The Missionary Vade Mecum; Containing Information and Suggestions for the Use of Missionaries, Missionary Candidates, and Committees (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1832. Excerpt: ... ZEAL. Thus far have I endeavoured briefly to describe the principles that should actuate and support the missionary in his arduous undertaking. It may be thought that I require too much, and that my standard of missionary qualifications is raised higher than necessary. I have endeavoured to form my rules by the word of God; nor do I think that they demand more than that hallowed and well-regulated zeal, without which the missionary will do nothing. Zeal, when applied to religion, is too often confounded with enthusiasm, as though they were synonymous terms: but it would certainly be more correct, and accord better with their general application to other subjects, to discriminate between them. In the missionary, zeal is indispensable. Without it, "in such a cause," said Bishop Middleton," all other qualifications would be useless."--he Bas Life of Bishop Middleton, vol. ii. p. 25. Zeal is thus defined by Dr. Johnson--" a passionate ardour for any person or cause." It is used by our best writers in prose and poetry, and even by the translators of Scripture, in a favourable sense. "It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." (Gal. iv. 18; see also Acts xxii. 3; 1 Cor. xiv. 12; Gal. i. 14; Titus ii. 14, and M.r.) The zeal for which I contend, is the impetus of a correct and steady mind, pursuing its object under the guidance of sound reason, unawed by dangers, and unrestrained by difficulties, until proved insurmountable. It is that "passionate ardour for" the "person" of Jesus Christ, and for the advancement of His "cause" in the world, which will burn with increasing warmth, in the true missionary's heart, and appear with brighter lustre in his works, until his course be finished. Enthusiasm is thus defined--" Heat of imagination; confidenc...