evening he remarked to a friend, This morning I thought I had got almost through, and it filled me with joy; but when I revived, it grieved me to think I must return again to this world.'" 22. Being asked how he had been in his mind, he replied, 'I rejoice in the prospect of death.'" 25. He breathed his last, without a struggle or a groan, and entered, as we trust, into the full fruition of eternal blessedness." Yes; we have every reason to believe that his spirit has entered that everlasting home in the skies, which he so fondly anticipated enjoying-has experienced transports of joy unspeakably beyond his highest conceptions while on earth. As the Lord has been carrying forward a glorious revival of religion, among his friends and acquaintances, from the time he left the world to the present, he has doubtless listened with delight, yea, with holy rapture, to the story of redeeming love, which ministering spirits have related among the happy throng. And he has united with them in praising and magnifying the name of God and the Lamb, for matchless grace and pardoning mercy. This consideration must surely be a precious cordial to the wounded feelings of his surviving friends and affectionate relatives, who have lamented his exit. While they may be mourning here, he is enjoying perfect blessedness in the paradise of God. The next Lord's day after his remains were committed to the silent grave, a funeral sermon was preached from Ps. xvii. 15. “I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness;" a text which he designated for the occasion during his last sickness. Reader, do you desire that your last days may be like his, and that you may enjoy with him and with all holy beings the unfading glories and imperishable riches of eternity? Remember, if you would, you must give all diligence to make your calling and election sure; you must walk with God, and make it the grand and pleasing business of your life to honor your dear Redeemer, and serve him with a pure heart and a willing mind. Then, when you have accomplished the designs of the Most High respecting you on earth, you will be welcomed into that bright world, "where is fulness of joy, , and where there are pleasures forevermore." JAN. 1831. LINES COMPOSED ON HIS DEATH. "Tis finished, the conflict is past, And now he's entombed with the dead. The months of affliction are o'er, Obtained is his happy release. No sickness, or sorrow, or pain, For death to his spirit was gain, 2 His soul has now taken its flight Then let us forbear to complain, A PASTOR'S ADDRESS TO A YOUNG MAN. Mr. Editor, The following communication is the substance of a letter written to a young friend, who was, at the time it was composed, a member of the church to which I minister. This friend had not been openly immoral, but was wholly indifferent to religious duties. Thinking that it might meet the eye of some one, who, like this person, has "left his first love," and be the instrument of restoring him once more to the enjoyment of divine grace, I send it for your perusal; and should you concur with me, you are at liberty to insert it in your Magazine. POIMEN. My dear young Brother, I have felt much interested in your present situation, and could not endure that the church should finally dispose of your case, without first having communicated to you some of the reflections Í have had respecting yourself. You may suppose, that, having baptized you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, before whose bar we must give account for that solemn transaction, I must feel a peculiar solicitude for you. I assure you I feel more than I can ever express; and tremble at the results to which your present feelings may conduct you. Although your moral character has not been impeached, yet, if you have no love for religious duties, you are in the open road to infidelity and vice. Religion is the devotion of the heart to God. It is the state of the heart, therefore, that gives to man his religious character. If your heart, consequently, be not interested in religion, you have no just claim to the Christian name. It is not your relation to the church that causes all my anxiety. This, though a very serious concern, is, in comparison with your future prospects, of small moment. For if you cannot enjoy yourself in the church on earth, what can you anticipate in eternity! O, my dear young friend, I most anxiously wish to behold you walking once more in the truth as it is in Jesus. You are young, and particularly exposed to temptation. Your present course, in all reasonable probability, will determine your future life. There is a striking similarity between a young man's habits and his future character. You are more exposed, than if you had not been a professor of religion. Liberated from responsibilities which you consider irksome, you are in great danger of giving loose to all your feelings, passions, and desires. Let me remind you of your accountableness to God. Forget not that you may be summoned to his bar at a time, and under circumstances which would be the last you would choose, and the last you now imagine. Let not the great adversary beguile you. Abandon not yourself to indifference. Determine that you will act as a wise man. Allow not your companions to influence or draw you away. Remember they cannot save your soulthey may prevent your salvation. Yes! you may to eternity lament and bitterly regret that you ever saw them-that you did not follow the advice of them who love your soul, and desire and pray for your greatest good. "Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." Think of the feelings and prayers of your dear parents. Think of that Jesus who died for sinners; who now stands at your door and knocks. Will you hear his voice? harden not your heart. You have been advised, cautioned, and persuaded. At the judgment seat of Christ you will not plead ignorance, for you cannot. Remember then you have been faithfully admonished. Wherever you go, recollect my words-think of your friend, who prays for you; and should you live when I am no more, think then of my grave, and let this letter convince you, that though dead, he yet speaketh, and speaks to you. And it is my desire that you will keep this letter for my sake. I give it to you as a memorial of my affection-it is your minister's advice-it may be the last token of his interest in you. But I hope not. It is not too late. You may now return to the church. They will receive you. Persons in your situation frequently think otherwise. They imagine that the interest that has been felt in them, is lost. It is not so. We should all rejoice to see you, and to welcome you among us. must be a Christian, or you will be lost forever. however. Try again. Attend our meetings. may bless you. I feel persuaded that he will. I say! It is my heart's desire and prayer to be saved. You Do not be hasty Perhaps the Lord What more shall God, that you may Farewell. Your most affectionate friend and Pastor, ****** Mr. Editor, MISSIONS TO THE HEATHEN. In the last number of your valuable periodical, we find by a communication from the Corresponding Secretary of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, that additional missionaries are wanted for "several new stations among the Indians," which the Board have it in contemplation soon to establish. At the present moment when the feelings and sympathies of the whole community are enlisted on the subject of "Indian rights," surely those whose principal desire is the salvation of their souls will not ingloriously slumber at their post. In our deliberations and efforts for promoting the grand and sacred operations of the missionary enterprise, it is not to be forgot ten that "the field is the world." And the exertions and prayers of Christians are to be continued with greater sacrifices and much greater fervency, until this whole earth, which has so long been polluted with the desolations of sin, and upon which the wickedness of man has been great, shall again become the garden of the Lord, and all its inhabitants from the least unto the greatest, shall be converted unto God. While we believe this to be a correct and scriptural view of the subject, we also believe that the aborigines of our own forests have the strongest claims upon our Christian sympathy and benevolence. They are emphatically our brethren. The lands that we occupy furnished the home of their fathers. It is, however, superfluous at this day to talk of the claims that the heathen at home or in foreign lands have upon the treasury of Christian philanthropy. These claims have long since been admitted and acted upon by Christians of almost every denomination, although but to a very limited extent. That missionaries are to be sent forth-the Bible translated into various languages-teachers to be furnished for the instruction of the children and youth and that these important objects are to be sustained by the liberal contributions of the churches, we consider as subjects not now to be discussed; their expediency and utility having long since been settled. The inquiry therefore forces itself upon our consideration, Who will occupy the vacant stations? Do not some of our young men who are now preparing for the sacred and responsible work of the ministry feel willing to engage in the arduous and self denying labor of preaching among the Indians in the wilds of our own country the unsearchable riches of Christ? To the man of ardent piety and strong faith, with that love for the souls of men, which nothing short of their conversion and final salvation can satisfy, there must be something peculiarly animating and encouraging, in witnessing the turning to God of those who by the blessing of Heaven upon his efforts have been raised from the depths of ignorance and degradation to the exalted character of the sons of God. Missionaries should be men of elevated piety; men who have counted the cost. They should be actuated by the same spirit that influenced Brainerd to say: "Here am I, Lord, send me ; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; if it be but in thy service, and to extend thy kingdom." Men possessing such a spirit have much to encourage them. Missionaries of earlier days may very properly be considered as having been pioneers in the great work. The missionary field, to a considerable extent, has now been explored. The experiment has been made, and not without success. Though much opposition has been experienced, yet now public opinion in the Christian community is in favor of missionary efforts, and the churches are willing, to make liberal contributions for the support of missions. While we would not conceal the fact, that the devoted missionary of the cross must endure much labor, and toil with the heat of summer and frosts of winter, we would also express the opinion with confidence that the facilities now presented in aid of these exertions are so great that the obstacles to be overcome and the difficulties to be encountered, are much diminished, and the cheering prospects of success greatly increased. A number of missionaries have recently joined the little band in Burmah; yet how small is the number compared with the wants of that vast Empire, containing a population, by the lowest computation, not less than that of these United States. In view of the greatness of this people, with their ignorance and their wants, in connection with the very trivial number of missionaries stationed among them, we are ready to inquire, as the disciples did of our Lord, But what are they among so many ? We learn that the Board are anxiously desirous of sending more laborers into the extensive and promising field of Burmah. The signal success with which efforts have thus far been attended, may be considered as a presage of future glory, and ought surely to stimulate all the friends of truth to greater and far more zealous exertions. But where are the men?" By whom shall Jacob arise ?" Where are the devoted ministers whose souls are fired with the love of Jesus, and who are willing to endure hardness as good soldiers? Will not the love of Christ constrain many to sacrifice the sweets of home and the endeared comforts of domestic quietude, for the enjoyment and holy pleasure of directing the benighted Burmans to "behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world?" We look to our literary and theological institutions for a reply to these interrogations. Our eyes are directed to the schools of the prophets, and from these nurseries of piety we hope many young, able, and faithful champions of the cross will come forth, and go "far hence to the Gentiles." It is important that all the friends of missions, and especially those who are pursuing a course of study with reference to the ministry, should continually bear in mind that the number now employed under the direction of the Baptist Board is very much below what our churches have it in their power to support. The number engaged in this work ought therefore immediately to be greatly increased; it should be doubled and even trebled. In aid of this object, let each individual strive for a higher tone of piety. Deep religious feeling, with a proper sense of the condition of a world that lieth in wickedness, will contribute much towards awakening that soul-stirring solicitude which ought always to characterize our efforts for the salvation of our fellow-men. Those who are engaged as missionaries, or who have the subject under consideration, should reflect much on the greatness of the work—its vast importance-its final results. They should feel as Carey did, soon after his arrival on the shores of Hindostan, in 1793, when amidst all the darkness that surrounded him, and all the opposition that he had to encounter, he could still say, in language implying a confidence in the final success of his inission : "What is there in all this world worth living for but the presence and service of God? I feel a burning desire that all the world may know this God, and serve him." This ought to be the language of every professed disciple of the Redeemer, while with un |