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rather, each would become a cheerful giver, and like Israel, "bring the Lord's offering;" or if too old, send it; or if too poor, be instant to bestow his prayers and blessing. No pastor would then wait at his ease, for an agent to come and enroll his flock under the Temperance banner; or for some Gordon Hall, to plead for benighted millions till he could plead no more-sending his last and loudest appeal from the tomb; or some Ward, to recount the human victims burning upon heathen altars; or some Boanerges, to rouse pastor and people to pray and labor for a revival. No: both pastor and people, like their heavenly Master, would then labor, and give, and pray, "with all their might,” and pray, and give, and labor now, even "to-day, while it is called to-day." Then, too, our Newspapers, Journals, and Magazines, instead of wasting moral power in arraying one Christian party against another, and detailing their conflicts, would be angels of light, to carry the summons to present duty round the land, and from nation to nation. Oh then, for once, would the blessed Master behold with joy each and all of every Christian name, animated by one spirit, bending together at his work; each and all prayerfully, yet confidently, expecting his present blessing on their efforts. Would he, could he withhold his blessing from those thus laboring together with him, and doing his will? Oh no, he is too good and too near-"Lo I am with you always.” Then would the people stimulate the ministry, and the ministry the people, and the Holy Ghost descend upon both. Then Bible truth would cut and pierce, like lightning, the consciences of sinners. Truth would live, and move, and have its being in the life and actions of its professors, as if Christ lived, and spake, and worked in and through them. Zion's men would be like Issachar," who had an understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do"-Men like Zebulon, "that went forth to battle, expert in war, who could keep rank, and were not of double heart." "One should chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight." Yea, "he that is feeble among them would be as David, and the house of David as the Angel of God."

Let only this principle of present and personal responsibility, become fixed and living in the soul of a professor, and he will need no one to tell him, how to do good-how to glorify God-how he can be instrumental in converting sinners to God. He will not only know what to do, but be now and ever at the work. Each verse in his Bible will have a trumpet tongue to rouse him to action. Such a spirit will be all ear to catch the least hint of duty, all head to contrive, and

all hand to execute. He will tread in the very foot-marks of Christ. He will do what he now knows, and know much more by doing. Yes; whoever breathes the spirit of Christ, will not only evince that the conversion of the world is his ruling passion, but that the reign of such a spirit in his soul gives new intellectual vigor-a sacred aptness to devise, and a holy energy to execute plans for the salvation of his His judgment will be ripened, the powers of intellect concentrated, and his moral feelings acquire a mighty augmentation of courage and strength for holy enterprise.

race.

The spirit of Christ will lead him to discover his duty in every relation his Master bears. Thus, was Christ the "Friend of sinners?"did he lay down his life for them?-and can I withhold my example, prayers, or conversation, to lead sinners to their Friend? "Heir of all things?"—and can I, Ananias like, keep back any portion he has loaned me? "Light of the world ?"-and can I, by covetousness or sloth, keep that light from gladdening the nations? "The only Mediator?”. and I not anxious to make known to others the eternal benefits of his mediation? "Merciful?"-and shall I grudge money, time, or effort, to show the same spirit? "Morning Star ?"-and I not ardently long to have it usher in the "glorious day?" "Teacher from God?"-and shall I withhold his instructions from ignorant millions? "Physician ?"—and I not sympathize with him in the maladies of a dying world? "Rose of Sharon ?"—and I not desire to see "the wide wilderness blossom?" "A Sacrifice ?"—and I grudge any thing I possess, that through this one offering heathen altars may be abolished forever? Christ my "all-sufficient Sacrifice!"-and I hesitate to give up ease, time, property, for his glory; and yet call myself a follower of Christ? "Surety ?"—and yet I hoard up, while the world is starving? Not trust him, and yet expect him to trust my religion? "Harmless ?"and is this the uniform tendency of my example? Can I cherish a worldly spirit, and yet, like Him, be harmless? Can I oppose, or even refuse to countenance, any good cause, and yet do no harm?

Before we dismiss this subject, a few practical errors in the church, which most fearfully clog her chariot wheels, demand special consideration.

FIRST: That a Christian is only to act when acted upon, and may wait until moved and set to work. Hence, thousands never give or do for Christ and the salvation of a world, unless urged and entreated, if

not even shamed by the doing and giving of others. They never seem to think it a duty or privilege, to be constantly seeking what more they can do, and even creating opportunities of doing, and stimulating others to do what they can for God's glory. Hence every wheel of benevolent enterprise stops among them, when a devoted pastor or some Caleb is removed by death. These mere machines have no one to set them in motion. They seem not to dream that responsibility lies between them and God. How different the spirit of Christ! "He went about doing good"--not because exhorted, but even when opposed-not because he must, but because "it was his meat, and drink, his delight." Real religion is like "leaven, or light, or salt, or fire;" whose essential nature is influential, active, effective. Each Christ-like professor, wherever placed, becomes a leavening particle-a radiating point. Indeed, if God had placed but one Christ-like spirit in a nation, he had made provision for christianizing the world.

SECOND ERROR. Many judge erroneously respecting glorifying God. With them it is but to join the church-attend upon the ordinanceshave their children baptized-do a little to build up their own sect or party--live about like their neighbors-"add field to field and house to house"--and call it providing for their own households! They have no objection to some of the benevolent institutions, and will give a trifle, if the object and the agent pleases, or the calls are not too frequent. Now could we even allow that such may be Christians, still they are not fruitful, and of consequence do not glorify God. Does a tree that bears a little solitary fruit, glorify either the field or its owner? Or a clock that is right once a month, its maker? Or a servant who only docs some trifle occasionally, his master? Or a field which returns only the seed sown, the farmer? Listen to the judgment of Christ. "Herein," as if he had said, in no other way, "herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." O, when will the millions on earth, even hear that God has a Son to be honored, should each in Christendom do like such professors? With the Bible in our hands, dare we encourage such to think they have the spirit of Christ? If not, "they are none of his." think they are, and seem on the road to heaven; that seemeth right to a man, the end of which is death." A man may sincerely mistake poison for food, and die the victim of his sincerity.

They may indeed "but there is a way

THIRD ERROR. That distance alters the nature of Christian duty, or that Christians may live by sight. There are but few professors who

would not do tenfold more for the heathen, if they saw the funeral fires of India—if they heard the wail of her orphan children-if they actually witnessed the cruelties, obscenities, and blasphemies attendant on Pagan worship! But, Christian brother, why would you then do more? Would you do more than you could? "No; but I would do all I could." Well, Christ commands you to do that now. And remember, your duty is not to be measured by your feelings, but by his commands, and your ability. If you cannot reach a drowning man, may you refuse him the rope you hold in your hand? In the Bible and the benevolent institutions of the age, you virtually hold the means, under God, of saving a drowning heathen world. Why not then do all you can? "Oh, I do not see or hear them." But others do, and you know they are "without God, without Christ, and without hope." The missionary brethren are ready to apply your charity. Can you, knowingly, let a family starve, when seen by a brother's eye, who is willing to be the almoner of your bounty? Is it enough to say, you have not seen them? Where will this principle lead? Is it not the duty of a sinner to believe in Christ, though he has not seen him? to escape hell, though he has not heard its wailings? or fly to heaven, though he has not been, like Paul, caught up thither? And may a follower of Christ withhold the gospel from dying millions, because he has not seen them? If, in the spirit of Christ, you had obeyed his parting command, "Go ye into all the world," you would not have been denied the sight; nor will you be, when you stand in judgment. You will see heathen there, and your Master too.

FOURTH ERROR. That a professor may grow in grace, and yet not in obedience to Christ. Hence multitudes imagine that they are growing in holiness-in likeness to Christ and meetness for heaven, who are as indolent, as obstinate, as unteachable, as worldly-minded, as vainly ambitious, as covetous, nay, some far more so, after years of church membership, than after the first months of their professed conversion. For proof, inquire, who are the prayerful, active, cheerful, generous spirits in the church-ready to every good work? Are they always the more advanced in the family of Christ; those who might be expected to have most of their Master's spirit? True, there are here and there Calebs and Annas, and we regard them with sincere veneration and love; but is not the sentiment too often expressed, by some who ought to be first in benevolent enterprise, "that there is too much gwing and doing, and not enough reliance on faith and prayer?" As

though their faith had not been dead long enough, or their economical prayers rejected long enough! Has a missionary over forty years of age been seen for half a century entering the heathen field, from increased love to Christ and dying millions?

But, it is said, "young men can acquire new languages with more ease." This may, as a general fact, be true. But "prayers and pains, through faith in Jesus Christ, will do any thing," said the father and pattern of American missionaries, (John Eliot,) who had just mastered the Indian tongue and finished the grammar at the age of forty-two, and who afterwards translated the whole Bible. Scott, also, acquired the Arabic and Susoo when past sixty, to aid in preparing missionaries. In view of such examples, is there not a radical defect, when increased acquaintance with the wants and desolations of the globe, and a nearing to death and judgment, produce no increase of benevolence, and no deepening sympathy in the cries of dying millions? Can such professors be growing in grace? be breathing more and more of the spirit of a Savior, who labored till death for the good of souls? "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish "They shall still bring

in the courts of our God." How flourish?

forth fruit in old age."

FIFTH ERROR. That the measure of interest and effort the people are to take in the world's conversion should be left entirely or chiefly with the minister. Hence, if he happen to be a secular man, and Demas like, love his own interests more than the salvation of a world, and therefore feel, and pray, and preach, as though his ministerial office were only a trade, the people seem to think and act, as if they were doing God service, if they but imitate their minister; and secure as much of this world as they can, whatever becomes of God's glory and the souls of men. "Like people, like priest," said the inspired prophet: and so it has ever been. Look at Christendom, and you can read the character of the clergy in the character of the people. In the Roman Catholic church this principle is carried so far, that the priest virtually thinks, and believes, and repents for the people, though he can neither die for the people nor stand for them in judgment. But how mean such a spirit! What true patriot would permit his general alone to spill his blood for his country? How senseless! Who but an idiot would expect his minister to be honest for him? Why then expect him, in any respect, to act the Christian in your stead? What saith the Savior? "If any man follow me, he shall not walk in darkness, but in

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