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right thus to distinguish between the missionaries and other clergy, because the former present to our minds the only true exemplars of a Christian ministry. When once engaged in their work of love, they look back upon the narrowness of sectarian views with horror and surprise. They regard the squabbles of ecclesiastical assemblies with pain and mortification. They begin to understand their mission as ministers of Christ, and to see how little that mission is comprehended by theologians and divines, the well-paid ministers of rich congregations, many of whom plume themselves chiefly upon being the successors of the apostles, whilst they are certainly not even earning the title of the humblest of Christ's servants.

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TOPICS FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF CHRISTIAN TEACHERS.

THE sins of society are the sins of the individuals of which it is composed, however willing the individuals are to shift or cast off the responsibility. Christians are thus accountable for much iniquity which they might prevent. They become hardened, by custom, to that which is occurring all around them; but their duty is not less binding, to overcome the ills of society, and to point out the errors which are consecrated by habit. When they become able to lay aside the pride of position, the conservative stubbornness of an easy life, and to regard the present constitution of society under the full light of Christ's life and precepts, they will find abundant cause of lamentation. They will find that almost all the maxims and requirements of business are opposed in spirit and results to these precepts.

That stern punctuality which is the essence of business morality, and which exacts a fulfilment of engagements with so little forbearance that thousands are ruined whom a very little forbearance would save, may be indispensable to the progress of commerce, but is irreconcilable with those precepts which enjoin upon us to love our neighbour as ourselves, and with that prayer which asks "forgiveness of sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us."

That fierce and unfaltering competition in the race of business so much exalted by political economists as the best regulator of industry, may be very useful in extinguishing all those sympathies which weaken human efforts when directed against each other, and in sharpening all those energies which are applied to the purpose of amassing wealth, grasping power, and ministering to all other ends of human selfishness; but little accords with the demands of human brotherhood. That ravenous and untiring pursuit of wealth so cha

racteristic of Protestant activity-that adding of field to field and barn to barn, or heaping up treasures of this world, or that lavish expenditure which squanders with as much zeal as it accumulates-may be a necessary accompaniment of the doctrine which teaches the propriety of encouraging whatever gives vigour to the mind and body, and confirms the sacred rights of property, that is, of doing what we please with our own; but all this little comports with the stewardship of Christ's disciples, or with the command, "Go sell that thou hast and give to the poor."

This buying at the cheapest possible rate, not regarding the hardship to him who sells, and selling at the dearest rate possible, not regarding the interest of him who buys-this position in trade or in society which makes it not only the interest, but the natural course, of every one to prey upon his fellow-men to the full extent of his power and cunning, is well fitted to carry selfishness to its highest limits, and to extinguish every spark of mutual

kindness, but is very inconsistent with the duty or the policy of keeping out of the way of temptation. This idea of considering men as mere machines for the purpose of creating and distributing wealth, may do very well to round off the periods, the syllogisms, and statements of political economists; but the whole notion is totally and irreconcileably at variance with Christianity, which teaches that all the world is of less value than one soul; and that, in ascertaining the true interests of men, we should first direct our attention to those measures which may best secure physical comfort, peace, and happiness in this world, and the best preparation for the world to come; and afterwards to those which may create the largest amount of wealth, not merely for the benefit of free trade, that unrestrained action of merchants, which makes them arbiters of the condition of millions who toil to produce what they buy and sell, and fetch and carry, at charges fixed by themselves.

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