teresting, and comparatively unimportant. Let no man, therefore, be discouraged on this ground. In many stations, there is now every facility for acquiring the language: and experience unequivocally tells us that there are no difficulties, but such as may easily be surmounted.

case.

Some, however, throw this difficulty into a different form. They object to going because they would thereby require the funds, which ought to support abler men. This would indeed be a real difficulty, were there a sufficient number of men better qualified for the work; or were the Church's resources limited, and now nearly exhausted. But this is not-never will be the Should there ever be a temporary deficiency, let it be told the Churches, that on them rests the responsibility of refusing to send men, who desire to go forth, and join the few scattered soldiers of the Prince of Life and Glory, now grappling with the powers of darkness, and endeavouring to rescue from their grasp the souls of dying heathens; and they will rise in the majesty of the true missionary spirit, and pour of their substance into the treasury of the Lord; and dismiss, with their benediction, every one, who is willing to go, bearing the wide commission of the Gospel,

'Signed by God's own signature.”

It is not meant to assert that it is the duty of all, absolutely, to become foreign missionaries: but simply to endeavour to divest the subject of some of the many difficulties with which the question is commonly embarrassed.

We are not, then, to expect any extraordinary interposition of the Spirit of God, telling us as by an audible voice, what duty is

we are not to wait for a strong desire for the work of missions to be implanted in our minds, before we think worth while to investigate the claims of the heathen-we are not to expect any peculiar call, or possess any extraordinary qualifications, before

we can determine to devote our lives to the work of foreign missions. Let each one, then, divested of all these feelings and expectations, having thoroughly investigated the subject, and remembering that "the field is the world" permit his judgment-feelings and taste, and preference all aside for the present-calmly to decide, what portion of this field opens the widest prospect of usefulness; or rather, where is the most urgent demand for his labours; and then determine to go there if circumstances will at all permit. Thus may this important question, freed of all its embarrassing accompaniments, be reduced to a single point: and that too, in most cases, probably not very difficult of solution.

To those whose circumstances would permit, and who profess a willingness to go where duty calls; but object that the field is wide enough at home, and the prospect of superior usefulness abroad at least doubtful, it might be answered, that since the way of salvation may be known to all, and mercy within the reach of all in this country, so as to render them altogether inexcusable, it is extremely doubtful, whether-expediency asideit is consistent with the duty imposed by our unconditional commission, for us to remain, and urge upon our countrymen, those offers, for which they manifest entire disregard, or obstinately refuse, while the hundreds of millions of heathen are perishing for lack of vision, to whom the offers of salvation have never been made. While this is the case, is it for us to sit down, and coldly calculate whether we might not, probably, be the means of saving some souls at home; or does not the command of Christ bind us to go, if we can? This view receives additional sanction, from the conduct of the Apostles. After fully preaching Christ crucified to their brethren the Jews, so that all might have an opportunity of believing on him, they staid not to urge it upon them; but immediately went to the Gentiles, that they

too might have pointed out to them, the way of escaping "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.” Should we not

go, and do likewise? Many of our own countrymen, it is true, will perish; but, it is because they will not take the trouble to hear, or if they hear they disregard the voice of mercy-the heathen must perish; but it is because they never heard the voice of mercy. Which of them should most awaken our sympathies, and call forth our efforts: judge ye. Suppose as a test of your views, you had been born and brought up among the idolatrous, degraded, and perishing population, of the dark continent of Asia, or Africa; but by some wonderful change of circumstances you had been brought to a knowledge of Jesus; with your present views, feelings and sympathies, could you ever have dreamed of coming to America, to labour for Christ? And now is not your duty to preach to the heathen, just as imperative as though this had been literally the case. A voyage of a few months will place you on those same benighted shores, and amidst that same degraded, dying population.

But to the objection stated above, it might be answered further, that granting for a moment all it asks, that the need of labourers at home, is as great as abroad, (and it surely is not greater; for what destitution can be greater than that which is total?)-Then the utmost that can be fairly inferred, is that an equal number should be distributed to both fields. Now until this be the case, on your own principles, you are bound to go. You contend that the need at home is as great as abroad, and therefore one half ought conscientiously to remain. It may be answered that the destitution abroad is at least as great as at home, and therefore, one half ought conscientiously to go. And this obligation obviously becomes the more pressing, since very far from the proportion of one half usually go. Now it manifestly falls upon those whose circumstances will permit, and who profess a willingness

to go wherever duty calls, to furnish this quota; since there are enough, and as yet, more than enough to supply the other proportion, whose physical qualifications, and domestic relations will compel them to remain. They ought, therefore, to feel themselves peculiarly called upon to examine their duty in this matter.

It is objected, however, that a man by remaining at home may awaken a missionary spirit in the churches, and may raise up several missionaries, who will do more good, than he alone could have done, by going himself to the heathen. But how does any one know that he is to do this? The probability is against him should it so happen, which is surely possible, that he has mistaken his duty. But granting this, suppose every one of them to reason in the same manner, which they might do with equal justice, when would the heathen be converted? We must remember, that it is the present generation alone, with whom we have to do: and for our duty to whom, we are solemnly responsible. The question is, shall they have the Gospel?-Shall they be told of Jesus?-Now it is manifest, that such a system of means as that just mentioned, would, to say the least, suffer most of the present generation to perish without an effort for their rescue. This manifestly is not the spirit of the Gospel. This is not—cannot be the true method of proceeding.

One grand end of the organization of the church at all, is that it may secure to every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation under the whole heavens, the bread of eternal life. Now suppose there was a famine in all Asia, and we wished to supply them with the means of sustaining natural life; would we send off immediately all we could for seed, and let them grow it for themselves, when in a fertile soil it would multiply fiftyfold, or would we suffer many of them to starve, while we attempted to raise in our limited territory, what we could with difficulty trans

port to them; but which would still be insufficient for their sustenance? So, to continue the figure, let us send seed to the heathen immediately, though it be but a handful now, it will soon increase, and let them raise in their own soil, the bread of eternal life.

It is true, indeed, that the spirit of missions must be sustained at home. But this will be done by those who are compelled to remain: and it will be done much more effectually by those who go themselves. What so likely to awaken a spirit of missions, as the embarkation of a little band of foreign missionaries? And what is the spirit of missions, but the Spirit of Christ? Every increase of the one is an equal increase of the other. So far then from doing less for the cause at home, we may do more than by remaining: and this, so far from robbing the churches, awakens their zeal―elevates their piety, and multiplies ministers both for home and abroad. This we fearlessly assert experience has proved.

Now, taking this in connection with the fact, that so large a proportion are absolutely prohibited by circumstances from going; and with our Saviour's unconditional commission in our hand, and the number, condition, and destiny of the heathen before us, let us, who are untrammeled by circumstances, feel that we are particularly called; and let us ponder it well, before we dismiss it with a negative.

Let us see to it,

There has been-there is guilt somewhere. that it rest not on our heads. And let us do so immediately. We stop not now to point out the advantages-the immense advantages of an early decision, both as it regards our own enjoyment, and preparation for the field of our future labours. We would urge it as a present, imperious duty; because delay, longer than is necessary to investigate the merits of the case, is