THE Missionary's Daily Text Book : WITH REFLECTIONS, BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES, FOR EVERY DAY IN THE YEAR. WHEN THOU GOEST, IT SHALL LEAD THEE; WHEN THOU SLEEPEST, IT SHALL KEEP THEE; AND WHEN THOU AWAKEST, IT SHALL TALK WITH THEE. HECA TO THE Students of St. Augustine's College, LATE, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, THIS VOLUME, PREPARED PRIMARILY FOR THEIR USE, IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. PREFACE. The common nature of man has been dignified through the assumption of the same flesh by the SON of GOD. The Christian ministry has been made excellent in glory, by reason of His having once exercised it. Everlasting honour has been put upon the work of Missions, by His having, voluntarily, become a Missionary to this lower world, "to seek and to save that which was lost." The principal object of "The Missionary's Daily Text Book" is to bring prominently forward this Office of our blessed Saviour, with special practical application to the lives and labours, the trials and sufferings, of those who are now following Him in the same Godlike employment. Accordingly, Texts bearing on the Prophetical character of Christ are here collected. These are supplied from the inspired memoirs of His life, and from His discourses to the disciples, which may be regarded as His instructions to the future Missionaries of His Church. Other Texts, which illustrate His Prophetical Office, are furnished by the predictions of the Messiah, under this character, in the Old Testament.' 1 See January to June, inclusive. vi. Those Scriptures which declare the incommunicable attributes of Divinity which are treasured up in Christ, and His supernatural power, are adduced, only so far as they bear upon the object in view. For the same reason, neither His Priestly nor His Regal Office is made here a distinct subject of meditation. These, are, indeed, the secret stay and hope of the Missionary for himself and for others, and, without them, the contemplation even of His most perfect Example would be fruitless. But bearing them duly and constantly in his mind, he derives ample instruction and comfort in tracing the blessed steps of Him, "Who went about doing good." All other Missionaries are to be followed, as they follow Christ. And viewing them in this light, according to their resemblance to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, the devoted servant of Christ in distant lands will delight to hold communion with them, as having travelled the same road on which he himself has entered. Of this glorious company the great Apostle of the Gentiles must always be regarded the chief."2 Other Apostolic men have also bequeathed to succeeding times their examples and their advice; and these valuable stores, together with the counsels of rulers of 2 See July to September. vii. the Church and holy men in all ages, have been here freely consulted and used.3 The Texts, it is suggested, may be made useful subjects of meditation at the beginning and end of the days for which they are selected, even independently of the matter which is printed between them: but it is hoped that the observations offered, and the experience of others related in the following pages, will also contribute, by GoD's blessing, to the profit and consolation of the Missionary in his daily work. May the same Holy Spirit, Who was given without measure to the Divine Head of the Church, also vouchsafe to be to every one, who bears the honoured name of Missionary, an ever-present Spirit of wisdom, strength, and comfort! "And pray we that our only Lord Would please His Spirit to send 3 See October to December. H. B. |