I.

THE NEW MIRACLES.

THE law of correlation, in nature, finds every ca pacity filled and every craving fed, so that the bird's wing and fish's fin become prophecies of the atmosphere and the water, as the eye and ear imply sights and sounds.

The same law holds true in the spiritual world. The capacity and craving for the marvellous and wonderful is akin to adoration, which is a higher, holier form of admiration. God's work of creation constantly appeals to the sense of the marvellous; and, ever since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His power and Godhead, have been clearly seen. Man's own body has been fearfully and wonderfully made and constrains him to adore his Creator. And so it is in the kingdom of providence and grace. It needs but an open eye to see the working of a supernatural Power: the abundant proofs of the divine handiwork leave all observers "without excuse.”

It may seem without warrant and even irreverent to apply to the wonders wrought in our age the term "miracles of missions. But a miracle is no more or less than a wonder and a sign combined:—a wonder, for if not out of the common course it would attract no attention; a sign, for if not contrary to, or superior to, the working of natural causes, it would not show to man a higher Hand at work. With such limitations upon the term, we need not hesitate to affirm that modern missionary history furnishes an array of miracles which form the greatest treatise on apologetics ever given to the human race.

To those who deny or doubt a divine mind and method back of the stage of events, with its changes

of scene and actors-to all who are sceptical as to a presence and power above man which goes with the gospel, the one sufficient answer is, missions to the heathen!

Proofs and examples of this have not been wanting in previous pages, as seen in the opening of doors, the calling of apostles, the raising up of converts who have proved both evangelists and martyrs. Through the whole study of the theme thus far the golden thread of a divine plan and performance has been traced. He who holds the Key of David, who openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, has been seen unlocking the iron gates and bursting bolts and bars. The new Pentecosts reveal the Hand that alone can open the windows of heaven and pour out the blessing which comes only from above. A divine Voice alone could have called out labourers from an apathetic and unwilling Church, and sent them forth at the times and to the points most needful, and only He whose existence and purpose span the ages could have kept up this unbroken succession of workmen. God has been visiting his people by Voices and Visions, and training them for new service; and the harvests already reaped argue a divine husbandry. All our paths thus far have been through the territory where Jehovah has worked wonders. A Pillar of cloud and fire has gone before the missionary host-and has led them through deep waters on dry ground, past the Burning Bush, the quaking mount, the riven rock, the routed foeand all the way a table has been set in the wilderness and man has eaten angels' food.

But a large class of divine interpositions and wonder workings, not so far considered, demands special notice, if the Pleroma-the fulness of the presence and power of God in modern missions-is to be seen.

Two great miracles, one in the Old Testament and the other in the New, are the evident forecasts both of missionary methods and success, and we feel persuaded

that their typical meaning has not been apprehended. One is the Fall of Jericho, the other is the Feeding of the Five Thousand.

Everything about the Fall of Jericho hints its typical character. The preparation of the people, the circumcision at Gilgal and the rolling away of the reproach-the resumption of the long-neglected Passover Festival, and the courageous crossing of the Jordan-are conditions of the display of God's power. Then Jericho was the first stronghold which they encountered and stands for world conquest.

Note the circumstances: Exact obedience to the divine command, circumscribing the doomed city, marching round and round it, till thirteen circuits were accomplished with the "soles of their feet, which was the prescribed law of occupation or taking possession by appropriation. How obviously the blowing of the trumpets represents the sevenfold proclamation of the gospel, the jubilee trump, announcing the acceptable year of the Lord; and what was that shout of victory before the walls fell, but the anticipation of faith counting things that are not as though they were, because God had promised! How plainly does the falling of those walls of the doomed city, before one blow was struck, teach us dependence, not on human might or power, but on the good Spirit of the Lord, and teach us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds! How inadequate human means are! God must interpose to do the real work and achieve the real victory Himself. He will not give His glory to another, and the consummation is all His own.

When, from this miracle which stands at the beginning of the conquest of Canaan, we turn to Pentecost, which strangely prefaces the beginning of gospel wars of conquest, we see Jericho interpreted. Peter's sermon was the blowing of the rams' horns, and the immediate and resistless prostration of the

walls of Jewish bigotry, self-righteousness and hardheartedness,-was the divine razing to the ground of barriers to gospel entrance.

Now turn to the great New Testament miracle, when the five loaves and two fishes fed the five thousand. Here is the second great lesson of obedience and dependence. A world is to be reached and every creature fed. Our force is inadequate. "What are all these among so many?" Nevertheless, "give ye them to eat." District the world, go to work on a definite plan of distribution of field and labourers-bring what you have of money and means, Bibles and workers, to Jesus for His blessing. Take no account of the inadequacy of your supplies, but do exactly as He bids and, with what you have, undertake for Him, expecting Him to multiply as you divide. How often is this lesson taught throughout God's Word! the unwasting barrel of meal and flask of oil, the unexhausted cruise of the widow,* the divine independence of power and wealth and wisdom, of numbers and natural means,-all teach us that things impossible with men are possible with God.

What greater impulse could be imparted to worldwide missions than this-that the Church should recognize and realize that it is her salvation to be in straits! because the utter despair of self-sufficiency teaches her that her sufficiency is of God. Our emergency is His opportunity. If the fewness of

labourers drives us to pray the Lord of the harvest, that He will thrust forth labourers into His harvestfield, He will be heard, saying, "Separate Me Barnabas and Saul," and Barnabas and Saul will be found ready. If our poverty of resources leads us to look to Him who alone can supply the ever recurring and increasing need; if the vast host and mighty power of our foes leads us to spread out our case before the Lord, and plead for His might

I. Kings xvii. 9-16; II. Kings iv. 1-6.