THE

FOREIGN MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

NOVEMBER, 1843.

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST,

A MOTIVE TO LIBERALITY IN PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL: A Discourse,

DELIVERED IN

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, THOMPSONVILLE, CONN., JANUARY 1, 1843.

BY JOSEPH HARVEY, D.D.

Matthew x. 8, last clause.

"FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE."

In these words is an injunction of our Saviour, based on his own example. And how manifest the propriety and force of the command, coming with such a sanction. Having himself given freely and largely for the salvation of men, he may well say to all his disciples, "freely give."

The meaning of the passage is, that all the people of Christ should imbibe his Spirit, and, so far as their circumstances will permit, follow his example in their efforts to spread the Gospel.

contradict the express declarations of his own Gospel. It is ordained that they who preach the Gospel shall live of the Gospel. The labourer is worthy of his meat. And to show that he regarded this principle as entirely practical and practicable, he directs his servants, going forth as ministers or missionaries, to take with them no other supplies of money, food or raiment, but to depend on his providence, acting through the instrumentality of his people. The injunction of the text then is applicable, not to ministers and missionaries alone, but to the whole Church; and, as a constituent part, to every individual member. This is so manifestly the teaching of the Gospel that I should be trespassing on your time, were I to attempt its farther illus

Those who consider this command as applicable, exclusively, to the preachers of the Gospel, and as enjoining on them a gratuitous service, irrespective of any suitable provision for their own suste-tration. nance, or that of their families, evidently pervert it. Such an interpretation makes the command inequitable, as it respects both the sacrifice and the benefit. Surely our Lord did not intend that his ministers should bear all the burden or receive all the reward of this work. He did not intend to countermand the law of nature and providence, that a man provide for his own house ;-he did not intend to VOL. XI.-41

The passage therefore, rightly interpreted, exhibits the example of Christ in the work of redemption, and applies that example, both as a rule of practice and a test of character. In truth, it unfolds a principle which pervades all the divine operations in nature and providence, as well as in grace. It is the principle of circulation and diffusion, in contrast with accumulation and contraction. In all the

works and laws of God, expansive libera- The seasons march their circuit, and,

lity and benevolence are conspicuous. The system of divine government, in all its departments, is evidently arranged with a special design that the bounty of the Creator should not stop at any given point among his creatures, but that it should freely circulate; that it should travel from point to point, and pass from mind to mind, giving out its benefits as it goes on its circuit, affording a blessing not in coming only but in going, not only in being received but in being given. And if there be any peculiar advantage in any part of the process, it lies with the giver, for he is more blessed than the receiver. God blesses, that each recipient in his turn may bless. Bounty is bestowed, that we may have wherewith to be bountiful. The blessedness of a blessing consists chiefly in its circulation. And he knows little of divine goodness who is ignorant of this principle-whose bosom is not warmed and expanded by its influence.

by their varied influences, contribute to general health, fertility and happiness.— But were their circulation to cease, how soon would desolation cover the face of the earth.

The air is ever ready to fill a vacuum by circulation, not to increase it by contraction. By this means its purity and vitality are preserved. But suppose its circulation to cease, and that it becomes accumulated and stagnant in one quarter, while it is extremely rarefied in another, what creature could live?

Look at the water! how useful in its circulation. The ocean gives it out in vapour to the sky, the sky pours it in showers on the earth, and the earth, following the liberal example, returns it in rivers to the ocean. In this circulation how manifold are its benefits. But let it cease;—let the ocean retain its treasures with an avaricious grasp, as if water were made for nothing but to fill its coffers; let the atmosphere be seized with a spirit of hoarding; or let the earth with a covetous thirst drink up all that it freely receives, and where would be the smiles of this fair creation? What would ensue but parching drought, or sweeping de

Our position is, that the principle of circulation, in opposition to accumulation, pervades all the known works of God; is a kind of vital pulsation, which gives energy and harmony to the universal system. It may be worth our while to linger a lit-luge? tle and glance at some examples of this truth in the kingdom of nature.

Consider the arrangement of the animal system. The vital fluid gives out health and increase by its circulation. The heart sends it forth to the extremities, and receives it back to send it forth again. The unceasing pulse is the principle of life. What if it were otherwise? What if accumulation were the governing law, and the blood should be hoarded at its source ?—what if some artery or vein should become avaricious, and, under pretext of laying up in store for future wants, should insist on retaining all that came into its channel?-or what, if some member of the body, alarmed at the presence of a bare supply, should enter on the pro

The sun receives supplies of light and heat from its Creator, not to hoard but to diffuse them. In imitation of its Author it scatters its beams in all directions, and to the furtherest limit of its power. They fly through the fields of space, pass from planet to planet, visit the myriads of organs suited to their influence, and diffuse beauty and joy as they fly; but where do they stop, in what point are they hoarded? Were it otherwise, what would be the consequence? Suppose some miserly planet, nearer the source of light and heat than others, should stretch itself to intercept all the rays that came that way,cess of laying up a surplus ?—what but a and should absorb them all in its own speedy dissolution would be the consebosom ;-suppose it should accumulate quence ? stores of light and heat, and let nothing pass by, how soon would it be in a blaze, and all beyond perish in darkness and frost.

But enough of examples. Such is the voice of nature. Circulation is her pervading, animating, sustaining principle.

In the moral and spiritual kingdom we find the same arrangement indicating the same design. And it may not be amiss to pause a moment at this view.

Nothing stands still. Nothing terminates || and fitted to follow the example of its in itself. Every part is blessed in exact Creator. The pulsation of benevolence proportion as it blesses. Freely giving is suspended; the channels of circulation what they freely receive, the works of are filled up; and what do we see in the nature are proved to be worthy of their sequel, but a disordered system, full of Author; and while they pour out, with disease and death? Accumulation in one an unsparing hand, the bounty received, part, destitution in another, are the prothey amply declare his glory. minent features. Self-love seizes on all that comes within its grasp, and hoards its treasures. Self-indulgence takes advantage of the store, and brings in its companions to enjoy the treat. Thus accumulated wealth becomes the home of vice, until it yields to dissipation. If this does not all occur in one generation, a succeeding generation will make out the case. The father may live and die in the grinding work of a miser; but his heir finds ample employment in scattering his stores. The wheel of fortune in a few years makes such progress in its revolution as to cause the rich and the poor to change places. But all concerned in its movement are equally distant from the path of peace, because they all act equally in opposition to the law of love.

As a moral agent no one is considered as living or acting for himself. Every one is a part of a continuous channel of being, through which God sends out the streams of his bounty. If this current proceeds without obstruction, and every part answers its design of giving as well as of receiving, universal good is the result. The fountain is good, the streams are good, and every part contributes its share to the general benefit. Disinterested love is the pervading spirit as well as the supreme law of a correct moral government. And under its influence no favour comes from the supreme Head to stop in its course till it has gone round the circuit, and returned again to its Author. No matter in what part it may be gin to be felt, or on what individual it may first fall, it is a common possession; it is designed to go into general circulation, and by this means to reach the utmost extremity of the system. Thus the goodness of God is tasted by every one of his moral subjects, and his glory is reflected from every part of his moral kingdom.

And while the excesses of the rich are abusing the goodness of God in one quarter, want and pain are prevalent in another. There, poverty shivers in its rags; and groans in its hovel, with its dying embers and scanty crumbs as its only defence against hunger and cold ;-there, sickness pines away on its straw with no means of relief or word of comfort;there, the tears of the widow and orphan are unheeded; the oppressed and brokenhearted drag out a miserable life, without a look of sympathy;—there, the ignorant This, however, is a moral kingdom, as and deluded wander on in the mazes of it would be if unobstructed. But suppose error, with none to instruct or guide them; it otherwise. Suppose this moral circu-there, the dark mind of the heathen is lation to cease, and self-love to take the overrun with superstition, and no friendly place of benevolence. Nay, we need not voice reclaims him. suppose the case; we have here no occa- In this view so far we have contemplasion for hypothesis. The experiment ted only the circumstances of the present has been fully tried, and the result consti- life, which must soon end. The rich and tutes the sad, dark history of a world in the poor, Dives and Lazarus, as to their rebellion. How does it read? Pride, bodies, must soon find a common level, selfishness, covetousness, and luxury. and rest in their long home. There are have entered and taken the reins of gov- still eternity and the immortal soul to be ernment; they have usurped dominion in contemplated, as attended with still greatthe soul that was created in the image, "er evils, in consequence of an obstructed

moral circulation. Divine providence || our agency in its propagation? And has given to some portions of the human what influence should the example of family the blessings of revelation and re- Christ have upon us in attempting to give ligious instruction, with their accompani- free and universal circulation to the ments of moral influence and cheering Word of Life? hope, while they are withheld from others. One object of this arrangement doubtless is to afford opportunity for benevolent circulation, that those who have freely received may freely give. Just for the same reason that God gives some men greater powers of calculation, and great er worldly prosperity, that they may thus have the privilege of aiding those that have less. But how imperfect is the spiritual circulation compared with that which the Gospel requires, and which the example of Christ illustrates. In one part spiritual privileges are so abundant that they are undervalued and despised; many are hardened under them; while in other vast and populous regions no word of salvation is heard-no light of divine truth shines; but all are involved in the gloom of spiritual death, and show the desolations of a moral wilderness. These are the consequences of obstructing the operation of the law of love, and disturbing the principles of the divine government. And what a contrast this to the harmonious order of the works of nature! what a contrast to that state of man which would result from conformity to the command and example of Christ! If men would freely give as they have freely received; if they would follow out the principle of spiritual circulation, limited in their liberality only by their opportunity and their means, how soon would this world wear a new face-how soon would joy and hope throw their beams of light across the dark valley of death, and illuminate the prospects of eternity!

In looking at the circumstances under which we receive the Gospel, we must take into view our own naturally depraved and fallen state, in common with all our fellow men. We must look at a world lying in wickedness, estranged from God, and filled with violence; a world overspread with the guilt of innumerable sins, every one of which deserves the wrath and curse of God, both in this life and that which is to come. We must look upon ourselves as originally involved in the same ruin with all others, naturally and actually, so far as our own deservings go; not one whit better than the most degraded of the heathen. The same children of wrath by nature, and bound to the same eternity of wo. If then we have the blessings of the Gospel it is not for any thing in us more than in others. Freely, that is to say, undeservedly, have we received. God has made us to differ, because it seemed good in his sight. On us has the bounty descended, in the sovereignty of Divine grace. The boon might with equal propriety, so far as we can see, have first gone to the wandering Tartar, the subtle Chinaman, or the disconsolate and oppressed African. What had the cruel and bloody Briton or Saxon to recommend him to this favour? But God, of his mere good pleasure, has made us to differ. Of all the branches of the human family, he has, in an eminent degree, committed to our care the treasures of the Gospel.

Another circumstance chiefly to be remembered in this connexion is the libera

So much in a general view of the prin- lity of the Saviour in the provisions of ciple enjoined in the text.

It is time, however, to give this subject a more careful examination, in reference to missionary operations, and the spread of the Gospel in heathen lands. In this view a few inquiries invite particular attention.

In what circumstances has the Gospel come to us? What occasion is there for

the Gospel. Consider the greatness of the sacrifice on his part. Heaven was exchanged for earth-a throne for a manger-infinite riches for extreme poverty -the love and adoration of angels, for the hatred and persecution of men,-a crown of glory for a crown of thorns,the honour and felicity of the heaven of heavens, for the shame and pain and

agony of the cross. Freely has Christ The answer is, the instrumentality of the done and suffered this. He asks in re- Church is the appointed means. This is turn neither money nor price. That sal- a point so clear, and so generally admitvation which worlds could not have pur-ted, as to require no proof. Who can

chased, Christ has purchased with his own blood, and offers us as a free gift. If we inquire what to us is the cost of redemption, of a perfect righteousness, a full pardon, a hope that maketh not ashamed, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away? the answer is, nothing. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." All we have to do is to throw away our rags, and put on these robes; to abandon the husks of this world, and go back to our father's house, where there is bread enough and to spare; to forsake the empty, delusive and destructive pleasures of sin, and receive the durable riches, the pure fine gold, of eternal holiness and bliss. What can be free, and not only free, but liberal, munificent, if this salvation is not? What an example is here of self-denial, of sacrifice, of sympathy, of generosity, of grace unbounded, as it is undeserved.

rationally expect that the world will be converted by miracles? How can the heathen believe in Him of whom they have not heard?-how can they hear without a preacher ?--how can any preach except they be sent ?—and how can they be sent without the means of subsistence?

and where are these means to be found but in the hands of Christ's disciples? All, therefore, which is farther needed to show the occasion of active efforts on the part of the people of Christ, is to view the extent of the field. "The field is the world." And we can hardly look amiss to find portions of that moral wilderness, which, by Christian hands, is to be turned into a fruitful field. East, west, north, or south, the field is already white to the harvest. About three quarters of the human family are buried in the pollutions of idolatry, or in delusions no less destructive. China, that chief of nations for numbers, embosoms its hundreds of millions; and then, into the horrid alliance of darkness, impurity and blood, come all the populous regions of the East; almost the entire continent of Africa, and no small portions of Europe and America. Truly, the harvest is great, and the labourers are few. But still greater is the demand for the labours and prayers of Chistian love, which arise from the inter

Another circumstance not to be forgotten, is that, in sufficiency, the atonement of Christ is adapted to the wants of the world. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”— This is our rule. And until this is done the limit of our duty is not reached. Wherever the Gospel takes effect it is a sovereign remedy for sin. Greek or Jew, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free;nal condition of the heathen world. Draw to them all the Gospel is the power of aside the curtain which conceals the inteGod unto salvation when they believe. rior of Pagan, Mohammedan, or Papal No sinner on earth will fail of salvation superstition; examine the condition, in all through any scantiness in the provision, the relations of life, of their wretched or want of efficacy in the remedy. The victims; trace their comforts and hopes most ignorant and debased of the heathen, in relation to the future; and you disclose redeemed by the blood of Christ, sancti-scenes at which humanity sickens, and fied by the Spirit of God, becomes a new creature, puts on the garments of salvation, and is an heir of heaven. However many have felt the healing power of the Gospel, it is still, as ever, potent and inexhaustible.

sympathy recoils. Who can tell, or even conceive, the miseries temporal and eternal, which await, or have already befallen, a great part of our fellow men? Yes, our fellow-inen; immortal beings, like ourselves, and capable of happiness, here But what occasion is there for the and hereafter, as any of us. All this agency of the people of God, in diffusing mass of guilt and wretchedness comes among men the grace of the Gospel?" fairly within the use of means, and with