Thou hast given to Thy Son power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent.-S. John xvii. 2, 3. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.-S. John viii. 32. And the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of that great city, the holy Jerusalem, which hath the glory of God.-Rev. xxi. 24. He that is our God is the God of salvation.-Ps. lxviii. 20. CHAPTER I THE PRESENT POSITION OF MISSIONARY EFFORT IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND It is not easy to estimate our modern spirit in respect of Missions to the heathen. There can be no doubt that there exists in some quarters a more pacified feeling, and that a tendency is found to concede to the missionary an important, if not a necessary, place in the advancement of British civilisation. Travellers, who have visited any of the principal fields, if not infected by the jealous prejudices common among traders in a new country, are often willing to admit that the work, which they have witnessed with their own eyes, is solid and good, and indeed admirable. Add to these the more thoughtful laymen who have given attention to this subject and written about it: some, governors of colonies; 2 others, students of history,3 who have 1 See, for instance, Bryce's Impressions of South Africa, and R. L. Stevenson's In the South Seas. 2 As, for example, Lord Lawrence, Sir Bartle Frere, and many more besides. 3 Captain Mahan says (Interest of America in Sea Power): The civilisation of modern Europe grew up under the shadow of the Cross, and what is best in it still breathes the spirit of the Crucified... Comparative religion teaches that creeds [churches?] which reject missionary enterprise are foredoomed to decay. May it not be so with nations?' J. A. Symonds says (Revival of Learning in Italy): In these mighty spirits [e.g. Columbus] throbbed a force of enterprise and con 3 1 |