JAN 27 1911 Mabie, Henry Clay, 1847- 1918. The t.^sT^ v7orth while; or The Task Worth While OR THE DIVINE PHILOSOPHY OF MISSIONS Xectuces Seminars /^^^^^ !.^'^'^^f, (1909-I9IOJ > JAN 27 1911 By Henry Clay Mabie, D. D. Formerly Corresponding Secretary of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society Author of "In Brightest Asia," "Method in Soul-Winning," "The Meaning and Message of the Cross," " How Does thb Death of Christ Save Us?" "The Divine Right of Missions," etc. The Griffith & Rowland Press Philadelphia Boston Chicago St. Louis Copyright 1910 by A. J. ROWLAND, Secretary Published November, 1910 PREFACE The lectures which follow, except the last one, were given in full or in part by special invitation of the Theological Faculty's Union, in 1909-1910, before the following named institutions: Roch- ester Theological Seminary; University of Chi- cago Divinity School; Colgate Seminary, Hamil- ton, N. Y. ; MacMaster Seminary, Toronto, Cana- da ; Kansas City Seminary, Kan. ; Southwestern Seminary, Waco, Tex. ; Southern Baptist Theo- logical Seminary, Louisville, Ky. ; Crozer Theo- logical Seminary, Upland, Pa. ; and New^ton Theological Institution, Newton, Mass. Lectures III and VII were repeated before the Reformed Church Seminary, New Brunswick, N. J. The title and topics as named at the several institutions varied somewhat in form, although substantially the same material was used. For purposes of publication, however, it is thought the general title chosen is on the whole the fittest. The origin of the lectures themselves is com- VI PREFACE posite. They are based on long and careful first- hand study of the Holy Scriptures—the Divine Oracles themselves—rather than the thoughts of others about them. This study, moreover, was engendered and stimulated by a fresh insight into the divine word, begotten of a deep religious crisis in the author's own spiritual life resulting from a breakdown in health—a crisis which only those who have had similar experiences could be expected fully to appreciate. This was followed, not long after, by a call to the secretaryship of the American Baptist For- eign Mission Society, and a visit to the mission fields of Asia. All this brought with it a deeper conception of the missionary enterprise as some- thing organic to Christianity, of the essential unity of all mankind before God, and of the depth of the divine love for them, of all heathendom as well as Christendom, as existing under the aegis of a redemptive economy, which however awaits the co-operation of the church for its realization. First-hand contact with veteran missionaries and not a few sincere adherents of the ethnic faiths, led to a more reflective examination of certain Scriptures, and to a larger appreciation PREFACE Vll of the subjective element in all religion. More- over, there resulted a deeper view of the whole movement to Christianize the world in a scrip- tural and worthy sense. Its depth and difficulty, and yet its vast promise, took on fuller meanings. This enterprise is no mere crusade. Missions are a cosmic undertaking—something eterno-tem- poral—in which '' times and seasons," as men reckon them, are beside the mark as compared with divine estimates. The timeless God and the intrinsic power of his truth are more to be reck- oned on. In terms of time, the prelude to a time- less consummation may be long and yet logically short, however perplexing to us. Starting out from the threefold point of view indicated—a point of view matured on the world's great mission fields—the author returned home and began an active advocacy of the cause for a score of years before the home churches, and in numerous prayer conferences, from IMaine to California. The principles thus tested in prac- tical ways, resulted with the divine blessing in quickened motive and response which it is hoped has contributed some part to the enlarged mis- sionary enthusiasm of the present time. These lectures are the epitome of the presenta- Vlll PREFACE tions SO widely made before the churches. The discussion is intended to cover " things new and old," in the task worth while for God and man in the ongoing of the kingdom, as Isaiah presents it (49 : 6), but with fundamental reference to the timeless and cosmic factors which operate. By '' cosmic," I mean the whole issue of two worlds —the issue embraced in the union of the eternal and the temporal, the divine and the human. Missions are but the extension in various forms of elemental Christianity, yet they have to deal with world-wide conditions in all forms of life, and in all times. As a rule, missions are presented in their tem- poral and phenomenal aspects, often narrowly, and in outworn phraseology. In such case, views respecting God and the general moral order, re- main ill defined, or only half true, while uncer- tainty of aim in practical effort follows. For these reasons, among others, missions demand a restatement in modern terms, indeed, yet in these terms as controlled by certain eternal and thor- oughly evangelical factors. In these lectures the author had to commend the cause to students—the prospective new leaders and missionaries of the churches, and of course PREFACE IX with reference to modern conditions. Both clear- ness and practical wisdom were requisite. The theological ground-work assumed, while having regard to a true modernism, must still be consist- ent with that modernism which is theologically sound. We must settle a few first things as funda- mental in the missionary God, and true to the moral order under which he has placed us, before we can go on and rightly think of missions, or wisely conduct them. To do otherwise is most superficial. Every kind of talk on the subject, in any case, presupposes one kind of theology or another. We need thoroughly to clarify and ethicise our thought if we are to engender or deepen missionary motive. If, therefore, in the reading of these chapters, any should feel that they are disproportionately apologetic, it may be well for such to consider that the thought of our time requires a more discriminating rationale of missions, as of all other things, than has pre- viously prevailed. While the author's mind in the discussion has been dominated doctrinally by biblical princi- ples evangelically conceived, yet these principles in part have been newly interpreted, and in the X PREFACE numerous concrete illustrations employed, he speaks as a first-hand observer of the actual mis- sion work of our time, which attests as well as illustrates the principles. That those who have the training of our future ministers and missionaries, in representative theo- logical seminaries of the United States and Canada, united to secure a hearing of these mes- sages, for their students, was gratifying to the author. His thanks also are cordially due to an elect number of special friends of missions and of the schools, who by their generosity made this service possible. The lectures are published by request of the students and others who heard them. May the divine blessing rest upon them as they go forth in this form to the world. H. C. M. Boston, September, 19:0. CONTENTS LECTURE I Missions Grounded in a Timeless Redemption i Missions, like theology, dependent on starting- point. Incidental to a self-manifestation of God. The Christ of Christianity is superhistorical and cosmic. The timeless sacrificial principle in God. A determinative Scripture passage. Rev. 13 : 8. The atonement a cosmic matter. While temporal fac- tors enter, yet the dateless govern. The universe redempto-centric. The Andover position. The Christian propitiation a self-propitiation in God. The Father and the Son absolutely en rapport. Redemption more than restoration. All men exist under its aegis. Six timeless factors noted: (i) Revelation in its idea; (2) the providential moral order; (3) the predetermined bounds of human habitation; (4) the appointed "times and seasons." The composite idea in the " parousia " of Christ. The genius of the kingdom. Christ and the inspired writers not in error respecting eschatology; (5) the age-long conflict between Christ and Satan. Its bearing on the Ethnic Systems; (6) the work of the Holy Spirit. Missions, the actualizing of the potential. LECTURE II The Providential Factors in Missions 25 xi XU CONTENTS Providence operates both in development and by cataclysm. The element of surprise in both. A redemptive system involves this. Ours not a naturalistic vi^orld. Why our world a cosmos rather than a chaos. Providence a fruit and a phase of grace. Provable not abstractly, but by life. Nothing violative in it. A basis for prayer. The universe wired for it. Personality makes all possible. Testimony of Baroness Bunsen. Where- in providence is grounded. Browning. Works in a corporate as well as individual way. Statistics on missions misleading. Periods of long waiting. The short vision of the Reformers and reasons for it. The fathers unjustly censured. Striking providences within a century. Apparently unpro- pitious events helpful, e. g.,: (i) Triumph of the Moslem power; (2) persecutors of the pre-Refor- mation times; (3) shafts of wit and ridicule; (4) abuses of the East India Company. Robert Give. Sepoy Rebellion; (5) Boxer uprising in China. LECTURE III The Continuity of the Missionary Passion 51 The origin and nature of this passion. As yet far from general in the church. Two current sayings: i. "The church only playing at mis- sions"; 2. "The day of the romance of missions is past." Yet notable exceptions. The witnessing Spirit of God. Works in all true missionaries from Paul to Paton. The natural history of this pas- sion : (i) Principle of self-effacement at its root; not the Buddhistic type.