that is to say, so long as there is no actual success there is to be almost as little support. What would be thought of conducting a common war on this principle? Send a small body of troops to the field against the enemy, and wait till you hear of their having made a successful campaign before you think of strengthening them by necessary reinforcements of men and additional store of arms and ammunition! The author of the sentence I have quoted represents the increased co-operation, as in order to maintain and improve the success already gained, which it may be said does not imply a deficiency of previous support. But in point of fact it does, and were this the place for shewing it, I could remind you of some very affecting instances of a mission being left to languish; the necessary support being denied it, because it was not flourishing and successful!

Present success is desirable. Visible proofs of not labouring in vain are cheering. But the final result is certain, and the path of duty is plain. Let that path be pursued with undeviating and unfaltering steps. The way to give glory to God is to be strong in faith. He who stands still or looks back, or looks around, anxiously waiting for some signs of God's fulfilling his promise as a rule for persevering in the course or relinquishing it, may expect to be made (without being changed into a pillar of salt, but as effectually as Lot's wife) a monument of God's wrath, and a warning

to succeeding labourers to attend to nothing but the command of God to go forward.

Much in sorrow, oft in woe,

Onward christians, onward go,
Fight the fight, and worn with strife
Steep with tears the bread of life!

It is not very gratifying to the readers of missionary intelligence, to receive accounts of untoward events and accordingly it is thought expedient to withhold such details from them; and perhaps there is wisdom in this, so long as many of the friends and supporters of missions derive their chief stimulus to exertion from the glowing representations set before them of the triumphant progress of the cause of truth. But I am persuaded, that there is a numerous class of christians more judicious and better established in the knowledge and feeling of their duty, who, instead of being damped or stumbled by a candid exposure of the real circumstances of the missionary undertakings to which they contribute, would be greatly benefited by being put in complete possession of facts. Would they not realize better the situation of the missionary ?-pray more emphatically and more appropriately for him, and for the people among whom he is labouring-he sometimes fears-in vain? Would they not acquire a better idea of the real arduousness of the work, and set themselves to help it forward with cor

responding zeal and resolution and devotedness? Would they not be better able to judge of the wisdom of plans proposed to be adopted, or might not the wisdom of some suggest hints which might be of the first moment to the efficiency of the work. As things are, many of the most able and judicious friends of missions, unless they happen to be in the direction of a Society, are kept in ignorance of the real situation of missions, and so are disqualified to judge what is for the true interest of the cause.

The christian labourer among the heathen, would not, even in very discouraging circumstances, be justified in quitting his post while he could retain it and perform its duties. His constitutents would justly consider him as betraying an impatient and presumptuous spirit, were he hastily to leave the service of his Master because he did not succeed in accomplishing the work undertaken so speedily, or to so great an extent as he wished and expected. Perhaps, however, it would be allowed to such a labourer to feel keenly in such a situation, to be filled with deep concern, dwelling in the midst of a gainsaying people, mad upon their idols, and after all his efforts remaining impenitent, unaffected, hostile to the gospel, or caring nothing about the matter. But if so, has not the labourer, in the circumstances supposed, a peculiar claim upon the christian sympathy and prayers of his brethren at home? And

as they would have him to continue to labour and not faint, should not they continue to encourage him, strengthen his hands and cheer his heart, by the assurance of their interest in his welfare and prosperity, by their kind words and good offices?

It is granted that the want of success may sometimes be traced to the missionary himself. He may be chargeable with some fatal error in judgment or practice, which may provoke God to withhold his blessing. But ought it not to be likewise considered that the christian societies, under whose sanction the missionary acts, may come in for a share of such guilt? Is it not possible that the want of faith, prayer-zeal in the professed friends of the missionary cause at home, may be one cause of the small success of their missionaries abroad?

If lukewarmness is emphatically displeasing to God and calls forth the severest expressions of his abhorrence, if he threatens utterly to reject the Laodicean and his heartless service, is there no room for inquiry, whether God may not find this character adhering to many who rank themselves with the promoters of the grand design of "preaching the gospel to every creature?" May not the many at home who constitute the body of a missionary society, if they are neither "cold nor hot" in this cause, have the effect upon the

labours of their agents abroad, which a paralysis of a vital organ has upon the limbs?

But I have wandered from the thing I intended to say, which was this-that christians at home of a right spirit will be equally disposed to sympathise with missionaries in the failure of their attempts, as to rejoice with them in their success; and although the latter is of course the more pleasant duty, the former will be no less recognised to be a duty.

In short, I repeat that it is not the success of their efforts, but the express command of God that must be regarded as the great and unchangeable stimulus to exertion; and the use to be made of success is to "thank God and take courage," while the use to be made of partial defeat is to learn from it to pursue with more devoted zeal, humility, and prayer, the solemn and arduous work, "praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." Especially, let the friends of missionaries pray more fervently for them, "that utterance may be given unto them, that they may open their mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel."

I feel it difficult in handling such a subject as this to keep clear of one error, while endeavouring to expose its opposite. To prevent misconception, therefore, I will merely state before I conclude,