What Missionary Motives Should Prevailt 87 having been accomplished, He longed to have His disciples pro claim the glad tidings everywhere; and hence He spoke of this, and of this alone. Moreover, on the several occasions when He discoursed upon the theme of missions, He always spoke as a master would address his disciples, as a captain would address his soldiers, as a king would address his subjects. At other times and in other relationships, He suggested, He exhorted, He urged. But here, without exception and without equivocation, He commanded. Not once did He explain how He could de mand what He was requiring; not once did He ask if there were any arguments to be expressed in answer to His pro posals; in full knowledge of the terrible cost, without allow ing any escape from the obligation imposed, He simply said, “Go!” In face of such a burning passion and heavily imposed obli gation, there is but one conclusion to reach; the Church of Jesus Christ has no choice as to whether she will or will not do the thing ordered. One who has purchased His people with His own blood, One who owns them in spirit, soul and body, One who is indeed Master, Captain and King has posi tively commanded that His Gospel shall be preached through out the world. Of course, the Church, if she chooses, may disobey, as—speaking generally—she is disobeying. But under the conditions prevailing, this on her part is high treason, and it is at her present loss and future peril. The thing which Christ has commanded, in all rightful consideration, is the thing which ought to be fully and immediately undertaken. This then, is the prime motive which God sets before Chris tians, individually and collectively, namely, that He who has had a right to command has done so, and that the command, because of the Person, calls for unhesitating, uncompromising and continuous obedience, until the task ordered is fully and finally accomplished.
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