quired, should be suited to the people he has to instruct. For the old civilized nations of Asia, a degree of literary attainment may be suitable, which is not required in Africa or the South Seas. And in the same Mission, it will be most efficient when it consists of various gifts and qualifications. To require perfection, or high excellence, in many departments, from the same individual, is to expect more than the experience of mankind warrants.* Preachers, Teachers, Writers, Catechists, School Masters

"I can do nothing to any purpose at speaking the language myself."—" To ride about, freqnently in order to procure collections for the school, &c. &c. leave me little for application to the study of the Indian languages. And when I add to this, the time that is necessarily consumed upon my Journals, I must say I have little to spare for other business.”—“ I have been obliged to labour twelve and thirteen hours in a day, till my spirits have been extremely wasted, and my life almost spent, to get these writings accomplished. I cannot possibly gain two hours in a week for reading or any other studies. Frequently when I attempt to redeem time, by sparing it out of my sleeping hours, I am by that means thrown under bodily indisposition, and rendered fit for nothing." (BRAINERD.)

How lamentable that a man of Brainerd's spirit and zeal should have time and health consumed in riding about to procure collections and in writing journals, instead of learning the language of the Heathen! (MORRISON.)

"Tues. Dec. 11. Felt very poorly in body, being much tired and worn out the last night."

"12. Was again very weak, endeavoured to spend the day in fasting and prayer; I was much disordered when I arose, but having determined to spend the day in this manner, I attempted it." "The sins I most lamented were pride and wandering thoughts, the former of these excited me to think of writing, or preaching, or converting heathen, or performing some other great work, that my name might live, when I should be dead."

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16. Was overwhelmed with dejection, that I knew not how to live; I longed for death exceedingly." (BRAINERD.)

In these experiences of Brainerd, it is lamentable to see how much Christlessness there is. They are recorded, we hope, not for the imitation of Missionaries, but as a caution. He says, "My soul was in anguish and ready to drop into despair, to find so much of that cursed temperPride." Yes! that "cursed temper" is, we fear, too much mingled with the best services of the best of men. (MORRISON.)

and School Mistresses; Principals and Assistants, united in one Mission, centrically situated, are more likely to communicate, to a wide circumference, extensively and effectually, Christian knowledge, than a Mission composed of Preachers only.

Those Christian Societies who make each member of a Mission, whether experienced or inexperienced, whether judicious or injudicious, whether of twenty years or a day's standing, totally independent of each other; and who from principle reject all authority or control, among the foreign agents themselves, may perhaps elicit more individual effort than is the case where a contrary system is adopted; but they produce not that co-operation, harmony, and general effect which the others do; because the individual efforts are liable to be eccentric and extravagant, conflicting rather than co-operating with each other. A Moravian Missionary Community, with a mild paternal system of episcopal order and subordination, or a control of "Elders," is a more pleasing and edifying spectacle, and perhaps a more efficient agency, than several independent isolated individual Missionaries, without any system of order and co-operation; where not even length of service, nor grey hairs, are allowed any weight; where the younger" do not "submit themselves to the elder," but "wrest" the next clause of St. Peter's admonition, so as to make him (by their interpretation) immediately contradict himself, and also the whole scope of the inspired writers, by saying, "Be subject one to another;" as if it meant that all distinctions of age and experience should be confounded, and the precept just uttered be reversed, and that the "elder must submit to the younger."

At home, independent pastors who may be young and injudicious, are kept in their place, and in order, by the common sense of a large body of Pastors, Deacons, and Churches; but in distant lands that check is removed,

* Since the "young,” in due time, become "elders,” this mode of rule is not to be confounded with an aristocratic oligarchy.

and when, abroad, unhappily a want of humility and sense of propriety do occur, there is, on the Independent system, no authority nor, Christian community to repress them; and since old experienced servants may not always think it for the good of the service to submit, even to a majority of young and inexperienced ones, disunion occurs, and merely individual effort is presented to the enemy, instead of a close and well directed phalanx, continuously filled up by new men, as disaster or death may thin the ranks.*

I am greatly in favour of Missionary communities,† with a diversity of talent and acquirement, of age and of sex, not even excluding lay brethren, for the superinten

* "In Missionary establishments the greatest care should be taken in giving to every man his proper department, and in preserving a general co-operation in all their efforts. Each Missionary should guard against pertinacity of opinion, and the encouraging of those habits of fastidious delicacy which grow upon men, who are accustomed in all things to consult only their private feelings. Unless we can resolve on this sacrifice we are not qualified to act in Missions." (MELVILLE HORNe.)

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another: having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophesy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching: or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (PAUL.)

"To procure a large supply of Missionaries, I propose that an equal number of pious lay brethren should be employed in every Mission, as school-masters, transcribers, exhorters, and to assist in all the emergencies of the Mission, to which Missionaries may not be able to give attention The young and inexperienced would derive instruction and support from their elder brethren, and after a few years trial they might be promoted to the honourable station of Missionaries. Such an establishment would be the best seminary of education for Missions, and with occasional helps from Europe, be sufficient for all demands." (MELVILLE HORNE.)

dence of secular affairs, and perhaps by industry for the sustenance of the Mission; whilst all persons of the community co-operate to promote Christian knowledge, and all its temporal affairs are made subservient to the propagation of the Gospel. Not, however, to such a degree as to interfere with private property; but so as to destroy all selfishness and individualism; presenting not dislocated members, but a Body complete and efficient, either for support, or defence, or useful and benevolent exertion.

ON THE

QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES

OF

DIRECTORS OR MANAGING COMMITTEES

OF

Missionary Societies.

"In these (Missionary) Associations, I wish those Ministers to come forward whose character and services give them most respectability; and having once engaged, I would have the Association to be actuated by a true spirit, of Missions. They should be zealous, active, indefatigable. Any Minister who is not warmly affected to Missions, should be excluded from the acting Committee. What these Gentlemen are, their Missions will be." (MELVILLE HORNE.)

A MODERN Missionary Society has not any exact exemplar in Holy Scripture, nor does it resemble in its nature any Political or Commercial Association; and therefore the rules and usages which suit these, will not necessarily suit it. If, indeed, they be inconsiderately applied, they may injure it. As for example, the assumption that a Missionary Society resembles a Commercial Association, may introduce a relative distinction between the Subscribers, the Managing Committee, (by some not very happily, perhaps, called Directors,) and the foreign Evangelists, subversive entirely of the Christian relation and spirit of love which ought to pervade all who are connected