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condemnation upon this ground, "Inasmuch as ye did it not unto the least of these my brethren, ye did it not unto me." It is high time that the false and pernicious maxim should be exploded, that the profession of Christianity is easier now-a-days than "in the beginning of the Gospel "—that we can be true and obedient disciples of Christ at less expense than forsaking all we have for him, or at least being ready to do it. But let this readiness be brought to the test by going round with the demand for the sacrifice of superfluities in order to supply with the bread and water of life the perishing millions of the heathen; and blot the name of every recusant from the list of them who bear the yoke of Christ.

I know not any thing that might by the blessing of God sooner or more effectually bring back the purity, the spirituality-the love-the life -or, to sum up all in one word, the "blessedness" of primitive times, than the general prevalence of the idea, that every one who is converted from the error of his ways should seek the conversion of others also, and that by all proper methods which zeal and love, tempered and directed by wisdom, dictate that the disciple of Christ ought to seek to make more disciples-by word and deed-by earnest and self-denied endeavors, as well as by persevering prayer.

Many find the profession of Christianity easy because they make it so. Instead of that profession implying any remarkable sacrifice of fortune or ease, it is in many instances the direct road to credit, wealth and fame. The gate of the church is wider than the narrow way that leadeth to eternal life, "and many there be that go in thereat," and the professing world tacitly consen

to have it so; and so men compliment one another upon their liberality. They bless themselves in their nests, and think themselves happy that they can be followers of Christ on so easy terms; forgetting all the while that he is testifying against them as having in them neither the love of God nor man-for that they love not their brother whom they have seen (or may see if they open their eyes and look abroad) is evident from their unconcern about his miserable situation, and their neglecting to help him; and this involves in it the proof that they are also destitute of the love of God. 1 John iii. 17. iv. 20.

What was it that made the profession of Christianity so self-denying—so dangerous in primitive times? The merciless hatred of the Jews, and the angry opposition and contempt of the Gentiles. But think you Christians in Great Britain at the present day would meet with no persecution, although enjoying the protection of the law, if they were equally bold and zealous with the first fruits of the Gospel in India, Samaria, and the surrounding countries? There is as much secret malice in the breast of formal professors of Christianity against its true disciples, as existed among the Pharisees of old against the first disciples; and there is as much aversion and scorn harbored in the breast of our skeptics and contemners of God and godliness, as ever were displayed by the pagan enemies of the Christians. But we take

care not to provoke them, and the hatred of the one and the contempt of the other are buried in silence, because our polite neutrality and careful avoidance of all offensive measures obliges them to repay the compliment by refraining to assail us. A Christian may pass very quietly through the

world, and live unmolested all his days in the midst of unbelievers, if he only takes care not to trouble them with his opinions. But let him attempt to deal faithfully with all, as he may have ability and opportunity, and he will soon find that his situation and the trials and duties of it are not so different from those of the Christians of the first ages as he once supposed.

But the Christian's sphere of usefulness extends, or should extend, beyond his own immediate neighborhood. If he enters fully into the missionary spirit he will be an active and useful friend of the cause, however humble his station or limited his means; and he will prove that his concern for those at a distance does not lead him to neglect the spiritual welfare of those nearer his own door. But in proportion as he rises above the common standard of activity and consistency in these things, in the same proportion he will be spoken against, hated and perhaps persecuted, both by friends and enemies. The true cross of Christ is too heavy to be worn as a charm or an ornament about the neck. It is so heavy that nothing less than the strength He imparts could enable any one to bear it.

It is now considerably upwards of a century since societies were formed and incorporated among us for the propagation of the Gospel: and the just praise of those bodies must not be denied them. But in how small a degree did the object of those societies become a general concern-and even to this day, how inadequate is the feeling and interest of multitudes in this work! Annual sermons have been preached these hundred years before the "venerable" and "honorable" societies now alluded to, and younger Institutions of the same kind-and many admirable sentiments

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have been expressed, and heard no doubt with due attention. But it strikes me that after all, our preachers of missionary sermons in general have not taken the high ground their theme warranted and demanded. It may be an uncharitable thought, but it has really occurred to me again and again, that the preacher has seemed to be very tender in pressing upon his hearers the real extent of service and sacrifice those hearers should render to the cause by personal devotement or pecuniary contribution, lest offended and stung to the heart by so close an appeal, they should retaliate upon the preacher and hint, that upon his own principles he should leave all and become a missionary.

If this has not been the feeling of the parties, why that measured, hesitating manner of applying the truth or argument of an appropriate text and able sermon ? After an eloquent demonstration of the excellence, obligation to labor, and benevolence of the work-the certainty of success, &c. from which it might have been expected that the preacher would deduce the duty of all who admitted his premises, giving "their hearts--their lives -their all"-to the service of the Lord-he falls utterly short of the mark; and the whole evaporates in an exhortation to greater liberality in contributing, and greater diligence in collecting subscriptions by pence and sixpences and shillings; with perhaps an intimation of his hope that some one of the assembly may make up for the lack of service of all the rest by consecrating himself to the work of an evangelist.

You will not construe what I have just said as if I lightly estimated the services of the patient and indispensable coadjutors of the missionary

cause, who week after week and year after year replenish the treasures of our missionary institutions by the accumulated offerings of thousands of nameless benefactors—the mites of humble piety, sanctified by the willingness with which they are offered, and the prayers by which they are accompanied. But while this is the sphere of many, it is not the sphere of all, and he who can do more and does it not, to him it is sin.

I am, &c.

LETTER XVII.

OBJECTIONS TO ENGAGING IN MISSIONARY

SERVICE.

My dear Friend,

"We

AN admired author of a former age says, set up our own opinions in religion and philosophy as the tests of orthodoxy and truth, and we are prone to judge every practice of other men either a duty or a crime, which we think would be a crime or a duty in us, although their circumstances are vastly different from our own." There are innumerable examples of the truth of this observation : but it is sometimes made use of as affording an easy way of getting rid of a troublesome argument. I have no doubt that many, were these letters to meet their eye, would think they might sweep away half of the practical conclusions of them by a forced application of it. "The writer," they would say, "sees every object through the medium

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