It is not _inventive_ genius we need in the Church, nor _explorers_ to _invent_ something new, or to _make discoveries_; but we need humble and honest men, who know and love the truth, and will press it on the world. We know humble men, of but limited talent and information, who are building up churches, reforming men and women, and bringing them to God. We know also men of considerable learning and talent, who do not turn a bare dozen to the Lord in a year, and who build up no churches nor anything else, but who are starting subtleties, speculations and questions to no profit, but only tend to subvert the hearer. Why can men not be content with the plain truth, the precious truth that makes men wise to salvation, through faith in Christ? It is easily learned, easily preached and readily believed and obeyed to the salvation of the soul. It is for the people, the whole people, and adapted to them. The kind of greatness we need, is that which manifests itself in preaching great truth in plain and easy terms, and bringing it to the comprehension of the people. The command is, and will be till the Lord comes, “Preach the word.”
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_.”
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.