does not possess, nor is it likely to possess, sufficient means for the Christianizing and the civ ilizing of the South Sea islands, and South Africa alone. All its funds would be more than absorbed in the temporal improvement of these regions, so as to put their Christian inhabitants in a permanent state of improvement and security. Nor is a Missionary Society the best instrument for effecting much that such a state of things requires. When it has introduced the gospel to the people, it has really done all it is properly competent to, or that it has undertaken. For when the people must be taught the arts and sciences, formed into a regular political community, guided in the enactment and execution of laws, and aided in the embryo efforts of commerce and merchandize-a thousand things arise which a mere Missionary Society cannot attempt or interfere with.

Whether the present state of our country does not suggest an additional means of promoting the interests of the gospel among the heathen, I beg to submit to the candid consideration of the Christian reader. After the day of Pentecost it does not appear that the early disciples were sufficiently disposed to carry into execution the commission of their Master-they tarried in Jerusalem, not only till they were endued with power from on high, but long after. They were pleased with their privileges, and were satisfied to dwell among their own people. It deserves to be noticed, that it was in consequence of the

persecution which arose about Stephen, that they were dispersed, and went every where preaching the Word. Without the aid of such dispersions, which carried the seed of the Word to quarters which would not have been voluntarily visited, I doubt whether the apostles, aided with all their supernatural powers, would have been able to establish the kingdom of God in so many countries, in so short a space.

We are not persecuted by men, but our population is greatly afflicted by the providence of God. The difficulty of providing for families every day increases, and is not likely to diminish. In these circumstances ought not Christiaus to consider what is the voice of Providence? Is not the world all before them? Do they not profess to be strangers and pilgrims on earth? Why that cleaving to a native land, if it is a land of dearth or of barrenness, though of spiritual good, while they might in another region, as near to the heavenly world, and to its glories, as Britain, provide for themselves and their families, and materially promote the interests of the cause of God? Emigration on Christian principles, and for Christian objects, has not yet been properly tried. Look at America, towering already in greatness, and with a giant's step advancing to pre-eminence among the nations. Who cut down its forests, and drained its marshes, and planted its towns, and laid the foundation of its free and enlightened government? The pilgrim fathers who left, or rather were driven from our

shores, to find a refuge or a grave on a foreign strand. There God has greatly blessed them, yea, and they shall be blessed.

It is by some such means, I apprehend, the gospel must be planted and watered in other countries, if the work is effectually to be done. I am glad to find that attention is beginning to be given to this subject. In the "Congregational Magazine" for this month, is an important letter on it; and as that work may not be in the hands of some who may peruse this volume, I shall here present it entire. I shall only say

further, that the writer is an intelligent Christian minister known to me; and one who will not be found unwilling to act upon his own plan, should an opportunity be presented.

"It seems to be the opinion of the best informed persons in the political world, that the state of England calls imperatively for extensive emigration, and many thoughtful individuals, though possessed of a little property, look with much anxiety on families growing up, from the increasing difficulty found in so fixing young persons as to enable them to marry and provide for themselves and their children.

"In the religious world an idea begins also to prevail, that the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom might be greatly promoted by forming Christian settlements in heathen lands.

"I have therefore to propose, that a number of persons of piety and good character, members of Christian societies, (suppose fifty or a hundred families,) should emigrate in a body, at their own expense, with the two-fold object of providing for the temporal and spiritual good of their own offspring, and of extending the kingdom of Christ in the world. Serious persons, from the laboring

classes, might be taken out as appendages, for a time, to those in better circumstances.

By wise and prudent measures, a tract of good land, in some healthy climate, might easily be procured, at a trifling expense. Matters might be so arranged, that the settlement thus about to be formed, should be subject to such scriptural regulations as at once to secure the fullest liberty of conscience, and yet to exclude immorality.

"A body of serious persons thus going out together, and fixing near each other, would possess advantages of various kinds, too obvious to be enumerated in your columns. Religious worship, education, friendly intercourse, &c. would easily be brought within the reach of all, and most of the circumstances which make emigration formidable might thus be provided against. Some experienced individuals might go out first to select the situation, and arrange every thing against the arrival of the body of settlers, so that every facility might be in readiness to forward them to their place of destination immediately on landing.

"Were such a plan undertaken wisely, and in the fear of God, the good to be anticipated seems incalculable. If the design is thought to deserve encouragement, let it be put into execution without an hour's unnecessary delay. Let a few persons of piety, experience, character, and some property, form themselves into a committee, either with a view to their own emigration, or the encouragement and direction of others. Such a committee might collect information from the Secretary of State for the British Colonies, from the conductors and histories of Moravian and other settlements of a religious character. Cotton Mather's account of the first settlers in New England, would furnish many valuable hints, if culled out from the strange mass of matter he has furnished. The minds of many are at this moment simultaneously directed to the object proposed. The thing need only to be begun in a truly humble, prayerful spirit, and it will, I trust, go on and prosper beyond expectation. The writer is willing to communicate, through the Editors, with those who think with himself, that the project deserves attention."

I trust I shall not be regarded as wandering from the object of these remarks on the "New Model," by the introduction of this topic. In discussing the division of labor in the management of Christian Missions, I think it right to show the kind of division which may be most advantageously prosecuted; and to call the attention of the Christian public to some means which it has yet in its power to employ, and which the providence of God seems to demand.

The following passage in the "New Model" I think objectionable, and calculated to convey far too strong a view of the inadequacy or unsuitableness of the means which we are at present employing. After commending the well meant zeal and philanthropy of the conductors of Missions, the author remarks:

"Nevertheless it may still be true that the modern system of missionary exertion, taken as a whole, is fundamentally defective, and such as can never, unless miracle comes to its aid, achieve an extensive conquest for Christianity. Nothing less than the exalted virtues and admirable temper of the founders and principal supporters of the modern Missionary Societies could have hidden so long from our eyes the capital error on which we have been acting. We have been putting contempt, not only upon the requirements of Christianity, but upon those universal maxims which the experience of mankind has proved to be indispensable to success wherever human agency is concerned. Our error is so great, and the good sense of the age so efficacious, when once set in movement, that reform cannot be distant. The elements of Christian zeal must presently be dissolved, and recomposed upon a new model." p. 9.