returned early the next morning to St. Andrew's. It is full of ardor, and replete with christian feeling, though perhaps he carries some of his views a little too far. I should have given it in this place, as well deserving of insertion; but being somewhat similar to an address afterwards delivered at St. Andrew's, on the same subject, I omit it to make room for other matter. Such an address by one so young, could not fail to produce a very powerful effect. I pray that those who read it, may feel it equally with those who heard it. Much as John's mind was engaged with foreign objects, he did not forget those who had a claim upon him at home. His own family, and a few particular friends were the objects of his warmest attachments; and for the salvation of some of them he labored faithfully with themselves, and wrestled mightily with God. I venture to give the following to his brother, as a specimen of combined fidelity and tenderness of rare occurrence. There is also in that letter, and in the one which follows, to his mother, a manifestation of that exquisite sensibility which characterised him, and which made his devotion to the work of a missionary no ordinary sacrifice. The prospect of leaving his country, and his father's house, was to him one of inexpressible anguish; but the consideration of what was due to the authority and glory of Christ, impelled him forward. With talents not inferior to those of Martyn, he had feelings no less powerful than those of that devoted missionary; and though he was not honored to follow him in his glorious career, yet as having it in his heart, I doubt not he now inherits with him a portion of marked out by our own conscience, still it gives us a much surer confidence in our own convictions, when they are strengthened by the concurring sentiments of our christian friends, especially of those friends whom we highly esteem. I am not sorry on the whole, that hitherto my friends have all opposed my desire to preach Christ among the Heathen. Perhaps it is well that we should have to wade through a good deal of opposition, in making up our mind on a subject of such importance. There is an air of romance which invests the subject of missionary adventure, when first it is presented to the mind of the young disciple; (what Mr. Malan, in writing to my friend Mr. Adam, calls, "un trait de l'imagination;") and it is well, perhaps, that this false fire should be damped by opposition. It is a principle, I believe, among the Moravians, "never to persuade any person to be a missionary.' And perhaps we should still act in the spirit of this maxim, did we even carry it so far as rather to repress than to stimulate the incipient zeal of the candidate for missionary service. For surely if our desire for the work cannot stand against the remonstrances of our friends, we have every reason to think that it would soon be quenched amid the heavy and lengthened discouragements which must be met with in the work itself. If the desire to serve my Saviour among the Heathen were merely of myself, it is not like the fickleness of my natural disposition to have persevered in it till now, while meeting with so little encouragement. I do trust that the Spirit of the Lord has implanted this desire in my breast, and I know that He will perfect what he has begun. You speak of the difficulties connected with the work of a missionary. I can assure you, my dear friend, that as I have perused the history of former laborers, they have thickened upon my view. It is not to the natural dangers and hardships of the missionary life that I refer. It is not the prospect of encountering the diseases of an insalubrious atmosphere, with a frame that is not very robust, which affects me. If we perish in such a cause, we perish gloriously, and in this respect we "conquer though we are slain." There is something sweet in the contemplation of suffering for Christ's sake. "If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him." And "the more we toil and suffer here, the sweeter rest will be.' These are not the difficulties that I fear. But, I confess, I do tremble when I think of the spiritual dangers, the temptations of a heathen land, where all those barriers are broken down, which are the only safe-guards of the boasted virtue of the great mass of our community, and which operate, perhaps more strongly than he is aware, in restraining those evil propensities and worldly lusts, with which even the christian has to contend. I have been very much depressed to find the instances of apostacy among missionaries, so very numerous; and that some, who, for a long time did run well, were afterwards hindered by the lust of the flesh, or the lust of the eye, or the pride of life. I look at this dark side of the picture, there is nothing gives me any comfort, but a complete reliance on the faithfulness of Him who has promised that as our day is, so shall our strength be. Oh, for a stronger faith in my Redeemer! a closer walk with my God! I see that spirituality of mind is the main qualification for the work of a missionary, and this is the very qualification which I feel. that I most want. But I believe that He who While hath given the desire to serve him, will also give the ability to fulfil that desire. I know that though weak in myself, I am strong in him. And I will rest in the promises of his love. Christ, when he dwells in the heart by faith, can impart of his own omnipotence to weakness itself; for through Him, (may the weakest christian say) I can do all things. I have been struck with the view you give of the pastoral office, as raising up laborers. It is a view of it, which I had not sufficiently considered. When we look intently at one object, it is very probable that other most interesting objects may altogether escape our notice; and so when the mind is much occupied with the consideration of a single object, the very intensity of our attention to it may be the means of obscuring our perception of other objects equally important. Dr. Chalmers has of late plied me a good deal with the same kind of argument for remaining in this country. "You may render even to the cause of missions," he says, "perhaps greater service in raising up laborers by your preaching here." My reply to this, however, is just a reference to facts. Christianity has been long preached, and many converts have been made in our land, and the cause of christian philanthropy moreover, has been most ably pleaded; but notwithstanding, when laborers are called for, the eloquent advocates of missions shrink back, and scarce any are found to go forth. Among his papers I find the notes of a speech which he delivered at a missionary meeting at Cupar of Fife, on a Monday evening, in the month of February. It was written late on the Sabbath night preceding, and early on the Monday morning. He walked to Cupar, delivered his address, and returned early the next morning to St. Andrew's. It is full of ardor, and replete with christian feeling, though perhaps he carries some of his views a little too far. I should have given it in this place, as well deserving of insertion; but being somewhat similar to an address afterwards delivered at St. Andrew's, on the same subject, I omit it to make room for other matter. Such an address by one so young, could not fail to produce a very powerful effect. I pray that those who read it, may feel it equally with those who heard it. Much as John's mind was engaged with foreign objects, he did not forget those who had a claim upon him at home. His own family, and a few particular friends were the objects of his warmest attachments; and for the salvation of some of them he labored faithfully with themselves, and wrestled mightily with God. I venture to give the following to his brother, as a specimen of combined fidelity and tenderness of rare occurrence. There is also in that letter, and in the one which follows, to his mother, a manifestation of that exquisite sensibility which characterised him, and which made his devotion to the work of a missionary no ordinary sacrifice. The prospect of leaving his country, and his father's house, was to him one of inexpressible anguish; but the consideration of what was due to the authority and glory of Christ, impelled him forward. With talents not inferior to those of Martyn, he had feelings no less powerful than those of that devoted missionary; and though he was not honored to follow him in his glorious career, yet as having it in his heart, I doubt not he now inherits with him a portion of |