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under discouragements and privations; who will have the zeal and
resolution and faith that are indispensable in the missionary field.
Our churches are called upon to take hold of this work with far
greater earnestness than has yet been manifested. Every church should
make special provision for the training of its missionaries, thus aiding
the fulfillment of the great command: “Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature.” My brethren, we have erred and
sinned in attempting too little. There should be more laborers in the
foreign missionary field. There are among us those who, without the
toil and delay of learning a foreign language, might qualify themselves
to proclaim the truth to other nations. In the primitive church, mission-
aries were miraculously endowed with a knowledge of the languages
in which they were called to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.
And if God was willing thus to help His servants then, can we doubt
that His blessing will rest upon our efforts to qualify those who nat-
urally possess a knowledge of foreign tongues, and who with proper
encouragement would bear to their own countrymen the message of
truth? We might have had more laborers in foreign missionary fields
had those who entered these fields availed themselves of every talent
within their reach. But some have had a disposition to refuse help if it
did not come just according to their ideas and plans. And what is the
result? If our missionaries were to be removed by sickness or death
from their fields of labor, where are the men whom they have educated
to fill their places?
Not one of our missionaries has secured the co-operation of every
available talent. Much time has thus been lost. We rejoice in the good
work which has been done in foreign lands; but had different plans of
labor been adopted, tenfold, yes, twentyfold, more might have been
accomplished; an acceptable offering would have been presented to
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Jesus in many souls rescued from the bondage of error.
Everyone who receives the light of truth should be taught to bear
the light to others. Our missionaries in foreign lands should gratefully
accept every help, every facility, offered them. They must be willing to
run some risk, to venture something. It is not pleasing to God that we
defer present opportunities for doing good, in hope of accomplishing
a greater work in the future. Each should follow the leadings of
Providence, not consulting self-interest, and not trusting wholly to his
own judgment. Some may be so constituted as to see failure where