execution of them be entrusted to wise and prudent men. Without prudence, the most fervent love, and the purest motives, and the best gifts, would be insufficient for the attainment of their object; and the greatest zeal, without wisdom to conduct it, would but enable its possessor to do the more extensive mischief. Think for a moment what a work is entrusted to missionaries; and if they be men deficient in wisdom and prudence, imagine what must be the consequence. They aim at nothing less than changing the moral face of the world. When they establish themselves in a heathen country, they set themselves to subvert the established belief of the people on the most important of all subjects-they give the lie to the gods the people worship, and to their sages who taught them to do so-they lay the axe to their most deeply-rooted prejudices, oppose their favourite dogmas and ancient customs-pouring contempt on their most venerated institutions, and drawing down infamy on their priesthood, and ruin on their craft-and all to introduce a new, a foreign religion! Here is a task-and what sort of men ought to attempt it? Whoever is qualified, an imprudent man is, prima facie, unfit. "Not that the wisest are sufficient to think any thing as of themselves;" but if there is to be the adaptation of means to the end, let them be wise as well as good and zealous men who go forth as missionaries.

D

I should now pass on to another point of great moment to be attended to in judging of the suitableness of a young man proposing to become a missionary-I mean temper. But in another letter, I have so fully entered into the subject, when speaking of the cultivation of right feelings and dispositions among the members of a missionary establishment, that I need say little more here. It is proper to observe, however, that a good temper, and kind respectful and conciliating demeanour, are not important in reference merely to the missionary's individual comfort, and the peace and cordiality of the family circle; it extends to all his multiplied relations as a member of society, and especially as a missionary among a heathen people. Instead of descanting upon this, however, I would merely suggest that "the meekness and gentleness of Christ," the great exemplar of all his followers, and especially of them who "bear his name to the Gentiles," should be brightly displayed in their characters. Meek-patient-gentle to all men-loving peacenot self-willed-not soon angry-bearing the infirmities of the weak-these are among the prominent features of the beautiful portrait of the man of God as sketched by the pen of inspiration. It is required of a bishop, that he be one that ruleth well his own house. This surely implies that he is able to govern his own temper; for, if a man has not his own passions under due control,

how can he" have his children in subjection with all gravity;"— and if he know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?"

Candour and condescension, sympathy and amiable concern for the good of all around him, should mark his whole deportment. Thus he will gain his way to the hearts of his people; or, if they return evil for his good, and hatred for his love, he will not need to reproach himself for neglecting the means of attaching them to him by affection. The uniform language of his behaviour should be, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." And should this unworthy return be his actual experience, he will then be more conformed in character and suffering, not merely to the apostle of the Gentiles, but to that Saviour who bore a love to sinners beyond all parallel, and who was requited by hatred equally unexampled.

I mention self-denial last; but it is one of the first duties the missionary will have to put in practice. But how can it be ascertained beforehand that an individual possesses it, or shall be able to exercise it, to the extent required of him? What is self-denial? It is not the being satisfied with mean fare and lodging, although it implies temperance, and contentment with little. It is not merely ceasing from favourite pursuits, for

saking beloved society, and encountering perils and hardships. Self-denial refers to the state of the mind with respect to some one great object— some great commanding principle, for the sake of which object, and under the influence of which principle, all evils and all goods are alike scorned-or at least sufferings are patiently endured, and enjoyments willingly renounced. In the case of the christian missionary, the foundation of his self-denial must be laid in solemn and unreserved devotement of all to the accomplishment of his work-a devotement he has made after deliberately counting the cost. If he has done so, it is not this or that particular way in which he may be called to deny himself, that he has calculated upon and prepared for; but, be it what it may, he cares not, for he counts all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ his Lord, by which the world is crucified to him, and he to the world." He has taken up his cross at the command of Christ— he has heard him say, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.' This was the self-denial of the primitive disciples. In this spirit went forth the apostles and first preachers of the word, clothed in their panoply of celestial brightness, and yet with all the "majesty of meekness"-" giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry might not be blamed, but in all things approving themselves as the ministers

of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by a holy spirit, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left; by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers and yet true; as unknown and yet well known; as dying, and behold they lived; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." Modern missionaries must possess a measure of the spirit of those holy men—and, as they did, rejoice that if they suffer with Christ, they shall also be glorified together with him.

The self-denial of a missionary, then, is selfrenunciation. Henceforth his own enjoyment → honour-profit, unconnected with the advancement of the cause he has espoused, are not to be the end of any one action. All his thoughts and all his deeds must be bent towards the accomplishment of his ministry. That this crosses his private interests-opposes his private inclinationsdefeats his private ends—increases his private sufferings, blasts all his worldly hopes--must not be allowed to move him from the direct course duty commands him to pursue. And he does and