PRAYER THE MOST IMPORTANT MEANS OF MISSIONARY SUCCESS.

BY THE REV. E. BICKERSTETH, A. M.

THE Missionary spirit and the Christian spirit are one and the same. They have been far too much disjoined, and viewed as distinct. It is the very property of Divine grace to be diffusive; it is the very end of our own blessedness, to be a blessing; we are ourselves elected, that we may be "the salt of the earth, and the light of the world."

The foundation of missionary feeling is an actual taste and experience of the loving-kindness of God our Father; a real enjoyment of him as our rest, portion, and happiness, attained in the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Saviour. In him God has revealed himself to us as full of holy love, even to us sinful creatures. (Rom. 5. 8.) While his hatred of sin is developed by the strongest of all proofs, the agonies of his Son; the same bitter sufferings display also, in the clearest light, his intense love to those who have sinned, and his ardent desire of their recovery and restoration to holiness and happiness. In viewing this by lively faith, the enmity of our carnal minds against God is removed; we learn to delight in his holiness, as well as in his love; and we attain the same mind towards sinners as that of our gracious, and holy, and heavenly Father.

God the Father has most distinctly manifested his own mind, as to the salvation of men, in varied ways. By a positive statement: "God will have all men to be saved, and to come

to the knowledge of the truth:" and by negative assertions; "God is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." He has confirmed this by a solemn oath: "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." He has given the most convincing evidence of this by the death of Christ: "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."

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God the Son has distinctly manifested the same mind. the which he teaches us daily to use: prayer Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." By his constant invitations to all men to come to him; and by his last command to his disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

God the Holy Ghost has this one mind also. For this purpose he inspired the Holy Bible to be "a lamp to our feet, and a light to our paths;" for this purpose he continues to raise up and send forth faithful preachers of the gospel; and for this purpose God has promised he will "in the last days pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh."

To have the same mind as the Divine mind, is the highest consummation of Christianity, and the very happiness we hope to enjoy for ever in God's presence. God is light light is diffusive. God is love: love is ever spreading itself in loving others; and as we grow in grace, we grow in this true light and in this unfeigned love.

There is not a feeling more generally prevalent among men wise and intelligent in this world, than that it is utterly impossible for missionaries to convert the heathen. The most acute politicians, the most able philosophers, the most learned in science, tell us it is in vain for man to attempt to convert the Mohammedan or the Hindoo, the African or the Chinese.

And it is admitted, as far as human power and means go, all the probabilities seem to confirm their statement. But, blessed

be God, the commission to preach the gospel is introduced by the assurance, "All power is given to me in heaven and earth," and is closed by the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, to the end of the world." Divine power is expressly promised, to aid us in our utter insufficiency.

Prayer in behalf of Christian missions is the most valuable of all help that can be rendered to this great work. While it is a means that all may use, it is, however, also the most difficult help to render. It is comparatively easy to give a sum of money, or even to ask another to give, but in secret fervently to pray for the success of missions, is especially contrary to flesh and blood; the power of the Holy Ghost can alone raise us to this. Rom. viii. 26. Jude xx.

Prayer is the most valuable help, as it alone gains that which is the secret but only efficient spring of real success. Though all other means originally spring from divine grace, they are wholly ineffectual to the great end of missions, without "the supply of the Spirit of Christ" obtained by prayer. The real conversion of sinners, "the opening of their eyes, their turning from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith which is in Jesus;" this is the end of Christian missions, and this end is only accomplished by the direct communication of divine grace through the ministry: "Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." Prayer obtains this help. It is absolutely promised to prayer alone. Luke xi. 13.

The example of our Redeemer in prayer is full of instruction. After he had instructed the people, "he went up into a moun