griping which other medi
cines cause. It is a radical cure for piles.
Don’t fail to use it.—Translated from the
New York Zeitnng.
That white tongue needs immediate atten*
tion. Nothing so quickly regulates the sys»
tem and keeps it pure as Warner’s Safe Kid
ney and Liver Core.