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MY DEAR FRIEND,

IF I make no apology for addressing you with the freedom and at the length which characterizes this communication, it is because I am convinced, that on your part, there exists a sincere desire to promote the spiritual welfare of your flock, and consequently, a readiness to look with candour on any suggestion bearing on this allabsorbing point; and because I am conscious that my own desire is simply to be a fellow-helper with you in the work of our common Lord and Master.

There is scarcely a faithful labourer amongst us, who does not find himself oppressed with a double difficulty, and a double discouragement: the great mass of our people are careless of their best interests, being equally unaffected by public exhortations or private admonitions; and those of whom we have been led to hope better things, too often run well but for a time, being let and hindered in their race. That such is your experience, you will admit, with equal readiness and sorrow. And yet you have not been wanting in the endeavour to render your pulpit ministrations plain enough for the capacity of the poorest, and so varied as not to

weary or disgust your more educated hearers: whilst in private, "in season and out of season," you have been anxious to lead your people duly to appreciate the ordinances of our Church as a means of grace, to arouse the slumbering, and to dispel the listless spirit which is but too -evident amongst those who make a profession of religion.

Deeply and painfully dispiriting is such a state of things, and calculated to plunge us into despondency, if we look upon it with the natural eye. To the man of faith and prayer, however, difficulties and discouragements are but additional motives for perseverance, and incitements to exertion; and thus, instead of hindrances or drawbacks, they become helps and advantages, through the overruling Providence and abounding mercy of our God.

To you, my dear brother, I need not stop to prove that we have no resource, except in the fundamentals, the first principles, of our faith; that we have not (and can never need) other, or better weapons wherewith to carry on our warfare, than those we have long learned to value-a faithful exhibition of the wondrous love of God in Christ, to arouse and excite the careless, beseeching and persuading them to be reconciled to God. We can preach no other Gospel, but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, the only hope of sinners; we can teach no better practical lesson, than is afforded by His example of filial obeof a prayerful spirit, and of active bene

ce,

ce.

It is thus alone that we can work the

work of Him that sends us. If, then, the vision seem to tarry, wait for it; unite a spirit of prayer with a habit of active exertion; let every disappointment drive you to wrestle more earnestly with God for a blessing, even for the gift of that. Spirit, without whom all our endeavours must. be vain, but by whose help we shall be "good stewards of the manifold grace of God:" thus shalt thou "both save thyself and them that hear thee."

I have felt it needful to refer to these great. and fundamental truths, that you might not. suppose they had been forgotten. But God himself condescends and even delights to work with. means, and He expects us also to use every means authorized by His word, and afforded to us by His providence; that so the careless may be arrested, and the man of God (whether his spiritual state be apparently healthy or otherwise,) may be edified and built up in his most holy faith. In this view, I proceed to set before you a few of the advantages of one particular line of conduct; and it shall be my endeavour to show you, how it may bear upon those two classes. of your people to which I have referred,giving you a new and unwonted hold upon the minds of some, and bringing down a copious stream of blessing on others who had become parched and withering branches.

Without further preface then, suffer me to ask, have you endeavoured to overcome the discouraging circumstances to which I have alluded, by using every means in your power to enkin

and keep alive a true Missionary spirit amongst your people?

There are too many who would be altogether amazed at such a question; they are accustomed to many arguments by which the claims of Christian Missions are supported and enforced; but the idea is altogether new to them, that the most powerful argument, the most cogent reasoning, which can be adduced with reference to this subject, is founded upon the fact, that the spiritual benefits, which the cultivation of a Missionary spirit has conferred upon the Church at home, are fully equal to any which have descended upon the foreign fields of Missionary labour. I know not how you may be disposed to view the question, but you will admit that its importance is not small; and I hope to show you that it is not less pertinent, under the circumstances to which I have adverted. Bear with me, therefore, whilst I go into some detail with regard to it.

The question itself amounts to this:-Have you duly and perseveringly set before your people the deep and solemn responsibility which rests upon every one of them, based upon the fact, that the great mass of the human family are still grovelling in the darkest superstition, and perishing daily for lack of knowledge? Have you constantly reminded them, that the last of Christ's earthly commands still stands in the pages of inspiration unrepealed and unmodified, incapable of being explained away by any expedient of "private interpretation," as if it were

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