THE

BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

VOL. XXVIII.

OCTOBER, 1848.

NO. 10.

RELATIVE CLAIMS OF THE FOREIGN AND THE HOME FIELDS.

The following passages are in conclusion of the discourse delivered at Troy, N. Y., May 18, before the Missionary Union, by Rev. J. N. Granger. The entire discourse has been published by direction of the Union, and constitutes the first of a proposed series of occasional publications.

The rule which Christ gave his ministers was, that when they went into a city which would not hear them, they were to cast the consequences back upon the souls who rejected their Lord, and to pass on to other places which, as yet, knew not Christ,-like the miner who strikes an unproductive vein, which will yield his employer no returns. He must press on until "he overturneth the mountains by the roots, and putteth forth his hand upon the rock, the stones of which are the place of sapphires and it hath dust of gold. Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for the gold, where they fine it." The principle undoubtedly is, that Christ's offer of salvation must be made, as soon as possible, to all men, that they may have the opportunity of choosing or of rejecting it.

It is not enough to reply that the claims at home are great and pressing beyond all calculation. If Christ has defined a line of policy for his ministers, they are to adhere to it, and to leave the event with him. The question is not, how great are the claims, but what is the revealed will of Him whose calm eye rests upon the wastes of heathenism, as well as upon the fair walls and palaces of our city of God.

Nor is it a satisfactory reply that "we have heathen enough at home." If by this is meant that we have degraded and ignorant ones at home, souls whom we must pity and save, it is not denied. Nor is our duty to any of the sinful and unbelieving world denied. But if by this it be affirmed that we have those among us who have never heard of Christ and of his death, and of his power to save, it is denied that we have any heathen at home. The most abandoned blasphemer who walks these streets betrays even in the oaths which pollute his lips a knowledge of the name of Jesus, that name "which is the only name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved," a knowledge which the heathen waits to receive at your hands before he dies. And, my brethren, it is because the subject has not been sufficiently studied in this light, that the first work of the pastor, beyond his own flock, has been broken and divided among a dozen objects, until he has lost all healthy reliance upon his own strength, and has been glad to hand the whole subject of benevolent con49

VOL. XXVIII.

tributions over to the representatives of as many different societies, that each may demonstrate that the whole machinery of the kingdom of Heaven hinges on his particular object, which if impeded, the vast complication, wheel upon wheel, works only crash and ruin, and goes headlong back to chaos.

I shall not, I trust, be understood to indulge in any reflections on the aims or measures of the managers of kindred societies. They have done what they could. God speed them in their endeavors to do more. I am, however, seeking now, not their point of view and duty, but ours and the churches'. Nor shall I be understood even to intimate that too much is done for our country. The facts on this subject are too well known. The ministers and churches who have entered most fully into the spirit of missions to the heathen, have always been and must ever be the warmest friends of the home work, and its largest and most cheerful contributors. While on the other hand your mau, who sees heathen enough at home, is the last man in the church to help them. Your true Samaritan is a stranger in the land, journeying from Jerusalem to Jericho, who, although the home of his heart is far away, has an eye for every wounded fellow-traveller he may pass. What I mean is, that order should reign through all our plans of benevolence, that what is first in importance in Christ's view, should be first in place with us. It is the part of the pastor to keep the whole range of his benevolent action under the severe control of Christ's plan, and to administer his influence in full view of conscience and the word of God. I love my country, I own to it a feeling of nationality and of consequent obligation, which I grant to no other land. But I cannot sink the command of Christ in that love. I love my country and am proud of its extent. I love to think of its prospective wealth, and numbers and virtue. But I love more the vision of a multitude whom no man can number redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, out of every kingdom and tribe and people under the whole heaven. I love to think of those western vallies and rivers covered with the life of a pure civilization, thronged by the intelligent, the temperate and the free; but even when I think, my spirit faints for the Prophet's Vision of the vast fields of pagan cruelty, superstition and vice, now dead to all knowledge of Christ as are the sands of the desert, transformed into the garden of the Lord and made to bud and to blossom as the rose.

Cradled in the love of the early doctrines of the Republic, I bate in manhood no jot of heart or hope for its prosperity. And I bless God that I live to see the day, when this infant state of ours gives lessons in civil and religious liberty to the despotisms of the old world. But I recognize a higher allegiance, even unto Him whose kingdom is not of this world. I see my membership in a kingdom whose boundaries cross those of all nations. I see the way opening for its extension in every revolution among states, in every new channel of communication which industry opens; and I hear, even in the din of this world's business, in the silent chapel, and in the still hour of night, coming up as from the distant future, the faint voice of that loud acclaim of unborn millions: " The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ! Allelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!"

The minister of Christ needs no other answer than this to all the forms of the question, "Why doest thou so?" when, next to the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made him overseer, he gives the first place in his heart and in his plans of benevolence to the unevangelized nations of the earth. His life of labor in this cause is his prayer, and the prayer his Lord taught him is his vindication, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth even as it is done in Heaven."

American Baptist Missionary Union.

GERMANY.-Letter of Mr. Oncken.

The following letter, dated at Hamburg July 25, gives a narrative of tours made by Mr. Oncken, into Oldenburg and East Friesland in April and May, and to Prussia, Austria and Hungary in June.

in to himself the thousands around us to whom we have now free access. I have, however, in consequence of the great need of increased missionary labor in Oldenburg and East Friesland, engaged the whole of br. Gülzau's time in connection with the Board. Br. G. was some time ago ordained as pastor over the church at Bremen, after having been the prudent overseer for nearly three years, during which, a part of his time was devoted to missionary labor in connection with the Board. The little bands of Christians on the Weser, at Deichshausen, Wederhel, Braak and Elsflesth, have been much blessed have been converted under his ministry. under his preaching;-many of whom

At Halsbeck, twenty miles from Oldwith some of the elders and leading euburg, I had an interesting meeting brethren of the churches at Oldenburg,

"Free course" to the gospel. The great and glorious revolution through which we are passing, has placed us, as the sect every where spoken against,-as it were, into a new state of existence. Civil and religious despotism, always linked together, must also fall together:-thus it is in Germany and Austria, and the priestly power, under which we groaned so long, is destroyed. We can now move freely and fearlessly in every direction, circulate the Holy Scriptures among the adherents of Rome, supply the millious with tracts, and preach the bless-Bremen, Jever and Leer; and trust ed gospel in regions where Satan reigued in undisturbed repose. Oldenburg and East Friesland invite to labor. In April and May I made a tour into Oldenburg and East Friesland; when I visited the churches at Bremen, Oldenburg, Halsbeck, Jever, Varel, Deichshausen, Leer and Ihren, with a view to place before them the greatness of the blessing vouchsafed to us by our gracious Lord in the liberty we now enjoy, and the duty, to which we are now more powerfully called than ever before, of increasing our efforts for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. I was every where well received, and for the first time in my life could preach without fear or dauger of being arrested by policemen or gensd'arms.

Oh what an inviting field lies now before us in all these places. Fain would I have remained a week or two at each of the above places, certain that by the Holy Spirit's blessing much good would have been effected; but my numerous duties at home would not admit of this. "Send us a devoted brother to labor among us," was the request which was made at every station. But, alas! men and means are insufficient to supply the emergency. The great Lord of the harvest provide, both, and thus gather

our united prayers and deliberations will, under God's benediction, tend to the furtherance of the gospel in those. parts. Preached twice at Halsbeck and spent a delightful Sabbath among the dear, simple people. The brother, -Bolken,-who leads the little band,

fourteen in number here,-though a plain farmer, is a clever and devoted laborer, who in the midst of severe conflicts with civil and ecclesiastical power maintained his ground, declaring that if the Lord Jesus required his head in the cause of truth, he was ready to give it, but that he should never act contrary to the plain injunctions of the New Testament. The authorities wanted to compel him to have a young woman confirmed, who lived with him as servant, and who was opposed to this human invention; and on his refusing, he was sentenced to the payment of heavy fines; in default of which he was robbed of a cow by command of the government. But though the girl was three times arrested, and our brother times without number cited before the authorities, the ceremony did not take place. The young woman was afterward converted, baptized and added to the church.

At Leer and in East Friesland generally, the prospects of increasing our churches are most promising, and it requires only a devoted brother to lar

bor there, to realize our most sanguine | Polish tracts from our brethren on the expectations. Vistula.

Visits to Berlin and Stettin.

After returning from this tour, and having attended to the most important matters connected with the church here and the mission generally, I left again, June 7th, for Berlin, when I married br. Lehmann to Miss Handwerck, June 13. During my eight days' stay at Berlin, br. Lehmaun required my aid in settling important matters connected with the church. Br. L. continues to labor with unabated zeal, and has to rejoice in the prosperity with which the Lord accompanies bis exertions.

After twenty hours very inferior railroad travelling, I arrived 22d of June at Vienna, on Corpus Christi day. Immense processions crowded the streets of the city. The National Guards and the other military were all engaged in this will-worship; but being both tired and anxious to make the best of my time, I went in search of br. Marschall, a converted Catholic, baptized at Hamburg. This brother returned to Austria, his native country, two years ago, in company with our Hungarian converts, and though till recently his attempts to spread the gospel had to be very secret, his labors have not been in vain. Two converts,

Having been pressingly invited, I went to Stettin, where I saw the grace-Roman Catholics,-had been bapof God and was glad. Not less than tized by br. Oncken, missionary of the 130 believers are there sweetly joined Hamburg church for Hungary, last together in one Lord, one faith, and summer; and others, both bere and in one baptism, though it is only two the country, justified the hope that ere years since the church was forined. long they would be one with us in all The truth is spreading from this point things. On finding these three brethin various directions, so that small ren, we arranged without delay for branch churches are gradually raised, a service in the evening, when to my by which again the truth is spread fargreat joy I was permitted to address ther and wider. I was urgently re- about twenty or twenty-five hearers, quested by br. Hinrichs to proceed who appeared to swallow every word from this to Lassan, near Anclam, which dropped from my lips. On the where ten converts were waiting to following evening I preached again to be baptized; but intending to extend a larger number of hearers, quite as my journey from Breslaw to Vienna attentive as on the preceding evening. and Pest, I was obliged to decline this. What has the Lord wrought! that I Br. Hinrichs has since been to the should have been privileged to preach above place and put all things in order. the precious gospel in the capital of The church at Stettin is in a truly Austria, from whence only two years flourishing state, and our dear br. H., ago a number of Christians were exyour missionary, labors with much ac-pelled, simply for having provided ceptance and devotedness.

Breslaw-Vienna.

the truth among the vast population of this great city and its vicinity, I left them with the promise to spend a day or two among them on my return.

Pest, its destitution-Systematic tract distribution.

themselves with the Holy Scriptures. After consulting with the brethren as to their future usefulness, and having At Breslaw I spent a precious Sab- encouraged them to embrace the presbath with the little flock, and remain-ent favorable moment, by spreading ed four days. The cause here is advancing but slowly, owing to the want of an efficient laborer. For though our beloved and self-denying br. Straube (colporteur of the American and Foreign Bible Society,) visits here occasionally, his stay is too short to draw a large congregation. I found this brother here, and made arrange-ing, 24th of June, and reached Pest on ments with him to accompany him into the Silesian mountains on my return. The brethren at Breslaw continue to do what they can in the spread of the truth, and many thousands, both Catholics and Protestants, are supplied with tracts and scriptures. Finding that large numbers of Poles visit this place, I ordered a good supply of

Left Vienna early on Saturday morn

My

the evening of the same day. meeting with the dear brethren was most refreshing to us. Seven out of the nine, who constitute the church, are spiritual children of the church at Hamburg, with whom we have often sat in heavenly places, and on whose behalf many-inany-earnest petitions had been presented at a throne of

grace, that God might preserve them in the midst of the numberless difficulties and trials to which, on leaving us, they would be exposed. Blessed be God! that though Satan had been trying to sift them, I could embrace them all as still belonging to the Redeemer's family.

I found that the brethren here were all deeply interested in the spread of the gospel, and that since the great political changes they had begun to circulate tracts publicly in the streets; which had been well received. As, however, the people are still under great political excitement, I dissuaded the brethren from this mode of doing good, as it might be the occasion of raising a mob, and thus expose themselves to danger, and the cause to unnecessary opposition. I advised them to divide Pest into districts, and leave one or two tracts in every house without calling for them again, that by this means the whole population might at least have so much of revealed truth in their possession, that by the Spirit's teaching they could be made acquainted with the only name given among men whereby they must be saved. This suggestion was adopted, and has since been acted upon by the brethren. I spent six days at Pest, preached three times to about fifty hearers at a time, and had every evening a special prayer meeting with the church. Arrangements were made to get eight tracts in Hungarian, each of 5000 copies, printed, whilst from Hamburg 10,000 German tracts and a suitable number of bibles and testaments were to be forwarded to Pest without delay. The moral and religious condition of the people is most deplorable; but it cannot be otherwise, as, alas! there is no spiritual life in the Protestant churches, and the poor Catholics are given up to the grossest ignorance and superstition. The little band of believers at Pest, along with the missionaries laboring for the conversion of the Jews and a pious minister in the Lutheran church, who has rendered our brethren essential service, are the almost only lights by which the impregnable darkness is broken. May our gracious Lord bless them in their labors to the eternal happiness of millions.

Return-Presburg-Vienna.

On my way back up the Danube, which was exceedingly tedious, owing

against the powerful current, I remained a night at Presburg, with a view to call on the Grand Arch-duchess, widow of the late Palatine of Hungary. 1 had an bour's interesting conversation with this truly pious lady, who is deeply interested in all that bears on the advancement of Christ's kingdom. Our brethren at Pest and br. Marschall at Vienna had previously seen her, and been encouraged by her in the spread of the scriptures. The arch-duchess had, when at Vienna, supplied br. Marschall with bibles, which it would have been impossible to obtain from any other quarter. Thus our God can dispose even the hearts of princes and princesses, when such are required for the accomplishment of his own purposes.

Returned to Vienna Saturday, 1st of July, and preached the following Subbath to an audience of about fifty hearers. The profoundest attention was shown by my hearers, among whom were Catholics who had walked for seven hours to hear the gospel, which they had never heard before. Conversed with several of my hearers afterwards, and found a spirit of deep inquiry into God's truth in them;yea, more,-several on the point of leaving the church, who had not only seen the errors of that community, but seen and felt their lost condition as sinners, and had fled to Christ as the only mediator between God and man. Though I had previously arranged to leave Vienna early on Monday morning, I was obliged to give way to the entreaties of the friends and remain till the evening, to give them another opportunity of listening again to the glad tidings of salvation. A person living near the railroad station, offered his house for the service on Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock, that I might get off in time. Nearly fifty persons were again assembled, to whom I spoke for nearly two hours. If ever there was a spot to which I should like to go and labor, it is Vienna ;-gladly would I have remained here two or three months, if necessity had not compelled me to return home. Oh! that it would please the Lord to raise up a faithful witness for the truth, fitted to occupy this important post. I have no doubt that a flourishing church would soon be raised there.

Niesse-Baptism at Voigtsdorf-Frankfort. From Vienna I travelled to Niesse to the slow progress of the steamer in Silesia, where I met br. Straube;