conversion of the heathen, and that chiefly by patient and persevering oral instruction. To this they have directed their energies, and we know with what success. They have not astonished us by new discoveries-by deep researches into nature-they have not expatiated on the fields of philosophy and science, but they have solved some of the most interesting problems in the science of human nature, by showing what the Esquimaux, the Cherokee, and the Hottentot can be made, under the transforming "word of the cross."

But if we advert to the pretensions of the missionaries in question to general learning, here I believe they will be found defective; and to their deficiency in this point perhaps is to be attributed their having done so little in the way of translating the Scriptures and other books, and introducing generally the knowledge of letters among their congregations gathered from among the heathen. Besides, as if conscious of their inability in this respect, the fields of exertion they have chosen are the very spots where the want of literary acquirements would be least felt. Their Greenlanders, &c. have no books or learning of their own, like the Hindoos, Chinese, and other pagan nations, high in the scale of general improvement, skilful in the arts of civilized life, and among whom learning raises its possessor to a proud elevation above the unlettered multitude; not but that learning might be turned to good account in Labrador or South Africa, but the want of it may there be more readily dispensed with than at Benares or Serampore.

It is true, that God employs the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; "and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to con

found the things which are mighty; and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.' And there have been many striking illustrations of this from the days of the apostles to the present time. But it is easy to overstrain such passages in their application to every department of the work of God; and they will be found to have utterly mistaken the meaning of such declarations, who think themselves thereby warranted to act as if the excellencies of character which God has bestowed upon individuals, and the height of acquirement in knowledge human and divine, which, by his blessing, they have reached, were talents of no value, and of no use in the propagation of the Gospel-as if miracles were to be expected in the accomplishment of the work carried on by instruments physically and intellectually (and why not also morally?) disqualified for the task-as if it were expected that men should successfully study languages without any talents for philology, or make translations of the Scriptures into a foreign language without being able to distinguish things that differ in their own-or feel the difficult and delicate situation of a Christian missionary, without being possessed of an ordinary measure of discretion in ordinary affairs. It may be allowable to interpret the text above quoted as countenancing such views when the gift of tongues-of prophecy-of discerning of spirits—of healing, &c. are restored to the church. But till then it will be a wiser course to seek the blessing of God to crown the employment of the best means we can command; and, after all, there will be infinite room for him to manifest that "no flesh shall glory in his presence."

When men pervert texts of Scripture to excuse their supineness in the work of God, as if the employment of human agency was a tacit infringement of the divine prerogative, or, refining still farther, while they employ means, yet, to preserve all the glory to God, insist upon using only such as are unfit, protest against learning and genius, and hail imbecility and stupidity as the best qualifications for that work which is to be performed "not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord,"-I say, when men entertain such sentiments, or hold principles evidently drawing such conclusions after them-and withal point us to the word of God as their authority; it is hard to find language expressive enough to denote the mischief of such perversions. The evil may be conceived by supposing the sentiments to become general, and to be acted upon throughout the Christian world.

The most strenuous advocates for choosing men fitted to be ministers of the New Testament by gifts as well as by graces, know and confess the inadequacy of all "might and power" without "the Spirit," as much as they who are afraid of suiting the means to the end. The truth is that the power requisite to convert a sinner from the error of his ways, is so infinitely beyond all the power of human agency-that the most excellent means and the worst possible are nearly on a level; with this difference however, that they who use the former honor the command of God, while the latter hesitate to obey, lest fit means should prove too efficacious, and so eclipse the glory of the work of

#2 Cor. iii. 6. "Who hath indvwoɛv fitted us for being ministers," &c.

the Spirit; or even accomplish the work altogether without the interposition of his agency. It is easy to see which of these schemes ascribes more glory to God-whether that which consistently employs proper instruments at his command, leaving him to vindicate his own honor, and make it appear that the success depends not upon the means but upon Him who blesses them; or that which pretends to be so morbidly jealous for the display of the divine power of the Spirit in converting sinners, as to employ instruments qualified for the work assigned them, by the rule of contraries-a scheme which savors much of the imbecility of understanding they so much admire.

If men go forth in this holy cause with a proud reliance on their own wisdom and excellency of speech, God will confound them before their enemies, and humble them till they acknowledge that it is not for man to glory in his presence; but it is possible that there may be the most heartabasing conviction and confession that to God belongs all the praise, even when the instrument has been highly qualified and most wisely adapted for the service assigned it. Such instruments were Martyn and Milne, and many more who rest from their labors, and whose works follow them. And such instruments are many who are still laboring with manifest tokens of the divine approbation; and who will say that the cause would be better served by men less highly qualified, or that it deserves not and demands not the best talents, and the most extensive learning, and the warmest piety, and the purest zeal the Christian world can furnish?

The man who is himself learned, and yet decries the advantages of learning to a minister or a mis

sionary, only proves that learning cannot supply the want of common sense; but the illiterate man who contends that learning is little worth, is evidently in the predicament of speaking evil of that which he knows not; and should he assume the office of an instructer, perhaps he might not deserve a better character than those who "desired to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say or whereof they affirm.”

But if Scripture is to be quoted in defence of doing nothing, or doing nothing to purpose-in defence of lukewarmness in the cause of God, or of principles which would soon paralize every right effort to promote it; I will quote Scripture also, and ask what is the import and bearing of that remarkable saying, "the children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light?" The answer is this—the children of this world exercise a prudent forecasting care in the management of their concerns. Their undertakings are planned wisely, and conducted judiciously. They take an enlightened view of what is before them-foresee evils-secure advantages-select proper means-neglect nothing conducive to success-make provision against future necessities"rise early and sit up late, and eat the bread of carefulness;" and for all this they are commended. Yea, an unjust steward is commended for his wise and crafty policy in making to himself friends against the time of his approaching need of them. But what is the lesson the children of light are to learn from this parable? Not to imitate the works of the unjust-but to imitate their wisdom-to show, in the management of their spiritual concerns, equal address, and intelligence, and zeal.It is as if the divine Teacher had said—a man of

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