gress of Christianity can be removed or diminished. Men are selfish, unfeeling, and prone to the abuse of power and wealth; yet, where charity appears in her simplest garb, she is hailed as a heavenly visitant, and the message which accompanies her deeds of kindness is received as the voice of Heaven.

It is time the virtue of this remedy were tried in the name of Christianity upon the whole mass of humanity : try it upon the poor, upon paupers, upon prisoners, soldiers, sailors, servants, labourers; try it upon infidels, socialists, reforming zealots, revolutionists; try it upon all men and the result will be happy beyond all our present conceptions.

BY THE EDITOR.

LET no one cast aside this little volume, as the work of a crude and unfurnished mind; or as the product of a captious grumbler, ignorant of the theology he underrates and incapable of grasping his subject; or as the sickly dreams of a diseased imagination. If any are so dead to the interests of humanity as to be insensible to the considerations here presented, it is time they were awakened; if any are alive to them, but inactive, it is time they were put on the alert. Few, it is hoped, can follow the train of reflection here suggested, without experiencing a feeling that there is a lamentable omission in our Protestantism, and without a desire to understand the subject better. It will be found there is a wide range for the mind in the topics here touched, and that a reformation remains to be effected greater than any yet conceived.

We have added to the text extended bibliographical notices and catalogues, in the hope of tempting the studious and humane into this field of research, and of facilitating the labours of those who may be willing to devote their thoughts to the service of humanity.

OCTOBER 20th, 1851.

WHY HAS CHRISTIANITY MADE

SO LITTLE PROGRESS?

WHAT impedes the progress of Christianity? This inquiry must very often arise in the mind of every thoughtful Christian, and no one can over-estimate the importance of a right answer. Apart from its Divine origin, and its vital personal consequence to every human being, the triumphs of Christianity over all other religious systems assert its claims to the support of all lovers of order, of civilization, of industry, of art, of science, of literature and social well-being. Its triumphs are, however, thus far, greater in kind than in extent. The Christian world is distinguished immeasurably above all the rest in all these respects; but the Mohammedan and Pagan world yet greatly exceeds it in extent

6

THE SMALL NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS.

and population. Eighteen centuries have been sufficient to establish Christianity over but a small portion of the earth; and even many of the conquests once made are now lost! Both Mohammedism and Paganism prevail now where Christians once dwelt. If the question were only-Why are not the advantages of Europe and America extended to Asia and Africa?-it would be of unspeakable importance to find a solution: but the solution is of infinitely more importance than this would imply. How many in Christian lands are really Christians? Less, perhaps, than a tenth, or a fourth, or a third. The inquiry then arises,-What restricts Christianity to this small proportion? How comes it, that among the enlightened, upon whom the truths of the Gospel are urged from God's own word, where eternal blessedness is placed in the alternative with eternal misery, so few make their election to be on the safe side?-Whatever circumlocution may be indulged on this subject, the plain truth is, that men who neg