calls forth every latent affection of my heart for you. We are, my We are, my dear brother, not only united in the common object of pursuit,salvation; not only rest our hopes on the same foundation,Jesus Christ; but we feel alike respecting the poor Heathens. Oh how Christianity expands the mind! What tenderness for our poor fellow sinners! What sympathy for their moral misery! What desires to do them everlasting good doth it provoke! How satisfying to our judgments is this evidence of grace! How gratifying to our present taste are these benevolent breathings! Oh how I love that man whose soul is deeply affected with the importance of the precious gospel to idolatrous heathens. Excellently, my dear brother, you observe, that, great as its blessings are in the estimation of a sinner called in a Christian country, inexpressibly greater must they shine on the newly illuminated mind of a converted pagan,

"We shall be glad of all your assistance in a pecuniary way, as the expence will be heavy.Dear brother Carey has paid us a visit of love this week. He preached excellently to night. I expect brother Thomas next week or the after. I wish you would meet him here.

a house at your command, and a heart gjy attached to you.

"I AM willing to go any where, and do. thing in my power; but I hope no plan wi Suffered to interfere with the affecting,hera

for, dreaded day, March 13, (the day of our brethren Carey and Thomas' solemn designation at Leicester.) Oh how the anticipation of it at once rejoices and afflicts me. Our hearts need steeling to part with our much-loved brethren, who are about to venture their all for the name of the Lord Jesus. I feel my soul melting within me when I read the twentieth chapter of the Acts, and especially verses 36-38. But why grieve? We shall see them again. Oh yes; them and the children whom the Lord will give them; we and the children whom the Lord hath given us. We shall meet again, not to weep and pray, but to smile and praise.

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FROM the day of the departure of the Missionaries, no one was more importunate in prayer than Mr. Pearce; and on the news of their safe arrival, no one was more filled with joy and thankfulness.

Hitherto we had witnessed his zeal in promoting this important undertaking at home; but this did not satisfy him. In October, 1794, we were given to understand that he had for some time had it in serious contemplation to go himself, and to cast in his lot with his brethren in India. When his designs were first discovered, his friends and connexions were much concerned about it, and endeavoured to persuade him that he was already in a sphere of usefulness too important to be relinquished. But his answer was, that they were too interested in the affair to be competent judges. And nothing would satisfy him short of making a formal offer of his services to the Committee: nor could he be happy for them to decide upon it, without their appointing a day of solemn prayer for the purpose, and, when assembled, hearing an account of the principal exercises of his mind upon

the subject, with the reasons which induced him to make the proposal, as well as the reasons alleged by his connexions against it.

On October 4, 1794, he wrote to an intimate friend, of whom he entertained a hope that he might accompany him, as follows:

"Last Wednesday I rode to Northampton, where a ministers' meeting was held on the following day. We talked much about the mission. We read some fresh and very encouraging accounts. We lamented that we could obtain no suitable persons to send out to the assistance of our brethren. Now what do you think was said at this meeting? My dear brother! do not be surprised that all present united in opinion, that in all our connexion there was no man known to us so suitable as you, provided you were disposed for it, and things could be brought to bear. I thought it right to mention this circumstance; and one thing more I cannot refrain from saying, that were it manifestly the will of God, I should call that the happiest hour of my life, which witnessed our both embarking with our families on board one ship, as helpers of the servants of Jesus Christ already in Hindostan. Yes; I could unreluctantly leave Europe and all its contents for the pleasures and perils of this glorious service. Often my heart in the sincerest ardours thus breathes forth its desires unto God,-" Here am I, send me." But I am ignorant whether you from experience can realize my feelings. Perhaps you have friendship enough for me to lay open your meditations on this subject in your next, If you have had half the exercises that I have, it will be a relief to your labouring mind: or if you think I have made too free with you, reprove me, and I will love you still. Oh if I could find a heart that had been tortured and ravished like my own in this respect, I should form a new kind of

alliance, and feel a friendship of a novel species. With eagerness should I communicate all the vicissitudes of my sensations, and with eagerness listen to a recital of kindred feelings. With impatience I should seek, and with gratitude receive direction and support, and, I hope, feel a new occasion of thankfulness, when I bow my knee to the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Whence is it that I thus write to you, as I have never written to any one before? Is there a fellowship of the Spirit; or is it a con fidence that I have in your friendship that thus directs my pen? Tell me, dear! Tell me how you have felt, and how you still feel on this interesting subject, and do not long delay the gratification to your very affectionate friend and brother,

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S. P."

About a month preceding the decision of this affair, he drew up a narrative of his experience respecting it; resolving at the same time to set apart one day in every week for secret fasting and player to God for direction; and to keep a diary of the exercises of his mind during the month.

When the Committee were met at Northampton according to his desire, he presented to theni the narrative; and which was as follows:

"October 8, 1794. Having had some peculiar exercises of mind relative to my personally attempting to labour forthe dear Redeemer amongst the heathen; and being at a loss to know what is the will of the Lord in this matter respecting me, I have thought that I might gain some satisfaction by adopting these two resolutions;-First, that'I will, as in the presence of God, faithfully endeavour to recollect the various workings of my mind on this subject, from the first period of my feeling any desire of this nature, until now, and

commit them to writing; together with what considerations do now, on the one hand, impel me to the work, and on the other, what prevents me from immediately resolving to enter upon it. Secondly, That I will from this day keep a regular journal, with special relation to this matter. "This account and journal will, I hope, furnish me with much assistance in forming a future opinion of the path of duty; as well as help any friends whom I may hereafter think proper to consult, to give me suitable advice in the busi ness. Lord, help me!

"It is very common for young converts to feel strong desires for the conversion of others. These desires immediately followed the evidences of my own religion: and I remember well they were particularly fixed upon the poor heathens. I believe the first week that I knew the grace of God in truth, I put up many fervent cries to heayen in their behalf; and at the same time felt a strong desire to be employed in promoting their salvation. It was not long after that the first settlers sailed for Botany Bay. I longed to go with them, although in company with the convicts, in hopes of making known the blessings of the great salvation in New Zealand. I actually had thought of making an effort to go out unknown to my friends; but ignorant how to proceed, I abandoned my purpose. Nevertheless I could not help talking about it; and at one time a report was circulated that I was really going, and a neighbouring minister very seriously conversed with me on the subject.

"While I was at the Bristol Academy, the desire remained; but not with that energy as at first except on one or two occasions. Being sent by my tutor to preach two sabbaths at Colford, I feit particular sweetness in devoting the evenings of the week to going from house to house among the colliers, who dwell in the Forest of Deane,