points, as well as the main one, in order to their hopefully and harmoniously working together; and of such accordances there may be a deficiency in a band of missionaries brought together, we would not say accidentally, but with little or no regard to the fitting of one character to another, so as to form a compact heart-cemented body. Now in the possible case of the members of a missionary settlement, proving by experience that they are ill assorted together, they cannot, like a religious or literary association at home, dissolve their connection with each other at pleasure, or at any rate, with little loss to themselves or others; they cannot break up and remodel the establishment with more congenial materials. They cannot separate; scarcely can an individual even withdraw, without involving the mission in confusion, perhaps occasioning its utter ruin, and exposing the sacred cause with which they are identified to irreparable injury.

There is then no situation in which christians can possibly be placed, where they stand more in need of being imbued with the spirit of the apostolical exhortation, "to be of the same mind one towards another-to esteem each other highly in love for their work's sake, and to be at peace among themselves." And perhaps there are few situations where the maintenance of this spirit is more difficult than when, unfortunately, difference

of judgment, in matters of duty, and contrariety of disposition and habits in common life, exist in a missionary settlement. But if the duty be difficult, the motives to the exercise of forbearance, forgiveness, and love, are, in the case of missionaries, very strong. They have their hearts and hands engaged in the work of the Lord. They have vowed the consecration of their all to it; and to merge every interest and every feeling in the one grand design of promoting the kingdom of their Saviour among men. They are, or ought to be, so absorbed by this, as to leave no room for reflection upon their personal interests; habitually reckoning themselves nothing; and contented to be accounted nothing by others. Possessed of this spirit, a missionary will bear and forbear much; but if destitute of it, his own comfort, and that of his associates, will be perpetually marred. In the course of the daily intercourse of the brethren, much will occur to try the power and patience of faith. If that intercourse be conducted in the spirit of love, sweetened by amiable and christian condescension honour preferring one another," they will truly be fellow-helpers. But if they give way to their own spirit, and suffer unholy feelings to embitter their necessary and unavoidable intercourse, the great end of their being associated together, so far as mutual assistance and comfort are concerned,

in

is defeated-and their living together is rendered the more irksome, because they know they cannot separate, except perhaps at an expense to the cause they have espoused, which they may not think it their duty to incur.

I have dwelt more particularly upon these representations of the subject, in order to give the greater emphasis to the cautions and warnings I would address to intended missionaries, as to the spirit they must prepare to cultivate towards the brethren with whom, in the course of providence, they may be associated-brethren not of their own selection-and it may be, not such as they would choose as their favourite companions and friends. They may be men who possess few qualities in common with themselves, with the exception of the fundamental ones of piety towards God and zeal for his glory, devotion to the missionary cause, and the possession of one or two talents which they desire to employ in the service of their Lord and Master among the heathen. But these qualities, common to all, should be considered by each as sufficient to bind his heart to his brethren, and teach him to overlook the peculiarities which may accompany these primary graces and gifts to bear with and forgive the tastes and habits, the likings and aversions as to indifferent things, with which he can have no sympathyremembering that his own peculiarities require

an equal degree of forbearance to be exercised by his brethren towards him.

Let the candidate for this arduous office, then, not suffer his glowing imagination to carry him away with the prospect of the exalted happiness he must enjoy in having for his associates in labour, and for the companions of his selected hours, men whose hearts have been warmed like his own with the missionary flame; men with whom his every pulse beats in unison as to the extension of the Saviour's kingdom among men, and who, like himself, have left all to follow Christ. Let him not delude himself with this romantic view of the missionary life. It may be his happy lot to be united with brethren not more respected and honoured for their works' sake, than beloved as bosom friends. He may live and labour with them with so much comfort, confidence, and unity of spirit, as to leave him in these respects nothing more to wish; nor am I to be understood as intimating that such unions are rare; but this hypothetical enjoyment must not be suffered to enter as an important item into the calculation of one who is counting the cost of becoming a missionary. The estimate ought to be made on the supposition, that there will arise from this quarter many temptations, many sorrows, many hinderances, many humiliations; and if the estimate is so made, he will not need to add,—

many bitter disappointments. When he has thus prepared for the worst, if his expectations of peace and comfort are exceeded, his enjoyment will be so much the greater. He will learn better how to appreciate the blessing, and to improve it accordingly.

Paul's expostulation with the Corinthians, Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?" had a more immediate reference to the case of Christians going to law with one another, and that before unbelievers. Missionaries may not go so far as this, and yet they may utterly violate the spirit of the passage now quoted. But O the comfort and advantage of thoroughly imbibing it! One, resolved to make every sacrifice consistent with duty and a good conscience, for the preservation of harmony, will most effectually secure his own peace of mind, while he is thus studying "the things that make for peace," with his brethren. It was the wise resolution of a distinguished friend of missions; one of the first of those philanthropic men who embarked in the cause of the Missionary Society; 66 NEVER TO BE OFFENDED," whatever treatment he might meet with in the course of that undertaking. It was indeed a wise and noble resolution; and his adherence to it was of greater importance, perhaps, than can well be estimated, in regard to his own comfort and usefulness, and the good of the cause as far as his influence ex