anxiety did not preside over the whole scene, we should call it the most sublime on this side of the grave.

But

it offers no leisure for contemplation; it is all a scene of hurried action. No step then taken can be retraced, no word spoken, recalled. What is done, must be done quickly. There is no time for consultation or experiment, but he who undertakes the work, must apply hastily his glass and spy out every delusion and false refuge of the soul. He must be acquainted with all the folds and entanglements of the heart, and study the whole anatomy of that wounded spirit which he seeks to cure. "Who is sufficient for these things?" All of which must be done, if he would save himself and them that hear him.

THE CHURCH.

That portion of the world which is occuped by the church, is morally related to all the rest, in the manner that a carefully cultivated vineyard is to the unenclosed and untilled common.

22*

SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL.

That man is no friend to civil liberty, however he may profess to be, who does not desire to see its principles universally recognized, and its blessings every where enjoyed, and a perpetual end put to all tyranny and thraldom. So neither is he a friend and lover of the liberty wherewith Christ makes the soul of man free, who does not desire, and pray, and labor, that this liberty may be extended throughout the earth, and enfranchise every human soul.

MISSIONS.

In assigning the causes of the inconsiderable success of modern missionary exertions, perhaps as the foremost of all, should be mentioned the unworthy conduct of those who have borne the Christian name among unevangelized nations. The missionary has every where been preceded by the avaricious trader and the reckless adventurer, and by those who have not only disgraced the name of Christian, but have fallen below the now degraded name of man. Such have been the specimens of Christianity set before the votaries of the various systems of false religion. How should they not have

taken up a prejudice against a system, whose professors afforded an example of all that is despised and hated in the human character ? When the truly Christian missionary has gone among them and proclaimed the healing virtues of the Gospel, they remember how often these Christians have practised deceit, plundered property, and committed murder in their very midst. And if the servant of Christ tells them, that such are Christians only in name, and that they acted in derogation of the whole spirit of the religion they unworthily professed, they will say, "If it had the virtues you ascribe to it, it would not have such professors,"—or “Let your religion reform your own people, and when that is done, bring it to us."

Is it right or magnanimous, by the stale cry of fanaticism, to chill the ardors or check the flowings of benevolence in those who have left all, and gone to distant dying nations with the life-giving Gospel. Is it not as well and as praiseworthy to go away into the wilderness, there to teach wild men civilizing and saving Christianity, or to go even to India, if so be that we may effectually communicate the good news, as it is to tempt the snowy tops of Andes-penetrate into the interior of Africa, to explore the source of the Niger, or to measure an arc of the meridian? Is it that the object is one of inferior moment? No. Is it that less success and a wider waste of human life are produced? No; yet who says a word against the successive attempts that are made in Africa, though all from Park to Burckhardt have perished in the undertaking? How is it that the high and noble daring of enterprize ceases

Why

to be admirable, when the object is the carrying of the Gospel? How is it that we gaze in wonder at our fellow-men, and applaud him who makes heavy sacrifices and encounters many dangers to add to the stock of science; and keep back our applause from him who does the same to enhance the triumphs of religion? is it that you remember and laud the fearless navigator that breaks through the mountain ice, to find a new channel for commerce, and that you forget or remember to despise the more intrepid missionary, that goes to the eternal frosts, to preach the love of Jesus to the poor shivering natives? Is it madness to suffer a little for him who suffered so much for us? Is it glorious to die for one's king and country, and not glorious to die for our God?

If any man loves the cause of Christ where it is established, he must needs desire to see it established where it is not.

WHY EVERY BODY SHOULD HAVE THE BIBLE IN TWENTY YEARS.

[AN UNPUBLISHED TRACT.]

DATED MAY, 1834.

FELLOW CHRISTIANS; this small treatise which is put into your hands, and which you are affectionately requested not to put out of your hands till you have carefully read it, however extravagant and visionary, at first, the design of it may appear to you, avows the following object, viz., the supply of the accessible population of the "whole world" with the Word of God, within a definite period; and it intends to plead for the speedy adoption, by the American Bible Society, of a resolution to undertake, at least, its due share in the great work of the universal supply. Your approbation of the plan-your agreement in the resolution, and your co-operation in its execution are desired and needed. It is however neither expected nor desired that they should be given at our simple request. We therefore beg your serious consideration of some reasons in favor of the plan and resolution, which we will now respectfully submit.

The thing proposed is, that the whole world shall have the Bible; and that, to this end, we who have it, should rise in the spirit of our Master, and in his strength resolve that they shall have it.