fal, though it is only the cultivated mind which can philofophize upon the caufes which produce it. A Minifter of uncommon picty, ability, and diligence, would produce greater effects, acquire more love and efteem, and have a greater influence in promoting the happinefs of his fellow creatures in that country than in his own; with this difference only, that his unlettered flock, inftead of laboured panegyric, can beftow no other applause upon him than the native effufions of the heart. The fuppofition, that men of inferior talents may be equally qualified to inftruct the ignorant, arifes from obfervation of the pride and impatience which too often accompany human fcience; but it has no application to thofe who have learned to condefcend to men of low eftate. Suppofe but a proportionate fupe-riority of patience, gentleness, and diligence in the Miffionary of talents, and who will queftion that his ability is an immenfe weight in the scale of usefulness? And it should be obferved, that in our idea of minifterial abilities, the qualities of the heart, or the graces of the Spirit, are those talents we efteem of the firft price. Thefe we hope to find in a greater degree among Minifters than among private Chriftians, and most eminently in thofe who have been bleffed with the largeft fhare of minifterial fuccefs. Some fuch characters appear abfolutely neceffary to a rapid and extenfive fpread of the Gofpel, if not to the very exiftence of miffions; and it should be confidered, that as we have taken up the business on a larger fcale, fo we have formed more fanguine hopes than have been indulged by our predeceffors..

A deficiency of able Minifters cannot be fupplied in diftant miffions; whereas their continuance in England is of no fuch neceffity to the welfare of religion, nor even to the profperity of their own flocks. Their places here may be fupplied by Minifters, who, in a 'little time, will be nearly, if not quite as acceptable as they have been. If their congregations have to complain that the word is not so impreffively, and judiciously preached, neverthelefs, they will still enjoy a preached Gofpel, the written word, a variety of religious books, and the example and inftruction of their fellow Chriftians. Not one man of their people will perish for lack of knowledge. If more Minifters are required, our churches are not wanting in young men of promifing hopes. We have time and means to give these jewels a proper polith. Should we even have been deceived in fejecting them, and fometimes have mistaken a common ftone

for

for a diamond, we may afterwards lay them afide without detriment to the church; but if we are driven to this clafs of men for our Miffionaries, errors of judgment are not fo eafily corrected, and we can neither forefee, nor prevent, the melancholy confequences of fuch miftakes.

It is faid, that an unavoidable fufpenfion will be put to the labours of thefe good men, until they have acquired the language of the country they vifit; and, in fome cafes, a final period put to their mortal work. To this we reply, that a fufpenfion, or a period, may indeed be put to their labours, but not to their usefulness. The church has not been lefs ferved by the deaths of her martyrs, than by the labours of her Minifters. A Miffionary is a martyr-the nobleft of martyrs; for he courts that martyrdom which others have only fuffered; and we doubt not that the moral effect of one fuch example, both on the church and the world, will be greater than that of five hundred fermons. Befides the prayers of a righteous man avail much, and fuch an engagement muft operate to the advantage of his own foul, and produce fervent prayer for faints and finners. Should a final period be put to his labours, how could he glorify God more, than to die in an attempt to evangelize the heathen? Our term on earth is in the will of God; and in pursuing the great object of his praise, we must wholly refign ourfelves to his pleasure.

Many perfons, who would be peculiarly defirable for this work, are married to partners altogether incapable of fuch engagements; or are in fituations of fuch eminent importance in this country, that their removal cannot be justified. Thefe objections we leave to ftand in full force; and if thofe Minifters, who have no fuch invincible obftacles in their way, were but affected by the subject as we wish them to be, we fhould have no reafon to lament the want of able champions. While we are bold to exhort Minifters to their duty, we will not, by the grace of God, be wanting in our Own. We will exert all our influence in public and private, individually, and as a collective body, to induce the Minifters of Chrift to lead our miffions; and as it has been fuggefted, that fome of the fitteft inftruments have been withheld from offering their fervices, under the apprehenfion of their infufficiency for the work, we have come to the refolution of befeeching fuch perfons (wherever they are to be found) for Chrift's fake to come and help us. we affume no authority to nominate to the work fuch Minifters as we judge fitteft for it, we can adopt no ftronger VOL. V. measures

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`measures than affectionately to intimate to them our fentiments and wishes refpecting their call to the work; candidly leaving with themselves that indefeasible right of private judgment, which belongs to every one who muft give an account to God. In doing this, we truft that we shall not exceed the apoftolic admonition of "provoking one another to love and good works." We farther add, that such an application from the Miffionary Society cannot but be confidered as an honourable attestation to character, as well as collateral evidence of a divine call, where no fufficient objection can be urged against it.

The mode we propofe to adopt is the following: We invite every Minister united with us in this good work, either perfonally or by letter, to recommend to the Directors any Brother whom he may judge qualified for a miffion; furnishing, at the fame time, all poffible information respecting him. This recommendation will immediately be confidered, and after fuch inquiries as the cafe demands, if the Brother fo recommended be judged a defirable acquisition, and nothing appears to prohibit fuch an engagement, the Directors will lay their fentiments before him with all poffible affection, respect, and candour. The only objections which have as yet been stated to this procedure are, that it is calculated to fpread a general alarm among our congregations, from a fear of lofing their Paftors, as well as to put a cenfure on thofe Minifters, who fhall feel it their duty to decline the invitation of the Society. Such an alarm among our congregations we should be forry to fee, for we could regard it in no other light than as a ftratagem of Satan to weaken our hands. It is folly to fuppofe we mean ageneral emigration of Minifters, and ftill lefs of thofe moft diftinguished in the church. It can fall on few congregations to be deprived of their beloved Pastors, and with thofe we fhall tenderly' fympathize; but if private interests and private affections are all to be confulted, there is an end of public good. None of our Minifters preach or baptize in their own names, and our flocks are better taught than to fuppofe their falvation attached to men. We flatter ourfelves that the generous principles of the Gospel will teach them to rejoice in this grand opening for converting poor heathens; thankfully to give up a Minifter for the glory of their common Lord, and to think themselves honoured by a call to make fo great a facrifice to this glorious caufe.

Nor

Nor do we conceive it can be matter of cenfure on those Ministers who decline our proposals. We fhall apply to none but men of unequivocal piety, and who will dare to impute their declining the call to a want of love to Christ, of which they are giving daily proof?

Far be it from us to pass judgment on the fecrets of the heart! No. We are perfuaded that in moft cafes our Brethren will give reafons for their conduct perfectly fatisfactory; and if some cafes occur wherein the reasons alledged appear to us infufficient, we feel the impropriety of acting as judges, where we are concerned as parties. We have no cenfures to pass. The whole matter is mere difference of opinion, and need produce no uneafinefs. And we truft none of our Brethren will indulge a jealous tenacity of perfonal reputation where our common concern is the honour of our Redeemer. All that is intended by our application is, to encourage the diffident, to fupport the humble, and to inflame the fire of miffionary zeal by cafting upon it the oil of brotherly kindness.

While we thus addrefs our Brethren in the Ministry, our thoughts are turned on the most effectual means of procuring fellow labourers for them in this vineyard. We recognize, with pleasure, the zeal of the laity, nor would we have any thing we have faid conftrued into contempt for their labours, nor as a difcouragement of their voluntary fervices. We are perfuaded there is a great and important part, though not the very firft, for them to fuftain in this work; and we ftill exhort them to ftand forward in the cause of Chrift; not doubting that He who gives them fuch faith and love, as private Chriftians, is able to add unto them fuch minifterial gifts and graces, as will make them' workmen who need not be ashamed.

From the academies for educating our youth for the miniftry we look for large fupplies of Miffionaries. To ingenious young men, who have conceived the hope of one day preaching the Gofpel to the heathen, we would hint the propriety of carefully avoiding fuch attachments as might divert them from this generous purfuit. Wives and children are tender names, and, in the general courte of things, the pledges of public virtue, as well as the comforts of private life; but we perfuade ourselves they will be often found the greatest impediments to miffionary engagements.

And now ye Men of God, ye that are the glory of the churches, and watchmen of fouls, our eyes are fixed upon 3 E 2

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you. The caufe of Chrift is committed to your hands; and we folemnly conjure you, by the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift, to receive our exhortation in love, and greatly to maintain the rank to which the Lord hath called you. Be jealous for your Master's character and for your own. Do not fink yourfelves in the eyes of the Lord's people, nor afford a triumph to the rooted prejudices of infidelity. God, and God alone is the judge of the piety and zeal of individuals; but were it poffible, that Minifters fhould generally perfift in declining this warfare, everlasting shame muft reft on the collective body. There is no alternative. We have already published to the world our decided belief, that we are bound to preach to the heathen; if, among the hundreds of Minifters who have joined in this declaration, we cannot find a fufficient number of Miffionaries, we have folemnly figned, fealed, and publifhed, our own difgrace. The grave will cenfure, the gay will laugh, and the humble children of God will weep over us. But it cannot be that you fhould give room for this pungent forrow, or this infolent triumph. Before fuch a day of fhame fhall come upon our churches, greyheaded Apoftles will rife in the vigour of youth, and lead us in the good old way of the crofs. Our married men will devote their wives and children, and teach the fingle how to endure hardship as good foldiers. Some among ourfelves, who have families and other important hindrances, have already manifefted their readiness to go forth as Miflionaries, fhould it be neceffary, and fhould they be called upon by the Society for that purpose. Others of our body have devoted themfelves and their families to the work, and are labouring to gain admiffion where their talents may be employed to moft advantage in their Lord's fervice. Arife then, ye, who, with far lefs impediments, have hitherto fuffered a hurtful diffidence to keep you back from scenes of glory which others long to fee, but cannot. What aged fervant of Chrift among us, what husband, what father, what perfon of conftitutional infirmity or local importance, will not rush into the battle, (if you all tarry by the spoil), rather than fee the favourite work of Jefus and his Apofties deferted by all, and the character of a Gospel Ministry in this age blotted with general and indelible difgrace. But we dare prefs the subject no farther, nor will we pain your feelings or our own by prognofticating fhame and reproach which never can exift. Grace, mercy, and heavenly benediction be with your spirits brethren.

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