ingenuity has given birth to those inventions by which the elements and all the powers of nature are made to contribute to the service of man? I can answer these inquiries in no other way than by attributing these results to the impulse which Christianity has given to the intellectual powers of the population which has come under its influence. It wakes up thought; it furnishes themes of contemplation; it excites inquiry, and leads to investigation. +And, the intellect thus aroused, will not confine itself simply to religious subjects; nor will the influence be confined to those who have heartily and cordially embraced the religion of Christ, but the whole community will feel the impulse. There is nothing more striking in the contrast between Christian and heathen lands, than in this particular. The heathen are generally noted for their stupidity and dulness of intellect. But, when Christianity enters a heathen land, it wakes up intellect, and gives birth to learning and enterprize. But I cannot longer dwell on this part of the subject.

The conclusion to which I arrive, from the considerations which have been presented, is, that Christianity is perfectly and exactly adapted to the condition and moral necessities of man; and therefore, that it must be of divine origin. We have seen that man has invented other systems, and that they have all failed of meeting these ends. When, therefore, we have discovered one which does exactly meet them, it is a reasonable conclusion that it is not of man, but of God. It is plain, also, that to devise and develope such a system is entirely beyond the power of man. None could know how so perfectly to adapt a system of

religion to the nature, condition and wants of any being, but He who created him. Besides, there is a perfection in Christianity, which appertains not to the works of imperfect men. It is complete in its plan, and perfect in its details. Who but God could produce such a system

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PRACTICAL REMARKS.

1. I have doubtless had the testimony of those of my readers who profess to have experienced the saving power of Christianity, to the truth of what I have written. Yet, have you thought of the conclusions which must follow from these premises? If the foregoing reasonings and conclusions are correct, it must follow that Evangelical Protestant Christianity is the only religion which is adapted to the wants of mankind, and that it must prevail universally, or the world will never be raised from its present degraded condition. You believe, on the authority of God's word, that all mankind are to come under the influence of Christianity; and that this is to be accomplished by the blessing of God upon the instrumentalities employed by the church; and that this blessing is to be bestowed in answer to prayer. Now, let us look this matter in the face, and see what we have to do. Including heathen, Mohammedans, Jews and Catholics, all of whom must be converted or lost, we have six or eight hundred millions who are yet to be evangelized-taught the true principles of the gospel, and led to embrace them. And who is to do it? The number of nominal Pro

testants in the world, is only about sixty or seventy millions; and of these, perhaps not more than ten or fifteen millions can be reckoned as truly converted. This brings us to the appalling conclusion that not more than one in sixty, eighty, or a hundred of the human race have at the present time, any well grounded hope of being saved. If this work were entirely of man, we might despair of the world ever being converted. But God is able to do it. And, such is the diffusive spirit of Christianity, that every one that is converted, becomes an instrument of converting others; and thus, the more it extends, the more its power is increased, and that in an increasing ratio; so that a little calculation will show that a general and continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit would soon accomplish the work. But this can never be done in our day, unless there is a mighty waking up among the people of God, both as to the employment of means, and as to prayer for the descent of the Holy Spirit. And, if we live on as we now do, at least sixty persons must perish, to every one of us, and that during our lives and through our neglect. This we are forced to believe, in order to be consistent with our professions; but, if we felt its force, I am persuaded we should make a new consecration, not only of ourselves, but of our time, talents, and possessions to the Lord. What other object of pursuit in this world is worth naming in comparison with the conversion of the world to God? And yet, how few are there, who do not put it the very lowest in the scale of their pursuits? O that the Lord would pour out his Spirit upon us, and wake us up to

just views, and feelings, and action upon this momentous subject!

But this is not all.

Let us come nearer home.

The population of this country is about sixteen millions. But of these, not more than about two millions, or, at the farthest, not more than two and a half millions, even profess to have embraced the gospel that is made known and proclaimed to them continually. Six or eight persons to one in this highly favored country remain, according to the conclusions to which we are compelled to come, to be converted or lost. If we look around, can we find, on an average, more than one to six or eight, who even profess to have a hope of eternal life founded on the Lord Jesus Christ, with the renewing and sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit? Yet, there are large tracts of country, in our new settlements, where a sermon is not heard for many weeks, and there is scarcely spiritual salt enough to preserve the population from moral putrefaction. If the result of individual and associated effort and prayer in our churches, continues to be what it now is, when will the case be improved? And what will become of the six or eight yet unconverted, to the one that has hope? And what will become of the churches when their present members shall be called to their rest? And then, where will their children be? And what, in these circumstances, ought we to do? And what will my readers do? Will they take these questions to their closets, and, on their knees, ask the Lord to make known to them what they ought to do, and to give them strength to perform it? One solemn conviction is fastened upon my mind by this subject,

that, unless this land is blessed with revivals of religion more powerful, more extensive, and of longer continuance than any we have ever yet experienced, the great mass of the present generation, both in this land and the heathen world, must be lost. Nor do I see how to avoid a similar conclusion in regard to any particular place, where the church goes on, from year to year, without revivals,-that, unless the Spirit of God is poured out with greater power, and extent, and continuance, the same result must follow in regard to the greater part of those in the midst of whom we are living. And, I think the fact that the Spirit of God is not so poured out among us, ought to lead every one of us to inquire whether there may not be in us, individually and personally, some hindrance to this blessed work. The work of examination is an individual work. When the Jews put the leaven out of their houses, before the passover, every family searched their own house no one felt himself responsible for the old leaven that might remain in the house of his neighbor; but he was bound to see that there was no leaven in his own house. So let us do each one for himself.

2. Another class to whom this subject addresses itself, are the skeptical, the doubting, and the indifferent. And, I would address you emphatically in the language of Joshua to the children of Israel: "How long halt ye between two opinions ?" And, in the language of Elijah: "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve!" You have the alternatives presented before you-examine them, and make your choice; and make it in view of eternal consequences. Here is