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under the blessing of God, may restore again a healthful liveliness of spirit.

The constitution of the human mind upon which this truth depends, is never overlooked by the merely moral teacher. Such an one is perpetually enforcing such doctrines as this, "would you avoid habits of dishonesty, you must be frugal with your own; and for this purpose, betake yourself to some honest calling, and in that persevere in industrious exertions." And in the same way, it is perfectly consonant with the teaching both of the Scriptures and of universal experience, to say that an active perseverance in such spiritual exercises as those of which we have been speaking, is well calculated to be an instrument in the hands of God, whereby we may be kept from that fearful downward course, in which it so often happens that the first step is a neglect of the active spiritual duties which we owe to those around us. But (you will ask,) why should not the exercise of praying for, watching over, and ministering to the wants of our fellow-creatures at home, be sufficient to bring about these good results? in other words, why should not the blessedness of giving, be as great when the object is a school at home, as when the money is to be used in sending the Gospel to the heathen? Such a question assumes a most erroneous position; viz., that the effect upon our own mind is independent of the nature of the object to which our bounty is extended.

Suppose a rich man to contribute towards the erection of a bridge which will be a great conve

ence to the neighbourhood; he will have a reward. Suppose him to give to a Society for warming, feeding, and clothing his poor neighbours; again he will have a reward. But as the motive, though equally pure in itself, was of a different nature, so also there will be no comparison in the recompense. But if the gift be of a spiritual kind, the motive, if pure at all, must be of a still higher order, and so too shall be the reward. And if this be yielded, what prevents us from distinguishing (inter se) between these higher motives, and (by consequence) between these higher rewards?

Now, I affirm that in giving of our substance to send the Gospel to the heathen, (if at least we give aright, on purely Scriptural grounds,) the very highest motives must combine. We must have the simplest faith, the purest love, and the most complete abnegation of self-interest.

Again, you will acknowledge that we may look for the richest blessing from that which tends the most to ennoble the soul. God has given us a constitution which leads us to delight in great and mighty exploits; and by a participation in them our minds are elevated and invigorated. Now if this be true of temporal victories, how much more if we can feel that we have a share in infinite triumphs! if we be led to realize, that we are going forth in heart and effort to fight the battles of the Lord Jesus, and are taking part in pulling down the strongholds which Satan has so long occupied in the wilderness of the world. "This (says the venerable writer already quoted,) is what I desire

our poor to experience. Their daily employ may chain to the mire, all things may seem sordid and debasing around; but still they may be associated with achievements and victories, in comparison of which, earth's greatest glories dwindle into nothingness. The low, the poor, the obscure among men, by applying the hand to Missionary machinery, may be, and may feel themselves to be, fellow-workers with God in the Gospel of His Son."

And, then again, "we should act upon the truth, that Christian grace is capable of almost boundless dilation. It reaches to the Heaven of Heavens, and can throw its arms around the whole family of earth." Parochial schools may, in many places at least, be amply supported; but the heathen world is like a vast yawning gulf, which Christian benevolence can scarcely hope to fill. And yet that which is cast therein is not lost or uselessly expended, but is blessed of God to a degree far more than commensurate with the efforts which are made. So that, though nunquam metam is our perpetual motto, we have abundant and continual cause for praising and magnifying Him who gives the increase. This then is a glorious work, through which we may hope, by God's grace, to have our souls trained up to a wide and expansive nobility: and in which we may trust that the Spirit of God may sap the foundation of our sinful selfishness, and cause our love to God and man to burn with a purer and a brighter flame.

An account of the experience of two person

very differently situated, but both of whom had given something like a trial to the plan I have been advocating, will form a suitable conclusion to my attempt to persuade you to adopt the views I have been endeavouring to enforce.

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A few years ago, in his own house in Edinburgh, Dr. Chalmers thus expressed himself: "When I was a country minister, before I went to Glasgow, I knew of no more profitable mode of communication with my people, than to bring them together to hear extracts from the Missionary Register,' with my remarks upon them. I found it an indirect kind of preaching, which often reached the heart and conscience, when the regular sermon was regarded as a thing of course, and failed to produce any impression."

The other case gives the experience of a clergyman of our own Church. It was related as follows:

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"The Rev. --was called a few years ago to visit a parish as a deputation from the Church Missionary Society. Having arrived some little time before the hour of meeting, the Incumbent took him into the church, and whilst showing him the building, he pointed out a Table of Benefactions' on the wall, which contained a blank space, remarking that he often thought of inscribing there the name of the Society for which the visiter had come to plead; for,' said he, 'this parish has never had a greater benefactor. In attestation of which, he proceeded to relate how dark, and selfish, and lifeless, the people had been, until through the instrumentality of that Society the cause of Missions was introduced,

whereby, under the blessing of God, the happiest and most delightful change had been produced.”

Are you oppressed in spirit by the carelessness, dulness, and spiritual slothfulness of your people? Surely then, such an example must render all further argument superfluous, and I may add, "go, and do thou likewise," and receive for yourself, and for your people a corresponding blessing.

Had not this letter already far exceeded the limits at first proposed, there are several points of detail into which I should have entered.

For example, I should have pointed out the advantages of interesting the young in Missionary work; showing how a bond of union may be created between the minister and those who are taught in National, and even in Infant schools, or in the seminaries where the children of the more wealthy classes are brought together; a bond, which may afterwards be continued by the help of a "Young Men's Society." The importance of these agencies can scarcely be overrated. If they be rightly directed, an abundant home-blessing must result; and, if adopted extensively, they will be the means, not only of collecting large sums for Missionary purposes, but also of training up a numerous company of youths, eager to join themselves to that honoured band, who are literally fulfilling the command, "go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

On such points, however, I must not now

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