sidering the merits of the case, they should surmise the Missionary's inclinations, and decide accordingly. It is important that this should not be the state of things. The effect is positively injurious upon the Native Agents. It prevents in some cases any accurate judgment being formed. The Native, if left alone, will view the matter from a different stand-point. Many things he knows much better than the Missionary, and he may be right while the European is wrong. Besides the judgment is not exercised.

The Missionary must proceed as in court-martials, where the members lowest in rank express their views first. In this way there is no bias. The Agents should state the grounds of their opinions. Others present who differ should explain their reasons. After the Missionary has heard all opinions, and been enabled to form a correct judgment, he may give his own.

Prudence, of course, is necessary. Any mere spirit of opposition must be repressed. Towards God and his Word the most reverential submission should be inculcated; and due respect should be shown by all to those who are over them in the Lord.

2. Independent Action.-Every Agent should, as far as possible, have a distinct field of labour. It has been well observed :

"Responsibility is what, with God's grace, develops and makes men. A man should feel that he has a work, which nobody will do if he neglect it. He should have the certainty of detection, and a fear of consequences, when neglecting duty.'

Due consideration, it is true, is required. It would be very unwise to place a solitary young Christian as Catechist or Teacher in a heathen village. Grievous falls have been the result. Even older men have succumbed. Dr. Mullens says:

"Left in posts of responsibility, where they could not be always watched, surrounding temptations have in time carried

* Madura Report, p. 118.

them away. Perhaps opportunities presented to them of making money, by fields, fish-tanks, lending at high interest, and the like, have tried them too strongly; have undermined their piety, filled them with envy, and ruined their usefulness."*

Still, in many cases Native Agents have not been thrown sufficiently upon their own resources. They will make some mistakes; but all have, more or less, to learn by experience.

It may naturally be expected in thus training Agents to independence, that occasionally it will manifest itself in opposition to the views of the Missionary. A wise man will rejoice to some extent at this, as it gives promise of vigor. The grand corrective of whatever is wrong, will be to inculcate at the same time childlike obedience to God.

Social Intercourse-Few things have happier effects in many ways than friendly meetings in the social circle. The true character is best seen; mind comes more in contact with mind; love is cherished; the animating spirit is imbibed. One of the most important parts of the training which the Apostles received from our Lord, was of this description.

The degree must vary with the number and character of the Agents. To Native Ministers, as Dr. Mullens recommends, the Missionary should give at all times "a warm welcome to his study and his table." Catechists may now and then be invited to tea.

It is important to influence the wives of Native Agents. Sometimes they are sad drawbacks to their husbands. If the Missionary is married, when he invites the latter, let him also, as far as practicable, get the former. Many of them are not accustomed to use knives and forks. Where this would occasion awkwardness, they can come to tea.

Holy Enthusiasm.-Next to the influences of the blessed Spirit, what is chiefly wanted for the success of

Memoirs of Lacroix, p. 247.

the Gospel in India is holy devoted zeal. All reformers of every description have been men deeply in earnest. Deficiency in enthusiasm is one of the greatest defects both in European and Native labourers. It has well been asked :

"Oh, where is the spiritual perception that looks forth on the world as the great scene of a moral conflict and beholds it under the stirring aspect which it presents to the beings of other worlds? Where are the kindled eye and the beaming countenance, and the heart bursting with the momentous import of the Gospel message? Where the fearlessness and confidence whose very tones inspire conviction, and carry with them all the force of certainty, and the weight of an oath? Where the zeal which burns with its subject, as if it had just come from witnessing the crucifixion, and feels its theme with all the freshness and force of a new revelation? The zeal which during its intervals of labour, repairs to the mount of vision to see the funeral procession of six hundred millions of souls ? to the mouth of perdition to hear voices of all these saying as the voice of one man, 'send to our brethren, lest they also come to this place of torment?' to Calvary, to renew its vigour by touching the cross? Enthusiasm is sobriety here. In this cause, the zeal of Christ consumed him; his holiest ministers have become flames of fire; and, as if all created ardour were insufficient, here infinite zeal finds scope to burn; for the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform it.'"*

Meetings for Prayer.-The sacred flame which ought to burn within the breast of every Missionary can only be kindled and maintained from above. The Spirit of God must produce all real success in Missions. Mere human learning and eloquence will leave men in the state described in Ezekiel's vision-bone may come to bone, sinews and the flesh may come up upon them, the skin may cover them from above; but there will be no breath in them-a nominal profession of Christianity, but no spiritual life. The true Missionary will, therefore, be a man of prayer, and will

*The Great Commission, pp. 443,4.

seek by every means in his power to foster the same spirit in his associates.*

XIV. THE NATIVE CHURCH.

Christian Villages, &c.-When heathen embrace Christianity, some Missionaries are disposed to bring them together. Mr. Leupolt said at the Liverpool Conference :

:

With regard to congregations, he had advocated from the beginning, and still advocated, where it was possible, the aggregation of converts in villages. Unless truly converted, firm, and men of experience, they would, if scattered among the heathen, be carried along with the stream." Report, p. 296.

In some cases, land has been purchased or rented by the Missions, and regular settlements formed. In North India, and to a smaller extent in some other parts, what is called the " compound+ system," has been adopted by several Missionaries. The arguments in favor of the plan are those mentioned by Mr. Leupolt. The converts are immediately under the eye of the Missionary, and can meet with him daily for Christian worship. The general feeling is against this course. A critic, noticing the Punjab Conference, wrote as follows::

"The second great fault of Missionaries is, that they collect their native Christians in little puckka (brick) houses near the mission compound; they make a kind of native cantonment; each neophyte finds his whole outward as well as his inner life renewed. Instead of going on as usual, making shoes, weighing out grain, and following his honest trade or profession or business in the city or village, or starting one, he finds himself moved a mile from the contact of his countrymen, his idea of a

* Consult the Ootacamund, Punjab, and Liverpool Conference Reports on Native Agency.

A compound means a plot of ground on which a house is built.

decent residence entirely overset, and himself and his wife planted in a kind of foreign garden in little glass hot-houses."

Although some may thus have been preserved from falling away, the segregation of converts seems unadvisable for the following reasons:

1. A feeble dependent spirit is apt to be produced. Additional force is given to one of the greatest defects of the national character-want of independence. The Missionary is regarded as the "Cherisher of the Poor," the Father and mother" of all thus brought together. Instead of exerting themselves for a living, they go and tell him their wants. He is expected to get employment for them or otherwise procure support. Of course, they are never satisfied, and always complaining.

In the foregoing extract reference is made to brick. houses. Not long ago, a Missionary in the Bombay Presidency applied to Europeans for funds to build houses for people collected on land, each house to cost Rupees 200. As heathen, the men under instruction. never lived in houses which cost more than perhaps one-sixth of that sum, and when any repair was needed, they easily attended to it themselves. When any thing went wrong in their fine new houses they would go to the Missionary, that he might get the repairs made. He built the houses; why should he not keep them in order?

It has happened in England that the squire and clergyman have been combined in the same individual. Experience shows that such a union is undesirable. So it is to be deprecated that a Missionary as landlord should be brought sometimes into collision with his convert tenants, occasionally perhaps requiring to eject them for non-payment of rent. It is a maxim with Hindus, Never pay unless you are compelled.

The tree in the midst of the forest has little strength of support; it is the oak exposed to every wind under