promise, and which, as the reward of his conflict and sufferings, the Redeemer is expecting: a result, to which the revolutions of empire and the silent progress of time perpetually verge.

The agency by which whole nations shall be regenerated hereafter, is the same which takes one of a city and two of a family and brings them to Zion now. The universal, moral change, like the erection of the second temple, shall be effected, "not by might nor by power," but by the spirit of the Lord. The promise is recorded, "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thy offspring." But assurances of divine assistance were never designed to discourage human endeavours. They diminished not the zeal and the labours of Zerubbabel. Paul and Apollos well knew that the "increase" must be of God, but this animated, not retarded them in the services of planting and watering. In many of his mighty works it is the pleasure of Jehovah to act alone. Alone he planted the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. He asks the aid of no created arm when he balances the clouds, directs the thunder or arranges the stars. Day and night, summer and winter, seed-time and harvest obey no voice but his. But for effecting the conversion of sinners, sanctifying their hearts and preparing them for the everlasting enjoyment of his presence in heaven, he usually acts through the medium of instruments. He has commissioned his ministers to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Treasures of grace are introduced into "earthen vessels." Even the private christian, as well as the pastor or the teacher, is permitted to enjoy the honour of being a "fellow worker with God." The preaching of the everlasting gospel " unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, tongue and people," combined with the prayers and liberality of the churches, will usher in the day of Babylon's destruction and the general triumphs of holiness and truth.

To considerations such as these professors of the gospel have surely attached too little importance. They have looked for a harvest without a seed-time:, or where the necessity of the labours of the spring has been admitted, content with seeing others in the field, they have themselves stood "all the day idle." The industry, the privations, the successes of the missionaries of Christ may have excited a languid and transient admiration, but ah! how few have ventured on their labours or imbibed their spirit? Who will pretend that the zeal of a Swartz or a Vanderkemp, of Marshman, Ward or the Careys has been excessive, beyond what the state of the heathen, the honour of Christ or the duty of the christian demands? But, brethren, if theirs be cor

rect, ours has been deplorably deficient. Shall their fervours for the divine honour exhibit a steady and sacred flame, and ours slumoer in ashes? Rather let us profit by their examples, and aspire to their usefulness and honour.

The gospel of Christ, above every other system, originates and sustains a public spirit. "None of us liveth unto himself, none of us dieth unto himself." The design of the obedience and sufferings of Jesus recognizes none of those inferiour distinctions which divide man from man. The gospel secures the salvation of a multitude "which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues." It presents a sovereign remedy for all the diseases which awakened sinners of every rank, and of every clime, feel and deplore. The Apostle of the Gentiles longed and toiled for the salvation of his countrymen, but he also travelled from province to province, from Jerusalem to Illyricum, publishing salvation through a Mediator's name. What advantages soever particular fields for missionary efforts may exhibit, the disciple of Jesus will contemplate the whole world as a scene demanding his sympathy and his prayers, his zeal and his contributions. Four hundred millions of our fellow creatures spread over the countries of Hindostan, Siam, Tartary, China and its neighbouring islands, various parts of Africa, America, and the isles of the Pacific Ocean are involved in the darkness of Paganism. Their idolatry is associated with customs, absurd, sanguinary and obscene. The female character is sunk in servility and wretchedness. Millions in Europe, Africa and Asia are revering the Arabian impostor as a messenger from God, and the Koran as their guide to Paradise. Ten millions of our race are Jews, scattered throughout every nation, and are every where resting in their Law and rejecting the Messiah. In many sections of our globe, where Christianity is publicly professed, it has been so mixed with vain superstitions, its doctrines so misinterpreted, its duties so mistaken, and the means by which it has been propagated and maintained, so repugnant to its pure and gentle spirit, that even Christendom itself presents scenes for pious exertion, which for ignorance and misery, are in heathen regions scarcely exceeded.

Who can contemplate the prospect our world presents without exclaiming "mine eye affecteth my heart?" The soul of a Tartar, or a Hindoo, of an Indian or a Mussulman is as wonderful a faculty, as immaterial and immortal as the soul of a Christian. It is as susceptible as his, of hope and fear, of extacy and anguish: but alas! it is dead in trespasses and sins, destitute of the light of revelation and in danger of eternal fire:

"for as many as have sinned without the law, shall perish also without the law." Were circumstances reversed; were we in moral darkness and the pagan world enjoying the light of life,selflove would instantly suggest to us the benevolent duties which it would become them to discharge. Those very duties are our The holy men who saw our fore-fathers prostrating themselves before the shrines of a Woden or a Thor, and who exhorted them to turn from idols to serve the living and the true God, have left us in their toils an example of duty and in their successes encouragement for our liveliest hopes.

Within the last few years, it has pleased the good spirit of our God to awaken in his churches a serious concern for the diffusion of the Saviour's cause. Numerous, and in some instances large associations of Christians have been formed for the purpose: considerable sums of money have been collected; bibles and religious tracts are extensively and gratuitously circulating, and the hope which thousands cherish that the glory of the latter days is at hand, is as operative as it is joyous. The blessing which has succeeded the efforts of our denomination in India, demands our gratitude. In a few years, the word of life will probably be translated into all the languages of the East. The change of sentiment relative to the subject of baptism that has lately occured in the minds of two respectable characters, who were sent out as Missionaries, by another denomination of our christian brethren, appears to have been of the Lord and designed as a means of exciting the attention of our churches to foreign Missions. The engagedness of these worthy brethren in the work of the Lord continues. They look to us for aid, are actually under our care, and have an undoubted claim to our united and firm support. One of them is about to travel through different parts of the Union with a view of increasing the number of Missionary establishments. We anticipate with pleasure, your zealous co-operation. The brevity of life, the value of immortal souls, the obligations under which divine mercy has laid us, our past inactivity, the facility with which the great work may be effected, the excellent tendency of the spirit for foreign Missions in multiplying Missions at home, the examples of other christian persuasions, and the incalculable blessings that may follow our endeavours, form a body of motive which we hope will kindle in many of our youth an ardent desire to enter on Missionary services, and in you the holy resolution to minister of your abundance to all who shall go forth in the name of the Lord.

But, while we call your attention to the spread of evangelic truth, we would impress on your minds that many other and most

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important advantages may arise to the interests of Christ among us from our acting as societies and on the more extended scale of a Convention, in delightful union. The independence of the churches, we trust will ever, among us, be steadfastly maintained; but with this, as they are entirely voluntary, the holy combinations we wish for, can never interfere. Is it not a fact that our churches are ignorant of each other to a lamentable degree? But for the labours of one or two individuals, it is probable that whole Associations might have assembled in different parts of our Union without being known or knowing that others existed. We have "one Lord, one faith, one baptism," why should our ignorance of each other continue? why prevent us from uniting in one common effort for the glory of the Son of God? At the present Convention the sight of brethren who had never met each other before, and who a few months ago had never expected to meet on earth, afforded mutual and unutterable pleasure. It was as if the first interviews of heaven had been anticipated.

The efforts of the present convention have been directed chiefly to the establishment of a foreign Mission; but, it is expected that when the general concert of their brethren and sufficient contributions to a common fund shall furnish them with proper instruction and adequate means, the promotion of the interests of the churches at home will enter into the deliberations of future meetings.

It is deeply to be regretted that no more attention is paid to the improvement of the minds of pious youth who are called to the gospel ministry. While this is neglected the cause of God must suffer. Within the last fifty years, by the diffusion of knowledge and attention to liberal science the state of society has become considerably elevated. It is certainly desirable the information of the minister of the sanctuary should increase in an equal proportion. Other denominations are directing their attention with signal ardour to the instruction of their youth for this purpose. They are assisting them to peruse the sacred writings in their original languages,and supplying other aids for pulpit services, which, through the grace of the Holy Spirit may become eminently sanctified for the general good. While we avow our belief that a refined or liberal education is not an indispensible qualification for ministerial service, let us never lose sight of its real importance, but labour to help our young men by our contributions, by the origination of education Societies, and if possible, by a general theological seminary, where some at least, may obtain all the advantage, which learning and mature studies can afford, to qualify for acting the part of Men who are set for the defence of the gospel.

Improvement of this nature will contribute to roll away from the churches the reproach of neglecting to support the ministry of the word. They will be unwilling to receive for nothing that which has cost their ministers much.

Finally brethren, "be ye steadfast, immoveable, always a"bounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that "your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

RICHARD FURMAN, President.

Attest,

THOMAS BALDWIN, Secretary.