Another important department of the subject of Christian Missions has recently been brought before the public, by an able writer, in what he calls a "New Model of Christian Missions to Popish, Mohammedan, and Pagan Nations." The author of the "Natural History of Enthusiasm" was not likely to publish on this important subject, what had not occupied a considerable portion of careful and matured thought; and the thoughts of such an individual cannot fail to be deserving of the thoughts of others. It would not be matter of surprise, however, if a mind, capable of producing beautiful illustrations of enthusiasm, and of analyzing, with admirable skill, the infinitely diversified forms of mental delusion, should fail in an attempt to new model systems already in practical operation, and to recast the whole frame-work of our Christian institutions. The power of detecting evils and errors may exist in a very uncommon degree, without the ability to plan with wisdom, and to create efficiency. Perspicacity is one thing, practical judgment another. There may be profound philosophical discrimination, with a very ordinary portion of sagacity in common things. Newton and Locke had no compeers among the philosophers of their day, but were ordinary men in regard to the common affairs of life.

I am mistaken if this will not be found applicable to the author of the "New Model," who I apprehend has failed as an architect, while he

has succeeded as a philosopher. In this latter capacity he has succeeded, I should suppose, to the full extent of his wishes; in the former his success is yet to be proved. He can afford to lose a little, should he be disappointed; though I much mistake his feelings, if he would not be more gratified by the accomplishment of his projected plan of union of counsel, and division of labor, than by all the fame he is destined to enjoy as a Christian essayist.

His celebrity in that capacity is in danger of producing an impression in favor of his representations and reasonings on the subject of Christian Missions, to which, in themselves, they are not entitled, and which, independently of this association, they would not effect. The author must be aware of this, and will not, therefore, be surprised, that his views should be examined with great jealousy, on the part of those who are engaged in existing operations. If they should think that his pamphlet is calculated to diminish confidence in plans which have long been prosecuted-to cherish despondency respecting the success of exertions which are now made-to generate coldness and disaffection to them, and, consequently, to paralyze zeal in their support-while it affords no ground to expect that the new and better way is likely to be adopted ;—he will readily admit, that it is their duty to recommend adherence to what has been tried, and not yet found wanting, instead of adopting other plans, however plausible,

which are not adapted to the present circumstances of the church.

While I make these remarks with the utmost freedom, I should be sorry to meet the author of the "New Model" in an unfriendly manner, or to intimate that I have the slightest idea he is influenced by hostile feelings towards the institutions which are now endeavoring to spread the gospel through the world. The tendency of some of his statements and reasonings may be very injurious, while his object and aim are of the most Christian and benevolent nature. Giving him full credit for the latter, I trust he will give me credit also for a sincere and anxious desire to promote the same object which he has in view, in the few remarks I am about to make on some of his positions.

Before offering these remarks, which I do with great deference to the author, I beg to express my decided approbation of the temper and spirit in which he has conducted the discussion. He has presented a model, if not of Christian Missions, of the Christian state of mind with which the whole subject ought to be viewed by those who approach it, with a view to improve the plan on which they are conducted. He is right in inviting an investigation. Truth can suffer nothing from fair and free inquiry, conducted in the way he has exemplified. We are too ready to be satisfied with things as they are, to conclude that whatever is, is best; and to be exceedingly fretted if any suspicions are enter

tained that all we have done, or are doing, is right. The love of novelty, it is true, is dangerous; but there is danger also in a blind adherence to the traditions of our fathers. If, therefore, we cannot show that plans already adopted are scriptural and efficient, by all means let us listen to any individual who proposes to show us a more excellent way.

On the subject of division of labor, the author has said many excellent things. It has been too little attended to, though not entirely neglected. Most of the Missionary Societies now existing, embrace too many objects, or occupy too many different stations and fields of labor. There is much truth in the following representation:

"It is perfectly well known that, except on peculiar occasions, the actual business of every charitable institution is transacted by a very small number of zealous individuals, who perhaps are as often thwarted and embarrassed, as aided by their colleagues. Of necessity, therefore, it must be that when a Society occupies an extensive and various field of labor, the few efficient individuals are compelled, often at the expense of health and peace of mind, to give their distracted attention, in rapid succession, now to the home concerns of the society, and now to its foreign operations; and these foreign operations are of the most dissimilar character. Placed in circumstances so perplexing, what can be expected, even from the most accomplished talent, and the most unwearied assiduity, but a vague, inappropriate, and almost imbecile suffusion of mental strength over the immense surface of affairs. And what can be expected from zeal so disadvantaged, but a waste of resources upon projects which, though they might have succeeded had they enjoyed the benefit of undiverted counsels, could not but

fail when they shared the attention with a multitude of dissimilar concerns?

"And let us turn into another street, and enter another upper-chamber' of Christian business; and there see another little knot of zealous men, distracting themselves by an almost fruitless attention to the very same extended circle of multifarious objects. Again we may visit another, and yet another committee-not each concentrating its forces upon a single specific object-not each constituted of individuals personally qualified for the tasks they severally undertake; but each promiscuously gathered from the narrow circle of a particlar party, and each burdened, and over-burdened by the well-meant ambition of effecting something at all points, and something of all kinds. And does this missionary system approve itself to reason? or is it not rather a most ruinous chaos, in which, though pure motives may be very conspicuous, manly wisdom is not at all seen?" pp. 46-48.*

The case is here powerfully put, and the state of matters thus described demands the most serious consideration of our Missionary Societies and Committees. The chaos, however, is not so ruinous as is alleged; nor is the case beyond cure, without entirely new modeling our institutions. There are two obvious departments in every Missionary Society: the raising of funds, and the foreign application of them. They do not so necessarily involve each other, as that all the parties engaged in the one, ought to be equally engaged in the other. On the contrary, they require different kinds of talent and of information; and the less they are mixed up with each other, the more effectually is the common end

*The reference is to the American Edition.