should have been enlisted on the largest scale of operation, and the work nearly or quite done, oh how partial and languid have been our movements! We have done but little beyond launching forth in this enterprise we have hardly spread our sails to the wind.

Slow and inconsiderable, however, as has been our advance, compared to what it should have been, we would not speak disparagingly of that which has been done. The difference in itself, is not small, between the present and forty years ago, in regard to missionary operations. It deserves our fervent thanksgivings, that evangelism -not worldly policy and martial power, under the cloak of religion, aiming chiefly at temporal aggrandisement and nominal submission-but the pure and primitive missionary spirit, seeking simply to save the souls of men,-is now employing 1,500 missionaries at 1,200 central stations, assisted by 5,000 native and other salaried agents, at an expense of two and a half millions of dollars a year.* The missions of the Protestant Church, in its various branches, during the last forty or fifty years, are doubtless more considerable, in their direct and indirect relations to the world's salvation, than those of the foregoing ten or fifteen centuries. It is only, however, a contrast with the past that excites our joy. When we look again upon the vast field of human shame and woe

*These statistics are from Dr. Harris, who appears to have taken much care to make them correct.

that lies outspread in every direction, to the remotest bounds of the earth, and think of our obligations and privileges, and of the church's thousand years sleep over the very concern of her existence, no feelings seem appropriate but those of astonishment and grief, that the scale of our missionary proceedings should be so small. If we compare it with that of our home operations, inadequate as that is, the inequality appears enormous. What the Protestant Church gives for the evangelization of the world is less than a tenth-yea, if we do not misreckon, than the fifth of a tenth of what she expends on herself. Out of her 80,000 ministers, but 1,500 are foreign missionaries. Without determining precisely the proportion of resources which should be employed abroad, the following considerations throw light enough on this subject to stir the whole church to her centre, with the spirit of reform. First, that she is not more under law to care for her own well-being, than she is to evangelize the world. Secondly, that the unevangelized portion of mankind is at least five times as large as the other portion; and thirdly, that in propagating Christianity, the apostle's rule should be followed as essentially equitable and christian, "To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see, and they that have not heard shall understand." We do not undertake to give with precision the results of a just application of these facts, but we do affirm with heaviness and sorrow of heart, that it is not charitable-no, it is neither merciful nor just on the part of the church,

that, of a race all equally and infinitely needing the gospel, and equally entitled to it by the grace and commandment of God, they should allow one fifth the privilege of hearing the joyful sound all their life-time, while the rest, through sixty generations, should be left in total ignorance of the fact that a Savior has visited the world. There is in this inequality a guilt which should fill the church with the profoundest grief. It tramples upon the great foundation law of God's empire; it makes void the Almighty Redeemer's last and most imperative charge; it shows indifference to his honor: and what wonder, that, while the consequence to the world has been its continued and progressive ruin, the church should have been enduring an incessant struggle for existence, and should be compelled to acknowledge the survival of her exposures and conflicts as the greatest of wonders.

But the whole truth has not been told. It is not the disproportionate allotment of the church's actual expenditures and ministry, that measures her indebtedness. She would be incalculably at fault, if, of these, she divided to the heathen all that would fall to them. For these collectively are immensely deficient. Then would she be found as a faithful steward in this matter, if the expenditures for all purposes were as generous, and the ministry as able and as large, as the interest and honor of Christ demand; and further, if her private members were all duly engaged in the work of human salvation; and if now the heathen should have their full share here is the standard

by which the church should judge herself, as to her arrears to the world. Who can estimate the amount? Shall we discharge it,-shall we not be adding to it incalculably and continually, if we do not proceed upon a broader scale of operations than that with which we have been heretofore content?

V. The tokens of the divine complacency in the missions of these times are most inspiriting motives to progress in them. These are embraced, in the condition in which the church has been advancing since our missions began, in the success of these missions, and in the signs of the times as promising greater success.

1. From the time we began our missionary work, the state of our churches has, on the whole, been one of progressive prosperity. The entrance on that work was the dawn of a good day, which has been growing brighter and brighter, and which, if we falter not in our undertaking, will, doubtless, continue to shine more and more, until its light shall become seven fold, as the light of seven days. This favorable and advancing change is the result of no hidden instrumentality; but, manifestly, of the blessing of God on the missionary undertaking. This movement originated other kindred and subservient ones, as the necessary means of its accomplishment; and while all have been conspiring together to forward the general design, they have been as life to the dead to those who

have been under their influence. The connection of good agencies here is easily traced. The resolution being once seriously taken to give mankind the gospel, the necessity was soon felt for the translation and diffusion of the Scriptures, for the increase and improvement of the ministry, for the multiplication and distribution of religious books; and as its accomplishment advanced, particular evils called for their own means of reform: and while the vast foreign sphere opened more and more to view, with all its crying demands for the gospel, the conviction became deeper and deeper as to the necessity of giving increased attention to the interests of home, the source, under God, of supplies to the heathen. In the mean time every thing tended to impart a sense of dependence on God, and to cherish the spirit of prayer for the effusion of the divine influence. The result was, that a system of benevolent agencies arose, which has distinguished the age above all that have preceded it, since the primitive triumphs of Christianity.

Various incidental benefits have followed. Christians of different sects meeting often together for prayer and consultation, in reference to plans and measures connected with the cause of human salvation, have, under the power of that paramount and common object, forgotten their party names and interests; and thus the evils of sectarianism have been gradually disappearing, and christian union advancing; insomuch, that the time seems rapidly approaching when denomina