Thoughts on Missions   By: Sheldon Dibble (1809-1845)

by the Late

REV. SHELDON DIBBLE,

Missionary in the Sandwich Islands.

Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. MARK 16:15.

Go teach all nations. MATT. 28:19.

Prove all things hold fast that which is good. 1 THES. 5:21.

Published by the American Tract Society, 150 Nassau Street, New York.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF MISSIONS. PAGE.

Lowliness and condescension, like our Saviour's, essential to missionary character, 18

The true Missionary is ready, like Christ, to endure suffering for the good of others, 21

The true Missionary, like his Master, waits not to be urged and entreated, 24

The true Missionary, like the Saviour, feels no less compassion and love to the heathen on account of their ingratitude and enmity towards him, 26

CHAPTER II.

CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP.

All we have belongs to God, 32

To occupy all our powers for God, we must equal the engagedness and enterprise of worldly men, 34

How much faithful stewards may consume on themselves and children, 40

The best use of a large capital, 46

Money not the main thing needed, 50

The luxury and honor of being God's stewards, 56

CHAPTER III.

GUILT OF NEGLECTING THE HEATHEN.

Prospects of the heathen for eternity, 64

Peculiar advantages of the American churches to carry abroad the Gospel of Christ, 69

Do we pray for the heathen as much as we ought? 73

Do we give as much as we ought to evangelize the heathen? 75

Do we go and instruct the heathen as we ought? 81

Why are the heathen lost? 85

CHAPTER IV.

THE SAVIOUR'S LAST COMMAND.

Excuses of Christians for not doing more to evangelize the heathen, 102

CHAPTER V.

LAYMEN CALLED TO THE FIELD OF MISSIONS.

Labors of the first disciples, dispersed from Jerusalem by persecution, 111

To elevate all nations requires a great variety of laborers, 116

Feasibility, 126

Reasons why laymen should engage in the work of Missions, 130

CHAPTER VI.

CLAIMS OF MISSIONS ON MINISTERS OF INFLUENCE.

Separation of Barnabas and Saul for the Missionary work, 134

The present distribution of ministers anti apostolic, 141

Insufficient excuses of pastors for remaining at home, 147

Other excuses of pastors that have weight, but are not sufficient, 155

Necessity that some pastors of influence and talent should become Missionaries, 161

Some excuses common to pastors and to candidates for the ministry, 169

CHAPTER VII.

IMPORT OF THE GREAT COMMISSION.

Responsibility not peculiar to Missionaries, 178

The fallacy of endeavoring to convert the world by proxy, 181

No cheap or easy way of converting the world, 191

Some rules that may be of use in agitating the question of becoming Missionaries, 194