476 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. 



to letters-apostolic from the Archbishop of Canterbury, or even 

 from the Vatican at Eome. A missionary, surely, cannot under- 

 value his commission, as soon as it is put into his hands. 



But what means the lugubrious wail that too often bursts 

 from the circle of his friends ? The tears shed might be excused 

 if he were going to Norfolk Island at the Government expense. 

 But sometimes the missionary note is pitched on the same key. 

 The white cliffs of Dover become immensely dear to those who 

 never cared for masses of chalk before. Pathetic plaints are 

 penned about laying their bones on a foreign shore, by those who 

 never thought of making aught of their bones at home. (Bone 

 dust is dear nowhere, we think.) And then there is the never- 

 ending talk and wringing of hands over missionary " sacrifices." 

 The man is surely going to be hanged, instead of going to serve 

 in Christ's holy Gospel ! Is this such service as He deserves who, 

 though rich, for our sakes became poor ? There is so much in the 

 manner of giving ; some bestow their favours so gracefully, their 

 value to the recipient is doubled. From others, a gift is as good 

 as a blow in the face. Are we not guilty of treating our Lord 

 somewhat more scurvily than we would treat our indigent fellow- 

 men ? We stereotype the word " charity " in our language, as 

 applicable to a contribution to His cause. " So many charities, — 

 we cannot afford them." Is not the word ungraciously applied to 

 the Lord Jesus, as if He were a poor beggar, and an unworthy one 

 too ? His are the cattle on a thousand hills, the silver and the 

 gold ; and worthy is the Lamb that was slain. We treat Him ill. 

 Bipeds of the masculine gender assume the piping phraseology of 

 poor old women in presence of Him before whom the Eastern 

 Magi fell down and worshipped, — ay, and opened their treasures, 

 and presented unto Him gifts : gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

 They will give their " mites " as if what they do give were their 

 " all." It is utterly unfair to magnify the little we do for Him by 

 calling it a sacrifice, or pretend we are doing all we can by assum- 

 ing the tones of poor widows. He asks a willing mind, cheerful 

 obedience ; and can we not give that to Him who made His 

 Father's will in our salvation as His meat and His drink, till He 

 bowed His head and gave up the ghost ? 



Hundreds of young men annually leave our. shores as cadets. 

 All their friends rejoice when they think of them bearing the 

 commissions of our Queen. When any dangerous expedition is 



