the Gospel. They are sent out by the churches directly or indirectly, and go from regions where the truth is established, to others where it is comparatively or totally unknown.-And thus it was with Paul the Missionary. He was sent forth by the great church of Antioch, a city where the gospel had been for a considerable time established, and where "the disciples were first called Christians," to labor and suffer among the heathen; and previous to his departure, he, together with Barnabas, his fellow laborer received ordination from the hands of his brethren. Of these important transactions, we have an account in the following words: "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simeon, and Lucias, and Manaen, and Saul. And as they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them they sent them away."

2. Missionaries in this age, previous to their going forth to publish the Gospel, receive instructions from some authorized individual, or some public body. They are advised and directed relative to the course they are to pursue, and the duties they are expected to perform. Thus also it was in the days of the apostles. When our Saviour sent forth his first missionaries, he gave them their instructions. These instructions were afterwards published, and may be found at large in the tenth chapter of Matthew, the sixth of Mark, and the ninth of Luke. Afterwards when he sent forth the seventy, he gave them similar instructions, which were also published. (See Luke X. 1-16.) Instructions no doubt were given to Paul

the missionary, though we do not find them publish¡ed in form. It is not likely the church of Antioch would ordain him with fasting and prayer, and send him forth among the heathen, and yet furnish him with no advice as to the course he should pursue.

3. Modern missionaries, in many instances, labor with their own hands for their support. This is particularly true of those who are stationed among the Indians of our own country. The lands they have cleared and cultivated, the buildings they have erected, and the large and numerous establishments they have formed, furnish evidence, that no men and women in America have probably been more diligent or persevering than they. And if other missionaries have not been equally laborious, it is not because they have been less devoted to their appropriate work; but because they have been placed in situations where less manual labor was required of them. It is related too of Paul the missionary, that he in several instances labored with his own hands for his support. Appealing to the elders of Ephesus relative to the manner in which he had been with them, he says, "Ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered to my necessities, and to them that were with me.". In like manner he addresses the Thessalonian converts; "Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you; not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example to you to follow us."

4. Missionaries in these days are assisted by the churches. That which they are unable to procure for the support of themselves and their dependent families without improperly interfering with their great and appropriate work, is furnished for them

And this

From the contri

"The

by their Christian brethren and friends. is all that is furnished- for them. butions of Christians, they have no means and no possibility, of ever amassing wealth. And we are expressly informed that Paul, in the course of his missionary labors, received frequent charitable aid from individuals, and from the churches. house of Onesiphorus sought him out very diligently," while he was a prisoner at Rome," and oft refreshed him, and were not ashamed of his chain." In "many things also they ministered unto him," during his abode at Ephesus. While he was laboring at Corinth, he received contributions from other churches for his support. "I robbed other churches," says he to the Corinthians, "taking of them wages to do you service." These were probably the churches of Macedonia; for he immediately adds "That which was lacking to me, the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied." The brethren at Philippi were very liberal, in contributing for the support of the great missionary Paul; and in his Epistle to them he commends them for it.

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"Ye

have done well, that ye did communicate with my affliction; for even in Thessalonica, ye sent once and again unto my necessity. But I have all and abound; having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you."

5. Missionaries in modern times are accustomed to travel from place to place, dispensing the word of life as opportunities are presented. They have not parishes and churches where they constantly reside, and over which they are constituted pastors; but are in the habit of making frequent and extensive circuits, in accomplishing their labors of love.-Now this is precisely the manner in which Paul labored.

He

was never the pastor of any particular church, or for any great length of time the minister of any particular parish or city. He went about doing good. He travelled from city to city, and from place to place, scattering the seed of divine truth, and dispensing the gospel of the grace of God, wherever he went. At one time he is at Antioch, then in Iconium, then in Syria, then in Macedonia, then in Athens, and next perhaps at Rome. Thus he travelled and labored as missionaries now do, and was enabled to say, several years previous to his death, that "from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum he had fully preached the Gospel of Christ."

6. Missionaries at the present time are not unfrequently employed in collecting and receiving the contributions of the pious. They are employed as agents in this business, previous to their going forth among the heathen. And so far as the newly planted churches have ability to contribute, they are occasionally employed in the same business afterwards. And in this respect, they are but followers of the great missionary, Paul. He was much engaged, during a certain period of his ministry, in taking up collections among the churches of the Gentiles, for the relief of the poor and persecuted saints at Jerusalem. "Now," says he to the Romans, "I go to Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem." 66 Concerning the collection for the saints," he writes to the Corinthians, "as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come, and when I come

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whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality untó Jerusalem.”

It would be superfluous to quote more relative to these contributions; as the whole of the eighth and ninth chapters of the second Epistle to the Corinthians, besides other passages in the writings of Paul, refer to them.

7. Missionaries at the present period are in the habit of keeping and transmitting journals of their proceedings. These journals constitute a continued history of their labors and travels, their successes, afflictions, wants, and prospects, and in general of their circumstances. The more interesting parts of them are usually published, and are read and rejoiced in by thousands. Paul the missionary also kept, or caused to be kept, a journal of his proceedings; and for the benefit of Christians in all succeeding ages, this journal was early published. The Acts of the Apostles, from the thirteenth chapter to the end, is no other than a journal of the life and labors of Paul. Here we may follow him from place to place, and may study his bright and interesting example, from the time of his being commissioned to go among the heathen, almost to the period of his death. We may listen to his instructions, witness his conflicts, and admire his persevering engagedness and his brilliant

success.

8. Missionaries now are in the habit of writing frequent letters, to their employers, to one another, to Christian associations, and to their Christian friends. These in many instances are brought before the public. And Paul the Missionary, it appears, was in the same habit. He wrote a variety of letters, to his fellow laborers, to the several stations he had formed, and to the churches and friends