A SINGLE congregation of the Lord in any community can administer and execute the work of the Lord in all its parts. This is true of every congregation. When assembled it is a divinely-authorized body to act in the matters of the kingdom of God. There is no other divinely-authorized body on earth to act in the matters of the kingdom of God. This body is under the old commission from the Lord: “Observe all things whatever I have commanded you.”
[CLASSIFICATION OF MISSIONARY MEN.]
WE have been trying to classify our missionary men, so that we can think of them with intelligence. We put them down as follows:
First. Men who go ahead and preach, and continue on preaching. These are missionary men in the true sense.
Second. Men that contribute liberally of their substance to support those who are devoted to preaching, and see that their money goes to the men that do the work. These are missionary men also in the true sense.
Third. Men who devise plans, inaugurate missions, and call on other people to give the money, stand ready where the money comes out, or at the missionary box, to catch it, and propose, when they get $10,000, to send somebody to preach! These may be great on devising, planning and inaugurating; but we can not work ourself into the belief that they are missionary men in the true sense. We want to see some proposition for them to go; and we want to know that they are going. This hanging on to rich churches and fine salaries, and proposing to receive the money of the people, and send somebody to preach, is not “the Lord’s plan,” nor any other that will stand in the day of judgment.