I tremble when I think of the account which American Christians will have to give at the bar of God, of their opportunities of publishing the Gospel to the heathen. I tremble when I think of the multitude of precious souls that may be lost through their sinful neglect to employ those means which God has put into their hands to furnish them with the knowledge of the word of life. It is, indeed, a high privilege to live in this land of liberal institutions-this land of general education-this land of abounding wealth-this land distinguished above other lands for revivals of religion. But it is a privilege that involves the most solemn and awful responsibilities. Better to have our lot cast in those parts of the world where little can be done for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, where we should be restricted both as to the ability and opportunity of usefulness, than to live in this land of bibles and churches, of civil and religious freedom, and do little or nothing for the conversion of the heathen! May God preserve the churches of this highly favored land from the awful doom of unprofitableness! May they realize the advantages they enjoy, to carry to the benighted heathen the lamp of life. Under the pressing weight of their responsibilities, may they go forward to the conversion of the world. Freely they have received-let them freely give.

Twenty-six years have expired since the Board of Missions, whose anniversary we now commemorate, was instituted. But few of the fathers remain, who took part in that infant enterprise; and of those beloved young men who originated it, two have gone to reap the reward of one of the purest and noblest con

ceptions that ever entered the human mind ;* while one remains to labor on heathen ground, with untiring assiduity and increasing success,† and the other has returned to pastoral duties in his native land.‡ But their memorable declaration, respecting their views of duty with regard to foreign missions, is imperishable, and will remain to gild one of the brightest pages of ecclesiastical history to the end of time. May I be permitted to inscribe it afresh on the tablet of your memory?

They stated, "that their minds had been long impressed with the duty and importance of personally attempting a mission to the heathen; that the impressions on their minds had induced a serious, and they trusted, a prayerful consideration of the subject in its various attitudes, particularly in relation to the probable success, and the difficulties attending such an attempt; and that, after examining all the information which they could obtain, they considered themselves as devoted to this work for life, whenever God, in his providence, should open the way." They then offered the following inquiries. Whether, with

their present views and feelings, they ought to renounce the object of missions as either visionary or impracticable? If not, whether they ought to devote their attention to the eastern or western world? Whether they might expect patronage and support from a missionary society in this country, or must commit themselves to the direction of a European society; and what preparatory measures they ought to take previous to actual engagement? Feeling their youth and inexperience, they looked up to their

* Rev. Samuel J. Mills, Rev. Samuel Newell. Rev. Dr. Judson. Rev. Samuel Nott, Jr.

fathers in the church, and respectfully solicited their advice, direction and prayers."

To this plain intimation of Providence, as "to a heavenly vision," the fathers of the church were not "disobedient," but expressed their "deep conviction that they ought not to renounce the object of missions, but sacredly to cherish their present views in relation to that object; and they submitted, whether the peculiar and abiding impressions by which they were influenced, ought not to be gratefully recognized as a divine intimation of something good and great in relation to the propagation of the Gospel, and calling for correspondent attention and exertions."

Thus originated the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, "for the purpose of devising ways and means, and adopting and prosecuting measures for promoting the spread of the Gospel in heathen lands." It originated in faith, and prayer, and self-sacrifice, and it has received, in an eminent degree, the approving smile of the great Head of the church. From small beginnings, it has greatly enlarged the sphere of its operations, and has gained the confidence of the friends of Zion throughout our widely extended country. It is truly American, not merely in name, but in spirit; by which we do not mean that it is exclusive, for it rejoices in other organizations, and wishes them God speed. The spirit of the Board is not sectarian, but catholic. It embraces all who can consistently unite in the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel and in a uniform administration of Christian ordinances, without regard to particular denomination. Its great object is the conversion of the world; and it hails, as coadjutors in this work, Christians of every name and of every

sect.

It claims only its place in the missionary army, and it rejoices in every accession to the sacramental host, though wearing, it may be, a different uniform, and marching under a different banner.

But I stand not here to eulogize the American Board; it needs no eulogy from me. Its praise is in all the churches. It occupies elevated ground. The eyes of thousands in our land and in other lands are directed to it. It presents a most favorable channel, through which those, who have freely received, may freely give, to send the Gospel to the heathen. It has secured the confidence and affections of the friends of Zion. Relying on their confidence and support, it has gone on, extending its operations, as the finger of God's providence pointed the way, never doubting that these operations would be sustained by the enlarged liberalities of the church of God. The last year has been a year of special effort and of special success. New fields of labor have been entered, and large reinforcements have been made to the missionary corps. And, although it has been a year of increased contribution to the funds of the Board, it has been a year of still more increased expenditure. I am persuaded that this fact need only to be known, to call forth sufficient liberality, not only to cancel immediately the debt which the Board has incurred, but to prevent embarrassments for the time to come. Surely no one of enlarged views, in the cause of Christian benevolence, would desire that an institution, like the American Board, should so restrict its operations, that it might exactly balance its account at the end of the year. It ought to have credit at the bank of faith, and it becomes its friends and patrons to see that its drafts are not dishonored.

The Board has relied on the liberality of its friends to sustain them in its extended operations; and I am persuaded that their confidence has not been misplaced. They have waited, with no little anxiety, for the return of this anniversary, to decide the question, whether they shall say to the sixty or seventy applicants for missionary service-We cannot send you forth; you must quench the burning flame, which a desire to be instrumental in the salvation of the heathen has enkindled in your bosoms; you must return to your avocations and employments in your native land, and be content with a more circumscribed sphere of usefulness;—or whether they shall thrust them forth, with their sickles in their hands, to reap the fields ripe for the harvest, and assure them that they will send as many more to assist them in their arduous work.

The Board has arrived at an interesting and important crisis. It is for American Christians now to decide, whether they shall stop in their glorious career, or go forward, like their divine Master, "conquering and to conquer." Will not all the friends of missions throughout the land cry, Go on―go on, and stop not until the whole world be converted to God? And will they not "suit the action to the word,” and as they have freely received, freely give? Will they not, in addition to their periodical subscriptions for the general cause, make special appropriations to meet the present exigency? Let this be done, and the missionary bark is once more afloat, and will hold on her course, until she waft the treasures of the Gospel to the remotest parts of the earth. And when can this special effort be made with such prospect of success, as at the present time, when so many of the