For now their work, however humble, is God's work; Christ has bought
it and redeemed it with his blood. When he redeemed human nature, he
redeemed all that human nature can and ought to do, save sin. All
human duties and occupations are purified by the blood of Christ's
cross; and if we do our duty well, we do it to the Lord, and not to
man; and the Lord blesses us therein, and will help us to fulfil our
work like Christian men, by the help of his Holy Spirit.
And for those who know not Christ? For them, too, we can pray. For,
for them too Christ died. They, too, belong to Christ, for he has
bought them with his most precious blood. What will happen to them
we know not: but this we know, that they are his sheep, lost sheep
though they may be; and that we are bound to pray, that he would
bring them home to his flock.
But how will he bring them back? That, again, we know not. But why
need we know? If Christ knows how to do it, surely we need not. Let
us trust him to do his own work in his own way.
But will he do it? My friends, if we wish for the salvation of all
Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, do you suppose that we are more
compassionate to them than God who made them? Who is more likely to
pity the heathen? We who send a few missionaries to teach them: or
God who sent his own Son to die for them?
Oh trust God, and trust Christ; for this, as for all other things.
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