LECTURE XL 37 



the seed of spiritual truth. The fields are white to the 

 harvest. Glorious is the prospect of the outpouring of 

 the Holy Spirit on all the ends of the earth. Labourers 

 are wanted in the heathen vineyard of the Lord. As yet 

 the missionary has only put in the thin end of the wedge 

 towards the advancement of the kingdom of heaven in 

 those dark places of the earth, which are still full of the 

 habitations of cruelty — Africa, especially. Where, as 

 yet, are the mission stations of North or South central 

 Africa \ Yet there are numbers of tribes, 



ft In those romantic regions men grow wild, 

 There dwells the negro, Nature's outcast child." 



As an encouragement to those who think of being mis- 

 sionaries, I need not say more than call to remembrance 

 those Reformers who founded our Colleges here. The 

 missionary's work is one of the most honourable a man 

 can desire. Think of those Reformers ; who would not 

 like to be one of them \ The missionaries now are just 

 in their position. Those who now go forth as missiona- 

 ries, and endeavour to advance the knowledge of Christ 

 and His Gospel, are pre-eminently their representatives. 

 Like the morning star before the dawn, they entered into 

 the thick darkness, and began the glorious work of mak- 

 ing known the promises of Christ, for which posterity will 

 bless their name. Indeed to be a missionary is a great 

 privilege and honour. The work is so great and glorious, 

 that it has this promise of Him who " is the same yester- 

 day, to-day, and for ever: 11 — " I will never leave thee, nor 

 forsake thee,' 1 — encouraging both itself and its promoters. 



11—2 



