and it were extremely uncandid to insinuate that there lurks under it any sinister purpose of sectarianism; or that it is not founded upon a perfect mutuality of feeling; or that there exists any reluctance to follow the "Fundamental Principle" wherever it may lead. We are, I say, forbidden to suppose that the society would, for a moment, hesitate to throw the whole amount of its means into the chest of the Church of England-if once convinced that, in so doing, it would more effectually than in any other mode, promote the one and only object it has in view-the spread of the gospel abroad." pp. 97, 98.

The society does not, nor ever has done any thing in its corporate capacity which any christian may not approve and promote. No sinister purpose of sectarianism lurks under its catholic profession; nor is there any reluctance to follow the fundamental principle, wherever it may lead. For that very reason, the society never can throw its means into the chest of the Church of England. It would then cease to be a catholic, and become a sectarian society; its fundamental principle being violated, the society would be dissolved; faith would be broken with its Missionaries, and with all who have entrusted their property. to its management.

We live in an age of enterprise and discovery; schemes and projects of all sorts are continually obtruding themselves on public attention, and are advocated with various ability and zeal. "The March of Intellect" we cannot expect should confine its movements to the arts and sciences; we may expect to find it in religion, and in religious projects also. It is impossible to hear daily of steamships for traversing the seas, of steam-carriages for wheeling along the roads, with a velocity which is to leave the wind behind; of power-looms by which a few manufactories may supply the world with cloth; and of gas-works which furnish, by distillation, a metropolis with ten thousand lights, without congratulating ourselves that we live in such an age. The influence of such circumstances on our religious opinions and reasonings, is likely to be considerable. It sets ingenuity and imagination to work. We become tired of what is old;it is heavy, lumbering, unsatisfactory; things must be done on new principles and on a different scale. Hence new systems of doctrine -new speculations in prophecy-new schemes of government, civil and ecclesiastical. Hence, among other things, MISSIONARY REFORM. By all means let us reform; but let it be on

scriptural principles, and well ascertained experiments.

It is not long since Mr. Irving proposed that every man should be his own society, and his own missionary. He has only to take up his scrip and his staff, and proceed, and the work of missionary societies is done. A little while ago a work from the Serampore press, (by Dr. Marshman, I believe,) recommends that every church, or even smaller association should send out its own missionary; and this is pressed by a variety of plausible considerations, enforced by the character and experience of the author. Either of these schemes would reduce all our societies at once to broken, unconnected, and inefficient fragments. Yet each is supposed to be the only effectual method of propagating the gospel all over the world. By the author of the "New Model," we are assured that units are nothing, that unconnected societies, however powerful, labour under fundamental errors, and that unless we dissolve, and reunite in a grand episcopal confederacy, our efforts will be vain and fruitless.

"

There is a portion of truth mixed up with a considerable quantity of error in all these speculations. Individuals ought to do more than

is generally done to propagate their own principles, independently of the aids and connexions of associated bodies;-churches ought to take a deeper interest in the work which they leave too exclusively to general societies. Every Missionary goes out from some church, and is more or less connected with a particular class of christians in some town or district. Why do not those from whom he goes forth, spiritually and ecclesiastically, regularly correspond with him, encourage him, assist him, help to provide for his children while he lives, or for his widow and fatherless children, when he is removed. These are duties which they ought not to leave on any society, however extensive and respectable. All this they might and ought to do without diminishing their contributions to the general cause; and assuredly they would find their own reward in so doing.

Union of heart, unity of plan, and harmony of design, ought to be studied and cultivated by every society. Each should study the field which it appears most competent to occupy to advantage. The region, or district which is taken possession of by one body, ought not to be invaded by another, till there is not room elsewhere to labour. The occupation of "another's line of things made ready to our hands"

ought to be most cautiously avoided. To do the work well, rather than soon, should be the chief concern; and to be approved of God, rather than applauded by men, the great object of ambition. In various views of Dr. Marshman, particularly the point to which I have adverted, I do not accord. But there are in his little work, sentiments of deep and vital importance to the success of missionary engagements. I refer here to the importance which he attaches to the connexion between the piety of the church at home, and of the agents abroad, and the blessing of God upon their labours. I greatly fear this subject is not yet sufficiently understood. We think, perhaps, we have done a great deal when we have educated and sent forth missionaries, and when we have met in public to pray for them; all this is well; but it may all take place, and nothing be effected. It is not enough that the clouds above are charged with that electric fluid which is sufficient to shatter every temple of idolatry to atoms. There must be fit conductors for its conveyance, or it will not explode. There must be men who connect heaven and earth together by their principles and affinities. The church must be a more spiritual community, and missionaries must be