A discourse delivered at the opening of the General Conference of Protestant Missionaries of China, Shanghai, 7th May, 1890.
"*I have compassion on the multitude, ete." Matt. xv.; 32-38.
When, on leaving London, I received an invitation to preach at the opening of the Conference, I felt that I must refuse. Much prayer was given to the matter. I concluded that it was God who was to be the speaker and if I could be little enough to let God speak through me, I might venture to speak.
In reading this account it touches all our hearts to remember—1,—That the presence of our blessed Lord is kept before us. We read that Jesus called his disciples, Jesus asked and Jesus said thus and so. He opened to them his own loving heart of sympathy for the multitude. This is what we, gathered here to-day, need to feel, the Master's own cart. If He wishes the multitude to be fed, they must be fed. There is no ques-only possible question is How. Before tion about it. Our duty is plain, The
this Christ had fed 5,000. The disciples had witnessed at once the needs of the people and the power of their Lord, Yet now they seem to beall unconscious of these things and raise the query How can we? How can we fill so great a multitude?"
These doubts and questionings are just like those in which we ourselves indulge. We have been helped by Christ. Difficulties have been removed and yet the next time we come into similar straits our faith wavers and our hope grows dim, Yet Jesus does not upbraid them. His grace and gentleness are great.
Nor does He upbraid us, though our faith is so feeble.
fe waits to bless, He, who is no longer in the feebleness of earthly flesh but reascended into heavenly glory at God's right-hand, 2.—Notice that the disciples are used by Christ as instruments. He works through them and not independent of them. Should we not therefore ce-operate with one another and not separate ourselves? Christ is the Vine and we are the branches. The unity of God's people should ever be kept in thought. are one, God works through us, we are in Him and united to each other. At this period the disciples had not received the Holy Ghost, but Christ was with them to teach and guide.
Notice, too, we have the multitude, in this account of the Evangelist. It numbered 4,000 besides women and children. Tt seemed to appel the disciples; Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness us to fill so great a multitude?" So we exclaim "There is so much for us to do."" We are too arithmetical in our thoughts as to how much or how little we have to do, and to do with. The widow of Sarepta had only a little meal and oil. Much money or food in her hands would have been a peril, for in the famine the hungry people would have very likely robbed her. A little with God's blessing is enough. God makes use of just what we have, to show his power and ce. He asked Moses what he had in his then bade him cast it on the earth. Lo, it became a serpent. He bade him thrust his hand into his bosom. It became leprous; again he placed it there and it was restored. The Master requires nothing outside and beyond ourselves, but only asks that we heartily put at His disposal just what we have, Christasks''How many loaves have you?" ments of population have been greatly ex: Fancy one of the disciples of a calculating However, putting the number turn of mind figuring up the needs of 4,000 000—none would be likely to sug-with the seven loaves, on the basis of 5,000 lower estimate—there are 60,000,000 fed with five loaves. ' That is the way we families. Could we put into the field 500 sometimes meanly reckon. But Christ qualified evangelists, each of them visiting wants all. We are to keep back nothing. An 50 families a day, we should reach the entire entire consecration is the test. As a con-population with the gospel in three years, ference we need to get near to God. It is Shall we not unite in an appeal to the not large numbers, experience and ability, church of Christ to send forth men and much as it is a thorough surrender of all women in some such rapid work of evangel we have to Him. Then our needs and usation? Three or four days in a place China's needs will be fully met. If "All cannot, indeed, accomplish all the work for Christ" be our motto then we shall be needed, yet much may be accomplished consecrated to the welfare of others. Our with God's blessing on the seed thus sown, time, our treasure, our influence, our child-afterwards to ripen and bring forth fruit. ren will be lovingly and loyally given to Him. When the eye is single and the centres, lest they should stay too long in a Christ drove away the apostles from some heart is true to Jesus, the whole body place But the work went on when the will be full of light. All questions brought before us in debate will be illuminated workers had left.. Thirteen years ago at the last meeting of this conference, our and all our surroundings will be full of light.
We shall then know what to do. appeal for labourers was not fruitless, Now there are in American schools of learning Do you ask how this is to be had? Just alone, 4,000 who have indicated a pur-put yourselves in the attitude of trust and pose to give themselves to foreign mis-of docility. With this complete self-sursionary service, if God shall open the way. render, all personal ends and selfish motives At the first meeting here, thirteen years are abandoned. We shall not allow private ago, but 19 bodies were represented; we feelings and ambitions to influence us, or now have 40 societies at work, under whose ask which shall be greatest. Our only wish wise supervision these evangelists might will he to know what is Christ's way, what carry the truth by voice end printed page is his thought and choice. all over this empire.
I expect a great and precious outcome Letters from all parts of the world assure from this gathering. He who fed the mul-me that prayer la offered, men and mone} titude will feed us and care for us who ready. In Scandinavia 100 are to be had. have left home, kindred and country for his Tt was said to me in Glasgow, We can sake, and have come to labour in China. send 100 from this city alone." From the But the thought uppermost in my mind yet remains to be considered, lay workers of England cannot 300 come As for the United States, 500 is a number 3.—Themethods of feeding the multitude. ridiculously small when 4,000, in various Christ's methods were perfect, for He stages of preparation, are looking forward followed the father in all things. "He acted to the foreign field. For sixty generations not in a desultory way but orderly. He Christ has been looking down upon us, and commanded them all the sit down on the Found. "They sat doubtless as ald the upon the work with unspeakable interest, 0 His immediate followers He gave com-.000, in rows, to be more easily reached mand to disciple all nations. ie has com-confusion. He gave thanks. He manded each generation to evangelist its broke the seven loaves, then he gave to his own generation. Have we been heedful of disciples and they to the multitude. Each our Lord's parting injunction? Shall we disciple took a portion of the company to wait and let the people perish while we serve. He left to their judgment and com-wait? No! In this sixtieth generation mon sense the division of the work and the sisice our Lord wept in Gethsemane and details. It is not likely that he told them died on Calvary, see to it, my brethren, just how much each was to receive, indeed that this blessed gospel of grace is carried it is natural to suppose that the best re-to every hamlet in China and the offer of ceivers became dividers. A man may have salvation is made to all whether they receive given a portion of what he received to his it or not. wife or child. So they who receive the bread of life, the gospel of Christ, are to give the same to others.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.