THE FAMILY ALTAR

July 2.

"But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with com-

passion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad,

as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples:

The harvest, truly, is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray

ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth

laborers into His harvest." Matt. 9:36—38.

This is not the first time we hear this earnest appeal of our

Savior to pray for laborers in His ripening mission-fields. But

how are we complying with His request? There are still vast

areas in Africa, Asia, and South America untouched by the saving

Gospel. There are still vast multitudes in our own country that

faint and die for want of the saving means of grace. Why? Be-

cause it is so sadly true what an agnostic said to his Christian

friend: "If you church-people really took to heart this story of

Christ's love for sinners, the very ground would burn under your

feet, and you wouldn't rest until you had told it to every man

alive." It is true, every Christian cannot be a called and ordained

preacher of the Gospel, but every Christian, and therefore you

and I, can and ought often and earnestly to plead the cause of

our Savior's mission-fields at the throne of divine mercy, and

zealously beseech the Lord, especially in these days when so many

mission festivals are held throughout our Church, to send pious

and efficient reapers into His harvest fields. Let us never forget

that it is the Lord who gives the Gospel and must send forth the

missionaries. (Ps. 68, 11.) The more we obey His request and

pray for His Gospel-cause, the more will our hearts love it; the

more will we be ready to support our poor students studying for

the ministry and all our missions at home and abroad. Eich men

and women in other denominations support individual missionaries

from their own ample funds. Some of them, fired with love for

Christ and His glorious Gospel, forsake father and mother and

home and luxurious living and go into the harvest field themselves.

May we, too, become ever more willing to make such sacrifices and

thereby prove the earnestness of our Christian profession.

Hark! the voice of Jesus crying,

"Who will go and work to-day?

Fields are white, and harvests waiting,

Who will bear the sheaves away?"

Loud and long the Master calleth,

Rich reward He offers thee;

Who will answer, gladly saying,

"Here am I, send me, send me."