FOREIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

VOL. I.

PITTSBURGH, FEBRUARY, 1834.

No. 11.

WESTERN FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Intellectual and moral training, ap-¡tual and moral habits of the mind, and propriate to the foreign MISSIONA- the spiritual habits of the soul, may be fitted for the highest efforts, the purest

RY SERVICE.

Having in two or three preceding principles and affections, and the most numbers, dwelt upon the call for mis- blessed achievements of which humansionary laborers, which at present ex-ity in its present state, is susceptible. ists in the church, we would not con- We do not mean by this, that those clude our remarks on the subject, differences in the intellectual and mowithout referring to two topics inti- ral qualities of men, which every where mately connected with it. The one, appear, are merely the result of cirrespects the means which are, under cumstances, or that the highest and God, to be employed to meet the wants purest manifestations of the power of of a world about to be evangelized; godliness are uniformly connected with and the other, the means by which the best visible advantages; but there the entire character of the large and is an intimate and important connec、 augmenting host of evangelical heralds tion. of the cross, may possess that higher, and still higher elevation, which alone can befit the grandeur of the enterprise, and the glory of that millenial day to which it looks.

To any one, who has carefully studied the character of such men as Elliot, and Edwards, and Payson, and Martyn, distinguished alike for emi nent piety and extensive usefulness, it There are in the colleges and semi- must be obvious, that, among the naries of our land, many young disci- means employed by Providence to ples, whose determination, so far as it make them in these respects what they can be settled, at so early a period, were, their early intellectual and relihas been formed, to consecrute them-gious habits were far from being the selves to the work of foreign missions. least considerable; and it is perfectly Every thing that pertains to the physi- consistent to suppose, that the general cal, and moral, and intellectual, and structure, as well as the comparative spiritual training of these men, is a purity and elevation of the character of subject of the deepest interest to the the Christian missionary, will very church and to the world. The most much depend upon the habits which sincere and enlarged application of the he forms or continues during the peprinciple, that the grace of God, and riod of his academic and theological the baptism of the Holy Spirit alone, studies. One of the most important can fit a man to become a faithful and reasons why this determination should successful missionary, does not in the be early formed, is, that the future misleast abate the necessity of the use of sionary may carry it distinctly with those means by which the physical en- him through all his social intercourses, ergies, the acquirements, the intellec-and all his preparatory studies, and all

surrounding circumstances, at this grave, soon after entering the field, in eventful period of his life, may co-ope- consequence of a state of impaired rate to fit him for the highest possible health, induced by excessive application missionary excellence. We have no during their preparatory studies; and time to enter into an illustration of that nothing but inroads made upon the this position; nor do we intend to constitution, or feelings of irresolution attempt a complete enumeration of all and discouragement, arising from a those things which may be comprised state of debility and disease, induced in the physical, and mental, and spirit- by the same causes, have prevented ual training, which especially befits others from enlisting in the missionary those of our young men, who expect to service, shows that every young man spend their lives in the foreign field. who proposes to become a foreign Of the importance of this decision missionary, should regard it as a matitself, the motives which led to it, and ter of the highest importance to reach the various questions which it involves, the close of his preparatory course, we cannot now speak. To aid the with a physical system, not only unconsciencious inquirer in coming to broken by imprudence and neglect, a direct conclusion, as to personal but retaining its full vigor, and inured duty in this case, a great many excel- in some sense to activity and exposure. lent rules have been laid down. A The most important spheres of misbrief and judicious treatise, exclusively sionary labor, which the world preintended to direct and assist the in-sents, not only imply, to those who enquirer in this matter, and imbodying ter them, a very material change of every probable aspect of the subject, might be a most valuable help to place in the colleges and seminaries of our land, at a time, when this must increasingly become an investigation of solemn and searching interest to every young man, who is acquiring an education with a view to public useful

climate, but exposures, and hardships, and irregularities, as to diet, accommodation and relaxation, which nothing but constitutional vigor can hope to withstand. Next to the very duty, the very privilege of carrying the everlasting gospel to the perishing heathen, is therefore, in his case, the duty of guarding against a fatal incapacity, to fulfil A few only of the most obvious and this purpose. To carry a constitution important suggestions, connected with enfeebled and broken, by imprudence the pursuits and habits of such as have and neglect, to become an easy prey to resolved upon this couse, will be no-the severities of an equatorial climate, ticed, and in a general and cursory manner.

ness.

1. The first remark which we would make, is, that he who has given himself, body and soul, to the cause of Christ among the heathen, should feel especially bound to preserve, through his preparatory studies, such habits of discipline, as may enable him to arrive at their close, with that tone of health and constitutional soundness, which may fit him for the work. In respect to ministers in general, it is a well known fact, that some excellent devoted men, have sunk into an early

were almost as sinful as to carry there a heart unimbued with the missionary spirit. Habits of plain diet, regular, moderate sleep, stated exercise, and systematic bodily discipline, may thus form in this land of luxury and indulgence, such a commencement of selfdenial also, as will make the subsequent part comparatively easy and agreeable.

2. It is extremely important, that those who intend to become missionaries to the heathen, should form habits of uniform, regular industry, and that all their pursuits should be steady and

systematic. There is a kind of period- heathen, should be rather accurate and ical excessive mental labor which the thorough, than various or extensive. exercise of the ministry at home, at Men, whose acquirements are superfitimes, and in some places, seems to re- cial; or who carry with them through quire; which is often sustained for life, attachments to literature, or the years, without any materially or fatal- pursuits of physical or theological scily injurious consequences. There is ence, so strong as to make them specin the pursuits of ministers and stu- ulative, rather than active laborers, dents of theology, a tendency to the often accomplish at home an amount gradual and insensible formation of ha- of public usefulness, which they could bits of this kind. No argument, surely, never hope to secure in the foreign seris necessary to show, that those who vice. There are few branches, indeed, go from this country to live within the of human knowledge, which the mistropics or regions, to them, perhaps, sionary in pagan lands may not turn equally insalubrious, must, as they to good account; but as in respect to value their usefulness, divest them- philology, and the main principles of selves of every liability, growing out philosophy, as well as the prominent of physical or mental irregularity. truths of the gospel, there will be a And yet the employments of no class constant demand for promptness and of Christ's ministering servants can be accuracy, and perspicuity: these subso various, so incessant, and so projects should be accurately and familiductive of anxiety, as theirs. Nothing, arly understood; and such proficiency therefore, but habits of steady applica- in philology made, as will ensure action, untiring, patient attention to offi- curacy and facility in the acquisition cial duty, can fit them for extensive and use of foreign languages. There usefulness. It often happens in the are certain forms of controversial theservice at home, also, that young men ology, in reference to the fundamental of genius, who rely so much on their articles of religion, and the first princigifts, as to neglect intellectual attain- ples of truth, in which the foreign misments, succeed for a time, at least, to sionary need be well versed; but there pretty good acceptance, through the are others with which he needs only a popularity of their manners, the fluency general acquaintance. The knowledge of their utterance, and the ardency of of human nature in its varied forms, and their feelings. But, among the hea- habits of close and attentive observathen, nothing of this sort can be ex-tion are extremely desirable. pected. These gifts, it is true, may 4. Of no class of ministers can it be eventually be of the most important service; but what we mean is, that without habits of application and solid attainments, they are like a treasure locked up, incapable of being brought to bear upon the spiritual condition of ignorant pagans. The nature of the service itself, and the arduousness of it, require, therefore, that method, uniformity, and constancy, should characterize the mental labors of such as have devoted themselves to the foreign service.

3. The literary, scientific, and theological attainments, of those who intend to become missionaries to the

said, that so large a proportion of what they write is likely to be published, and to meet and influence the minds of others, as missionaries to the heathen: and it is, therefore, extremely important that they should pay special attention to the formation of a correct and impressive style, and the acquisition of habits of close abservation, and of ease and facility in epistolary writing. For this end, they should, if not in the form of sermonizing, yet, in other ways, accustom themselves to write much, and with desirable ease and accuracy. What friend of mis sions does not understand, as a matter

of constant observation and experi-1 and to enlighten and save the dying ence, the great importance of this mat- heathen. In his way to the attainbesides ter? Eminent divines of former times ment of these, the missionary, have felt themselves honored, if they constitutional weaknesses and common could enlighten and improve succeed-infirmities, and some local, special, as ing generations, by the slow and uncer- well as ordinary temptations to sin, has tain progress of their literary and the- to encounter the common tendency of ological works; but the missionary to all worldly occupations, whether specthe heathen now writes from Asia, or ulative or active, when closely and Africa, or the isles of the ocean, with vigorously pursued, to relax the relithe hope that his communications will gious feelings, and cool the affections at one time be read at a thousand of the heart towards God. And this monthly concerts, and act at once up- happens in his case for the most part, on tens of thousands of minds. He when there will then be few external may hope, in one month's time, to means and excitements to counteract speak to the ear and the heart of al- its influence; and when all the ardor most every human being in our land, kindled up, by fervent exhortations and from the shores of the Atlantic to the prayers, large and solemn missionary banks of the Missouri; and that with a meetings, and the tender greetings and power of persuasion, and a thrill of in- animating counsels of Christian friends terest which no ordinary minister can will die away, leaving nothing but love hope for. Nor is this all. Nay, far to Christ, and compassion for benightfrom it. Suppose he is stationed in ed sinners, living in the soul, to carry India or China, with a press ready to the missionary forward, in his steady print off, by hundreds of thousands, and quenchless efforts, to do good. brief discourses, tracts and catechims, How can the youthful candidate for as fast as he can prepare them, to be the missionary service, during his prepioneers of Christianity among mil-paratory studies, best prepare himself lions of idolators. But we must not through the abounding grace of Christ, enlarge. The intended missionary to to resist and overcome these obstructhe heathen cannot too attentively pon- tions? It is obvious, that it should der upon, and pray over this matter. first of all be manifest to his own conWe return, however, to what was science, as a matter of settled conviction, intended to be the main point in these that God has made it his personal priremarks, as it is confessedly the most vilege and duty, to bear the message important that which relates to the of the cross to heathen lands, and that spiritual training of the Christian mis- he is happy to make this his highest sionary. If we attempt to analyze earthly aim; the single purpose of his those traits of character which appear life. Courage, without rashness; kind to be the most likely, other things be- affections, without flexibility and uning equal, to make a minister of Christ faithfulness; decision, without obstinasuccessful, as a missionary to the hea-cy; and disinterestedness and love, then, we shall find them to consist without dissimulation, may have their mainly in three things: 1. A uniform, basis in the moral structure of the consistent, and affectionate deportment. 2. Aptness and activity in his work. 3. A visible, affectionate, and deep-felt concern for the temporal and eternal good of those to whom he goes. The foundation on which these rest, and rest in a heart truly and deeply sanctified, is a desire to glorify Christ,

mind; but like faith in the promises, and love to God, and compassion for the miserable, they depend upon the breathings of the Holy Spirit, and habitual exercise, for their growth and usefulness. Possessed of the essential elements, both of nature and of grace, which go to form the able and devoted