MUTUAL CONFIDENCE AND SYMPATHY GROUNDS OF MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT. An Address by Rev. S. B. Swaim, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Worcester, Mass., to Rev. A. H. Danforth, missionary of the A. B. Missionary Union; presented on the ordination of Mr. D. to the Ministry of the Gospel, Worcester, Oct. 26, 1847. MY DEAR BROTHER— It may seem hardly fitting that the same presbytery who have laid these official responsibilities upon you, should also tender to you a fraternal recognition of them. What knows a minister in Massachusetts of the toils or trials incident to the life of a Christian teacher, in so different and far distant a field of destination as what you anticipate? On these shores, the light of Christianity has shone for more than two centuries. Under its benign influences have grown up every where Christian churches, Christian laws and usages and public sentiment, civil and religious freedom, benevolent as well as free institutions, and, in the corresponding progress of art and science, numberless facilities for the wider dissemination of the blessing—all advantages in our favor which you will hardly presume to expect. And yet the work of true and faithful Christian teachers is every where essentially the same. No local circumstances can so modify or affect it, as to prevent their mutual appreciation of its responsibilities, or a fraternal interchange of sentiment and feeling touching its brighter or darker aspects. The original instance indeed, which is claimed as divine precedent for this ceremony, was not unlike what this congregation now behold. “When James and Cephas and John perceived the grace that was given unto Paul, they gave unto him and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that they should go unto the heathen," while remaining themselves with the "circumcision:"—thus declaring them fellow-laborers, bound to them by fellow feelings, though destined to a quite different field; and thus declaring confidence in their qualifications for it, sympathy with their benevolent and adventurous aims, and the sincerest concern for their welfare and success. It is not without such meaning, I trust, that I proceed, my brother, to give you in like circumstances the like cordial expression of our confidence and affection. From the clear and consistent narrative we have had of your conversion to the truth, of your belief in what it embodies essential to godliness and to salvation, of your reasons for wishing to proclaim it among the Gentiles; from what we know of you personally, and by report of them who know you better, we are ready to declare our unqualified regard for you as a Christian ambassador. We believe that the love of Christ has constrained you to inquire seriously for duty in this matter, and that, in view of the appalling condition of a world yet lying in wickedness, you feel “a necessity laid" upon you to engage in this particular department of ministerial effort for its redemption. We are the better satisfied from knowing that this decision is the result of no sudden or impulsive feeling, but of an early choice, which you have adhered to and cherished during a long and laborious mental preparation; and that it still animates your bosom as a ruling passion, unperverted by temptations to a lucrative calling, unaffected by many easier and more alluring situations of usefulness in this your native state, or even by the pressing demand for laborers in our great western harvest. How can we do otherwise than accord to you honor and love for decision and denial, for piety like this? How dare we hesitate to bid you God-speed in your benevolent work? Receive then, my brother, this appropriate token of our regard for you in this capacity and endeavor. I bid you welcome to this ministry. You have manifestly been called to it by the Great Head of the church, and separated by the Holy Ghost, that you "should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." In the name of all these pastors and brethren I salute you. They are rejoiced to have the churches of the county of Worcester represented by another minister of the Cross on distant shores. And I bespeak for you a no less glad reception in behalf of all your brethren in this Commonwealth, and of the faithful and true throughout our wide-spread denomination. Many whose faces you have never seen, and whose personal greeting and farewell you will never have, will be made by this day's transactions familiarly acquainted with you, and will feel inspired with the liveliest sympathy for you, from month to month, until you shall have fulfilled your course. And will not the men of God already in the field, falling prematurely under accumulated toils, likewise begin to thank God and take courage, with this fresh evidence that their repeated appeals for the perishing are not altogether in vain? But, my brother, I bid you a still heartier welcome in the name of Nidhi Levi, and his little company of Assamese brethren, who but a few months ago made the affecting appeal;—“ We are sorry to say that we have waited to see new missionaries, and have not seen them. The harvest is great and the laborers few. We beseech you to send more laborers to this field, that these poor precious souls may live, and they who are now the slaves of Satan, may be accepted in the kingdom through the means which American Christians may employ. O thou man of God, why art thou so slow to help! Didst thou not know that the Lord hath raised thee to preach the gospel in every nation? Who will cast in his lot with these few missionary servants, saying, with a ready mind like Isaiah the prophet, 'Here am I, Lord, send me,' to declare thy truth to the poor Assamese. Now, O people of God, take your sharp sickle in your hand, and come over and reap, for the harvest is fully ripe. When Mrs. Brown returns from America, we hope to see four or five new missionaries with her." And you, my brother, are one of that number who have responded to the call. You are not the "man of God who is slow to help." A year sooner than you would have felt justified under other circumstances to leave your country, you are willing to cast in your lot, sickle in hand, with the Assamese. So be forward to do. In that field of your choice and cherished expectations you will meet a more than brother's welcome. That faithful band of native disciples, though now strangers to your very name, will hail your arrival as the coming of Titus, and will give you the hand of fellowship with an intenseness of cordiality which our hearts can never feel. But be reminded, my brother, it is the labor of the harvest to which you are invited, and for which you go; yes, a labor, a work, and not of magnitude only, but of difficulty. Oh how arduous, how exhausting, and to the eye of sense how discouraging this work any where! How difficult even in Christian New England to persuade men to turn from their evil ways, to believe in Jesus Christ and be baptized! What errors must be uprooted, what prejudices overcome! What prayer, and patience, and solicitude, are required at every point to save even the hopefully converted from apostasies, and to present them blameless in Christ Jesus! Strange truly, if you think to find sinners in Assam all obedient to the faith, or find any thing but strong holds of unbelief, not to be pulled down without a struggle and weapons made mighty through God! Most assuredly, it is a "work of faith" on which you enter, as well as a "labor of love." And yet, my brother, it may be prosecuted with all the "patience of hope;" and it becomes me also to greet you with the bright prospect of success and reward that awaits you, if only faithful to the vows which have now been sealed upon you. You know, God can "cause you to triumph and make manifest the savor of his knowledge by you in every place." He has thus approved the labor of others, far, far beyond their faith. And how will your heart be enlarged, and will bless the hour and spot which witnessed your prayer and your resolve for a missionary's charge, if within ten years from this date you shall be writing us entreaties for men to help you baptize, and gather converts, and to feed them with knowledge and understanding! Yet if you shall only be permitted to prepare the way for such results, like Abraham you may anticipate their day, and be glad. And how richer the joy of the final realization, when the sowers and the reapers shall rejoice together! Oh this last, this best, this surest of all compensations for time and talent that may seem to be spent for nought! Blest assurance this! Is it not enough to cheer and animate you, to nerve you to the work, amid all changes of place or prospect, good report or evil report? I am aware, however, that while you remain in the flesh, partaking of its affinities and weaknesses, you will be glad to receive some support of human sympathy; you will need the prayers, the confidence and coöperation of your brethren. And I ought, I must encourage you to expect it. Surely these churches and pastors, who have so readily sanctioned your decision to go to the Gentiles, to turn them from dumb idols to the service of the living God, will not be insensible to the important obligations implied on their part. I may then pledge to you their fidelity. Until we have as good reason to doubt what we now believe concerning you, you will remain highly esteemed by us in love for your work's sake. Be assured, that no rumors of fault, no suspicious intelligence of your character and operations, will fall lightly on our ears, much less find place in our hearts. Though we have slight and infrequent or even no accounts of your labors and success, we shall not doubt that you are somewhere taking heed to this ministry, in order to fulfil it, to the best of your abilities and circumstances. We will do more than this. We will plead the cause with God, and with his people, and will unite in every feasible measure to sustain it. We will read and ponder your suggestions, second your wishes, and by all practicable means endeavor to fulfil your expectations, that men may be saved and the Redeemer glorified. We will remember you in our monthly meetings, in our annual convocations, and in all our fraternal gatherings. And, my brother-if this audience will allow me to add-in the exercises of this sanctuary, in the closet and family devotions of this people, surely the prayer for missions will be prompted by a new impulse. Though your acquaintance and nominal connexion with them is recent, it is one of more than ordinary interest to them. For as you depart, you bear upon your arm, to be identified with you in all the chequered good and ill of this holy work, a child of theirs, a sister beloved; one who in this sanctuary found joy and peace in believing, who at this altar gave berself unto God and unto his church by the will of God, one whom this hand laid beneath the yielding wave, and welcomed to this table of the saints; one now given to you, for aught we know, in answer to our repeated prayers to the Lord of the harvest! Shall we forget you, thus bound to you by the dearest ties as well as weighty obligations! Then may our right hands forget their cunning! Then may God forget us, and, in some exigency of loneliness and suffering unbefriended, leave us to learn by experience the value of sympathy, of Christian friendship, of church obligations. No, my brother, take us to record this day before God, that this hand of fellowship for you, as a Christian and minister, declares our regard as pastors and churches, as brethren and sisters, all of like precious faith with you; our confidence in your talents and integrity; our honor and respect for your self-denying purposes; our fidelity to you in this responsible work for God and the souls of inen; our hearts' desire and prayer to God that you may turn many to righteousness, and shine as a star forever in the firmament. And now, brethren and sisters,* who are all alike intent upon a mission of love to the perishing, bound to one another by this common sense of obligation to the Savior, by common expectations of life and destiny, it remains for me to give you all in behalf of Christ's people a parting Christian salutation. A few days hence, your feet will stand on the deck of the gallant vessel that will bear you away from the shores, to which in all probability you will never return. What can I say to you appropriate to these affecting circumstances? We are all impressed at once with the fact, that you part from what you tenderly love, from the homes and sanctuaries of your childhood, from all your circles of youthful friendship, from a thousand endearments to refined and religious sensibilities. All these sacrifices you anticipated, and in now laying them upon the altar, you act cheerfully, deliberately, conscientiously, and, as you believe, wisely and right. But the suspicion may possibly steal amid your thoughts, at least when you shall begin to realize your privations, whether this decision of yours really meets with the cordial concurrence and approval of others. A word here may be fitly spoken. Many, I doubt not, unable to appreciate your benevolent aims, will consider your course extremely injudicious, to thus seek for opportunities of usefulness abroad, while so many exist at home; some, not improbably, will declare you visionary, absolutely "fools for Christ's sake," for attempting what is uncalled for, so much to your own personal cost. But, beloved, the hearts and sound judgment of others are with you. They feel assured that you act not only conscientiously, but right, and that in this decision you give the best of testimony that you please God. You observe the great commandment of our Lord as apostles understood it, as their illustrious "Acts" have explained it, as faithful and righteous men in every age have regarded it, whose names are cherished among the most precious legacies of the church. Judging by that broad commandment, with the brilliant commentary upon it given in the remarkable successes of nearly all missionary operations, far more reasonable the doubt, whether so many deciding to be useful at home, do not decide in the wrong; and whether the little success proportionate to talents and labors here expended, be not owing to this seeming attempt to surpass the wisdom of the divine plan. But you, Christian friends, may be ever free of such anxieties. Your commission to teach at all, is your justification; the example of acknowledged wise and good predecessors, your ample defence. That you, my ministering brethren, are "in the line of apostolical succession," is beyond question, however difficult be the solution of that problem for others. Your work bears you witness. And that you are in the line of duty, and of the most probable usefulness, we are constrained most religiously to believe, and shall * Rev. Messrs. I. J. Stoddard and W. Moore with their wives were present, and had just received with Mr. Danforth the instructions of the Board. |