also

that "they march to an early grave;" but it may be said of the former, that they march to an early immortality.

Blessed be God, we do not live in an age before Christianity had achieved any visible triumphs-when the preaching of the gospel was still a religio illicita existing by peculiar sufferance when every public act of Christian worship was liable to end in martyrdom, and when every song of praise might be finished among the multitudes above-when those who joined it knew not how soon their anthems thus interrupted might be resumed after a brief agony among angels and archangels, and all the glorious company of heaven!

Lord Jesus! Lover of souls, Director of spirits, Conqueror of hearts, choose thine own instruments, prepare thy weapons, select thine own sacrifices, open to some understandings the glory of this work among the heathen; touch some hearts with the invisible constraints of thy dying love.

Let him that is feeble be as David. Let souls formerly wavering and timid, be so bound to this work that they may resolve to engage in it, though it should require their being cut to pieces, to open the way for more successful labourers.

Are there any who burn with shame that so few have heard and answered the appeal, "Whom shall we send ?" Brethren, be not impatient; Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd of our souls knoweth all things. He sees what is passing in your bosom, and at the fitting moment will make known to you his good pleasure. If you use the appointed means to ascertain it, if you study his Word, mark the events of his providence, consult the good and wise, estimate candidly your ability to do and endure; at the same time guarding against all unauthorized partialities; above all, if you pray fervently

and continue to perform your present appropriate work, exerting all the faculties with which God has endowed you, in obedience to his holy direction, leaving the result to his final and all-wise decision, you will soon hear the voice behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk ye

in it."

(5) There must be PURITY of motive, and a simple, firm dependence upon the influences of the Holy Spirit. These, although already incidentally noticed and obviously implied throughout this address, are of such importance as to require specific observation.

Cranmer promoted a worthy minister, and assigned the reason for his conduct in these expressive words :"He longs for nothing he seeks for nothing-he dreams about nothing but Jesus Christ." The same mind should be in every missionary, and in every candidate for missionary service. Let the Cross of Christ be the influencing motive of all your exertions and desires. Look into your own hearts, and see whether you engage in the service of Christ from supreme love to Him, or if you cast your mite into the treasury of God as a thankoffering for the unspeakable mercies vouchsafed to you as Christians-whether it is love to Christ which constrains you? Nothing but a realizing view of the Cross of Christ can lead you to act upon acceptable principles. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. If there is no real love to God there is no love to man. Zeal, influenced by any other motive than love to Christ is sinful, and will be censured rather than commended by Him.

Again, beloved brethren, look into your hearts, and ask yourselves if you are willing to renounce all the glory attached to human endeavour that Christ may have the pre-eminence? Let it be remembered that there is a connection between a proper frame of mind

and ultimate success in the work of God. Ask yourselves if when you have done all, you can look upan yourselves as unprofitable servants ? Consider that you are nothing and deserve nothing, and that God has a right to do to you, and with you, what seems right to Him. All true Christians live for others rather than for themselves. There is no other motive which will constrain to duty like this. Nothing but the love of Christ applied to the heart by the Holy Ghost, will produce holiness of life, and truly inspire the mind to benefit our fellow-men. Let the Lord Jesus Christ then, be the altar on which you present all your gifts; the Priest through whom you consecrate all your labours; for He only can sanctify the gift and the giver. Both your persons and your works must be accepted in the beloved; for neither can be acceptable to God but through Jesus Christ. When his love constrains you to benevolence and zeal, you may reasonably assure yourself that God will accept it for his Son's sake. your works of faith and labours of love also be sanctified by prayer and thanksgiving; by prayer that they may do good, and that the blessing of God may attend them; by thanksgiving that his providence has placed you among those who are able to give, and not amongst those who are compelled to receive.

Let

Even as the mother of Moses prepared the ark of bulrushes which was to preserve her child-

“With invocations to the living God,

I twisted every slender reed together,
And with a prayer did every osier twine"-

the glory of God must be the ruling motive in all you do. That glory is the ultimatum of all his own works, whether in the world of nature, providence, or grace; and the final cause of salvation to every ran