Goddard, Rev. J., letter of, India, Southern, missions of other socie- Opium trade in Siam, Ottawas, mission to, 349 172 90, 331 171 Patras, interesting state of things at, 7, 70, 181, 306, 329 11 216, 322 Jamaica, Eng Bap. mission in, 106, 336 Jever, increase of the church in, 9, 180 44 55 338, 355 151,-to its missionaries, 156, 203,-to 158 Karens, mission to, 183; condition of in Resolutions of the Board in reference to 65, 326 Karen type, a specimen of, Kildare-place Society, (London), Kincaid, Rev. E., removal of to Arracan, Shawanoes, mission to, 173, 233; arrival Sadiya, visit of Mr. Brown to, 31 21, 35 THE WORK OF A MISSIONARY. EXTRACTS FROM AN ADDRESS BY REV. JOHN TAYLOR JONES, OF THE SIAM MISSION, delivered before the Society of Inquiry, in Newton Theological Institution, at their late Anniversary. We are indebted to the kindness of Mr. Jones for a copy of the above address, with liberty to make such selections from it as are suited to the columns of our Magazine. We give below such extracts as we are able to make for our present number. The sentiments contained in this address are important, and, of themselves, worthy of consideration; but they possess an additional interest from the fact, that the author has been, for a number of years, an actual laborer in the missionary field. It embodies, on the subjects presented, the results of experience, of personal observation, and of mature reflection. It expresses the views and feelings of one who is able to say, "I have tried the missionary work, and found it such as I have described it. I have felt the need of such qualifications as I have specified, I feel the urgency of it, and stand ready to resume it as soon as God, in his providence, shall open the way." The address is divided into three general beads. 1st. The nature and extent of the work. 2d. The qualifications necessary for its successful prosecution. 3d. The demand for missionary labor. I. THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE WORK. This is taught us by the commission of our divine Redeemer. When he had finished the work which was given him, had expired on the cross, submitted to the temporary dominion of the grave and risen from it in triumph, he laid this solemn injunction upon his disciples,-"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature"- -"baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost"-" teaching them to observe all things whatsoever The execu have commanded you." tion of this commission involves many particulars. It involves, first, a knowledge of whatever the Savior taught. This may seem a truism too simple to be dwelt on here; but it is not so. It lies at the foundation of all right conception of the missionary's work. That work requires that he should teach, and consequently, should understand-not what men have taught, but what Christ taught. We would not confine this to what Christ taught orally to his disciples, but would regard it as including also what he taught by his Spithem into all truth;" but it does not inrit, who, he promised, should "guide clude all the explanations of it, which men have since given, or all the creeds, which men have built upon it. He that hath a dream, or a speculation, let him tell his dream or his speculation, but let him not put either of these into the place of the gospel of Christ. In so doing, he puts in jeopardy his own usefulness, and the souls of men, as well as the general interests of Christianity. The prosecution of the missionary work involves, secondly, a thorough knowledge of the language in which truth is to be conveyed to the pagan nations. Some knowledge of such language is generally presupposed; but I add, it must be thorough-fundamental. Much important truth may be conveyed where this knowledge is only partial; but it will, in such cases, be so commingled with error and misrepresentation, as almost to neutralize its effect, or lose its character of truth altogether. One impor tant part of communicating truth, con- | had they been brought into contact sists in so stating it, that it shall not with all the different shapes and phabe misunderstood. ses which human society now assumes; or had they been placed in the circumstances in which modern missionaries often are. Some classes of people are naturally, or by habit, thoughtful and speculative; others ardent and imaginative. In some instances the language of the heathen has never been written-in others, there is an extensive literature already formed. These circumstances will render different methods necessary for conveying instruction to the mind. I know it may be urged that Christian truth is always the same. True; but it does not hence follow that the mode of communicating it should be always the same. Peter preached the truth to the Jews and strangers on the day of Pentecost, and Paul preached the same, to the Athenians, in the court of Areopagus; but their manner of doing it was very different in the two cases. This was doubtless a part of the qualification which rendered them successful in "winning souls." So must the missionary be wise in adapting himself, and the truth he utters, to the condition and circumstances of those whom he would instruct. God has mercifully employed human language as a medium for conveying truth to the human mind. That language missionaries must employ. To use any weapon adroitly and successfully, requires great familiarity. Such a familiarity with a heathen language as will render a missionary sure, when he uses it, that he utters truth in it, or at any rate, his impressions of truth, cannot be acquired without protracted and painful effort, nor with out the lapse of years. The idea must never be indulged, that a missionary can soon acquire a sufficient knowledge of the language, to convey his ideas to a teacher, so that that teacher may safely be left to convey the missionary's meaning to others. If he does know enough of the language to convey his meaning to his teacher with certainty, then he can also convey it to others, and needs not the intervention of a teacher. The missionary must, in short, be a perfect master of the language himself; then, and then only, can be successfully communicate the truth by it. No confidence whatever can be placed in books written after a year's study, or in accounts of preaching after one or two years' study. Some truth may be indeed conveyed by them; but so much error or imperfection will be mingled with it, that little or no good can be anticipated in the result. Truth, like nitric acid and many other chemical agents, is powerful when uncombined and free, but may be so diluted and commingled, that all its native activity shall be lost. These remarks are almost equally applicable, whether truth is to be couveyed orally, or by written books; but as books are permanent, and are likely to make an impression on more minds, it is especially necessary that they be prepared only by those who are thorough adepts in the language in which they are written. A successful prosecution of missionary labor requires, fourthly, greater regard than is usually had, to division of labor. Should a man, about to build a house, cut his own timber, saw his own boards, make his own nails, be his own mason, painter and glazier, would he be deemed wise, or would his work be likely to be well done? When he could procure tools already made, would it be judicious for him to delay his work till he could make some that suited him better? Now, I fear that this is the way in which most living missionaries have been compelled to labor in building the Lord's spiritual house. They have generally been obliged to build, or superintend the building of their own houses, chapels, school houses, printing offices,-often The prosecution of the missionary to be type cutters, type founders, suwork involves, thirdly, a due regard perintendents of printing offices, proof to adaptation in the mode of commu- readers,-school teachers or superinnicating religious truth. The great tendents, translators, tract writers, exobject of the primitive apostles was plorers,—journal writers for home peto persuade all men to be reconcil-riodicals,--preachers and pastors-and ed to God through our Lord Jesus in addition to all this, to maintain their Christ. Such should be the object of all propagators of the Christian faith. The methods they took to accomplish this were various, and doubtless would have been more varied, correspondence with the Board which sustains them, and with their relatives and a numerous circle of friends. In addition to these duties, some are also called to practise medicine, to enter When the work which a missionary has to perform is duly weighed, the necessity for the most untiring energy will be readily perceived. Where this tain strangers, to preach to Europeans, | umph, because His promise was unassist them, now in sickness, or aid in questionable. Difficulties, instead of their funeral services. All these things being a discouragement, were a stimufrequently come upon a single indi-lus to augmented effort. And success vidual, though not, it is true, at the marked his path. same time. Now the average time of a missionary's life is less than ten years, perhaps less than eight, and four or five of these must ordinarily be required for learning the lan-quality does not exist, the multiplied guage. Under such disadvantages, how much can any single missionary be expected to effect towards the erection of the Lord's house? His strength must be spent and his energies nearly exhausted in collecting the materials. Considering the fact that most missionaries to the heathen must acquire a new and difficult language before they can do any thing directly in their great work, is it not evident that they must have some one definite department in which to labor, in order that they may be successful? Is it not desirable, then-nay, necessary, that this work should be divided, and each man have his particular share assigned him. But how can this be done? A difficult question, truly, while missionaries are so deplorably few, and those few are still encompassed with imperfection? II. QUALIFICATIONS for this work. And labors, the exhausting studies, the debilitating climate, the perverseness of heathen character, will discourage all enterprize. But this characteristic is wholly diverse from mere recklessness in "going ahead." It must be a sober and cultivated quality. It consists mainly in a firm adherence to well formed purpose, and will enable its possessor to urge his way onward, surmounting obstacles, and overcoming difficulties, until his efforts are crowned with complete success. It does not disregard divine aid, but humbly relying upon it,-because God has promised it,-it courageously bids mountains sink and valleys rise-bids light to shine and darkness flee away-and its bidding is accomplished. It implies action, but well directed action; not, simply,-to use a borrowed figure,the ability to "strike hard, but the acquired skill, to know where to strike 1st, I mention simplicity of mind. and how to hit." It is this, which will I use this term not as indicating weak-carry a man through his enterprize. ness, but rather as referring to ingenuousness in the adoption and statement of truth. It is only such a mind that will receive the truth,-Christian truth, "in the love of it ;" and such alone will feel a proper interest in communica-ables him to distinguish differences of ting it to others. A simple nind will rest satisfied with the truth as God has revealed it, and with the institutions which the gospel enjoins, and will not entangle itself with human systems and feel bound to make them its standards. This is mischievous enough any where, but in missionary labor it is one of the direst calamities that can happen. Let, then, all who aspire to teach the gospel of Christ to the nations, diligently cultivate simplicity of heart. 3d. A thorough acquaintance with human character. A man may be ever so pious, ever so liberal, ever so learned, and yet fail to be a good missionary. Unless he possess that tact which en character in men, he will never adapt his measures to their circumstances, and his efforts, being ill directed, will be fruitless. Many men of great energy have labored diligently, have made stupendous efforts, and yet their labors were all lost, from want of being well directed. "Every man should have his portion in due season.' 4th. An aptness for acquiring language. Language, for missionary purposes, must be acquired in a different 2d. Energy of character. As an il- and in a more thorough_manner than lustration of this characteristic, I would for any other purpose. I do not deny mention Paul. Though distinguished that a man who has no uncommon by the most touching simplicity of mind, tact, if he have iron diligence, and great he was sustained in his arduous enter-energy of resolve, may acquire a good prize by a dauntless courage, an earnestness of purpose which would suffer no obstacle to impede him in his career. He moved right onward. He knew his cause was good, because it was the cause of God-it would tri knowledge of a foreign and pagan tongue; but it will require more time, and be an exceedingly discouraging enterprize. It is, at best, a laborious undertaking, and all who have made the experiment have learned that they are prone to estimate their progress as greater, after two years' study, than after five; and yet I hesitate not to aver, that very little good has been done by a knowledge acquired in less than five years, unless in cases where there was special tact for it. The eastern languages are constructed on principles so diverse from those of the western, that it is no slight task to make them as familiar as one's native tongue; and yet this must be done before religious truth can be successfully conveyed to the native mind. Words in any language may be easily learned by one who has a good memory, but idiom and tone are not readily mastered. A man who is negligent in regard to the use of his own language-who pronounces badly, uses vulgarisms, or forced and strained constructions, will never succeed well in the use of a foreign tongue. Let him not attempt it. He will blunder, be misunderstood, and greatly embarrass himself and his associates by representations which they will be obliged to correct. 5th. A spirit of humility and of prayer. I mention these together, not because they are not worthy of separate consideration, but for the sake of brevity. Humility is needed that the missionary may be willing to be any thing, that he may, "by all means, save some.' The humble man will perceive that there are many things to be done before truth can triumph in our world, and will be willing to do any of them. He shrinks from nothing but guilt,-is ashamed of nothing but sin. Where this spirit prevails, none will decline any post in which he can be useful; nor will he think he can be useful only in some of the, so called, higher departments of labor. He will not say, if I cannot be the head, I will renounce all connection with the body, but will rather say, I will occupy the place assigned me and will magnify my office, whatever it may be. Further, he must be prayerful. Does any one need wisdom, to direct his plans, strength, to execute them, success, to crown them;-"let him ask of God who giveth to all liberally." | Prayer takes hold of the omnipotence of God, and in some sense subjects it to the control of mortals, and thus becomes the most powerful of all weapons for the destruction of Satan's empire. And when missionaries are as humble and prayerful as they ought to be, and as the exigency demands, their trials will be greatly alleviated, and their happiness, yea, and their use fulness too, will be greatly increased. III. THE URGENCY of the work, or the immediate necessity of its being done. Here I might go to first principles, and say that the Savior gave his disciples a work to do; that work is not done-the command is unfulfilled-His authority is acknowledgedHis word is definite and intelligible—~ it cannot be misunderstood. He has himself said, "Ye are my disciples if ye do whatsoever I command you"and yet, this great command is not fulfilled. In what aspect do these truths present the great mass of the professors of Christianity? All who receive the Christian faith regard it as invaluable, even if viewed only in its civil and social benefits,-unspeakably precious, as proffering eternal salvation! They know its benefits may be as great to others as to themselves. Philanthropy and benevolence, then, should prompt them to diffuse it abroad. The means of this are at their command. The wealth wasted in extravagant and useless expenditure, or hoarded by avarice, would suffice for this object. How, then, can they account for it to the great Head of the church, whom they profess to love and serve, that his command is not fulfilled? Account for it they must, and will it not be a fearful reckoning? But I derive an argument for the urgency of the work, from the fact that it is already begun. Many hundreds of the dearest and most devoted members of the family of Christ, have gone forth to the enterprise. They have given themselves to the work, amidst many privations; they have labored long, have struggled hard, have accomplished much preparatory labor. They have a claim on the sympathy and encouragement of all the family. The most effective sympathy, the most substantial encouragement which they desire is coöperation. In some instances, they have acquired a new and distinct language, and prepared facilities by which others may acquire it, and proclaim salvation in it. They know that they shall soou die. They ask that their brethreu would come, and avail themselves of those facilities, that all their efforts may not be lost. They have labored for Christ-and they cannot bear the thought that that labor should be wholly unavailing. Some have gone further. Having acquired the language, they have translated portions of the Scriptures. They are conscious that |