under a bushel. They form but a small portion of the inhabitants of the world, and multitudes of the number of those that call him Lord, bring no glory to his name; for their character disgraces the religion they profess. We believe indeed that the heathen are given to our Saviour "for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession;" but we see not yet "all things put under him." I sometimes endeavour to realize the feelings of a christian of a future and happier age of the church, when the far greater part of the world shall have been subdued to Christ, and be full of "people made willing in the day of His power." How will the heart of every christian of that happier age expand, when he looks around to the east and west, and south and north, and contemplates the crowding millions of every clime and of every language, ranked among the humble and joyful followers of Jesus!-their idols thrown away their cruel rites abolished-their wars all over-their cup of prosperity as full as it can be on earth, and CHRIST the theme of every tongue, and the supreme object of love and devotion of every heart.

Great is the joy of loyal and affectionate subjects, when the king they venerate, and who has been long deprived of his crown and the enjoyment of his just rights as the sovereign of an extensive empire-a king who has long been confined to a narrow spot as to actual dominion, and has had but

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few devoted to his cause and sharers of his fortunes, and supporters of his honours and majesty,—I say great is the joy of such a people, when their king is restored to the full possession of his kingdomwhen the hearts of all are opened to revere him, and bowed in dutiful submission before him. So it will be with the faithful followers of Christ, in that day when he shall be glorious in the eyes of all nations. For although his true friends know that he has a right to universal empire, yet there is still a difference between merely having a right, and being actually put in possession of it. It is one thing to contemplate the kingdoms of this world as Christ's in reversion, and another thing to see them rejoicing in the blessings of his reign. Let us cheerfully give our life and labours to accelerate this blessed era.

LETTER XXI.

SOME OF THE CAUSES OF INDIFFERENCE TO

MISSIONARY EXERTIONS.

My dear Friend,

WHAT is the reason why so many professing christians render so little efficient aid to the cause of the blessed Saviour in the heathen world? This is a question that forces itself upon us when we think on the one hand how much aid that cause requires, and on the other how practically indifferent many are whom in charity we are bound to consider as sincere christians. This indifference is to be traced to a variety of causes, and it may not be unuseful briefly to glance at some of them.

(1.) The burden of supporting the ordinances of religion among themselves presses heavily upon some bodies of christians. It seems to require their utmost exertions to provide for their own; and so many, because they feel that they can do very little, absolutely do nothing in the way of contributing to the spread of the gospel.

(2.) The pressure of the times also is severely felt by many. But when will this cease? Shall the heathen be allowed to live and die without

Christ till the "hard times" are over? It is admitted that in the course of providence the circumstances of individuals may be so reversed, that however willing and even zealous to help the

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good cause," they cannot, consistently with the claims of justice, contribute even the smallest sum. Such are, of course, absolved from the guilt of withholding assistance; but so long as men have what they can call their own, of that they are unquestionably bound to impart a share to those who are poorer than themselves. Let them imitate the churches of Macedonia, of whom it is recorded that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality; for to their power, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves. They would say, "We are very poor and the times very hard, we can ill spare any thing from our small stock; but our bowels yearn over the poor heathen around us-with them it is hard times indeed! They are destitute of the gospel, while we are rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom; let us live upon the coarsest fare, and strip ourselves of every superfluity, rather than leave them to perish."

(3.) The calls for help at our own doors-the support of preachers in remote and destitute parts of our own country-seem to possess a prior claim upon our liberality. Heathens at home have as much need of the gospel as heathens abroad. This

is a perfect truism, and so is the converse of it; heathens abroad have as much need of the gospel as heathens at home. And what is the inference? Neglect one of them; Surely not. Aid both according to your ability. But the very circumstance, that the heathen at home are so much within sight and within hearing, gives them so greatly the advantage over heathens abroad in competing for a share of christian beneficence, that a man of consideration, adverting to this circumstance, may I think very safely give the latter the first place in his regards; persuaded that the heathen at home will attract the regard of many who will never think of the heathen abroad, or only think of them as having a secondary and distant claim to attention. According to the views of some, the worshippers of the gods of Hindoostan, China, Africa, &c. should be left to their idols till there are no remains of ignorance and idolatry among ourselves. When any one argues in this way it might not be improper to advise him to adhere strictly to his own principle, and abstain from teaching the ignorant, even of his own countrymen, till he has nothing more to learn himself; to correct no errors till he has left no error in his own heart uncorrected; not to concern himself with the spiritual dangers and wants of his brother till he himself is beyond the reach of danger, and has no wants unsuppliedfor "Charity begins at home!"

Such sentiments are sometimes harboured in a