zeal and uncommon success in the study of sacred criticism. But no man came more like a little child, and poured forth the emotions of a bursting heart to his congregations, than he. While residing at Salem, he filled the office of secretary of the Salem Bible Translation and Foreign Mission Society. Yet he gloried not over his brethren. His zeal was kindled on the altar of heaven; his love was like the love of the incarnate Saviour; his joy was to lead men to Christ; and his hope, a crown of righteousness and a mansion of rest, when the toils of this world should be finished. His life was "Christ living in him."

If we were to attempt to describe his sermons, we should say they exhibit rather a regard to his hearers, than to himself. They contain no unusual words, which might puzzle the illiterate. There are no flowers of rhetoric and brilliant imagery, designed to elicit praise and draw attention. There are no fine-spun arguments, and deep minings after curious thoughts. But there is evident, in every page, an earnest desire to benefit souls. Plainly and clearly he sets before men the truth; and then pleads with them to obey it. He shows that he is absorbed in the work, and that he forgets the world, applause, his own existence even, in the intensity of his desire to persuade men. If his pencil were not dipped in the rainbow, yet his hand was guided by the Holy Spirit. If his wish was not to secure earthly applause, he has won the affections of his people, and gained many a gem for his immortal crown. What remains for those who survive, but to imitate his loveliness, and thus fit themselves to share his reward."

S. F. S.

RELIGIOUS FEELING AND RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE.

There is a necessity for intellectual religious culture, in reference to the present system of benevolent effort. Our reasons for believing that this system cannot be long sustained, without a thorough knowledge, and a deep conviction of the truth, in the minds of Christians, are founded on the established principles of human nature. Nothing is more certain than that excited feelings alone are inadequate to the prosecution of any great or extended plan of operations, requiring patient and self-denying effort, amidst the vicissitudes of hope and disappointment. An enterprise may be pushed forward rapidly for a time by excitement; but without the vigorous, unyielding determination which proceeds from principle and knowledge, it will at length, drag heavily, or be entirely suspended. We cannot at all depend on so variable and circumstantial a cause, as a movement of popular feeling, for any prolonged exertions, nor, consequently, for any grand results, in relation to measures that look far into futurity. The impetus in favor of any great and good undertaking, requires to be supplied from comprehensive views, and a thorough conviction of duty. If it fails of such a supply, the undertaking itself loses its hold eventually on the affections. The latter, in their strongest and purest exercise, are furnished by knowledge and by a sense of obligation. Feeling which is derived from other sources, which is a mere constitutional quality, and aroused by an appeal to present and selfish interests, is a fitful and transient thing, though it may accomplish somewhat while it lasts. Who can rationally expect from Christians a favorable conclusion of these labors, without an invincible sense of duty on their part;such as a sound knowledge of the scriptures and a ripeness of spiritual understanding can alone inspire, a sense of duty kept perpetually alive by the steady contemplation of divine truth, under the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit.

Feeling we want; but it must be based on a religion of an intellectual and disciplined nature. It must be a pure, enlightened, steady, earnest, and quenchless spirit. What enterprizes of great moment and durable character, have ever been achieved without such a spirit! Had not the apostles and primitive

Christians been deeply imbued with heavenly knowledge, with an experimental acquaintance with Christianity in its simplest elements, would they have entered upon toils the most thankless and severe, and persevered in spreading the gospel among mankind, at the hazard of every object dearest to them in this world? What gave efficiency to the labors of the Reformers, and sustained those noble men in their privations and sufferings, but a conviction that they had God and the truth on their side,-a conviction which patient thought, and humble, yet independent investigation of the sacred oracles, were the means of producing. It was equally an attachment to truth-truth which they had drawn from the purest and deepest fountains, that animated our Puritan fathers to plant the gospel on this soil, in the hope of enjoying it quietly themselves, and of perpetuating it through every coming generation. The missionary zeal now so happily prevalent, is only a revival of this spirit-of the impulse which commenced at the reformation. It is, in part, a fulfilment of the promise given in the principles which were then established a promise whose accomplishment has been so long delayed by a variety of causes, that the nations should all enjoy the blessed light from heaven, in Heaven's own unadulterated record.

Spectator.

LETTER ON THE SPIRIT OF THE MISSIONARY ENTERPRIZE. [In the year 1831, a small work was published in Boston, from the English edition, entitled "Letters on Missions, by William Swan, Missionary in Siberia." These letters were sent to the Directors of the London Missionary Society, in manuscript, and printed under their superintendence. We would not have such a work fall from the press unnoticed. We would not, that an appeal from a missionary, so distinguished by calm reasoning, holy zeal and deep devotedness, should be suffered to go into forgetfulness, without working its proper effect.—Mr. Swan has been, for fourteen years, a missionary in Siberia, at Silinginsk, on the borders of China. Himself and two associates have translated the entire Bible into the Mongolian language, and the New Testament is printed. Thus is the Chinese Empire invaded by Christianity from the north, and by Dr. Morrison and his associates from the south. The reigning family of China is of the Mongolian or Tartar race; and the establishment of Christianity among the Mongolians of Russia affords the reasonable prospect of its extension to all of the same people, the greater part of whom are inhabitants of China. The following letter, like the whole book, deserves a careful perusal. When such appeals are made to us from the centre of heathenism, by men who have devoted their lives to God, let us be excited not only to read, but to act.]

HAVING given you my thoughts upon a variety of subjects connected with the missionary work, it may not be improper to say something on the spirit in which the whole ought to be conducted. It ought not to be a self-sufficient, worldly-wise, or enthusiastically daring spirit—but a spirit of humble, yet resolute faith-meek devotion-enlightened zeal, animated and directed by love to God and man.

This may seem so obvious as not to require distinct notice; but it may not be wholly unnecessary to state it. To pass it in silence, when so many other topics may have been insisted on, might be construed into inattention to a point of the most essential importance.

The whole undertaking is unspeakably solemn. It is a matter of life and death. It involves the salvation or destruction of all who are engaged in it, whether as preachers or hearers-dispensers or receivers of the word of God. They that preach must deliver their own souls; and the sincere, faithful laborer will: but the careless unsanctified instrument, after having preached the pel to others, shall himself be cast away. The hearer of the word, who mixes faith with the hearing, who believes with the heart unto righteousness, and

gos

makes confession with the mouth, shall obtain salvation. As to him, the preacher is the savor of life unto life; whereas, the wicked who turns not from his evil way shall perish, but his blood shall be upon his own head.

But this responsibility, and the consequent guilt of unfaithfulness in doing the work of the Lord, ought to be viewed as attaching not merely to the immediate laborers in the field; but also, in a degree, to all at home, who are required to set their hands to the cause, and may be assisting in it, even in the humblest degree. The sin of doing the work of the Lord deceitfully is not peculiar to the laborers in one department only. Lukewarmness may be the sin of the weekly or annual contributor, as well as of the missionary. I do not say that the guilt is equal; but the least degree of it will be found heavy enough one day. It were awful in a missionary to be pampering himself, and living at his ease, and neglecting the souls of men perishing around him-his fellow men, whose extreme wretchedness was making the most touching appeals to his humanity, to say nothing of his Christian benevolence and imperious obligations! But does it argue no guilt to live at ease in Great Britain [America,] and not concern one's self about who is perishing, who is calling for help, who is tossed with the tempests of an alarmed conscience and not comforted? It were an instance of depravity almost as great as could be found in the heathen world itself, if a man sent on purpose to distribute the bread of life to the perishing, should go to them, but neglect to fulfil his commission!-Keep his stores locked up, and suffer them to perish for want before his eyes! But is there no depravity in the case of those who know that there are millions upon millions thus perishing, and scarcely move a finger to help them?-who never once denied themselves one sensual indulgence-never made one sacrifice-never put forth one hearty, self-denied exertion to communicate of their abundance? When men unite in a commercial enterprize, or for the purpose of prosecuting discoveries in natural history, or any other favorite branch of human knowledge, there is seldom room to complain of want of devotement to the object. The common interest all the parties feel in it, is a sufficient guarantee for each member of the society acting his part. They imbibe the same sentiments and feelings they breathe one spirit, and their success, in general, corresponds to their willing, unwearied exertions. This is as it should be-we neither decry such pursuits, nor envy the reward of such exertions; but we may learn a lesson from the spirit of devotedness to their object, which the men of this world, we may say, uniformly display.

But oh, how little (I had almost said how childish) are the most dignified and praiseworthy exertions of human intellect and human passions for the attainment of some earthly, transitory good, when brought into comparison with the godlike, beneficent design of changing the face of the moral world, by the extirpation of ignorance and idolatry, root and branch, and filling the earth with the knowledge of the Lord! If the generous philanthropy of this design should fire every breast with zeal in the prosecution of it, the unspeakable misery of the objects of our compassion, the danger of failure from mistake or inactivity, or from engaging in it in an improper spirit, should give double emphasis to the obligation we are under to seek grace from God to be faithful and diligent in obeying his own command.

If these things be so, what manner of persons ought we to be in serious devotedness to this cause! When a plague is raging in a country, there is little thought of diversion; there is no heart for merriment; and, in devising and employing means that the plague be stayed, there is deep solemnity in every countenance. The image of death everywhere presents itself. Hearts are lifted up in secret to the almighty Disposer of life and death. There are earnest cries for the display of his mercy, for direction as to the use of means, and strength and courage to fulfil the melancholy but necessary duty of those, who go between the living and the dead. Such a calamity as the plague, makes people forget their little differences and private interests. And they who are mercifully delivered from it, will feel it to be the most proper expression oftheir gratitude to God, to do all they can, and that immediately, to help the un

happy persons, who are still exposed to the pestilence. An hour's delay would be felt to be criminal—the total neglect of the sufferers, while a remedy was at hand, the most preposterous and inhuman cruelty.

Such, I conceive, is somewhat like the spirit of solemnity, diligence, dependence upon God, gratitude for his mercy, and humility before him, which should characterize all who are concerned in the great work, to which these Letters refer. While it is not shaded with the gloom and despondency that hang over the scene of a pestilence, concerning which we have no intimation whether it may be stayed, or whether all means will be alike ineffectual, we have but the greater reason to labor in hope. We have the gracious assurance, that " our labor shall not be in vain in the Lord," if we set ourselves in good earnest to the work of saving souls. Right impressions of the duty will lead to deep seriousness in the performance of it. A work, to which the proper introduction is "fasting and prayer," ought to be prosecuted in a corresponding spirit of selfdenial and devotion.

The consideration of the partial success of missions in general, and an intense feeling of the need of divine influence, have of late years excited many to the duty of more frequent, special, earnest prayer for the Spirit of light and life to be poured out on all flesh. The church," the garden walled around," needs these influences-and they are needed on the barren wastes of heathenism. That many have thus been stirred up to pray, is a good sign, so far as it goes. But I have always thought that, unaccompanied with other signs of improvement, there is room to question how far such impressions of the need of divine aid practically affect those who profess to be under them. With regard to such a blessing, if we really ask it, we have it; and if we have it, we have also its necessary concomitants. What I mean is, that if there be so deep and universal a feeling of the importance of obtaining a more abundant measure of that Spirit of God, the residue of which is with him, the blessing is already in a good degree obtained. But, as these influences are not to supersede, but to animate, our labors, the enjoyment of them implies more zealous exertion-more unreserved consecration-more simplicity of aim-more heavenliness of temper in all we say and do. Hence, to prove that this spirit of supplication, which has been in some degree manifested, has come from God, and is not mere animal excitement, produced by the call addressed to us to engage in it, seconded by our own conviction of the propriety of the exercise, there must be a corresponding spirit of zeal and activity in working. If w pray, and only pray, IDLY expecting an answer, and attempting nothing till we think we have received it, there is something wrong. The prayer that is sincere is followed by the immediate effort of faith, to realize the blessing prayed for. If prayer be not so followed up, the meaning of it "being interpreted," it is just that God, by exerting his own divine power, in converting the heathen nations, would spare us the trouble of making any farther exertion-or, at least, so remove difficulties and dangers, that the performance of the duty would be to us, all that was gratifying and soothing; and be in all respects more the joy of harvest, than the weeping labor of them that till and sow.

we

I do not by any means say, that the influences of the Spirit can be dispensed with, or that prayer for them is out of place, in the present state of our progress in the work of evangelizing the heathen nations. This is impossible. Indeed, I think there is no hope of much good being done, either at home or abroad, till we see more of that heavenly influence pervading all ranks of contributors to this work, and all laborers in every department of it. But I say, that we must not rest in merely praying for this blessing. Praying must be followed with doing, and labor must be sanctified by prayer. Let us "believe we have the petitions we desire of him," and act accordingly. Till we do so, we ask amiss, if not as to the subject of our prayers, at least as to the spirit of them.

True Christians have a most exalted idea of the glory of their unseen Saviour. But as his glory, while he was upon earth, was obscured by the veil of humanity he chose to wear, so his glory is still in a great degree holden from the world, because the number of his professed followers is comparatively small,

and the light of many of them is hid under a bushel. They form but a small portion of the inhabitants of the world, and multitudes of the number of those that call him Lord, bring no glory to his name; for their character disgraces the religion they profess. We believe indeed that the heathen are given to our Saviour "for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession;" but we see not yet "all things put under him." I sometimes endeavor to realize the feelings of a Christian of a future and happier age of the church, when the far greater part of the world shall have been subdued to Christ, and be full of "people, made willing in the day of His power." How will the heart of every Christian of that happier age expand, when he looks around to the east and west, and south and north, and contemplates the crowding millions of every clime and of every language, ranked among the humble and joyful followers of Jesus!-their idols thrown away-their cruel rites abolished their wars all over-their cup of prosperity as full as it can be on earth, and CHRIST, the theme of every tongue, and the supreme object of love and devotion of every heart.

NORTHERN BAPTIST EDUCATION SOCIETY.

The regular quarterly meeting of the Northern Baptist Education Society was held at the Society's room, on the 11th ult. Ten young gentlemen were received at this meeting, upon the funds of the Society. Application for patronage was also made on behalf of four others, who were not received in consequence of informality in their testimonials. The amount appropriated at this meeting was $1627,06-the largest quarterly appropriation that the Board ever made. The returns from the young men under patronage were, in general, highly satisfactory.

Since the last annual meeting, six young men under the patronage of the society, have completed their education, and have entered various fields of usefulness. During the same period, three have been dismissed, under a prospect of supporting themselves by their own industry; and one, in consequence of ill health. Two young men in Brown University, at the request of the Rhode Island Branch, have been dismissed to the patronage of the Young Men's Education Society in Providence. And eight have been discontinued, for want of suitable promise.

The number discontinued is vastly larger than we could wish it were. But the Board, in this matter, have acted under a solemn conviction of duty. They deem it not enough, that a young man possess an unexceptionable moral character; or even that he gives evidence of piety; he must also, they think, in order to entitle him to patronage, promise a considerable degree of usefulness as a minister of the gospel. Should the question here occur to any,-why then, were such men received ?—we reply, that the Board oftentimes have very scanty means of knowing a young man's degree of promise, as a minister of the gospel when he first makes his appearance before them, or when he comes recommended from a distant examining committee. They require, in all cases, that a young man shall bring with him a testimonial from the church of which he is a member, expressing their conviction that he has promising talents for the ministry, and that it is his duty to devote his life to that sacred calling. Upon such a recommendation, the Board rely in the reception of an individual under patronage, more than upon any thing else; although they always feel at liberty to dissent from the opinion of a church, when, on the examination of a candidate, they see good reasons for so doing.

In instances, where young men have been unaccustomed to study, and are unacquainted with the world, though, in the warmth of a young christian, they may possess the glimmerings of a hope that they may one day preach the