The children who have bread to the full, are not to remain forgetful of their brethren perishing for want. Though the pleasures of the feast, and the cheering sight of the numerous guests were more to be desired, than to live in continual jeopardy, as sheep scattered in the wilderness in the midst of wolves, yet the charm must be broken. God's gracious purposes cannot fail of their accomplishment. The high commission of Christ to his apostles must be faithfully executed; and rather than the least delay should be occasioned by the joy, the spiritual delight graciously vouchsafed to the infant church, the demon of persecution is let loose, and permitted to enter and to disperse by violence the happy family. What were the immediate consequences of this trying but gracious dispensation? A zeal nobly bursting forth into a flame for the conversion of sinners-an host of preachers is raised up and sent forth," they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." It is evident that the disciples were chargeable with neglecting their brethren of mankind, whilst vital godliness was prominent and on the increase through the whole multitude of believers. And why may not the church be guilty of similar or greater neglect at the present day, whilst vital godliness may actually be on the increase?

And what advantages are likely to result from ministers of established characters, already pastors of churches, and occupying spheres of great and extensive usefulness, entering the field of labour in heathen

countries in compliance with the personal calls of the directors of missions? Obvious and immediate advantages would follow. The occupying of important and advanced posts is well fitted to call into exercise all their diversified talents, acquired and matured by experience; to give an opportunity to Zion to prove her devoted attachment to her King by denying herself of much personal gratification; to supply the spiritual wants of those whose peculiar necessities call loudly for help; to add to the list, of those already in the field of conflict, men whose tried character gives weight and inspires confidence.

Is it asked, what right have the directors to make choice of those who are already pastors of churches to enter the field of missions? As the representatives chosen by the churches, they have a right to select suitable and faithful persons to forward their extensive and important plans for the moral amelioration of the perishing heathen. To choose those who are already engaged as watchmen, is only acting on a principle which is admitted as legal, and acted upon by the churches at home. The mere change of locality, other things being equal, forms no objection of any importance against this mode of supplying missions with faithful men. Invitations from the directors, when personally addressed, are likely to prove more efficient, and will remove many scruples from conscientious minds. If a minister's sphere be limited for his talents, and if those who are acquainted with his real worth give their recommendation of him to the direc

tors, a personal invitation from them would at once remove all that hesitation, delicacy, and fear of presumption, which would greatly distress his mind in offering his services to the society in compliance with their general invitation. So it will prove in a case where little differences may exist between a minister and his people, or where a minister may be greatly discouraged by not seeing the cause of Christ prospering among the people of his charge. Whatever may be the situation of a stated pastor, he will find it an extremely difficult matter to determine on offering his services to the society without a personal call from the directors.

It may be considered as a strong objection against a stated pastor's entering upon the foreign services of the church, that after a certain age it is found extremely difficult to acquire a strange language. In answering this objection, a distinction ought to be made between the direct labours of missionaries in preaching to the heathen in their own tongue, and in consolidating missions already begun, and following up plans which will break down the powerful barriers to uninterrupted intercourse with the natives. Close and persevering efforts to raise up well-educated young men (natives of the country) are of the first importance, and to familiarise with the English those whose piety, talents, and many local advantages, point them out as best calculated to render missions efficient and extended in labour among the benighted heathen. At every station, in a short time, there will probably be found

pious native youths well acquainted with the English language, so that ministers arriving in heathen countries will be able instantly to enter a sphere of extensive and important usefulness, whilst facilities to learn a foreign language will be secured. When the English becomes a fixed medium for imparting instruction to ministerial students, it will in a short time secure all the solid advantages of the institution beyond serious interruption from the death of those who are placed at its head; because the missionaries newly arrived will be able to carry forward the plan.

God is graciously pleased to display his manifold wisdom in the church by giving diversified talents to his servants. He is pleased to protract the lives of many to a good old age, that their experience as fathers may shed a considerable portion of light on complicated and difficult questions which often arise, particularly in newly-formed societies. It is the true wisdom of the church to avail herself of all the aids which mature age, and a variety of talents, consecrated at the foot of the cross to the service of Christ, are calculated to secure. And are the outposts, the places where complicated difficulties are the most likely to exist and perplex, are they to remain deprived of the experience of age, and is the diversity of talents there to be limited? Here it may be observed, that stations which have been occupied for some time, and where plans are maturing by a gradual transformation of native character, and the calling of some of them into the ministry of the gospel; successors to the first mis

sionaries are required, whose age, general knowledge, stability, and prudence of character, will give security that no retrograde movement in the affairs of the mission shall be likely to occur, which might probably result from youthful incapacity,

These hints are merely thrown out for the serious consideration of all who feel interested in every plan likely to facilitate the progress of the truth among men. Every practicable measure should be speedily adopted. The church has worse than slumbered away nearly eighteen centuries. The summer is past, and myriads are not saved. Ordinary means will fall short, very far short of the end to be obtained; extraordinary means may reasonably be expected therefore. It may be remarked, the latter day glory of the church is so near, and the multitudes that are yet to be brought to the knowledge of the truth are so very numerous, that extraordinary departures from common means are not only a likely, but seem a necessary event, before so great a moral change will be effected. If so, may not the general and united exertions of the church in sending forth some of her most approved and devoted servants to the help of the Lord against the mighty, be considered one likely means of accomplishing so great a work? Experimental processes ought now to give way to every plan which is practicable and promises success. The whole energies of the church ought to be called forth, that the world may be constrained to believe she loves the service of her Master. Her exertions should prove that the enlargement of