coming to its bone, and the sinews and the flesh coming up upon them, and the skin covering them; but still there will be no breath in them. The Church of Christ must pray for the life-giving Spirit; must "say to the wind, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." (Ezek. xxxvii.) Then by the divine blessing, we shall see multitudes of those who are now dead in sins, stand up as a great army of true believers.

O then, my Christian brethren, of whatever name or wherever resident, cultivate this sprit of prayer; set apart such a time as will be most eligible for secret prayer and meditation, and for your family devotion; and persuade your Christian friends to do the same. Recollect that there is a point which unites the hearts of all Christians. However distant their climate, however different their rank, however varied their age, their sex, their circumstances; there is one point where the rich, the poor, the young, the aged, the African, the Hindoo, the barbarian, Scythian, bond and free, all meet-All look unto Jesus.-He is the centre which unites them all. Their eyes are fixed upon Him sitting on the mercy-seat. Let then this petition from the hearts of all meet there. Lord, fill the earth with thy glory. Pour thy Spirit upon all flesh. Convert the Jews. Convert the Gentiles. Destroy the power of Satan, and reign thyself for ever and ever. The united prayers even of millions of sinners are not worthy the acceptance of the Lord Jehovah, and therefore can merit nothing. But we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He will present our poor petitions with the incense of his own merits, and they shall bring down an answer of peace. Let us then offer this prayer in faith, and let it be frequently renewed. Let us leave the time, the order, the circumstances of its fulfilment to the Lord. He may try our patience, but he will never disappoint our hope. "He never said to

the sons of Jacob, Seek ye my face in vain." O, then, pray in faith, and let your prayer be accompanied with deep humiliation. Whatever other cause has occasioned the Lord hitherto to withhold a larger supply of His heavenly grace, each Christian must feel this to be one cause his own sin. This has helped to separate between God and his people. Let the Church of Christ, then, now take its proper posture that of an humble penitent. (Isaiah, lxiv. 6.) Each Christian, each family, each communion, humbly confessing their sins to the Lord. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit--a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." And that your future progress may correspond with this beginning, let me recommend to all the followers of Christ, to search the Scriptures daily; to seek a conversation becoming the Gospel; to be particularly cautious against grieving the Holy Spirit, and to cultivate brotherly love to all Christians, and good will to all mankind. For many an age the world has been trying what pride, and vanity, and strife, and selfishness could effect; and, after all their experiments, they find "there is no peace to the wicked." Let the Church of Christ take another course. Let it be seen what love, and peace, and harmony, and good will can produce. The religion of our blessed Lord has

never yet shone with its proper lustre. When it first appeared, it had to defend itself against all the prejudices of the Jews, and against all the ignorance and idolatry of the Gentiles; and since its truth has been established, the divisions of Christians have weakened its force and marred its beauty.

Let it now be seen in its true character-uniting the hearts of all its followers. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John, xiii. 35.)

OBJECTIONS TO FOREIGN MISSIONS ANSWERED.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

SIR-Interesting occurrences, affording opportunities for religious instruction, are often fortuitous, and their impressions on the mind are usually deep and lasting, in proportion as they are novel and unexpected. Sensible that the subject of the following narration cannot appear with equal advantage from the press, as it did from the desk, yet, should it be half as interesting to your readers as it was to the writer, it may well claim a page in the Christian Herald.

Journeying through Connecticut, on my return from a western tour, while passing a neat country village, and when coming in sight of the Meeting-house, Lobserved the appearance of a considerable number of people; and upon inquiry, was informed that that they were attending divine service, and a Mr. an elderly clergyman from a neighbouring town, was delivering them a Missionary Sermon. Though a stranger both to the place and people, the interest which I felt in this great common cause of Christianity, induced me to alight, and hastily make my way into the house as one of the assembly. I took the first seat that presented, without disturbing the congregation, for their minds were happily too much preoccupied even to notice the entering of a stranger. I was unfortunately too late to hear any but the closing part of the sermon; yet the application was too pointed and pungent, to leave any doubt respecting the method of arrangement and discussion in the doctrinal branch. Every appearance was in a high degree imposing. At my first entering, my mind was struck with a peculiar awe: the stillness, solemnity, and fixed attention of a numerous congregation-the subject of the preacher-his manner, original, feeling and animated-who, though apparently about sixty, displayed all the fire and sprightliness of youth, and was so evidently inspired by the subject, that his whole soul appeared depicted in his countenance, words and gestures;-in fine, every appearance throughout combined to excite and deepen the impression," how awful is this place this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven." The text, I soon perceived, was the words of Paul to the Philippians; "Let the same mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus." His object was, from the unparalleled benevolence of the great Redeemer, as the most alluring and powerful example for human imitation, to enforce the obligation of Christians to follow their divine Master and especially to inspire a spirit of zeal and liberality

in the support and extension of the missionary cause.

I involuntari

ly drew my memoranda-book from my pocket, and with my pencil, in shorthand, literally traced every word of the speaker, as they fell from his lips. The following is a correct copy of the discourse, from the place where I commenced my notes. Yours,

A TRAVELLER.

It may be asked, perhaps, (observed the preacher) why are we to waste our strength and treasure upon the heathen? Is there not scope and occasion for the labours of all at home? I answer, it is well for us that the Apostles did not argue in this manner; for if they had not turned to the Gentiles till there remained no unconverted Jews for them to instruct, the very name of Christ would probably long since have been forgotten among men. This objection may be classed with that of Judas respecting the box of ointment, "why was this waste made," &c. and will admit of the same definition, and requires no different answer-" not that he cared for the poor," &c.

"The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." The Providence of God has abundantly confirmed this animating promise of his word. Facts are stubborn things, and often disprove the most confident theories. The results of actual experiment, visible to every eye, and gratefully acknowledged by every pious heart, are enough, surely, to put down and eternally silence every cavil of this kind. This objection, once such current coin with nominal professors and cold hearted Christians, is fully proved to be counterfeit, base metal. And it is now more than twenty years too late for it ever again to be offered. Time was, and that within the memory of most of us, when Christians at large contentedly slumbered over a world in ruins-no feelings of compassion or desire for the salvation of the poor heathen were manifested; and no measures were taken, or even projected, or thought of, for sending them the Gospel. And what was the state of religion then in our own land? Was there then more given, and greater exertions then made to extend religious instruction to the destitute-to build up the waste places of Zion, in our own country, and to send the Gospel to our aboriginal natives, than since the period of Foreign Missions? We know that it was directly the reverse. The churches, indeed, had a nominal existence, but were in a cold and lifeless state-the Gospel was preached, but without power, and without effect. Some few concealed, isolated instances of conversion, might take place, so that the churches were kept from utter extinction; but the influences of the Spirit were generally withheld; and a revival of religion was an event almost as rare as an earthquake, and the surprise and novelty as great to the public mind. The principal exertions respecting the aborigines then was, not how to possess them of the Gospel, but how to dispossess them of their lands, and cheat them of their furs. The general state of our country, in a religious view, presented a widespread field of moral desolation; while intemperance, profaneness, and every immorality stalked with shameless front, and the trumpet of infidelity sounded from Dan to Beersheba.

Now, my brethren, is it not an incontrovertible fact, which it would be criminal to deny, or even to doubt, that religion has flourished in our own country, and the gospel been succeeded and bless ed and attended, since the era of missions, beyond any former period, and that too, in exact proportion to our zeal, and liberality, and exertions in the missionary cause? Revivals of religion have been, and still are experienced, for their number, power, frequency, extent and duration, far beyond the example of any former period. Showers of grace are descending all around us, and the cloud of blessings is widening, and spreading to every part of our land. Christ, the Captain of our salvation, as a glorious conqueror, is travelling in the greatness of his strength, displaying his mighty power in subduing the hearts of sinners, and bringing multitudes of new subjects into his kingdom. The fields of Zion are becoming verdant-converts to righteousness springing up like "willows by the water courses"— thousands of new and admiring guests are approaching the table of the Lord, and with their eyes fixed on Calvary, joyfully celebrating their Saviour's dying love. Then let all such excuses of pride and sloth, and covetousness, and unbelief, be put to shame and silence, and let all exert themselves in the cause of our gracious Redeemer, with fervent prayer to the great "Lord of the harvest, that he would thrust forth labourers into his harvest."

Think of the boundless compassion of our Saviour, the blessed pattern for our imitation, and "let the same mind be in us which was also in him." When he beheld our misery he flew from heaven on the wings of love, and to rescue us from destruction, counted nothing too valuable to forego-nothing too painful to suffer-nothing too arduous to achieve--nothing too costly to give. Ah! truly, and how did Christ give? Not as we give, slowly, reluctantly and sparingly, and perhaps willingly losing the opportunity when presented; but Christ gave cheerfully; he did not wait to see what others would give, but stood forth foremost and pre-eminent in charity; he gave voluntarily and freely; he did not wait for solicitation-alas! if he had, we should never have known the fulness of his grace, but have perished in spiritual famine. Christ gave from disinterested goodness, and motives of the purest benevolence; and he gave unsparingly-not as selfish men give-perhaps only a thousandth part of their yearly income, leaving the heap both untouched and increased; but he gave ALL the whole of his immense wealth for the salvation of sinners. He emptied his coffers for us--he opened the infinite treasury of heaven, and poured it down in immeasurable profusion upon a perishing world. Though he was rich, even the Lord of all, yet for our sakes he became poor-yea poorer than the birds and the foxes-that we, through his poverty, might be made rich. O the matchless grace-the stupendous bounty--the unrivalled munificence of the blessed Jesus!-let heaven wonder, and the earth adore!

Think how vital to our holy religion, are deeds of benevolent charity, and how graciously Christ will accept of them at the great rewarding day! If he will accept temporal favours bestowed on his people as conferred on himself, will he not much more acknowledge

the spiritual blessings which we confer? I was in darkness, and you enlightened me-I was far from God, and you brought me near-I was perishing, and you saved me. I was an ignorant savage Indian in the western wilderness of America-you sent me missionaries, and school teachers, and Bibles, to instruct and civilize me, and bring me the knowledge of the gospel salvation. I was a poor depraved Hottentot, sunk in ignorance, filth and wretchedness-you sent me the Gospel, and raised me to the dignity of a man, and the happiness of a Christian. I was a poor orphan child in Bombay; my father was dead, and my mother had burnt upon the funeral pile--a wretched outcast from the world, I wandered in the streets, and reposed in the ditches-naked, needy and forlorn; without a friend; without a God, and without hope--when you had compassion upon me, and took me in; you fed and clothed me by your bounty; nourished and sustained, educated and brought me up; taught me the knowledge of the true God; led me to embrace by faith the only Saviour, and finally to rejoice in his presence for ever. O what a thought is this! how impressive! how animating! how transporting! O the luxury of doing good! Shall we not feel insatiable to give? Is there one present who would not seek such an honour as this? Be liberal then now, while you may,

"For time is swiftly flying;

The man that hoards his wealth to-day,
To-morrow may be dying!"

For the Christian Herald.

THE FIRE ALARM.

Introduction.

Is great cities an alarm of fire is no uncommon occurrence; and it generally, and especially in the night, spreads great consternation among their inhabitants. Having recently witnessed a number of these frightful scenes, a series of reflections occupied my mind, which I now send you, in hopes (should you publish them) it may please God to sanctify them to the salvation of some who are now secure in sin, although actually in more danger, as it regards their eternal interest, than their temporal can possibly be in a fire alarm.

PART I.-The Alarm.

The first train of thoughts was on the alarm itself. It is generally announced by the cries of "Fire! Fire!" accompanied by shouts and shrieks of various kinds; the bells ring, and people run in every direction, and all seem intent on doing something to prevent the threatened evil. Think, reader, Almighty God has ordered the alarm of fire to be given to this great world; and it is the alarm of hell fire too! Thus he announces, "A fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." (Deut. xxxii. 22.) "The wicked shall be turned into hell, aud all the nations that forget God." (Ps. ix. 17.) Lewdness, and all sensual