to their fellow men, while in reality, other considerations unattended to or unavowed, in a great measure actuate them. They acknowledge in words, it is true, the authority of God, and seem also practically to acknowledge it; but after all, the obedience may not flow from regard to the command, but because the performance of the duty is, on other grounds, pleasant or profitable. Now, since partiality in judging of ourselves always inclines us to put the best construction both upon our outward actions and inward motives, we cannot be too suspicious of ourselves;-we can scarcely err in the way of too much severity, and should we ever do so, the evil of the error would not be so great on that side as on this.

To trace the subject a little farther then. Suppose that, in pursuance of the command to preach the gospel, considered as imperative upon an individual, and pointing in his case to the duty of going as a missionary to the heathen, he takes steps in the matter accordingly, and actually sets about the accomplishment of his purpose, there is still room for self-jealousy, for even in this case there may be something "lacking," and something wrong. The thing itself is commanded, and an acknowledged duty, and yet the motive and manner of performing it may be such as to render it, instead of an acceptable service to God, an abomination in his sight. That the authority of God is acknowledged is so far well-that the thing commanded is performed as well-but after all, the spirit put into the actual performance may be no better than that of a slave. The command must be obeyed "from the heart:"-the service must be a free-will offering; it must be a sacrifice of love and glad acknowledgment of the mercy of

God, who has conferred the ability, and opportunity, and grace, to render back to him of that which has been received from him. The command to "feed the flock of God," and to gather in the wandering sheep, must be performed in the minner required, "taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but WILLINGLY—not for filthy lucre, but of a realy mind."

If there be not this willing spirit which is so emphatically pronounced to be an essential requisite to acceptable obedience; if the higher and purer motives fail to operate with commanding energy, and the individual nevertheless profess himself to be impelled forward to the performance of the duty, there is reason to suspect that some latent and unacknowledged motive is in operation to which his conduct is to be traced. His mind in this case probably has recourse to some bye consideration, which urges it on, and bears it up, under the weight of the contemplated work. Some flattering scheme of present profit or pleasure may be holden under the self-denying garb of a missionary, and the desire of fame, or the love of knowledge, may become the succedaneum for the general principles of love to God and

man.

I repeat it, that even where there is a professed practical acknowledgment of the imperious obligation to obey the command of God, there may be the absence of that love which is the animating spirit of true obedience; and if love be wanting, the obedience is a dead work. Surely then it becomes all who aspire to the missionary character, to bring the hidden springs of their actions to the severest test-to subject the secret and often unobserved motions of the heart to a rigid scrutiny.

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If they cannot endure this trial, "how shall they abide the judgment of God? for if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things-if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God." word, our duty to God and man are involved in the question of disseminating the gospel; but we cannot discharge that duty, unless the love of God and man warm our bosoms, and put spirit and life into our obedience. "The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead, and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again." Unless thus influenced, thus "constrained," and carried beyond the base and selfish considerations of the hireling, the vain pretences of the hypocrite, and the dreams of the enthusaist, there can be no faithful and persevering devotement of a man's ALL to the missionary work. When God says, "Whom shall I send ?"—and when in the spirit of lowly and trembling, but willing consecration, a man can say, "Here am I, send me ;”—then and then only does he "present himself a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is his reasonable service."

It is scarcely supposable, that a mind can be so far enlightened on the subject of duty, and so far under the influence of principle, as to act in obedience to a given command, conscientiously fulfilling it in the fear of God, and yet be destitute of the other principles requisite to render that obedience such as God can approve. And therefore I think the true explanation of the subject is that which is above suggested, namely that where there is obedience to the command, with

out love to the duty, and him who commanded it, the principle of action is some base or selfish consideration; and that the taking credit for a conscientious regard to the authority of God, as the grand actuating motive in pursuing that course of obedience, is mere self-delusion or detestable hypocrisy.

At the same time, in regard to a duty so plainly enjoined, as that of preaching the gospel-i. e. publishing it through the whole world-a duty implied in the very nature of Christianity, there must be multitudes of professing Christians, who, if they think of the matter at all, must be visited with many compunctious thoughts as to their neglect of it. Acknowledging the paramount obligation that lies upon every Christian to do all that his most zealous and persevering exertions can accomplish in this work, the hearts of many must accuse them of supineness, idleness, lukewarmness, want of zeal for the glory of God, want of practical love to their Saviour, want of compassion for the souls of men, want of consistency with their profession. In the case of young men of education and talents who have enrolled their names and taken their place among the disciples of Christ, there must be either great dimness of sight, or a wilful shutting of the eyes, if a command so legible is not perceived; they must employ much unsound carnal logic with themselves, before they can reconcile it with conscience and duty to stay at home, while the cries of hundreds of millions of heathen are ringing in their ears. They must have many misgivings of heart. They often are they must be impressed with a sense of the duty required of them; and some, I believe, unable to shake off

their convictions, find no alternative left but to act in obedience to them, or lose a good conscience. It is surely possible to conceive of conviction of duty being very unwelcome-of the mind resisting it—and when it can resist no longer, yielding a constrained and unwilling obedience. In this state of mind, other views and considerations of a selfish character may present themselves as encouragements to proceed in the course duty points out; but so far as proper principle is concerned, the man goes forth to the work as a convict to banishment-reluctant to go, but unable to escape; and deriving consolation only from the hope, that in the land of his exile he may find some alleviation of his misery in the pleasures of the place, or in occupations capable of diverting his mind and shortening the time.

secret

I have supposed an extreme case, and perhaps this illustration is too harsh; but I wished to show how a mixture of motives mars the character of the obedience, and turns what ought to be a willing and cheerful service, into a hated task. Whatever may have been the history of a man's cogitations-struggle with convictioncollision of motives-opposition between inclination and duty-the conduct he ultimately pursues must be pleasing or displeasing in the sight of God, according to the principles which form the secret springs of that conduct. If the MAIN spring be what it ought to be, the existence of other feelings and considerations, not wrong in themselves (and when under proper regulation, even commendable), will not defile the offering. For instance, a man under the influence of the highest motives in the missionary work, may derive farther encouragement in the prospect of it, or when actually engaged in it, from