more. And contrast this with our own condition, where even the little children are taught to pity the heathen, and gladly contribute their pennies to send to them the knowledge of Jesus. How in calculable is the good, the really religious good, which the churches at home have received from sending the Gospel abroad. Here surely we find the fulfilment of our Lord's promise, " Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall man give into your bosom: for with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again." And this leads me to the second point I proposed-

(II.) WHAT IS THE PROSPECT FOR THE FUTURE.

I think I cannot better answer or, at least, suggest the answer to such a question, than by relating to you an incident which the late Christopher Anderson related to me many years ago, and which, as far as I have heard, is not generally known. In one of Mr. Fuller's visits to Scotland to obtain funds for carrying on the mission-and you remember that his influence in Scotland by means of these visits was very great-he received the intelligence of the baptism of a Hindoo convert, one of the earliest; whether it was Krishnu Pall (1800), the first convert baptized, or Krishnu Prisad (1803), the first Brahmin I do not remember. On the following Lord's day, his text was Psalm xcviii. 1-3: "O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvellous things: His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory. The Lord hath made known His salvation: His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered His mercy and His truth towards the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.' And he prefaced his sermon by giving the information which he had just received. The effect of the announcement was described to me as marvellous. The large congregation seemed to feel almost that the millennium had come. They felt at least that the barriers to the conversion of the world which men (even they themselves) had imagined to be insuperable were broken through, and they received with new faith the closing words of the text. "Brethren, this is the faith we ought to cherish- We see not yet all things put under Him: but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned' (already crowned) ' with glory and

honour, that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man.' Our prospect, so far as the Word of God is concerned and His power, is not merely hopeful but certain. And therefore we may present our prayers to Him with the full assurance of faith." But as to ourselves and our participation in the work, what prospect is before us? Shall we have a share, however humble, in the ultimate triumph? Certainly we shall, if we are wise by divine teaching to understand what the work is, and have grace to do the part that is allotted to us, whatever it may be. For here I wish to make no distinction between those who actually preach to the heathen, and those who carry on the work at home. We are all engaged in the same work. If then in referring to two or three practical points which seem to me of great importance, I speak as though I were addressing myself to missionaries, let none think I do not address them.

First of all, then, I think we should carefully guard against the tendency to mould our converts (of course I mean real converts—that is, real Christians) to our own model. Christianity is suited to every condition and stage of human culture; else it is not, as we take it to be, the one religion for the whole world. We ought not then to expect, that our converts will conform, nor should we aim at their being conformed, nor be disappointed when we find them not conformed precisely to our own idea of the Christian life. Surely we ourselves have not yet attained neither are already perfect. And if they seem to overlook some features of the perfect model, it may be that we have failed to discern others which they have seized.

In particular, let us not think that their morality must of necessity (ie., in order to their being acknowledged as Christians) be on a level with ours. We should remember that what we may call our standard of morality is the growth of many generations, under Christian influence certainly, but yet not the direct result of Christianity, if by that we mean our personal devotedness to Christ. Those who are actually engaged in preaching to the heathen will, I think, best understand what I mean if I say that their difficulty is to ascertain whether the conversion is real, notwithstanding the low moral standard, whilst our difficulty at home is to ascertain whether the conversion is real, taking into account our high moral standard.

Then again let us not think that their modes of representing the plan of salvation-their doctrinal theology-must of necessity accord with our own. Christianity, as it is adapted to all the outward conditions of human life, so also can suit itself to all the internal conditions, to all the modes of thought, to all the metaphysical notions of men, diverse as they are; and so "the systematic divinity of our converts, if their ideas of the great salvation ever consolidate themselves into systematic formulæ, may be very different from ours.

And again, let us not think that their views of church organisation and government must of necessity accord with our own. Christianity can exist and flourish under any form of church governmentmonarchical or aristocratic or democratic; and that form is best adapted to a Christian community which most easily falls in with their notions of government, as they are used to it in the home, in society, and in the state.

In one word, let us beware of making Christianity an exotic. It is our business to sow the seed: God gives the increase. When the plant springs up, it may take its hue, and in many respects its formaccording to the nature of the soil in which it was sown. But after all it is recognisable as the same plant whatever diversities of form of colour it may present. And if we fail to recognise it, we have to fall back on the assurance that "the Lord knoweth them that are His."

A second point which seems to me of great practical importance is, that we should be careful to adapt our teaching to the religious condition and modes of thought of those whom we seek to convert. One example will illustrate what I mean. The Hindu professes a religion which may without difficulty be shown to be absurd. The Mohammedan professes a religion which acknowledges the truth of Christianity. He says, indeed, to the Christian, "You have perverted the religion of Christ," whilst he himself professes to believe in Christ as a prophet from God; and further, he believes in a later revelation given to Mohamed-the Paraclete-whom Jesus promised. Now, it is clear that the mode of treatment in the two cases cannot reasonably be the same. Have we sufficiently considered this? I have been very much struck with the small number of converts from Mohammedanism in comparison with those from Hinduism and Buddhism, and I most earnestly urge on all who in their missionary

work come in contact with Mohammedans, the importance of suiting their instructions to the religious condition of those whom they seek to bring from Mohamed to Christ.

The last point to which I would refer is, without question, the most important of all. We cannot expect success except in as far as we ourselves are devoted to the service of Christ. There is no need of many words to urge this upon you. Your presence here gives the assurance that you assent to it, in theory, at least. Only let me say, Do not think that your work can be carried on by proxy; do not talk of devoted missionaries, as though their devotedness were a substitute for your own. Your devotedness-you whose work is at home-aids theirs, and their devotedness ought to aid yours. We are members of the same body; and if "one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;" and if "one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it." The churches in India or Africa or anywhere else will feel the glow of our devotedness, and be blessed by it; and reciprocally we shall be benefited by theirs. Only as we are, or ought to be, beyond comparison stronger than such infant communities, our influence on them should be incomparably greater than theirs upon us. Let us then remember our high calling, and ever seek, as we do to-day, for wisdom to guide us, and grace to strengthen us, so to live to Christ, and to rejoice in Him now, that we may have some part, however humble, in the glorious result, and so at last "enter into the joy of our Lord."

It is requested that all remittances of Contributions be made to Mr. ALFRED HENRY BAYNES, Mission House, 19, Castle Street, Holborn, London, E. C.; or to the Rev. CLEMENT BAILHACHE; also that if any portion of these gifts is designed for a specific object, full particulars of the place and purpose may be given. Cheques should be crossed Messrs. BARCLAY, BEVAN, TRITTON, & Co., and Post-office Orders made payable at the General Post Office.

THE

MISSIONARY

HERALD.

A

THE ANNIVERSARY.

CCORDING to the custom of many years past, the services of our Anniversary commenced with a prayer-meeting, which was held at the Mission House on Thursday, the 19th of April. The attendance was larger than usual, and the spirit evoked, both by the address from the chair and by the prayers that were offered up, was one of devout thankfulness and renewed consecration. We are thankful to record the impression that these feelings were strengthened by each meeting, and until the close. Dr. Gotch presided at the prayer-meeting, and prayers were offered by the Revs. C. M. Birrell, J. Hewett (of Jamaica), J. Lance, and John Landels.

The public meeting for the Welsh Baptists in London was better attended than usual. The speaking was interspersed with singing of a very excellent character, and altogether the meeting was a success.

On Sunday, April 22nd, the usual sermons were preached in the metro politan chapels. The day was fine, and the attendances, as far as we learn, were good.

The annual members' meeting was held at the Mission House on the 24th, the number present being the largest of which we have any record. E. S. Robinson, Esq., of Clifton, presided. The report and balance-sheet, with the abstract of minutes, were read. Great satisfaction was expressed at the financial outcome of the year. There was reason to thank God and

take courage.

On Wednesday morning, the 25th, an unusually large congregation met in Bloomsbury Chapel to hear the sermon preached by the Rev. Robert Rainy, D.D., Principal of the Free Church College, Edinburgh-a sermon of great power and interest. In the evening four other sermons were preached, as follows:-By the Rev. S. Chapman, at Upper Holloway; the Rev. J. W. Thew, at Mare Street; the Rev. H. Platten, at Clerkenwell; and the Rev. James Owen, at Westbourne Grove. The attendance at each place was encouraging.

The annual meeting was held on the Thursday at Exeter Hall, which was filled to its utmost capacity nearly half an hour before the time announced for commencing the meeting. The chair was taken at six o'clock by Mr.