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that it will be instrumental in the result to the advancement of the kingdom of his Savionr. The habits of industry and application formed in his preparation for his work, are likely to continue through future life. The clear and experimental knowledge acquired before he goes will be brought into full exercise in his work. His previous studies and reflections will all be little enough to prepare him for the varied features of Heathen idolatry, and the multiplied abominations and subtilties of Pagan and Mahomedan votaries.

In order that no flesh should glory in his presence, God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. Yet, as in the beginning of the gospel, He gave to the first teachers miraculous powers, and thus often opened a door of utterance for them, so now also He has given to the churches which He is using to evangelize the world, a scientific and moral superiority, in their advanced knowledge and civilization, which greatly facilitates their access to the heathen. If it occasionally pleases Him to use a man of very inferior intellect and literary attainments for the conversion of one vastly his superior in these respects, yet the diligent and industrious study which has given the Christian Missionary a decisive superiority, in every part of sound knowledge, over those whom he labours to convert, is by no means thrown away. It is one important part of that vast machinery of means, by which God opens the door of usefulness, and makes his servants a blessing to the world.

The most successful of Missionaries indeed, for himself counted all but loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus; and for others, determined

to know nothing among them, but Christ and him cruci fied; and the true Missionary will never depart from this, the very spirit of the Apostles. As they were gifted with tongues, and the word of knowledge, so he must seek to acquire by ordinary means those needful qualifications with which they were instantaneously and miraculously endowed, but he will still view them merely as means for his higher end, to make known Christ and his great salvation, the chief theme on which he always delights to dwell.

The remarks of the Rev. J. N. Pearson, in his address to Missionary Students are just and important. "The notion that piety alone is a sufficient qualification for entering the lists with the Atheist, and the Idolater, with the Mahomedan and the Jew, is contrary to experience, and to the testimony of God, both in his word and in the visible method of his government. The most vigorous powers of the mind, in its most advanced state of improvement, are not more than an adequate array against those powers of darkness which have entrenched themselves in the fastnesses of man's vitiated understanding. It is the part of true piety, to avail itself of every engine, which the spirit of the gospel does not disallow, for subverting that throne which is founded on the wisdom of the world.'

For a Missionary to go out uninstructed, and without suitable preparation and due use of means, would be yielding to the temptation of that subtle adversary, who assailed Christ himself by the vain suggestion of a special providence if he cast himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, instead of going down by the ordinary descent. When sufficient means, without miraculous interference, are already attainable, pro

vided, and may be freely used, it is not faith, but presumption and tempting God, to seek to accomplish the best object by a method to which, however it may seem to honour his providence, we are not called by any command of his word, or any necessity of our circumstances.

The case of Henry Martyn furnishes an example of the value of learning to the Missionary. In Persia he found all the knowledge which he had acquired, serviceable in giving him access to the Mahomedans, and influence over their minds. Discerning his superiority, they gave him their attention, and listened to one, whom otherwise they would have disregarded.

Some of the Heathen are persons of considerable learning in the works of their own country. Many have a very acute intellect and much subtilty, and though it may often please God to show the power of his own simple word, by making it baffle and bring to nought all the wisdom of the wise; yet it may also please Him to rebuke an ignorance of His servants which arises from negligence, by putting them to shame before the heathen, and thus a reproach may be brought on religion, which a due course of study would have prevented.

Wisely to meet many of the objections of the heathen, the Missionary must be acquainted with their manners and customs, their traditions and superstitions, their religious rites, and their mode of reasoning. At least with the knowledge which books afford on these topics, he will not be liable to be taken by surprize, and will be often saved from needlessly committing himself.

The Missionary will have to guard against the

temptation of making literary studies, which it may be his duty to pursue, an idol of the heart, and of sinking into the mere literary luxury of selfindulgent study. We become greatly interested in studies in which we are making progress, and they may soon take too deep a hold on the mind. Prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, and the daily practical duties of our station, will furnish us with good barometers, showing us where we are. If we go to these reluctantly, and especially if we neglect them, we are in the temptation. This is a snare, as great at least, perhaps greater, to those who have not before they went out, vigorously applied their minds to studies as to those who have. The faithful Missionary will not be unthankful for such a caution.

In the case of NEW TRANSLATIONS of the Scriptures and other works, the Missionary, with gifts and qualifications for this service, will, as Dr. Buchanan notices, and subsequent experience manifests, find a thorough knowledge of grammar, and the original languages of scripture, and the vernacular version into which the book is to be transferred, of great, if not of indispensable importance.

It is indeed true, that with the advantage of the English translation alone, and a full knowledge of the language into which the version is to be made, such a version may be produced as will of itself be exceedingly useful in guiding the people to the knowledge of scriptural truth, and any version almost is better than none; for even amid palpable defects, light enough breaks through to guide the sinner to the Saviour; yet for a work of such inestimable moment as transferring the mind of God in his word from one language to another, and with the awful

threatenings which are recorded against adding to, or detracting from his word, every Christian will feel it to be his duty to attain the best possible help, and to give to the Heathen the best practicable version. Perfection here, as in other human works, is unattainable, but every approach towards it, in a work of such moment, is truly beneficial.

It is sometimes needful to form unfixed languages, to reduce them to writing, and give the scriptures to the people in their previously unwritten tongues. This is a work of prodigious labour, and of gradual and slow attainment. But many Missionaries have already furnished different heathen countries with this inestimable benefit. For accomplishing this, a complete series of critical works, of grammars, dictionaries, and the best philological books, are of considerable value. On subjects like this, the author feels too uninformed to be competent to give adequate information, but such as he has he gives.

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The Bible will always be the one book of the Missionary. The Acts of the Apostles especially are full of invaluable instruction to him, even more than would at first sight be supposed. He must expect many enemies. He goes to attack a powerful kingdom, the kingdom of darkness, with all its forces under the control and government of a subtle, malignant and mighty foe, the prince of darkness. The professors of the dominant religion will be first roused, and they

1 Matthew Henry's Commentary upon the Acts is written by one who, having himself seen the evil of persecution, would write under those feelings which gave him many advantages for furnishing a wise and experimental exposition of it; and, if we mistake not, the Missionary will find it full of the most suitable directions for him, in a variety of new and difficult circumstances in which he will be placed.

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